Our goal is to raise $2 million to care for the ranch and the center. The funds will be placed in a permanent endowment to generate substantial and safe investment returns. The endowment will help us:
- Maintain the Nature Center and keep it open to the public on a daily basis.
- Enhance wildlife habitat for rare and endangered species.
- Improve and provide ongoing maintenance so that the public has safe and reliable access to all parts of Rush Ranch.
- Support the ongoing educational programs of the Rush Ranch Educational Council, which offers hands-on learning experiences for schoolchildren and other members of the community.
- Facilitate important scientific research conducted by scientists.
As a part of our Rush Ranch Stewardship Campaign we are offering naming rights to various significant sites and trails on the property. These "Recognition Opportunities" offer the donor a chance to contribute to the endowment and to receive recognition for their generous support. The opportunities include full complex, historical buildings, and trails and overlooks on the property. See the full list of Recognition Opportunities.
Buy a brick, support the stewardship campaign
Managing the Money
Commonfund, an investment management firm created by the Ford Foundation, is managing the endowment. Commonfund has an excellent record for producing sustainable returns over time for clients that include many major universities and a range of well-known nonprofits.
About the Rush Ranch Nature and Education Center
Construction is complete on the new Nature Center, including the large classroom/multi-purpose room, nature displays, working lab, offices, and living quarters for visiting scientists. The building also includes an assistant field steward residence. Solar and wind energy will provide most of the center's power. The center was built with grants from the National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Coastal Conservancy.
About Rush Ranch
Rush Ranch, Solano Land Trust’s first property, protects 2,070 acres of marsh and rolling grasslands. The preserve supports one of the best remaining examples of brackish marsh habitat in the United States, which provides a home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species and an important stopover for birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway. The natural areas and historical buildings on the 150-year old working ranch provide recreational and educational opportunities to thousands of visitors each year. Visit Rush Ranch for its wide-open skies, mosaic marshes, and pastoral scenery. Though only a short trek from the growing towns of Fairfield and Suisun City, Rush Ranch offers visitors solitude, relaxation and the joy of a natural outdoor setting abundant with wildlife.