Creating Lasting Impact Through Collaboration
The Walton Family Foundation supports people and communities with big ideas. Those who look past differences and find creative ways to solve problems. We believe the best way to achieve lasting impact is to look, listen, learn and lead with our partners.
Our foundation is rooted in multiple generations of family. No voice is louder than the next, and different opinions are valued. We apply this legacy to our work. Doing so redefines how philanthropy collaborates with grantees and communities.
We look for great ideas - from anywhere. The foundation works with people and communities to take on some of the world’s biggest problems. We believe in bringing diverse perspectives to the same table. When people from different backgrounds are at the table, we come up with better solutions.
We listen. To caregivers and conservationists. Educators and entrepreneurs. Farmers and fishers. Doers and dreamers. Their perspectives help us reach shared understanding. And create innovative solutions.
We learn and lead together. To ensure ideas become actionable and achieve true impact. This series tells some of those stories of change.
We look for great ideas - from anywhere. The foundation works with people and communities to take on some of the world’s biggest problems. We believe in bringing diverse perspectives to the same table. When people from different backgrounds are at the table, we come up with better solutions.
We listen. To caregivers and conservationists. Educators and entrepreneurs. Farmers and fishers. Doers and dreamers. Their perspectives help us reach shared understanding. And create innovative solutions.
We learn and lead together. To ensure ideas become actionable and achieve true impact. This series tells some of those stories of change.
Look
Some of the best ideas are hiding in plain sight. All you need to do is look for them. We value all voices, especially under-represented people and perspectives, and celebrate the innovators who put their great ideas into action.
July 6, 2023
Photographer Dave Showalter had a great idea – to show the Colorado River's promise through the life it supports and stories of people working to protect it
June 20, 2023
The RightOn! classroom app is helping students deepen understanding of math concepts by learning from their mistakes
June 30, 2023
Supporting great ideas in the Delta begins with looking for emerging leaders
July 21, 2023
A Delta nonprofit is helping overlooked farmers regain control of their land through conservation programs and legal support
The RightOn! app engages students in thinking about and discussing mistakes.
Listen
We embrace a culture of listening to the voices and needs of the communities we serve. They are closest to finding solutions that last. Active listening can help bridge divides. It brings together people and ideas to solve our most urgent, relevant problems.
January 2, 2024
The Water Collaborative helps residents of New Orleans learn to live and thrive alongside the river
December 26, 2023
In New Orleans, local leaders understand that environmental priorities are also vital for economic growth
September 27, 2023
The H.I.R.E.D. program pairs students with career coaches to identify their passions and skills – then opens opportunities for them to pursue their goals
September 25, 2023
By listening to the people and communities of Northwest Arkansas, we can find solutions that improve regional affordability
North of Green Bay, Wisconsin, local students are gaining the skills and credentials that help their community thrive
July 17, 2023
Lack of water access is pervasive in many Native American communities. The foundation is supporting the critical work to end this crisis
July 10, 2023
A conversation about the water challenges and opportunities facing tribal nations.
Learn & Lead
We're proud to learn and lead together with diverse partners testing new ideas. Learning from success and failure helps us find shared solutions that benefit all.
December 29, 2023
Home Region Program Director Robert Burns sits in conversation with a local leader helping underserved entrepreneurs grow great ideas
March 4, 2024
A foundation-created evaluation tool helps improve future grantmaking
February 15, 2024
Planet Forward is inspiring and training the next generation of environmental storytellers – and empowering communities to act on climate solutions
November 29, 2023
A new report on the Walton Family Foundation’s grantee capacity-building practices surfaces several key learnings
Lessons learned from a year of grantmaking to community-based news organizations
September 20, 2023
This spring, I paddled the Dolores River. Here’s what I discovered about how habitat restoration efforts are impacting this Colorado River tributary
June 26, 2023
Philanthropy needs better approaches to measure its long-term impact. The Walton Family Foundation and peer philanthropies are learning and working together to build them
To learn what works and what doesn't in our grantmaking, we need reliable tools that provide credible evidence
October 17, 2023
With training and support, one North American nonprofit makes the case that gender equity is a critical tool for sustainability
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October 19, 2022
New research helps us understand Gen Z attitudes during one of the most challenging and divisive periods of the past century
January 6, 2022
When teams talk about what went wrong, they learn what works, what should change and what to do better
September 19, 2022
Along the left bank of the Mississippi River, something exciting is brewing. The river itself is a marvel, a super-charged vehicle for commerce, transportation and agriculture. And the land surrounding it? Some of the richest soil in the world.
With the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, the state is rebuilding wetlands to help keep up with rising sea levels and protect coastal communities