Ten Strands is an environmentalist education and advocacy organization that works closely with California state agencies to incorporate left-leaning climate change and environmental activism concepts into California PreK-12 school curriculums. ^{1 2}

Ten Strands president Will Parish is also President of the Suzanne D. Parish Foundation. The Suzanne D. Parish Foundation regularly makes large contributions to Ten Strands. ³

Background

Ten Strands was founded in 2011 by Will Parish, a high-school teacher in San Francisco. In 2009, the California State Board of Education appointed Parish to the Instructional Quality Commission, a panel tasked with advising the State Board of Education on matters related to school curriculum and instruction. The Instruction Quality Commission worked with the State Board of Education to develop the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI), an effort to “blend the environment into the teaching of traditional academic subjects like science, history, and English language arts.” ^{4 5}

Parish met with Karen Cowe to help start a non-profit intending to work with the state’s school system in order to implement the new environmental education standards. Cowe had been the CEO of an educational materials publishing company that was acquired by McGraw Hill. “There we were, sitting under a $5 million painting, living it up in San Francisco, poring over textbooks rather than drinks”, Cowe reminisced on her early meetings with Parish at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.[/note]

After Ten Strands was founded, the state contracted the organization to implement curriculum standards throughout the state. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction used the organization’s services for implementation of multiple public-school curriculum initiatives that wedged left-leaning environmental issues into all subjects. ⁶

Activities

Ten Strands primarily works in environmental education and advocacy. The organization’s education initiatives involve developing and implementing left-leaning environmental and climate change topics into K-12 courses, while its advocacy work focuses on expanding climate change and decarbonization initiatives in education. ^{7 8 9}

Education Initiatives

Promoting and distributing the Education and the Environment Initiative was Ten Strands’ first partnership with the state of California. The organization was originally contracted by the Office of Education and the Environment (OEE) in 2013 to promote and distribute the curriculum to California teachers. The curriculum is still in use, with the goal of teaching science, history, and social science using the environment as context. ^{10 11}

The Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) initiative is a set of state-mandated curriculum standards for K-12 schools that require topics such as climate change and “environmental justice” be incorporated into science, history, social science, health, and arts classes. Ten Strands has worked with several state agencies to implement and raise awareness for the EP&Cs since they were formally adopted in 2004. ¹²

Ten Strands also funded and participated in the development of the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy, a set of principles and strategies for “increasing environmental literacy” in K-12 schools. Ten Strands lobbied for the legislation that made the program part of California’s Education Code in 2018. ^{13 14}

Ten Strands expanded its work on the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy to launch the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI). This initiative brought in more organizations to implement curriculum standards statewide, and to “fully center equity” and “green energy” advocacy. ¹⁵

In 2017, Ten Strands secured $4 million from the state of California for implementing the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) network. This initiative provides teachers and schools with training and resources on implementing the organization’s environmental literacy curriculums. ¹⁶

In 2019, Ten Strands launched the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs) with the objective of educating and training “climate activists”. The partnership with the University of California and California State University systems seeks to “advance PK–12 climate and environmental justice literacy.” ¹⁷

Ten Strands is a founding partner of the National Outdoor Learning Initiative launched in 2020 to help PK-12 schools “safely and equitably reopen” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten Strands is also a founding partner in the Green Schoolyard Forest System, launched in 2022 to “create PK–12 public school grounds statewide that directly shade and protect students from extreme heat and rising temperatures due to climate change.” ¹⁸

Ten Strands has also partnered with the San Mateo Office of Education for the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program (CCEJP) with the goal of developing instructional materials for PK-12 schools concerning “climate change and environmental justice.” The initiative seeks to “empower students to be environmentally literate, engaged community members prepared to act for the well-being of their family, broader community, and environment.” ^{19 20}

Advocacy and Lobbying

Ten Strands lobbies for the expansion of left-leaning environmental and “climate crisis” curriculum standards in California schools, as well as for state funding of its initiatives. Ten Strands co-sponsored a bill to establish a “Climate Change Education Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund,” which would be used to expand required school education programs on climate change. The organization also supports legislation to promote “outdoor equity,” a critical race-theory aligned notion of eliminating race disparities in outdoor activities. ²¹

Finances

Revenue

Most of Ten Strands’ revenue comes from contributions and grants. Ten Strands receives significant funding from other tax-exempt organizations. The Elizabth R. and William J. Patterson Foundation donated $500,000 to Ten Strands between 2020 and 2022 for outdoor learning initiatives and state policy advocacy efforts. ^{22 23}

