Blue Sky Funders Forum

What Blue Sky Funders Forum does

Blue Sky Funders Forum is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 2014 that operates as the only dedicated funder network specifically focused on outdoor access and environmental education. The organization is headquartered in New York and operates as a working group of the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA), which provides structural infrastructure and access to the Tracking the Field data program analyzing grants toward environmental education and outdoor connection. It is led by Executive Director Onika Abraham Lee and Director of Programs & Membership Berkeley Bryant, with a staff of 1-10 employees. The organization does not operate a technology platform or product.

Blue Sky's core offerings include a membership network for foundations, family foundations, corporate giving programs, and individual philanthropists; an Annual Convening (2026 to be held in Maine, October 7-9, with tickets priced $250-$595); member-only Coffee Chats; Quarterly Community Sessions; a Land Justice for Funders webinar series; the Rethink Outside narrative change initiative conducted with Resource Media; and publications including Funder Briefs and annual reports. The organization co-sponsors events and webinars with a broad network of philanthropy infrastructure organizations including the Health & Environmental Funders Network, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Philanthropy New York, The Funders Network, Women's Funding Network, Grantmakers in Health, the Children & Nature Network, and the Nature & Health Alliance.

Blue Sky generates revenue through two primary streams: recurring membership dues from foundations and grantmakers, and event registration fees from its Annual Convening and other events with tiered pricing for members and non-members. The organization reaches its audience through a website (blueskyfundersforum.org), email newsletters (Funder & Philanthropy Insights and Community Updates), annual convenings, webinars, and co-sponsored events. It is a private nonprofit with no external investors or venture capital backing, consistent with its philanthropic infrastructure model.

Name

Blue Sky Funders Forum

Legal name

Blue Sky Funders Forum

Website

https://blueskyfundersforum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Sky Funders Forum is a nonprofit membership network founded in 2014 that convenes foundations and grantmakers focused on outdoor access and environmental education. Operating as a working group of the Environmental Grantmakers Association, it delivers annual convenings, webinars, and publications for funder members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Funder Network

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Funder collaboration platform
• Environmental grantmaking network
• Philanthropy convening services
• Outdoor education funding
• Member-based nonprofit network

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Blue Sky generates revenue through membership fees from foundations and grantmakers who join the network to connect, align, and collaborate with peers in the outdoor access and environmental education funding space.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from ticket sales for the Annual Convening and other events, including tiered pricing for members and non-members, and single-day options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blue Sky Funders Forum is a nonprofit membership network that convenes foundations, family foundations, corporate giving programs, and individual philanthropists who fund outdoor access and environmental education. It delivers its value through annual in-person convenings, member-only coffee chats, quarterly community sessions, webinars (Funder Briefings, Land Justice for Funders series), the Rethink Outside narrative change initiative, the Tracking the Field data program, and publications/resources. Membership is priced as recurring dues, and event access is sold via tiered ticketing.

