Don Weeden

Don Weeden is an internationally-known conservation leader who recently retired from serving for more than 20 years as the Executive Director of the New York-based Weeden Foundation, an international organization that supports a wide range of programs that aim to preserve biodiversity, nationally and internationally.
Don has a long-standing commitment to conservation. He has played an instrumental role in launching the private lands conservation efforts in Chile and his informed philanthropy has catalyzed meaningful land protection and policy action across the country. His deep knowledge of environmental issues in Chile also led him to support a revitalization of efforts to pass the Derecho Real de Conservación legislation and Environmental Philanthropy law in the Chilean Congress. In 2015, Don founded the Quick Response Fund for Nature to ensure that globally significant land deals have timely access to the necessary funds. To date, the fund has facilitated over 50 land deals in 25 different countries. Prior to the Weeden Foundation, Don had a nearly 25-year career in the international population field, serving in various field and management positions for Columbia University, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and other non-governmental organizations. He is an avid whitewater and sea kayaker with a keen interest in river and coastal conservation.