Overview and History
As of January 1, 2024, the Strong Foundation for Environmental Values is no longer in business. The narrative below provides historical information.
The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values (Strong Foundation) traces its roots back to 1912, to St Margaret's House, an Episcopal school. Located in Berkeley, California, St Margaret's House trained women to work in the Episcopal Church as deaconesses. When, in the 1960's, the National Episcopal Church decided to ordain women as priests, a separate school for deaconesses became redundant and the school was closed.
The successor nonprofit became the Berkeley Center for Human Interaction and the fiduciary connection with the Episcopal Church ended. The Center sponsored seminars and retreats on a wide range of topics. In 1979, the Center changed its name to Strong Center for Environmental Values with a new purpose of producing audio tapes of interviews with key environmental leaders of the time and distributing them for use in public broadcasting.
Finally, in the mid 1980's, the Center changed its form and function from a publicly-supported organization to a private grant-making foundation. Thus, The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values was born.
After decades of grant-making, supporting nonprofits' work on environmental stewardship, conservation, and resilience in their communities, The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values is scheduled for dissolution on December 31, 2023.
The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values (Strong Foundation) traces its roots back to 1912, to St Margaret's House, an Episcopal school. Located in Berkeley, California, St Margaret's House trained women to work in the Episcopal Church as deaconesses. When, in the 1960's, the National Episcopal Church decided to ordain women as priests, a separate school for deaconesses became redundant and the school was closed.
The successor nonprofit became the Berkeley Center for Human Interaction and the fiduciary connection with the Episcopal Church ended. The Center sponsored seminars and retreats on a wide range of topics. In 1979, the Center changed its name to Strong Center for Environmental Values with a new purpose of producing audio tapes of interviews with key environmental leaders of the time and distributing them for use in public broadcasting.
Finally, in the mid 1980's, the Center changed its form and function from a publicly-supported organization to a private grant-making foundation. Thus, The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values was born.
After decades of grant-making, supporting nonprofits' work on environmental stewardship, conservation, and resilience in their communities, The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values is scheduled for dissolution on December 31, 2023.