Call to Action

In Spring of 2025, the Arizona Land and Water Trust (the “Trust”) launched its Enduring Landscapes: A Campaign for Conserving Arizona’s Lands and Waters. The Campaign will raise $20,000,000 to establish a permanent endowment that supports the Trust’s core land and water protection initiatives – conserving  agricultural lands, native wildlife habitat, and the streams, springs and aquifers that maintain our region’s vibrant ecological health and unique cultural identity.

All contributions and levels of support are welcome to establish a restricted endowment supporting the Trust’s entrepreneurial staffing model in perpetuity.

Background and Opportunity

Founded in 1978, the Trust has directly and permanently protected over 73,250 acres of keystone landscapes in southeastern Arizona and beyond, and has assisted our partners in the permanent protection of another 181,000 acres. Working to minimize the impact and extent of habitat fragmentation, persistent drought, and climate change,  the Trust works with landowners interested in long-term protection of their land and water.  For example, the Trust helps agriculturists conserve thousands of acre feet of water annually, and works with local ranchers to acquire the capital and technical partners needed to help them restore the resilience of their landscapes’ watersheds and to recharge the region’s vital yet at-risk aquifers.

Now, following the momentum and successful closure of the Trust’s $12,000,000 Sopori Creek and Farm Campaign, the launch of the Enduring Landscapes Campaign acknowledges that while there will continue to be compelling projects in urgent need of conservation support within the next five years, there is also the ever-present need to fund the core land and water stewardship work of the Trust’s small entrepreneurial staff in perpetuity.

Key Strategic Priorities for the Trust between 2025 – 2030

Conserve another 20,000 acres of keystone landscapes in southeastern Arizona

Restore another 10,000 acres of streams and watersheds

Build an endowment to perpetually fund core operations to ensure the in-perpetuity monitoring, stewardship, and legal protection of all conservation properties entrusted to us

Campaign Support

From outright donations to estate or planned gifts and grants, all contributions are welcome in the Enduring Landscapes Campaign, including unrestricted and restricted gifts of all sizes to support today’s urgent need to build an endowment to ensure the Trust’s efficiently entrepreneurial model in perpetuity.

Enduring Landscapes provides an opportunity for supporters to actively contribute to the Trust’s mission of conserving the region’s most iconic grasslands, unique ciénegas and riparian areas, critical wildlife corridors and habitat. It is also an opportunity for those who would like to make or consider a legacy gift to land and water conservation in Southern Arizona. Working confidentially with the Trust’s leadership team, legacy supporters may disclose their intention to make a planned or bequest gift from their estate, the corpus of which can be restricted in perpetuity to endowing the core mission operations of the Trust.

Reporting to the Trust’s local Board of Directors, a small campaign steering committee of key local community leaders and volunteers, supported by local Philanthropic Advancement Advisor Robert Edison, will work closely with the Trust and supporters to make Enduring Landscapes a reality.

Campaign Goals

• Total Goal: $20,000,000
• Land & Water Conservation Programs: 45%
• Stewardship and Resilience Programs: 21%
• Education and Workshops: 4%
• Operations: 20%

For more information contact Executive Director, Cameron Becker, or Philanthropic Advisor, Robert Edison, at cbecker@alwt.org or 520-577-8564.