Letter from the Executive Director
2006 Financial Information
Full 2006 Annual Report (PDF 3.1 MB; Requires Adobe Reader)




Letter from the Executive Director

Thanks to the generosity of Cottonwood Foundation’s contributors and the hard work of our volunteers, the foundation was able to award $45,000 to grassroots organizations worldwide in 2006! This translates into 45 grants that are helping to create a more sustainable future by supporting projects that are making a real difference for people and the environment.

Cottonwood was able to dedicate over 94% of its expenditures directly to grants last year, with only $2,632.91 in other expenses (for postage, bank wires, printing, and other necessary costs). By relying on volunteers and donated services – and without paid staff – your gifts have been highly leveraged to have a significant impact.

2006 saw the Cottonwood Partner program continuing to build good will between people throughout the world, demonstrating that no matter how different our backgrounds and cultures are, we can all find a common cause in helping to create a better future. Cottonwood and its partners are helping to bring people together to address issues that are pressing at both a local and international level – and your help is the force behind this work.

As the world enters a period of rising concern about climate change and energy issues, your generous help for these partner organizations in their steady work for a better world is even more important. Actually, the activities that you have funded are empowering Cottonwood Partner organizations in a real way to address both climate and energy challenges. In 2006, grants were awarded for projects that supported renewable energy (including solar, biomass and humanpowered), more efficient and lower carbon emission wood stoves, tree planting, reuse of materials for building and household furnishings, and other activities that are not only environmentally-friendly but also contribute to reducing climate change.

In addition to those efforts that protect our global environment, your gifts have supported work that is genuinely helping to save and improve lives now – through providing clean water for communities and schools, sanitation, and local organic food production. And lives are being changed for the better for low-income families through new sources of livelihood which empower them to move out of poverty.

Cottonwood added several indigenous peoples organizations as partners in 2006 that are working to repurchase land to enable their communities to survive while respecting the land itself. Your contributions to Cottonwood’s land fund directly supported grants that strengthened their efforts.

We again thank you for your support for Cottonwood’s work – which is our common response to the serious challenges that face our species, while recognizing that every small step can take us in a better direction. Though Cottonwood’s grants are relatively small, the numbers of people reached are actually quite large – and the hope and positive energy generated equally significant.

Your contributions and encouragement are what allow this work to continue, and we are so grateful for your continuing involvement and support.

Paul Moss
Executive Director




Mission Statement

Cottonwood Foundation, a charitable, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to promoting empowerment of people, protection of the environment, and respect for cultural diversity.

The foundation will focus its funding on committed, grassroots organizations that rely strongly on volunteer efforts, and where foundation support will make a significant difference. At least 90 percent of Cottonwood Foundation's expenditures will be for grants to other organizations.