Comments on: 500 Square Miles of Forest In Montana To Be Permanently Protected http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:53:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MatthewTrifiro http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-9925 MatthewTrifiro Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-9925 Brad, I had no idea you were such a land conservationist! I have been on Trust for Public Land's national board for seven years. It is a terrific organization and this is one of the largest land conservation projects I have ever seen. I have been wondering how to connect land conservation to the technology generation; it seems a good fit, but there is a surprising lack of overlap. Any ideas? Brad,

I had no idea you were such a land conservationist! I have been on Trust for Public Land's national board for seven years. It is a terrific organization and this is one of the largest land conservation projects I have ever seen. I have been wondering how to connect land conservation to the technology generation; it seems a good fit, but there is a surprising lack of overlap. Any ideas?

]]> By: MatthewTrifiro http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-9930 MatthewTrifiro Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-9930 The Entrepreneurs Foundation looks like a terrific program. My anecdotal experience is that philanthropy seems to have an age-driven component. When you are young, your main goal is accumulating wealth to secure your unknown future (will I have health problems? How many kids will I send to college? Will my startup need more cash?). As you get older, you get more visibiity into the end of your life and you can envision giving up a larger portion of your wealth. In the meantime, young entrepreneurs can help charitable causes in a number of practical ways, and I believe it is important to show leadership in these areas: 1. Yearly giving. Even if the gifts are small, I propose a culture of philanthropy that starts with yearly giving. Every year, list your top 10 causes and commit to giving something to each. In bad years, your giving might be measured in hundreds of dollars. In good years, tens of thousands. The point is 100% of your causes get a gift every year. If you want a small donation to make a huge impact, find a local organization with a tiny operating budget. 2. Future gifting. I love the EFC model where entrepreneurs are encouraged to give early, something that is relatively painless to offer up (equity) which could pay off largely down the road. It would be extraordinary if the EFC model could be replicated within the VC community. 3. Corporate In-Kind. Startups underestimate how much they can help non-profits with the donation of their services. A good model that comes to mind is ESRI. Their software gifting program has empowered the land conservation community with some amazing mapping tools... For those wearing the green eye shades, I am sure the program has paid dividends to ESRI in the form of PR and downstream sales. The Entrepreneurs Foundation looks like a terrific program. My anecdotal experience is that philanthropy seems to have an age-driven component. When you are young, your main goal is accumulating wealth to secure your unknown future (will I have health problems? How many kids will I send to college? Will my startup need more cash?). As you get older, you get more visibiity into the end of your life and you can envision giving up a larger portion of your wealth.

In the meantime, young entrepreneurs can help charitable causes in a number of practical ways, and I believe it is important to show leadership in these areas:

1. Yearly giving. Even if the gifts are small, I propose a culture of philanthropy that starts with yearly giving. Every year, list your top 10 causes and commit to giving something to each. In bad years, your giving might be measured in hundreds of dollars. In good years, tens of thousands. The point is 100% of your causes get a gift every year. If you want a small donation to make a huge impact, find a local organization with a tiny operating budget.

2. Future gifting. I love the EFC model where entrepreneurs are encouraged to give early, something that is relatively painless to offer up (equity) which could pay off largely down the road. It would be extraordinary if the EFC model could be replicated within the VC community.

3. Corporate In-Kind. Startups underestimate how much they can help non-profits with the donation of their services. A good model that comes to mind is ESRI. Their software gifting program has empowered the land conservation community with some amazing mapping tools… For those wearing the green eye shades, I am sure the program has paid dividends to ESRI in the form of PR and downstream sales.

]]> By: vruz http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-9931 vruz Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-9931 well, that's a nice sentiment. anyway.. your intro comment sounds to me like... "I'm a huge believer in that suicide is bad for one's health" duh ?? well, that's a nice sentiment.

anyway.. your intro comment sounds to me like…
"I'm a huge believer in that suicide is bad for one's health"

duh ??

]]> By: Blake http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-9970 Blake Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-9970 A bit late to the party but nonetheless... I think land conservation is great; something to celebrate. However, your comments are disturbing, but not surprising. Like most left leaning, socially elite politicos, you seem OK to own 3 houses in or near national forest land, but have a problem with others seeking their own slice of paradise. I realize this particular 500 acres of land in Montana was saved from the grasp of an evil lumber company. This policy, taken to its extreme, results in a bunch of millionaires owning multiple homes that sit empty for a large % of the year. A bit late to the party but nonetheless…

