Methow Conservancy, Winthrop, Washington

The Methow Valley, just east of the North Cascades and west of the Columbia River, contains some of the most diverse and productive habitat of the entire Columbia Basin. In August 2006, the Methow Conservancy retained The Collins Group to evaluate the feasibility of a potential campaign that would use both public and private dollars to protect the priority areas in the Methow Valley with the greatest conservation qualities and community benefits, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Conservancy. After receiving positive responses from their communities, they launched their campaign with TCG as counsel in August 2007. By April 2009, The Conservancy had raised more than $12.8 million towards their $20 million goal through public funds and private gifts of both cash and donated land easement and then in May, launched an all-inclusive community campaign. In the spring of 2010, the Methow Conservancy celebrated exceeding their $20 million campaign goal by engaging more than 1,500 donors, and completing 28 new conservation projects to date from campaign funds.