Renova Fort Ross Foundation
Projects Funded by the Renova Fort Ross Foundation
In October of 2010 Renova leadership signed a memorandum of understanding with both the State of California and the Fort Ross Interpretive Association (now Fort Ross Conservancy) with the goal “to raise awareness of the historical and cultural significance” of the fort.
Between 2010 and 2018 Renova and Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded numerous projects initiated by California State Parks and Fort Ross Conservancy. These contributions are listed below. In addition to the FRC and State Parks projects, Renova Fort Ross Foundation donated to the Timber Cove and Fort Ross volunteer fire stations.
Fort Ross Conservancy ceased accepting all forms of funding from Renova and Renova Fort Ross Foundation when Viktor Vekselberg was sanctioned by the United States in 2018. FRC abides by all U.S. laws. The projects listed below were funded by Renova prior to such sanctions.
Renova Donations from January through April 2018
Fort Ross Festival Sponsorship– $25,000
Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded $25,000 towards the Fort Ross Festival, an annual public event celebrating the history of the Fort Ross Historic State Park, in 2018 on July 28.
Stanford U.S.-Russia Forum (SURF) Expenses —$37,866
Renova partly funded SURF in 2018, which brings together students at Russian and American universities for research in public policy, business, economics and many other disciplines, including three days of team building at Fort Ross which took place on March 30 through April 5, 2018. Funding underwrites food, accommodations, transportation, and event expenses for ~40 SURF participants.
Marine Ecology for Little People —$7,600
Renova Fort Ross Foundation support for Marine Ecology for Little People allowed FRC to purchase art supplies and binoculars that fit younger students.
2017 Renova Fort Ross Foundation Donations and Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy
Fort Ross Festival sponsorship– $25,000
Renova Fort Ross Foundation partly funded the Fort Ross Festival held in 2017.
Support for FRC’s Bilingual Tour Guide–$35,000
Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded part of the costs of employing Hank Birnbaum at Fort Ross in 2017.
Stanford US Russia Forum 2017—$20,565
Renova Fort Ross Foundation partly funded the 7th year of the Stanford-US Russia Forum (SURF) at Fort Ross, bringing 40 university students from the US and Russia to Fort Ross.
FRC Education Fund – $2,694
This fund provided scholarships to underserved students who wished to participate in FRC’s Marine Ecology Program.
Fort Ross Dialogue and Harvest Festival Sponsorship– $40,000.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation, with others, sponsored, these events. Renova also brought a photographic exhibit from the Russian National Geographic Society to share with FRC’s guests.
2016 Renova Fort Ross Foundation Donations and Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy
Sponsorship for Fort Ross Festival — $25,000
Renova Fort Ross Foundation provided support for Fort Ross Festival for 2016.
Support for FRC’s Bilingual Tour Guide–$25,000
Renova Fort Ross Foundation contributed towards the costs of employing Hank Birnbaum as a bilingual tour guide at Fort Ross.
Stanford US Russia Forum 2016—$23,000
With underwriting from Renova Fort Ross Foundation, FRC hosted the sixth year of the Stanford-US Russia Forum (SURF) at Fort Ross.
FRC Education Fund – $20,000
These funds provided scholarships to underserved students who participated in FRC’s Marine Ecology Program. The FRC Education Fund also receives support from U.S. foundations and private donors.
FRC Education Fund – $7,000
These funds provided scholarships to underserved students who participated in FRC’s Environmental Living Program.
2015 Renova Fort Ross Foundation Donations and Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy
Stanford US Russia Forum 2014—$19,253.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation contributed to FRC’s costs of hosting the fifth year of the Stanford-US Russia Forum (SURF) at Fort Ross.
Marine Ecology Youth Program—$7,500.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation, the California Coastal Commission, and local donors funded scholarships to FRC’s Marine Ecology Program .
Fort Ross Festival 2015—$25,000.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation sponsored the 2015 Fort Ross Festival.
2014 Renova Fort Ross Foundation Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy
Stanford US Russia Forum 2014—$17,795.
Funded the Stanford-US Russia Forum overnight field trip that brings over 40 students from the US and Russia to Fort Ross for several days of camaraderie and community service.
Historic Orchard Conference— $9,450.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded two phases of orchard restoration and stabilization. In addition, in 2014 they funded the Historic Orchard Conference, which brought together experts from California State Parks, National Parks, and various private organizations to discuss how best to care for this living resource.
Historic Orchard Phase III—$34,600
Su Nu Nu Shinal Kashia Dancers Performance in Moscow—$35,000.
The Renova Foundation and the Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded international airfare for the Kashia performers and sponsored a series of events and a special exhibit at the recently-opened Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow to highlight the Su Nu Nu Shinal dance group. Breck Parkman, Senior State Archaeologist with California State Parks, joined the performers in Moscow and spoke at the Museum of Tolerance. To read more about this remarkable expedition, see FRC’s Krasnoyarsk Trip Report.
Fort Ross Conservancy Capacity Grant — $50,000.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation contributed to Fort Ross Conservancy’s operating expenses.
Bilingual Tours and Audio Tour—$16,000.
his grant funded bilingual marketing collateral, and development of a downloadable audio tour and driving guide to better assist visitors coming to our park.
Marine Ecology Youth Program—$12,000.
