The Bob Skiera Memorial Fund was established by TREE Fund, the Skiera Family, Wisconsin Arborist Association, and the International Society of Arboriculture. It supports efforts that encourage the communication of the value of trees and urban forests, aligning with Bob Skiera's legacy as an urban forestry pioneer who promoted collaboration among urban forestry and planning professionals.
The Bob Skiera Memorial Fund backs the “Building Bridges Initiative,” offering financial aid for arborists and urban foresters to demonstrate the importance of trees and urban forests. This is achieved through collaborative research and projects with a variety of professionals including public works officials and civil engineers. The grants focus on enhancing interactions between urban forest managers and other experts to optimize the benefits of urban forests, with possible research areas including urban forest benefits, policy formation, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem services. The maximum grant award is $30,000, aiming to foster interdisciplinary cooperation for urban forest management and valuation.