Lookfar at 10

For much of the past decade, Lookfar has occupied an unusual position within conservation philanthropy. We have advised foundations developing conservation portfolios while simultaneously working alongside small, locally led organizations across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Our unique perspective has allowed us to observe conservation from both sides of the funding relationship: how donors evaluate opportunities and structure grants and measure success along with how local organizations navigate the practical realities of protecting landscapes while managing communities, governments, finances and uncertainty.

Several observations have emerged consistently across countries, ecosystems and organizations.

Why do some conservation efforts continue to produce lasting results while others, despite substantial funding and careful planning, struggle to endure once the grant has ended?

Here we  answer the ‘why,’ which is less about the quality of individual projects and more about the strength of the institutions responsible for carrying them forward.

We celebrate ten years of Lookfar by sharing our most valuable observations, lessons learnt and offer new perspectives into investing in biodiversity  conservation, nature restoration and regeneration. How to invest in landscapes not only during the life of a grant, but for generations thereafter.