Product overview

Blue Sky Funders Forum is a membership network for grantmakers and funders focused on outdoor access and environmental education. The organization operates as a platform connecting funders through events (annual convenings, coffee chats, webinars), initiatives (Rethink Outside narrative change program, Land Justice for Funders series), data programs (Tracking the Field), and publications. Members gain access to peer networking, collaborative learning spaces, and resources to advance investments in meaningful outdoor experiences for everyone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blue Sky Funders Forum Membership Network Recurring membership program for foundations, family foundations, corporate giving programs, and individual philanthropists focused on outdoor access and environmental education. Members gain access to peer networking, member-only events, publications, and collaborative learning opportunities.
• Annual Convening Annual in-person gathering bringing together funders for site visits, roundtables, facilitated connections, and storytelling around outdoor access and environmental education. Open to members and non-member funders, with tiered pricing ($250-$595).
• Land Justice for Funders Series Educational webinar series highlighting land justice examples and practical funding strategies for funders, featuring bold funders and community partners.
• Member Coffee Chats Member-only virtual coffee chat sessions for peer conversation, idea sharing, and informal networking among funders (e.g., Q3 Topic TBD on August 5, 2026; post-Convening debrief on November 9, 2026).
• Quarterly Community Sessions Recurring virtual sessions for funders and nonprofit partners to share work, surface needs, and explore collaboration opportunities, including featured organizations such as the Conservation Capacity Project.
• Rethink Outside Narrative change initiative focused on communicating the value of nature and outdoor experiences to drive investment and policy change; partners with Resource Media on message-testing research for health and climate audiences.
• Tracking the Field Data tracking initiative analyzing grants toward environmental education and outdoor connection, conducted in partnership with the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) for years 2019, 2021, and 2023.
• Publications & Resources Publications including funder briefs (e.g., Funder Brief on Eco-Anxiety, December 15, 2025), annual reports (2021, 2023), and research resources on topics including eco-anxiety, land justice, and outdoor health.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky Funders Forum is a working group of the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA). This structural relationship provides Blue Sky with organizational infrastructure and connects it to EGA's Tracking the Field data program, which analyzes grants given toward environmental education and outdoor connection.
• Rethink OutsidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky partners with Rethink Outside, an initiative focused on narrative change for nature connection. Blue Sky conducts message-testing research and shares insights with health and climate audiences to advance shared narratives about nature.
• OneGreenThingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky partnered with OneGreenThing to develop a Funder Brief on Eco-Anxiety addressing how time outside helps youth navigate climate emotions.
• Highstead FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2026 Land Justice for Funders series, partnering with Blue Sky, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, RESIST, and Maine Climate and Environmental Funders Network to highlight land justice examples and practical funding strategies.
• Elmina B. Sewall FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2026 Land Justice for Funders series, bringing expertise in land justice frameworks and connections to the environmental philanthropy community.
• RESISTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2026 Land Justice for Funders series, providing a social justice lens to land justice funding conversations.
• Maine Climate and Environmental Funders NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2026 Land Justice for Funders series, bringing regional expertise and network connections in Maine for land justice programming.
• Nature & Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky partnered with the Nature & Health Alliance to co-host the inaugural Nature & Health Alliance Conference in Houston and related funder gatherings, advancing the intersection of health and nature in philanthropy.
• Children & Nature NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky partnered with the George B. Storer Foundation to bring funders to the Children & Nature Network's 2025 Nature Everywhere Conference in St. Paul, with a focus on early childhood nature connection.
• George B. Storer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with Blue Sky for the Children & Nature Network Conference programming, specifically focused on early childhood outdoor education funder engagement.
• Grantmakers in HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Funder Briefing: Nature as a Health Equity Tool webinar with Blue Sky and Health & Environmental Funders Network.
• Health & Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular co-sponsorship partner for webinars and events at the intersection of health and environment, including AI in communities, narrative power, and health equity briefings.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky co-sponsored the GCIR webinar 'Don't Look Away: Child Needs During Heightened Enforcement Actions' addressing immigrant family support.
• Philanthropy New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky co-sponsored the Philanthropy New York webinar 'Prefiguring the Future We Want: Practicing Liberation & Sovereignty' for member access.
• The Funders NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the 'From the Dinner Table to the Policy Table' webinar on mobilizing parents for children's health.
• Women's Funding NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the 'From the Dinner Table to the Policy Table' webinar on mobilizing parents for children's health.
• Building Equity and Alignment for Environmental JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Funder Briefing: AI in our Communities webinar addressing artificial intelligence impacts on communities.
• Chesapeake Bay Funders NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the AI in Communities Funder Briefing.
• Funders for JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the AI in Communities Funder Briefing.
• Hyams FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the AI in Communities Funder Briefing.
• Health & Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Sky co-sponsored the interactive workshop 'Funding Narrative Power 101: From Communications to Systems Change' to explore narrative infrastructure funding.
• Conservation Capacity ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured organization in Quarterly Community Sessions, providing pro-bono support to conservation nonprofits navigating current challenges.
• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Tracking the Field data program, providing analysis of grants given toward environmental education and outdoor connection in 2019, 2021, and 2023.
• Resource MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Rethink Outside initiative, conducting message-testing research on how to communicate about nature with health and climate audiences.
• Climate Mental Health NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in design of the Funder Briefing: Nature as a Health Equity Tool, addressing mental health consequences of climate change and nature-based solutions.
• Land Justice FuturesminorOthersReferenced as a key knowledge resource for land justice frameworks, providing educational content on centering racial repair, ecological healing, and community power in land governance.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Philanthropy New York: Philanthropy New York is a regional membership association for funders that hosts webinars and convenings co-sponsored with Blue Sky. It serves an overlapping funder audience but with a broader, general philanthropy remit rather than an environmental focus.
• Environmental Grantmakers Association: EGA is the parent/umbrella organization of Blue Sky Funders Forum. Both serve environmental philanthropy stakeholders through convenings, research, and member services, but EGA is the broader, multi-issue membership association for environmental funders while Blue Sky is the working group focused specifically on outdoor access and environmental education.

Direct peers

• Children & Nature Network: Children & Nature Network advances nature connection for young people and hosts a major conference where Blue Sky brings funders. Both organizations mobilize philanthropic and practitioner communities around outdoor access and environmental education, and they co-program funder engagement.
• Women's Funding Network: Women's Funding Network is a membership network of foundations and funds focused on women and girls. It shares the funder-network/convener business model with Blue Sky and has co-sponsored webinars, including those involving Blue Sky's audience.
• The Funders Network: The Funders Network is a peer funder membership organization that convenes grantmakers around shared place-based and equity themes. It operates the same kind of membership-driven convener model as Blue Sky and has co-sponsored programming on children's health and community issues.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR): GCIR is a funder network that convenes grantmakers around immigration issues. It shares the membership-network/convener model with Blue Sky, with similar webinar and event programming, and is a recurring co-sponsorship partner.
• Funders for Justice: Funders for Justice is a funder network supporting movement-led organizing. It is a co-sponsorship partner with Blue Sky and shares the membership-network model for mobilizing grantmakers around social and environmental issues.
• Health & Environmental Funders Network (HEFN): HEFN is a peer funder network that convenes grantmakers at the intersection of health and environment. Blue Sky and HEFN regularly co-sponsor webinars and events, serve similar foundation audiences, and operate on comparable membership/convener business models.

Emerging players

• Nature & Health Alliance: Nature & Health Alliance is a growing initiative advancing the intersection of nature and health. Blue Sky co-hosted its inaugural conference, and the two organizations overlap on funder engagement around nature-based health solutions.
• Conservation Capacity Project: Conservation Capacity Project supports conservation nonprofits with pro-bono capacity-building. It overlaps with Blue Sky's environmental philanthropy audience and has been featured in Blue Sky's Quarterly Community Sessions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-sky-funders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blue Sky Funders Forum