Results are Key
Resources Legacy Fund works to advance the lasting conservation of natural resources. We also work to build supportive policies and enhance the capacity of groups and leaders in the field.
Donors come to us because we are
results-driven, pragmatic, and strategic. We don’t hold rigidly
to any one approach or style. As we plan programs, we develop metrics for success
that enable us to gauge progress
along the way and ensure the attainment of donors’ goals.
Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) and
Resources Law Group (RLG) partner in an innovative approach to conservation philanthropy, with each contributing unique strengths to RLF’s donors. Leanly staffed, with a strong bench of consulting expertise, RLF has the ability to accept tax-deductible grants, pool funds from a variety of sources, fund lobbying efforts, build the capacity and effectiveness of grantees, and measure conservation results. As RLF’s primary consultant, RLG contributes deep expertise on conservation-related issues; knowledge of laws, regulation, and policy; coalition building experience; and nonpartisan political expertise.

Multidisciplinary Expertise. We offer a wide range of services provided by
highly skilled groups and individuals who share the conservation
goals and support the projects of our donors. Donors benefit
from our strong relationships with government, philanthropic,
and nonprofit entities, and a network of science, legal, and
policy experts.
Strategic
Alliances. Conservation is a nonpartisan issue. It
provides many opportunities to unify disparate groups and
communities. We build unexpected partnerships and bring new
constituencies into the conservation arena. Often, when a
variety of groups is working on the same or similar projects, we
bring them together to facilitate learning and coordination. We
also convene government decision makers, conservation advocates,
academics, and technical experts to advance common goals, build
momentum through collaboration, and achieve more durable
solutions than would be possible with the same entities working in isolation.
Leverage.
We know that a modest philanthropic investment can catalyze
change. It can also leverage significant public and private
funding. We can pool funds from multiple funders to achieve common goals
that no
single donor could achieve alone.
Program
Management. We solicit proposals, screen them against
program-specific criteria, and help shape projects to be
effective, successful, and measurable. We track commitments and
outcomes, sending periodic updates and progress reports to donors, providing
them ongoing engagement in the
fulfillment of their conservation legacies.
Responsive to
Opportunities. We develop specific strategies,
priorities, and criteria for achieving the objectives for each
program we administer. We also know that opportunities may arise
unexpectedly, and we strive to quickly identify, assess, and
pursue unique openings to achieve the program's objectives.
Revolving Loan
Funds. We help donors provide bridge financing, primarily
for land acquisition. These funds can ensure that lands are
purchased when the price is right —even if public funding is not
readily available. Once the public funding is available, these
short-term loans are repaid, making the funds available for
additional conservation projects.
Technical Assistance.
Many otherwise effective conservation groups lack access to key
experts and technologies. We work to identify their needs and
provide them access to photographers, cartographers,
communications experts, pollsters, strategists, and others.
Access to this expertise provides organizations with
tools and experience that continues to enhance their effectiveness long
after program funding has been spent.
Photograph by Tupper Ansel Blake
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