Love Where You Live
Environment Fund


The Love Where You Live Environment Fund supports initiatives that preserve and protect Kalamazoo County's natural environment.

The Love Where You Live Environment Fund was established to address community needs related to the environment, water quality and water issues. Annually the Kalamazoo Community Foundation requests proposals that support environmental programs and projects in Kalamazoo County according to the following priorities:

  • Projects that advance the environmental ethic in the greater Kalamazoo area, particularly in the area of linking environmental protection with economic development
  • Programs and speakers dealing with issues of sustainability and the environment
  • Activities related to environmental matters involving water issues
Following is the timeline for the 2018 review cycle:

  • August 27 : Request for Proposals Issued
  • October 2 : Letters of Inquiry due
  • November 13 : Applications due
  • December 7 : LWYL Environment committee meeting consisting of local environmental experts meets to determine funding
To learn more about the fund and grantmaking process, please contact Sandy Barry-Loken at 269.381.4416 or sbarry-loken@kalfound.org.

Click here to make a gift to the Love Where You Live Environmental Fund.


Projects We Have Funded Previously:

2018

  • City of Parchment | Envisioning Our River
  • Kalamazoo College | Lillian Anderson Arboretum Pollinator Friendly Landscape Restoration Project
  • Kalamazoo Conservative District | Conservorama
  • Merze Tate Explorers | Exploring Our Water: Where Does It Come From? (Student-led documentary)
  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | Augusta Creek and Gull Lake Watershed Conservation & Water Resources Awareness Project

2017

  • Kalamazoo Conservation District | Kalamazoo Conservation District 2018 Educational Programming
  • Four Township Water Resources | Building Community Through Watershed Management
  • Oshtemo Township | Prairie Restoration and Interpretive Signs at Drake Farmstead Park for Environmental Protection, Economic Development, and Education

2016

  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Jump on Board: Green Infrastructure Community Training
  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | Bow In the Clouds Preserve Enhancements
  • Kalamazoo County Drain Commission | Interfaith Community River Cleanup

2015

  • Kalamazoo Conservation District | Kalamazoo Conservation District 2015-2016 Educational Programming
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Eat Safe Fish Kalamazoo

2014

  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | KL Avenue Preserve Public Access Project
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Refining the Kalamazoo Water Festival: Focusing on the Future of Freshwater
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center | Conservation Leadership Program
  • Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition | Heritage Water Trail, Kalamazoo River

2013

  • Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools | Taking Advantage of aTeachable Moment for Environmental Education
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center | Kalamazoo Butterfly Network Urban Youth Outreach Program
  • IDEA Association | Trybal Revival Garden Vermiculture Composting
  • IDEA Association | Event Greening and Community Education Campaign
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Updating the Kalamazoo River Watershed Management Plan to Protect Our Shared Water Resources
  • Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition | Water Wizards 

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