Donor-Directed Philanthropy

Philanthropic institutions and individuals often approach Resources Legacy Fund with specific goals for protecting natural resources or advancing a particular interest. Or they may approach us with a more general desire to preserve beauty, natural systems, and biodiversity for future generations. We have helped foundations, philanthropists, and public agencies develop, clarify, and implement their conservation visions through comprehensive program strategies designed to produce measurable and lasting conservation legacies.

We are results-driven, pragmatic and strategic. Whether the project is a focused study of a single topic, or a multi-year program with funding from multiple sources, we apply the same rigorous attention to detail. Our commitment to quality is not affected by scale.

Clarity at the Outset. We start by learning about our donor’s goals, then begin researching the pertinent natural and cultural landscapes. We engage biologists and resource managers, consult with key community stakeholders, bring in experts who can challenge our assumptions and, in some cases, conduct public opinion research. This process includes ongoing conversations and meetings with the donor to ensure agreement on the overall direction. While working toward the highest degree of clarity, we begin to identify the best conservation opportunities and approaches.

Strategic Design. We incorporate an array of creative techniques and multi-disciplinary approaches to effect conservation outcomes carefully aligned with a donor’s programmatic goals. We work with the donor and others to build a program—creating a clear path from the assessed needs and desired goals through the most promising approaches and priorities, all the way to on-the-ground results. We develop priorities, set reasonable timelines, define indicators of success, identify actions, and build systems for measuring and reporting progress. We agree upon meaningful outcomes that will provide sustainable conservation achievement.

Protecting Donor Funds. Once the goals have been clearly defined, and the strategies agreed upon, we direct and manage a conservation program to successful completion. We commit funds to program activities according to the program’s strategic design, moving funds quickly and efficiently into the field, where the real work of conservation is being done. We do not aim to create a lasting endowment for Resources Legacy Fund; instead we are focused on creating the conservation legacies envisioned by our donors.

Resources Legacy Fund and its supporting organization Resources Legacy Fund Foundation are 501(c)(3) public charities; all donations are tax deductible.

For more information on services we provide to donors, contact us at: info@resourceslegacyfund.org.

Photograph by Tupper Ansel Blake