This grant funded FRC’s working with high school teachers to develop a marine ecology program.
2013 Renova Fort Ross Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy
Capacity Grant in support of Fort Ross Conservancy staff— $70,000.
Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded FRC’s efforts to keeping Fort Ross open and accessible to the public through outreach. FRC created brochures, printed materials, and exhibits in both English and Russian to better educate the public about the unique history of Fort Ross.
Costume Maintenance —$35,000.
Funded the proper storage, care, and seamstress upkeep of thirty historic costumes.
Harvest Festival 2013—$45,219.
Partly funded the Harvest Festival event in 2013.
Russian Language Interpreter—$22,000.
Provided two years of funding for a bilingual historic interpreter/guide to be made available to Fort Ross visitors.
Stanford US Russia Forum 2013—$17,795.
Funded the 2013 Stanford-US Russia Forum for 48 hours of history, camaraderie, and community service at Fort Ross.
2012 Renova Fort Ross Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy and California State Parks
2012 Celebration—$59,065.
Partly funded Fort Ross Conservancy’s efforts to publicize the Fort Ross bicentennial through new publications, outreach, event support and PR, etc.
Fort Ross Bicentennial Weekend Celebration—$10,000
Partly funded Fort Ross Bicentennial Weekend. In addition, Renova Fort Ross Foundation supported ground expenses for Pyatnitsky Chorus’ participation at the two-day event. (Companies Chevron, Transneft, and Sovcomflot were also sponsors of this event.)
Visitor Center Upgrade—$90,000.
Funded improvements to best prepare for 2012 celebrations. The public auditorium received new carpeting, lighting, furniture, public media computers, storage for inventory, and upgraded kitchenette.
Sound equipment for events at Fort Ross—$25,000.
Funded the purchase by FRC of podiums, microphones, wireless microphones, and portable amps used at its many events.
Historic Orchard Phase 2 Stabilization—$55,000.
Funds stabilizing the trees and orchard perimeter fencing to better protect this living resource.
New Fort Ross State Historic Park Entrance Sign—$11,948.
Funded all costs associated with the purchase and installation of the new park entrance sign at Highway One.
Russian Orthodox Concelebration—$10,000.
Funded the August 25, 2012, Fort Ross Bicentennial Russian Orthodox Con-Celebration, where hierarchs and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Orthodox Сhurch in America and other Orthodox jurisdictions will con-celebrate the Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the bicentennial of the establishment of the first Russian settlement in California at Fort Ross..
Springfest 2012 Event —$1,750
Underwrote costs associated with hosting a table at UC Berkeley’s Springfest event.
Stanford-US Russia Forum 2012—$13,500.
Funded the Stanford-US Russia Forum, bringing university students from the US and Russia to Fort Ross for an overnight experience at Fort Ross.
Fort Ross Media Project—$25,000.
Abamedia, an international producer of television, film, new media, and archival properties for the global marketplace, now offers stock footage on Fort Ross, and past and current Fort Ross events through the Fort Ross Media Project.
Well Restoration—$27,500.
The historic Fort Ross water well restoration project, coordinated by California State Parks, replaces the failing structure of the well and mitigates the drainage and erosion issues around the well surround.
Windmill Celebration—$1464.
Funded the costs of hosting the unveiling of the replica windmill.
2011 Renova Fort Ross Grants Awarded to Fort Ross Conservancy and California State Parks
Capacity 2011—$30,228.
Funded FRC’s bicentennial of events, ready website, and publishing of marketing materials.
CHD 2011—$7,723
Funded event expenses pertaining to Cultural Heritage Day in July of 2011.
Costume Grant —$54,786
Partly funded new historic scenarios with actors in a wide array of period costume. The 30 costumes and vignettes continue to be shared with the public.
Library Digitization Project —$20,041
Digitized the rare and unique manuscripts pertaining to Fort Ross that live in FRC’s library, to be made available from this website.
Visit Fort Ross Digital Library.
Museum Displays —$8,600
Design and build a display case for the Visitor Center.
Historic Orchard Phase I—$29,518
Funded the immediate physical protection and improvements to the existing orchard: feral pig trapping, fence replacement/ improvement, and vegetation management.
Outreach —$42,155
Funded the writing, layout, and printing of new books and brochures pertaining to Fort Ross.
Stanford-US Russia Forum 2011—$7,208
Funded the Stanford-US Russia Forum, bringing American and Russian university students to Fort Ross for a day of history, camaraderie, and community service at Fort Ross.
VC Planning —$8,508
Funded the first phase of architectural analysis to determine goals & objectives for remodel the Fort Ross Visitor Center.
Capacity 2012—$72,547
Provided support for FRC to prepare and staff bicentennial event calendar.
Grants Awarded to California State Parks
Construction of the Replica Fort Ross Windmill
Rotchev Roof Replacement—$158,000.00
Renova Fort Ross Foundation funded the cost of re-roofing the Rotchev House. The Rotchev House, built circa 1836, is the only original Russian-built structure at Fort Ross and is the most important structure in the re-created Fort Ross compound. It is a national landmark structure. Grant was awarded in 2011; the new roof was completed in November 2013.
2012 Fort Ross Bicentennial State Parks Staffing—$38,063.
Renova funded California State Park’s interpretive team (ISET) to train for and work the bicentennial weekend, providing the public with hands-on assistance.