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Strategic Plan

Students standing in a circle holding their rock in their palms.

2024-2029 Strategic Plan

Through the Wenatchee River Institute's (WRI) 5-year Strategic Plan, WRI is working towards becoming the North Central Washington community’s trusted resource for environmental education. 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
  • Empower staff to innovate, adapt, and share their ideas
  • Invest in campus stewardship and engage the community in stewardship.

Progress

Each quarter, the Executive Director reports on the progress towards each pillar of the Strategic Plan and presents the scorecard to the Board of Directors. The score indicates if we are on track (green), if the we are behind our goal (yellow), or if the goal is blocked (red). Each goal has tactics with measurable outcomes and a timeline which helps us quantify the score. Below is an update on how WRI is progressing towards the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan!
 
A chart organized by the four pillars with a score of green, yellow, or red applied by year and 2026 through June.

Looking Ahead

Our focus remains on providing transformational environmental education to people of all ages throughout North Central Washington. Every year, the Strategic Plan is reviewed again by the Board of Directors and Executive Director, with new specific goals and tactics introduced to make sure we continue to serve our community. Starting in 2028, efforts will begin to create the next 5-year Strategic Plan.

Do you have any questions about the Strategic Plan? Let's chat!

Like what you see? WRI is always looking for new board members who share a passion for connecting people, communities and the natural world. Learn more about how you can get involved here!


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