I think land conservation is great; something to celebrate. However, your comments are disturbing, but not surprising. Like most left leaning, socially elite politicos, you seem OK to own 3 houses in or near national forest land, but have a problem with others seeking their own slice of paradise. I realize this particular 500 acres of land in Montana was saved from the grasp of an evil lumber company. This policy, taken to its extreme, results in a bunch of millionaires owning multiple homes that sit empty for a large % of the year.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8868 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8868 Regarding my houses – all of them existed before I bought them.  In the case of my house in Eldorado Springs, the land we live on was homesteaded in the 1890’s.  While I can’t rewind the clock on the homestead act (and the grant of the land in Eldorado Canyon in the 1890’s), I could proactively do something about it.  In the early 2000’s, we put a conservation easement on the entire property, removing a building site from one of the parcels (where there previously was a building site zoned but no house on it) and limiting building only to the other two places on the property where there are existing houses.<br /><br />Also, I’m not sure I understand your assertion that “This policy, taken to its extreme, results in a bunch of millionaires owning multiple homes that sit empty for a large % of the year.”  I’m not sure which policy you are referring to as my understanding of the TNC / TPL deal does exactly the opposite of this.<br /><br />As for being a “politico” – gosh, I hope not.  As of now, I haven’t held a single elected office that I can recall, not even in high school.<br /><br /> Regarding my houses – all of them existed before I bought them.  In the case of my house in Eldorado Springs, the land we live on was homesteaded in the 1890’s.  While I can’t rewind the clock on the homestead act (and the grant of the land in Eldorado Canyon in the 1890’s), I could proactively do something about it.  In the early 2000’s, we put a conservation easement on the entire property, removing a building site from one of the parcels (where there previously was a building site zoned but no house on it) and limiting building only to the other two places on the property where there are existing houses.

Also, I’m not sure I understand your assertion that “This policy, taken to its extreme, results in a bunch of millionaires owning multiple homes that sit empty for a large % of the year.”  I’m not sure which policy you are referring to as my understanding of the TNC / TPL deal does exactly the opposite of this.

As for being a “politico” – gosh, I hope not.  As of now, I haven’t held a single elected office that I can recall, not even in high school.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8701 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8701 It’s a tough one.  We’ve tried some in Boulder – first through something called the Front Range Alliance and secondarily through the Colorado Conservation Trust.  In both cases there was initial interest by the broader tech community that fizzled out pretty quickly and resulted in a few people taking a leadership role, but no broad engagement.  This seems indicative of a larger issue around philanthropy and people in the technology industry (especially in their first few companies) and was the motivator behind starting the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado – which is off to a great start.<br /> It’s a tough one.  We’ve tried some in Boulder – first through something called the Front Range Alliance and secondarily through the Colorado Conservation Trust.  In both cases there was initial interest by the broader tech community that fizzled out pretty quickly and resulted in a few people taking a leadership role, but no broad engagement.  This seems indicative of a larger issue around philanthropy and people in the technology industry (especially in their first few companies) and was the motivator behind starting the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado – which is off to a great start.

]]> By: Steven Place http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8702 Steven Place Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8702 Down here in Florida, the state is buying back 75,000 hectares from U.S. Sugar for the everglade restoration project. Down here in Florida, the state is buying back 75,000 hectares from U.S. Sugar for the everglade restoration project.

]]> By: Lori http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8708 Lori Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8708 Cool! Yes, TNC did something similar with International Paper lands in Maine. Cool! Yes, TNC did something similar with International Paper lands in Maine.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8710 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8710 My understanding is that there are people in the world that think it’s a good idea to build houses, resorts, and shopping malls on every available piece of land.  <br /> My understanding is that there are people in the world that think it’s a good idea to build houses, resorts, and shopping malls on every available piece of land.  

]]> By: steve_murchi418 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8712 steve_murchi418 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8712 Do we get to allocate our taxes next year to specific programs? How cool is that! ;-) I'm right there with you, though: public/private partnerships seem to be the most efficacious solution to land-use battles. Do we get to allocate our taxes next year to specific programs? How cool is that! ;-)

I'm right there with you, though: public/private partnerships seem to be the most efficacious solution to land-use battles.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html/comment-page-1#comment-8723 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:54 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/07/500-square-miles-of-forest-in-montana-to-be-permanently-protected.html#comment-8723 Matt – great comments.  Re: the EFCO model being replicated in the VC Community – it can!  Foundry Group has contributed 1% of its carried interest to EFCO - <a href="http://www.foundrygroup.com/blog/archives/2008/05/foundry-group-joins-the-entrep.php   ">http://www.foundrygroup.com/blog/archives/2008/05...</a> We are hopeful that other VCs in Colorado will do the same.<br /> Matt – great comments.  Re: the EFCO model being replicated in the VC Community – it can!  Foundry Group has contributed 1% of its carried interest to EFCO – http://www.foundrygroup.com/blog/archives/2008/05... We are hopeful that other VCs in Colorado will do the same.

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