Will acute drought, rapid growth, a changing climate, and a business-as-usual approach be the end of the Hill Country we love?
Not on our watch!
Now is the time when getting it right matters most.
Roots & Reach builds upon the momentum the Hill Country Alliance has generated over the past 20 years to achieve meaningful, permanent conservation victories across our region. This new effort will focus attention on three primary impact areas:
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Significant expansion of the Hill Country Leadership Institute
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Our plan is big on strategy and efficiency—doing what we do best—but it requires financial support beyond our current annual budget. Roots & Reach is a two-year fundraising initiative to raise $3.7 million for our plan of action.
Twenty years of ‘getting it right’ in the Hill Country.
Hill Country Alliance’s roots were planted in 2004 by a group of neighbors concerned about new water pipelines fueling the rate of growth in unincorporated areas of western Travis County. These early living room conversations gave rise to an organization that has grown into a regional catalyst for conservation and a champion for balancing growth and natural resource conservation across 17 counties.
Today, we have a staff of 11, an annual budget of more than $1.5 million, a thoughtful and focused strategic plan, and a strong vision for the future of the Hill Country.
Our brand, impact, reputation, and roots in the region have never been stronger. Below is a snapshot of our program work and successes.
Supporting Land Conservation & Stewardship
Through its workshops and outreach, HCA’s Land Program convenes landowners, practitioners, and conservation organizations across the region to discuss land stewardship and best practices. We were intimately involved in successful bond measures in Kendall, Hays, and Travis Counties, resulting in more than $350 million invested in land conservation and park creation.
In 2022, HCA worked with nearly 50 partners to launch the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape. This is the first Sentinel Landscape in the State of Texas—protecting military readiness while supporting land conservation. HCA plays an active role in grants that bring more than $30 million in federal investment
to the region.
Protecting Water Quality and Quantity
Nearly all our work ties back to water, a major focus since the start of our organization. Our Water Program collaborates with many local and regional partners to elevate the voices of rural communities. We are leaders and champions of water conservation and reuse models and helped secure the passage of three “One Water” resolutions across the region, promoting water sustainability and resilience.
We support numerous grassroots water groups across the region and helped launch the land and water conservation organizations in Kerr, Blanco, and Comal Counties. We create resources to inform and empower groups and individuals—from water issue papers to detailed guides for water management and sample language for Hill Country homeowners’ associations.
Preserving Night Skies
The HCA Night Sky program helps
Hill Country counties and communities minimize the impacts of light pollution through education and outreach, the adoption of outdoor lighting policies, recognition of local night-sky-friendly businesses, and the celebration of certified International Dark Sky Places in our region.
HCA has worked with local volunteers across the region to launch, support, and foster 18 Friends of the Night Sky Groups.
With the support of the Hill Country Alliance, 18 municipalities have adopted outdoor lighting ordinances, more than two dozen night sky preservation resolutions have been passed, and 13 parks, communities, and neighborhoods have been designated as International Dark Sky Places.
“HCA knows what’s needed to effect change and protect the land, water, and skies of our Hill Country. But they can’t do it without those of us who give.”
MICHELLE WHITWELL POKORNY, HCA Board member and donor
Building Strong Communities
Recognizing strong land, water, and night sky stewardship is rooted in healthy and vibrant communities. HCA formed the Communities Program with the goal of supporting cities, counties, and community-based organizations addressing specific threats from rapid growth.
HCA was central in the formation of the Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) and continues to play an active role.
Since it began in 2023, the Hill Country Leadership Institute has connected more than 47 elected leaders from across 14 Hill Country counties. To support and streamline regional efforts, HCA conducted an inventory of city ordinances and released the Leading by Example Guidebook in 2023.
Focusing on Education and Outreach
As a community-centered organization, our focus and priorities are driven by the needs of the people and places we serve across the 17-county region.
Since 2022, HCA has averaged more than 130 annual events and speaking engagements, with online platforms reaching more than 20,000 per year.
Over the last 20 years, HCA has created more than 50 free, publicly available guidebooks, reports, and papers to educate on key natural resource issues, several in English and Spanish. HCA video resources have accumulated more than 6,300 hours of watch time on YouTube.
Growing the Network
In 2019, HCA helped launch the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network which regularly connects more than 400 leaders in conservation, academia, and government to organize and share information.
With HCA acting as its fiscal sponsor and backbone support, the Network has driven the creation of several key reports, such as the State of the Hill Country in 2022.
The Network was selected by the Water Funder Initiative for a matching grant, which drove more than $3 million from national philanthropic partners to Central Texas.
We can’t do it without you.
Roots & Reach is the first-ever, major donor initiative undertaken by the Hill Country Alliance.
Our roots are strong. Now it’s time to expand our reach. Your gift to the Roots and Reach initiative at the Hill Country Alliance will help ensure that the land, water, night skies, and communities of the Hill Country are here for the long term.
This work is critical, and it cannot wait.