Mission & Strategy
Theory of Change | Strategic Plan
The mission of the Brainerd Foundation is to protect the environment of the Northwest and to build broad citizen support for conservation.
The Brainerd Foundation strives for long-term and durable conservation policies in our region. We believe that building a base of support for conservation, along with increasing the organizational capacity of environmental advocates, are the two basic building blocks for creating strong conservation voices and policies at the state and landscape level.
We recognize the importance of providing a range of approaches and tools (legal, technical, financial, etc.) so conservation advocacy is effective and strategic.
We believe in the vital importance of leadership from individuals and from organizations as a whole.
We believe in an approach to conservation advocacy which builds political capital within the states and landscapes where we conduct our grantmaking.
We understand that our outcomes may not precisely match those of our partners. For that reason our approach may shift somewhat within different communities and at different times, allowing for flexibility in achieving conservation goals.
We have developed an organizational theory of change to serve as a visual representation of our philosophical pathway to social change, with the full realization that there is no one approach that encompasses all issues at all times.
Also available, our strategic plan provides a more detailed narrative description of our organizational approach to our work.