Meet Our Founder

Dr. Emily Weeks is the Founder and Executive Director of America The Beautiful Foundation, a national nonprofit uniting government, business, and philanthropy to restore America's lands and waters for the country's 250th anniversary.A former USAID senior leader who has helped mobilize more than $50 billion in public-private partnerships, she leads a coalition spanning federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and conservation organizations nationwide.

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A globally recognized leader in sustainability, conservation, and international development, Dr. Emily Weeks is a scientist and strategist with extensive government experience, including senior leadership at USAID.

She has built a distinguished career creating partnerships that unite government, business, philanthropy, and civil society around ambitious environmental and community goals.

Dr. Weeks has helped shape and mobilize more than $50 billion in public-private partnerships.

She is widely respected for her ability to unlock funding, align diverse stakeholders, and translate complex challenges into practical, scalable solutions with measurable outcomes.

Her expertise spans conservation science, environmental policy, marine science, natural resource governance, land tenure, blended finance, and sustainable investment.

She brings a deep understanding of how capital, policy, and cross-sector collaboration can advance environmental stewardship while strengthening communities and expanding opportunity.

Through her leadership with America The Beautiful Foundation, Dr. Weeks is helping build innovative partnerships that protect America's natural resources, invest in the next generation, and deliver lasting benefits across the country.

Her collaborative leadership and proven ability to move bold ideas from vision to implementation make her a trusted partner for funders seeking meaningful, measurable, and enduring impact.