We believe that Earth’s natural systems must be restored, preserved, and protected to support a healthy future for all life.

In our environmental work, we target sustainable and scalable projects and collaborations that benefit people and nature in the Midwest and beyond.

The Midwest is home to one-fifth of the world’s surface freshwater and is one of the most intensely farmed regions in the world. As an international hub for industry and agriculture, it’s also a critical player in the transition to a clean and efficient global energy system. This interconnected landscape has inspired our philanthropic investment in opportunities to improve practices related to freshwater, land, and energy.

While we primarily fund work in the Great Lakes regions, Crown Family Philanthropies also supports forest health work in the Western United States related to wildfire and water quality.

Through the environment portfolio we seek to:

Restore and protect freshwater systems with a particular emphasis on the Lake Michigan watershed.

Establish energy efficiency and conservation as standard practices in the Chicago region, accelerating innovation, equity, and assisting communities to successfully recover from the environmental legacy of declining energy industries.

Protect natural habitats and improve land management, including food systems, to maximize ecological and climate health.