The Suzanne D. Parish Foundation contributed $250,000 to Ten Strands from 2020 to 2022 for the Environmental Literacy Program and general support. Ten Strands president Will Parish is also the president of the Suzanne D. Parish Foundation, a foundation named for his late mother that holds over $28 million in assets. ^{24 25 26}

The S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation contributed $450,000 to Ten Strands in 2020 for the California Environmental Literacy Initiative and general operating support. ²⁷

The First Republic Foundation contributed $300,000 to Ten Strands from 2021 to 2022 for “education” and to create a “new senior level position to lead the production, dissemination, and teacher training of the new climate curriculum.” ^{28 29}

The David and Lucille Packard Foundation Contributed $250,000 to Ten Strands from 2020 to 2022. ^{30 31}

The Sand Hill Foundation contributed $165,000 to Ten Strands between 2020 and 2022. ^{32 33 34}

The Caldwell Fisher Family contributed $150,000 to Ten Strands over the same period. ^{35 36 37}

The William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation also contributed $150,000 to Ten Strands from 2020 to 2022. ^{38 39 40}

The Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation contributed $125,000 to Ten Strands from 2021 to 2022. ^{41 42 43}

The Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation contributed $125,000 to Ten Strands from 2021 to 2022. ^{44 45}

The Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation contributed $100,000 to Ten Strands in 2020. ⁴⁶

The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation contributed $100,000 to Ten Strands from 2021 to 2022. ^{47 48}

The HRH Foundation contributed $90,000 to Ten Strands from 2020 to 2022. ^{49 50 51}

Ten Strands worked with California State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) to secure $6 million from the State Legislature for the Climate Change and Environmental Justice initiative in 2021.Ten Strands secured another $4 million from the legislature for the California Regional Environmental Education Community  initiative in 2017. The organization unsuccessfully lobbied for an additional $10 million for implementation. ⁵²

Expenses

Ten Strands’ largest expense is “community outreach”, which covers a newsletter, social media activity, website maintenance, events, and advocacy efforts. Ten Strands reported spending $631,198 on community outreach in 2022. ⁵³

The organization’s second largest expense is the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, which had $464,796 devoted to it in 2022. In the same year, Ten Strands spent $111,449 on the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program and $96,277 on its Outdoor Learning initiatives. ⁵⁴

1. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
2. “Ten Strands Advocacy.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-strands-advocacy/.
3. Suzanne D. Parish Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
4. Bioneers. “Ten Strands Empowers California’s Schools to Educate Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders.” Bioneers, September 12, 2023. https://bioneers.org/ten-strands-empowers-californias-schools-to-lead-the-way-in-environmental-education-zmbz2303/.
5. “Helping to Foster Environmental Literacy for All California Students.” California Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI), September 28, 2022. https://californiaeei.org/.
6. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
7. “Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum Archives.” Ten Strands. Accessed April 30, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/eeicurriculum/curriculum/.
8. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
9. “Ten Strands Advocacy.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-strands-advocacy/.
10. “Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum Archives.” Ten Strands. Accessed April 30, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/eeicurriculum/curriculum/.
11. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
12. “Environmental Principles and Concepts.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/environmental-principles-and-concepts/.
13. “Environmental Principles and Concepts.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/environmental-principles-and-concepts/.
14. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
15. “California Environmental Literacy Initiative.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/environmental-literacy-initiative/.
16. “California Regional Environmental Education Community Network.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/partners/california-regional-environmental-education-community-network/.
17. “Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/environmental-and-climate-change-literacy-projects/.
18. “Outdoor Learning Initiatives.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/outdoor-learning-initiatives/.
19. “Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/work/climate-change-and-environmental-justice-program/.
20. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
21. “Ten Strands Advocacy.” Ten Strands. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-strands-advocacy/.
22. Elizabeth R. and William J. Patterson Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
23. Elizabeth R. and William J. Patterson Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
24. Suzanne D. Parish Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
25. Suzanne D. Parish Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
26. Suzanne D. Parish Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
27. S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
28. First Republic Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
29. First Republic Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
30. David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
31. David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
32. Sand Hill Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
33. Sand Hill Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
34. Sand Hill Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
35. Caldwell Fisher Family. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
36. Caldwell Fisher Family. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
37. Caldwell Fisher Family. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
38. William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
39. William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
40. William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
41. Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
42. Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
43. Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
44. Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
45. Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
46. Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
47. Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
48. Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
49. HRH Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.
50. HRH Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021.
51. HRH Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
52. Cowe, Karen. “Ten Years at Ten Strands: Transforming Environmental Student Learning in California.” Ten Strands, April 5, 2024. https://tenstrands.org/ten-years-at-ten-strands-transforming-schools-and-student-learning/.
53. Ten Strands. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
54. Ten Strands. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.