Gulf of California Fund


A long-term financing mechanism of non-endowment and endowment assets

The Project

The Gulf of California Fund  (FGC, acronym in Spanish) aims to conserve the network of marine-coastal ecosystems representative of the Gulf of California and the North Pacific by channeling resources to initiatives in PAs and their areas of influence. 

Context

The FGC is a long-term financing mechanism whose vision is to contribute to healthy and interconnected marine-coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of California and the North Pacific to provide ecosystem goods and services. The FGC is comprised of non-endowment and endowment assets. 

On the other hand, the FGC's non-endowment resources mainly come from a financing mechanism linked to nature tourism. Thanks to the leadership of the Lindblad Expeditions cruise company and its partnership with the National Geographic Society, passengers on cruises that travel through the Gulf of California make donations to support conservation efforts. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN, acronym in Spanish) provide matching funds that triple the donations from travelers.

The funded initiatives are selected through open calls every three years. The objective is to build resilient communities and link sustainable use activities to conserve the network of marine-coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of California and the North Pacific.


The lines of work that guide the actions of the Gulf of California Fund are:

    In 2009, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Conservation International, through the Global Conservation Fund, and the Marisla Foundation, through the International Community Foundation, contributed to the FGC's endowment resources. The interests support management and conservation efforts in four priority marine protected areas of the Gulf of California: Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve, Canales de Ballenas and Salsipuedes, and the Cabo Pulmo, Isabel Island and Marietas Islands National Parks.

    Territorial governance.

    Sustainable initiatives.

    Conservation of habitats and priority species.

    Resilience to climate events.

    The financed initiatives are aimed at strengthening the social cohesion of coastal communities.

    Read the executive summary of the FGC evaluation

    Achievements

    Since its beginning in 2001, the FGM has strengthened the ecological and social vitality of the region, funding 136 initiatives from 52 local organizations. An external evaluation highlighted the importance of adapting innovative strategies to expand the impact and guarantee the permanence of the FGC.

    During the second half of 2024, FMCN provided technical and administrative follow-up to nine organizations selected through the most recent call for proposals. The ongoing subprojects address topics such as sustainable fisheries management, community-based tourism, artisanal fishing and aquaculture, promotion of community-based solutions for healthy oceans, economic diversification in fishing communities, best practices in fishing, mangrove conservation, prevention of sea lion entanglement, coral reef restoration, and climate change adaptation.

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    Allies

    Donors:

    • Conservation International Mexico / Global Conservation Fund
    • Homeland Foundation
    • International Community Foundation
    • Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Joint Fund for Exploration and Conservation
    • Marisla Foundation
    • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation