Battery Powered Sparks a Resource Revolution with $1.4 Million
On the eve of revolution, Battery Powered united around a single cause: to transform California’s food, water and energy systems. Members put their collective generosity into action, and six organizations received awards totaling more than $1.4 million.
The giving program’s latest Allocation Night wouldn’t have been complete without spontaneous acts of kindness and personal stories that spurred new commitments. Members debated which of the 20 cutting-edge finalists best reimagined how we understand, use and conserve our natural resources. Where would Battery Powerd place its bet? On grassroots community leadership? Policy change and resource management? Or something entirely new?
Though their approaches vary, this theme’s Battery Powered Awardees will each create impact throughout the club and beyond its walls, from our kitchens and bathrooms to farmland and waterways across California. Here’s how the winners plan to accelerate a resource revolution for California and the world:
Battery Powered Awardees
Organizations receiving 100% of their funding request
California Trout – $250K
Remaking California’s floodplains to restore salmon runs and deliver water security to 25 million Californians.
Member quote of the night: “They are truly ending the water wars. It’s a win-win for fish and for farms.”
FoodCorps – $300K
Scaling and strengthening California’s farm-to-school movement in the state’s most vulnerable communities.
Member quote of the night: “If you want to start a revolution, you have to start with kids.”
Slide Ranch – $300K
Online, STEM-based learning tools to empower kids to harness the power of nature without destroying it.
Member quote of the night: “Battery Powered funding will unlock a huge opportunity to add new energy programs to the curriculum. It changes everything.”
Other winners
Organizations receiving partial funding of their request
Sustainable Conservation – $236K
Evaluating and promoting innovative approaches to replenish groundwater supplies.
Urban Tilth – $153K
Restoring urban soil and incubating cooperative food-based enterprises for local residents.
WaterNow Alliance – $175K
Reinventing water management and making water resources more affordable and sustainable.
Member testimonials convinced those in the room to pool their funds and back projects that truly challenge the status quo of our food, water and energy systems. Special guest Thao Nguyen, frontwoman of indie band Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, took the stage to kick off the celebration in the Penthouse, and together the Battery Powered community allocated full project funds to three Awardees and three additional winners over the course of the evening.
This theme has given us all some real food for thought, and we are so grateful to each of our experts and organizations for bringing the Resource Revolution to life. Battery Powered will recharge over the summer, returning this fall with the Power of Art & Creativity.
If you’d like to learn more about Battery Powered or get involved, contact [email protected].
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About the Award
Battery Powered Awardees receive more than money. In addition to a fully funded project, they get special recognition in The Battery space and will be featured as winners on the Battery Powered online platform. Along with publicity opportunities and the endorsement of the Battery Powered membership, this award signals the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the organizations, who will be invited back to the club to share their progress and meet with members who might want to go further with their support. The membership is taking a “once an awardee, always an awardee” approach. That means the community will be hearing more from these wonderful organizations in the future!