Save The Dunes Conservation Fund Inc

Save the Dunes has identified four Strategic Goals to guide our work over the next three 3 years: \n\nStrategic Goal #1: Save the Dunes will protect the Indiana dunes by preserving and restoring critical lands and waters that make up the dune ecosystem of Northwest Indiana. \n\nStrategic Goal #2: Save the Dunes will be recognized as a leading advocate in Great Lakes and Northwest Indiana\u2019s dune ecosystem protection and enhancement at the local, regional, state, and national levels. \n\nStrategic Goal #3: Save the Dunes will engage Northwest Indiana communities in Indiana dune ecosystem and Lake Michigan protection, while increasing recognition of the organization\u2019s role and value in the community. \n\nStrategic Goal #4: Save the Dunes will maintain and enhance its status as a financially sound and sustainable organization with a growing base of diverse, unrestricted financial support and dedicated support for priority programs.

Strategic Goal #1 Strategies:\n- In partnership with other conservation groups, agencies, municipalities and so forth, advance conservation goals in priority restoration projects;\n- Pursue strategic acquisitions and other preservation efforts to protect key habitats\n\nStrategic Goal #2 Strategies:\n- Refine advocacy goals; maintain and enhance role in key Great Lakes and dune ecosystem advocacy;\n- Build advocacy capacity while raising community awareness on impacts to the Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan, as well as regulation and oversight influence;\n- Champion strong policy for Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan protection\n\nStrategic Goal #3 Strategies:\n- Provide outreach events that connect residents and visitors to broad conservation messages;\n- Enhance communication that both informs and connects residents and visitors to broad conservation messages \n\nStrategic Goal #4 Strategies:\n- Raise more unrestricted contributions and increase revenue source diversity;\n- Diversify and strengthen the Board;\n- Enhance Board governance structures; \n- Increase staff support;\n- Explore fee/donation for service and other revenue models

Advocacy: Save the Dunes is recognized as the pillar organization for Indiana\u2019s Lake Michigan shoreline and dunes advocacy at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Our advocacy program identifies opportunities to influence decision-making and public policy while increasing the public\u2019s ability and understanding of how they too can advocate for our lands and waters. An example of a recent accomplishment includes our rapid response to the August 2019 spill of cyanide and ammonia in a tributary to Lake Michigan. We hosted two community forums for residents where we provided up to date information regarding the incident as well as actions people could take to express their concerns and demand accountability. This information was also shared through a series of e-newsletters and social media posts which directly reached ~11,000 residents, prompting communities to reach out to their legislators and push for a robust investigation by the State of Indiana and U.S. EPA.\n\nLand \u0026 Water Conservation: We protect and restore critical lands and waters that make up the dune ecosystem through meaningful projects that transcend jurisdictional boundaries. Activities include conservation planning; watershed management planning; strategic acquisition of lands; and restoration of critical lands. A recent accomplishment includes the April 2019 production of the Calumet Land Acquisition and Habitat Restoration Plan in which we developed a comprehensive land acquisition plan for priority parcels and identified funding mechanisms for three ecologically significant focus areas in the region. Local land managers are currently utilizing this plan to implement on the ground conservation work.\n\nEngagement: Our organization works towards bringing broader awareness to complex issues within the dunes and Lake Michigan through presentations, hikes, and promoting citizen scientist opportunities. A recent accomplishment includes hosting an educational presentation on Lake Michigan shoreline erosion. This November 2019 event had over 100 attendees and over 6,000 views via live streaming.