2024-2029 Strategic Plan

Through the Wenatchee River Institute's (WRI) 5-year Strategic Plan, WRI wants to work towards becoming the North Central Washington community’s trusted resource for environmental education to navigate our changing world. We will achieve this by increasing our reach, strengthening community engagement, inspiring action, and being a great workplace. Keep scrolling to learn more!

Pillar 1: Increase Our Reach

Goal: Diversify our audience geographically and demographically and create opportunities for every person in North Central Washington to engage with WRI.

Under this pillar, we are focusing on these areas:

Increase unique participants in WRI's Youth and Community Programs
Build partnerships with affinity groups for programming
Increase overall brand awareness of WRI, our mission, and programming
Identify groups that we aren't currently serving.

Pillar 2: Build Community

Goal: Increase community connection, dialogue, and shared responsibility for taking action.

Under this pillar, we are focusing on these areas:

Provide more opportunities for interactive Community Programs
Create space for discussion, connection, and action during lecture format Community Programs
Invite and encourage feedback from the community for all programming
Position WRI as a connector and trusted convener for diverse groups.

Pillar 3: Inspire Action

Goal: Grow membership, volunteer participation, and giving for WRI and equip our members with actionable next steps in every program and event.

Under this pillar, we are focusing on these areas:

Improve WRI's Volunteer Program to increase volunteerism and provide more volunteer opportunities across age ranges
Improve WRI's Membership Program to encourage more members to join WRI's mission
Provide actionable next steps for participants in both Youth and Community Programs
Model resiliency and promote sustainable actions in our programming and facilities
Take action to uplift Indigenous communities throughout the region.

Pillar 4: Be a Great Workplace

Goal: Create financial and operational durability with a well-compensated and passionate staff that sees themselves and their work in the mission and vision of WRI.

Under this pillar, we are focusing on these areas:

Increasing unrestricted donations to invest in equitable pay for staff
Increase staff retention and satisfaction
Invest in hiring efforts for staff recruitment
Empower staff to innovate, adapt, and share their ideas
Invest in campus stewardship and engage the community in stewardship.

Looking Ahead

Although WRI's Strategic Plan spans five years, we recognize that things can change. Each year, the Strategic Plan is reviewed by the Board of Directors and Executive Director, and new specific goals and tactics are introduced to make sure we continue to grow and evolve. Our focus remains on providing transformational environmental education to people of all ages throughout North Central Washington.

Have any questions about the Strategic Plan? Contact us here.

The Wenatchee River Institute is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit. EIN 20-5611326