Conservation Legacy Strategic Plan 2024–2027

2024-2027

Strategic Framework

I am excited to share with you our newly developed strategic plan. This plan is a roadmap for the next three years that will guide us as we navigate the exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for Conservation Legacy. The strategic plan is the result of extensive collaboration, thoughtful analysis, and collective visioning with our planning consultant, staff, and key stakeholders. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing the mission and vision of our organization.

As we embark on this journey together, this plan serves to reaffirm our purpose and clarify our direction for the future. The plan serves as a framework that will guide our decisions and actions in the pursuit of our goals. It outlines strategic priorities, objectives, and initiatives that will drive our organization forward and enable us to fulfill our mission amid a rapidly changing world.

At the heart of our strategic plan lies our unwavering dedication to our participants, projects, and staff that will always guide our efforts. This dedication serves as the foundation on which to build our future while continuing to ensure that we remain true to our identity and principles as we strive for excellence and impact.

Together, we have the power to shape our future and create meaningful change in our environment and communities while at the same time creating a lifelong impact for our participants. Let us embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm, determination, and a shared sense of purpose.

Together, we will chart a course toward a brighter future and make a lasting difference in the lives of those that we serve.

In Service,

Lisa Norby, Chair, Board of Directors

MISSION

Conservation Legacy engages future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service.

VISION

We envision a world with healthy lands, air and water; thriving people and resilient communities.

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OVERVIEW

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Cons ervation Legacy’s work is rooted in its connection to people, purpose, and place. Building a legacy of healthy lands requires thoughtful investment in our people who give so much of themselves to our programs. This reciprocity is reflected by investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion work in every aspect of this strategic plan as a crucial pathway to unlocking resiliency, safety, and success within our team and, by extension, the land and communities we serve.

Storytelling

Stor ytelling is the root of our identity and communicates the impact of program and member experience. Sharing the experiences of our members and the impact of our programs is central to our efforts to elevate our work in communities nationwide.

Our Foundation

Con servation Legacy is committed to delivering high-quality and high-impact projects and programs nationwide. Young people are engaged in projects focused on natural resource conversation, recreational access, visitor engagement, and community support. These ongoing efforts will be sustained, and the focus areas will build upon these successes. Our work in these areas remains critically important. The focus areas outlined here will be additive to our current efforts and will help support the long-term success of the current projects and experiences that Conservation Legacy provides each year.

ECOSYSTEMS & CLIMATE

Conservation Legacy will confront the climate crisis and mitigate the impact on our environment through programs and partnerships focused on buffering the effects of climate change.

Conservation Legacy will mobilize, train, and support young people focused on implementing nature-based strategies with our partners that help ecosystems adapt to be more resilient to a changing climate.

Our actions will focus on designing programs and implementing projects that restore, protect, conserve, and manage lands and waters. Projects include restoring wetlands to reduce coastal and inland flooding, fuel mitigation to reduce the risk of wildfire, waterways restoration to reduce the impacts of drought, and building urban green spaces to reduce urban heat islands. Interdependence between communities and lands means that projects that improve ecosystem health also support positive social, economic, and community outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

⊲ Identify, develop, and implement projects prioritizing needs that address the climate crisis within local communities we serve, building on current climate action plans where applicable.

⊲ Increase equitable and culturally responsive community engagement in projects, program development and implementation to prioritize the needs of local communities.

⊲ Identify and develop programmatic proficiencies that focus on developing nature-based strategies and mitigating and addressing climate impacts.

⊲ Examine the role of an effective and responsible steward in reducing the organization’s carbon footprint in internal processes and project work.

⊲ Establish systems and processes for evaluating and measuring the potential impact of Conservation Legacy’s projects with a focus on those that address the climate crisis.

PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE

Conservation Legacy will cultivate a participant experience that develops intentional career pathways, creates connections between people and nature, and realizes a commitment to conservation.

Engaging youth in conservation service builds the next generation of stewards and outdoor professionals. A high-quality and well-supported experience is paramount to the success of a young person in a Conservation Legacy program.

The organization intentionally develops safe and meaningful experiences to prepare participants of all backgrounds for personal and professional success. Participants are trained and evaluated, gain skills and certifications, and acquire knowledge and experience needed for post-program success. Conservation Legacy is committed to reducing barriers to participation and increasing access to meaningful work and service opportunities that support young people in developing skills needed corps career success.

OBJECTIVES

⊲ Increase participant diversity through intentional, accessible, and inclusive recruitment and engagement strategies.

⊲ Reduce barriers and increase accessibility and support for participants with a focus on those representing historically underrepresented communities in the environmental sector.

⊲ Expand efforts to engage participants in inclusive community-building opportunities.

⊲ Develop and implement programming that supports participants in identifying and realizing their educational and career goals.

⊲ Enhance reciprocity in partnerships that support the development of young people through shared accountability, clear expectations, and shared goals.

⊲ Identify the value and impact of work with participants through expanded evaluation.

STAFF EXPERIENCE

Conservation Legacy will foster a workplace culture that is inclusive, equitable, collaborative, and innovative.

Staff are the steadfast soul and driving force of Conservation Legacy. Their collective knowledge, passion, and motivation drive the organization. Staff will be challenged, supported, and have a sense of belonging that increases longevity and productivity.

Grounded in shared values and principles, staff will engage in shared learning, leadership development, collaborative opportunities, and professional development that furthers the enduring impact of Conservation Legacy programs while supporting personal development. Staff will be part of a Conservation Legacy community that celebrates individual and collective success and honors these successes across the organization.

OBJECTIVES

⊲ Align, promote, and integrate guiding principles and values.

⊲ Recruit, retain, and invest in a diverse, highly skilled, dynamic, and dedicated team that supports high-quality programming and strategic efforts.

⊲ Expand focus on staff wellbeing by addressing and reducing barriers to access, increasing equity, and supporting sustained engagement.

⊲ Cultivate internal leadership and professional development opportunities and expand internal career and promotion pathways for staff and participants.

⊲ Expand cross-program connection and collaboration with an emphasis on increasing community, belonging, and mutual support.

⊲ Promote engagement by improving internal communications focused on providing transparency, fostering accountability, and closing feedback loops.

SUSTAINABILITY

Conservation Legacy will intentionally maintain and optimize the resources needed to sustain its model, effectively pursue opportunities, and ensure the continued success of its mission and impact.

Conservation Legacy programs have grown and expanded throughout the nation in the last decade. To ensure the foundation and strength of the organization remain strong and can support new opportunities, it is imperative there is an intentional focus on quality and sustainability. Diversifying funding strategies is important for the long-term sustainability of the organization to ensure a balanced portfolio of support.

Conservation Legacy will utilize technology and systems to increase efficiency and support the needs of our programs, staff, and stakeholders. Evaluation and data analysis will help drive decisions and organizational direction to ensure alignment with partners, communities, participants, and other stakeholders.

OBJECTIVES

⊲ Invest in diversified funding strategies that increase financial sustainability.

⊲ Establish processes and systems that improve shared accountability with partners.

⊲ Streamline technology systems and consolidate platforms to increase efficiencies.

⊲ Recruit and retain a diverse, skilled, and highly committed board of directors who provide expertise, governance, and support in pursuit of the vision, mission, and values.

⊲ Explore new and renewed mission and values-aligned partnership opportunities.

⊲ Increase our ability to measure and evaluate the impact of our work.

⊲ Review programmatic and business baselines to increase consistency.

⊲ Refine and implement an updated federated structure.