ACOEL Foundation
The Foundation supports the College’s goals to maintain and improve the ethical practice of environmental law, the administration of justice, and the development of environmental law through rigorous focus, outreach, and education in all forums — federal, state, municipal, tribal, and international.
History, Mission, and Structure
The Foundation was incorporated in Delaware in October 2017 and obtained approval in August 2018 as a nonprofit charitable foundation with 501(c)(3) status under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation raises funds and provides resources to support the public interest work of the Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL).
As an initial matter, the Foundation primarily will focus its support and funding on projects that fall within the following two categories and meet the criteria set forth in its Strategic Plan: (1) Climate Resilience or Mitigation; and (2) Water Quality, Quantity and Resources. The Foundation is in discussions with other not-for-profit organizations and academics who work in these areas to identify opportunities for potential support. The Foundation is evaluating projects that have the potential to identify legal barriers impeding infrastructure resiliency projects adjacent to coastal areas, and projects that would implement innovative technologies for water preservation in the Western U.S. and the legal solutions to permit these types of projects to proceed.
The Foundation’s Bylaws provide that the officers of ACOEL will serve as the Trustees of the Foundation. Those Foundation Trustees elect from among the ACOEL membership the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Foundation and any other officers, as appropriate, and approve the designation of the members of the Foundation Advisory Council. The Foundation officers and members of the Advisory Council typically meet monthly to conduct the business of the Foundation.
Current Project Support
Annual Stephen E. Herrmann Environmental Writing Award
Facilitated by the ACOEL Outreach Committee and funded by the ACOEL Foundation, the annual Herrmann Award highlights exceptional student scholarship that brings new perspectives to environmental law, fostering a new generation of passionate, knowledgeable leaders committed to addressing today’s environmental challenges.
Past Project Support
Webinar – EPA’s Community Change Grant Program
On June 27, 2024, the American College of Environmental Lawyers and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) presented a Webinar at no cost to registrants that aims to assist Federally recognized Tribes in the continental U.S. and community-based organizations to understand how they can optimize their efforts to access Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grant funds for climate action and pollution reduction projects. $300 million is earmarked under the program for eligible tribal projects. The Webinar is open to all individuals nationwide. This Webinar is co-sponsored by the ACOEL Foundation.
Cuba Symposium
In February 2023, seven ACOEL Fellows from the Outreach Committee participated in a joint symposium to identify opportunities to foster U.S./Cuba environmental cooperation and engagement. The symposium was held in Havana, Cuba, organized by ACOEL and the Foundation Antonio Nunez Jimenez of Nature and Humanity (FANJ). The ACOEL Foundation is proud to have helped fund some of the other expenses incurred in connection with this important and interesting joint symposium.
Waste Plastic to Fuel for Diesel Engines
The Foundation has provided targeted support for the work of Empowered Solutions for Environmental Sustainability (ESES) to combat plastic waste accumulation in the environment and to deploy in Uganda a PolyFuel Processor that converts waste plastic into clean fuel oil.
Proposal to ALI for a Restatement of Environmental Law or Environmental Law Principles Project
The Foundation facilitated a February 2023 Workshop of ACOEL Fellows, environmental members of the American Law Institute, and third-party experts to analyze the feasibility of persuading ALI to commission a first-ever Restatement of Environmental Law or Principles of Environmental Law.
Become a Donor
Donations to the ACOEL Foundation help fund the public interest work of the Fellows of ACOEL. Donations qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions.
Donations can also be made by sending a check payable to ACOEL Foundation to:
ACOEL Foundation
2800 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA 22314