our vision and values

INHF

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is leading the way to permanently protect Iowa's land, water and wildlife.

We serve as a catalyst to help individuals and orther organizations achieve conservation success that might otherwise be impossible.

Iowa is our home. Our passion for preserving Iowa's natural spaces is at the heart of everything we do.

We envision Iowans connected to our diverse landscape and to the value of healthy land, water and wildife to protect their environment, economy and quality of life.

Our values

Forward thinking

• We consider the impact that of our decisions and work have on current and future generations.
• We strive to ask the right questions to understand Iowa's complex conservation issues and then to educate Iowans and Iowa's leaders to understand them as well.
• We strive to ask the right questions to understand Iowa’s complex conservation issues in Iowa and then to educate Iowans and Iowa’s leaders to understand them as well.
• We prepare future conservation leaders by engaging and mentoring younger Iowans.

Stewardship

• We are conscientious in our work. We are reverent stewards for lands placed in our care. We seek ways to multiply the funds we receive to accomplish more with less.
• Because we trust in our team members’ abilities and dedication to performing their responsibilities at the highest level, we are efficient, effective and extremely productive.

Respect

• Deep respect for Iowa’s land, water and wildlife inspires and guides our daily work.
• We respect our team members, partners, landowners and members by embracing each interaction as an opportunity to listen first to understand, engage a diversity of perspectives and opinions, honor commitments and secure trust.
• We believe it is a great privilege to serve as stewards for lands and financial contributions entrusted to us.

Partnerships

• Collaboration is the driving force behind our success. We seek diverse partners to get the work done.
• We welcome the synergies generated in working together to achieve greater results We focus first on understanding - determining the opportunities, challenges, constraints and perspectives for each unique situation. We seek the common ground, while upholding positions important to our mission.
• We strive to design conservation programs which provide a higher quality of life, are sustainable and deliver economic value for all Iowa.

Passionate

• We have pride in what we do, both as a cause and as an organization.
• We believe it is imperative to act now to secure the opportunities for current and future generations to enjoy Iowa’s natural spaces.
• Our enthusiasm compels others to pause, listen and act to support projects important to preserving Iowa’s land, water and wildlife.
• We embrace each day as a privilege to protect, connect, restore, and engage - to do more for our beautiful land.

Entrepreneurial mindset

• We are innovative and creative in seeking opportunities and solving problems.
• Our “can do” spirit leads us to tackle important projects that challenge and extend us beyond our comfort zone.
• Our mission to conserve Iowa’s lands, water and wildlife guides our program decisions.