What were Beldon’s most significant achievements?
Spending out and focusing on policy change had a synergistic effect. By spending out, Beldon was able to concentrate the resources necessary to strengthen environmental advocacy. And by focusing on public policy, Beldon’s programs were able to achieve some concrete results that will last long after our exit. For example, campaigns led by Beldon grantees to ban toxic chemicals from consumer products have won scores of state policy victories, led to a federal ban on lead and phthalates found in toys and other children’s products, and paved the way for comprehensive national policy reform. The power and clout of state environmental groups and coalitions funded by Beldon have grown steadily since 1998. Their collaborative strategies and effective use of new tools to educate and engage the public have attracted funding from other donors for successful issue-specific campaigns that have won important environmental policy changes. Beldon-funded advocacy organizations are stronger, more effect
