The Schmink Fund for Innovation in Tropical Conservation and Development was established in June 2009 to strengthen and sustain the impact of the TCD Program. Dr. Marianne Schmink, a co-founder and long-time TCD Director, created the Schmink Fund through an initial gift with the goal of fostering a permanently endowed source of funds that supports new activities in tropical conservation and development.
The Schmink fund will support the development and application of innovative approaches and programs to address the complex and interrelated problems of human well-being, economic development, and biodiversity conservation for inhabitants of tropical and subtropical regions. Managed by the Center for Latin American Studies, the fund will complement UF’s on-going successful campus and field-based TCD activities by fostering new ideas and applications and by enabling shared learning throughout the tropics. Such activities include:
- New initiatives, including practical applications, training projects, or seed money for collaborative research
- Networking activities between TCD alumni, students, and partners to exchange ideas and to further collaboration
- Outreach activities to return research results to local organizations
- Other innovative initiatives and activities
Dr. Schmink has pledged to match the first $15,000 in contributions on a one-to-one basis over a five-year period.
Please join in supporting TCD’s positive impacts through a single or multi-year contribution to the Schmink Fund.
If you would like to make a gift by mail, please print and fill out this form. If you would like to give online, you can also access our online giving page here.