The Gilbert F. White Endowment
For Floodplain Management Policy

If you would like to honor the memory of Gilbert White and his life-long work to reduce the costs and suffering from flooding, please consider making a donation to the Endowment in his memory. For a pledge card, please click here.

BACKGROUND

Gilbert F. White (1911-2006) introduced in his 1942 dissertation Human Adjustments to Floods, the understanding that flood losses generally were the result of human actions that put people and property at risk. What made this observation revolutionary was that it occurred during an era when natural systems were deemed to be controllable and bendable though human imposed management strategies and systems.

For the ensuing 60+ years Gilbert’s leadership was essential in developing the framework of our current systems of “wise use” floodplain management approaches that balance flood loss reduction with multiple use strategies (including conservation) of floodplains.

THE ENDOWMENT

To honor the legacy of Gilbert F. White, the ASFPM Foundation is establishing an endowment in his name. Gilbert F. White was a founding Trustee of the Foundation. Prior to his death, Gilbert expressed his support for the establishment of an endowment that would focus on data collection, supporting essential evaluations, and be integrated with future policy discussions.

Following Gilbert’s wishes, the ASFPM Foundation has sought to create this endowment and house it within the Foundation.

THE PURPOSE OF THE ENDOWMENT

The purpose of the endowment is to fund:

• Data Collection for use in assessing programs of floodplain and watershed management.
• Sponsoring assessments, evaluations and research of floodplain management and related watershed    management activities.
• Support of the Gilbert F. White Flood Policy Forum of the ASFPM Foundation
• Other purposes consistent with furthering of Gilbert F. White’s philosophy for wise floodplain    management approaches as determined by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees

The Minimum Endowment Level for the Gilbert F. White fund is $200,000. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees shall determine the use of the funds consistent with the Foundation’s and Gilbert F. White’s mission and vision.

If you would like to honor the memory of Gilbert White and his life-long work to reduce the costs and suffering from flooding, please consider making a donation to the Endowment in his memory. For a pledge card, please click here.