Dear Sierra Family,

As we celebrate Earth Day, I’m reaching out to you not just as the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, but as someone who has devoted her life to protecting the mountains we all cherish. Today, I’m making a personal appeal that comes straight from my heart.

Our Sierra Nevada—California’s lifeline—is at a critical crossroads.

The recent news has been devastating. The Trump administration has proposed dramatic cuts to climate funding and environmental non-profit programs nationwide, with organizations like ours directly in the crosshairs. These cuts aren’t abstract policy decisions—they threaten our ability to protect the Sierra in real, immediate ways. Most urgently, our Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) program is at risk of losing critical federal funding.

For 18 years, our SNAP program has been the backbone of conservation work across the Sierra. Each year, we place AmeriCorps members with partner organizations throughout our mountain range, where they restore and monitor watersheds, educate Sierra residents and visitors on environmental issues, and recruit and manage volunteers. These dedicated individuals serve as our boots on the ground, providing irreplaceable services that our partner organizations couldn’t deliver without them.

The impact is staggering: since 2007, our SNAP members have restored over 25,000 acres of land, monitored 8,000 sites, and reached over 250,000 individuals through environmental education and outreach, according to our records. These aren’t just numbers—they represent healthier forests, cleaner water, and more engaged communities throughout our Sierra Nevada.

But now, the White House is targeting AmeriCorps for significant cuts. Just five days ago, another AmeriCorps program received notice that members would need to exit early “due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control,” citing the new Department of Government Efficiency’s impact on “their ability to sustain program operations,” according to an email obtained by the Associated Press.

We cannot let this happen to our Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership.

This Earth Month, I’m asking you to take a stand with us by making a monthly donation to ensure the Sierra Nevada Alliance can continue this vital work regardless of federal funding cuts. Your consistent support will help us maintain our conservation efforts even as government priorities shift away from climate action.

Your monthly gift will:

• Help SNA find creative solutions to maintain our AmeriCorps program.
• Support our critical watershed restoration work that protects California’s water supply.
• Fund our advocacy to keep fighting for Sierra protection at state and federal levels.
• Maintain our ability to respond quickly to emerging threats across the range.

With hope and determination,

Jenny Hatch

Executive Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance

P.S. Our AmeriCorps members are often at the beginning of their conservation careers—providing not just immediate impact, but developing the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Your support today helps ensure that the pipeline of dedicated Sierra stewards continues for generations to come.