The Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund
The Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund enables Earth Economics to provide technical assistance to one non-profit or community-based organization each year to advance local solutions to environmental injustice, climate hazards, or threats of displacement.
Amigos de Los Rios
2022 Recipient
The inaugural Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund awardee was Amigos de los Rios, a non-profit based in Los Angeles, California. For nearly 20 years, Amigos de los Rios has been committed to improving the built environment and bolstering civic engagement in under-served communities. They work to empower community members with shared values of environmental stewardship, cultural awareness, and the power to effect positive change.
The Value of Greening Schools
Earth Economics partnered with Amigos de los Rios to measure the impact of greening schools. Our benefit-cost analysis of Green School projects helped to reveal the public cost savings and multiple co-benefits of investing in greening schools. With this data and information, Amigos de los Rios is able to make the case for future investment in green infrastructure initiatives and inform dialogue with the Los Angeles County Board of Education.
Earth Economics provides economic valuation,
mapping, and training services.
Economic valuation of proposed or completed projects, including green infrastructure, green workforce development, tree planting, gardens, habitat restoration, or park development. Depending on data availability and need, services can include ecosystem service and community benefit valuation, qualitative valuation, and/or framework development, leading to factsheet summaries for the general public, or more detailed reports.
Mapping can document historic, existing, or proposed greenspaces and other natural assets, disproportionate impacts (e.g., flooding, heat), or the flow of benefits to specific stakeholders. Maps may be interactive and web-based, or produced for print or geospatial software.
Training services are available to help organizations better understand green infrastructure and natural capital, the value of ecosystem services, and the strategic opportunities presented by ecosystem services valuation, or how to map community or project assets. Training support materials include slide decks, presentations, and curriculum development.
About the Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund
Ingrid Rasch served as Earth Economics’ Board Chair for 13 years, helping to build the board and set strategic direction. Ingrid was critical in doubling the size of our board and bringing in a diverse group of talented people from different industries that share the same vision at Earth Economics. Her efforts to connect with businesses and the finance sector have been instrumental in shaping Earth Economics’ future.
At the end of 2021, the Board of Directors created the Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund, which honors Ingrid’s values as an advocate of the environment and wildlife. She has dedicated her life to advancing recognition for the importance of the environment to communities, economies, and businesses. With the Fund, we aim to spur innovative ideas and support environmental stewards who are forging change within their own communities.