Full Transcript for Saving Bonefish & Tarpon Waters: Science, Generosity & Lasting Legacy

you know, some other ambitions. And I did that for for a little while. And then it It's strange. I I found myself missing conservation. I didn't realize that I would. I I certainly didn't forecast that. But having spent, you know, twenty years in this space and and you know, realizing the importance that this work you know has in my life and and and you know what it ultimately delivers for the next generation was something that really resonated. And so This, I guess, pa early this calendar year, you know, some conversations with Bonefish and Tarpon Trust started up because I had some pre-existing relationships with them through some collaborative projects that we had done while I was at Ducks Unlimited and came to learn that they were going through a capacity building exercise and what they were looking for in terms of of of you know adding some additional leadership. aligned with some of the things that I felt very confident in my ability to to do. And so those conversations matured and and ultimately I was I was presented with an opportunity to join the staff team and and oversee the major gift operations as well as the communications and marketing teams for Bonefish and Tarpa Trust. And so you know, we're we're in our our infancy of building out a more sophisticated major gifts program. But I feel very confident in my ability to help them in doing that. And I'm I'm super excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. Thanks for letting us know. so BTT talks a lot about being a science-based conservation organization. W what is for our viewers, what does that mean? Yeah, I guess the the easiest way to explain it is that you know to deliver any type of measurable conservation impact, there needs to be data that supports what you're doing, why you're doing it, and where you're doing it. And so for the last or for the first 30 years, ish years of BTT's existence, science and research and advocacy have largely driven our day-to-day operations. and we are now taking those findings and the results and the data that's been derived from those exercises and applying it in ways in which we're able to actually impact habitat on the ground, whether it be in the state of Florida, whether it's in the Bahamas, you know, Mexico. in navigable waterways, what have you. And so, very much I would use I'm gonna use a metaphor you know, from my time at Ducks Unlimited. There were there were always people that wanted to know why we couldn't do a conservation project in their backyard. You know, let's just call it upstate of South Carolina. And, you know, birds are migratory, as are fish. And so it's important that we keep in mind that they originate in one place and over the course of their life cycle they might visit another. But if you don't take care of the entire migratory route, then it really doesn't matter what you do locally because eventually, you know, they're not going to be able to repopulate natural in a in a effective way. And so, you know, that that same argument holds water with BTT in that, you know, we have to be able to identify where the fish originate, what's important to them, understand what, food resources they need and and and start to I you kind of identify all the pieces of that chain that are linked together and and and build a comprehensive plan that allows for us to support their life cycle needs, you know, whether it be from origination or whether it be through their, you know, their migratory pattern or, you know, just from a protection standpoint. And so you know, BTT has been very involved with tagging. We've been involved with food web studies, we do research on shark depredation, that feeds into the idea of whether there are a number of different external threats that, you know, compromise the a life cycle of a certain species. it's really a complex issue that our science team has done an amazing job of of researching. And we feel very, very confident in our ability to make suggestions to legislative bodies and to management groups and to you know individual states as to how we should best move forward to make sure that we're protecting these fisheries. that's that's just awesome. Really appreciate that. I was blessed to also have a podcast with Nick Hunter Roberts, who's the head of communications and writes the the journal for BTT. And you know, he shared with me the fact that you guys were able to identify I believe where all the permit actually spawn through your incredible research and you were able to protect that and not enable any boats or any people to, you know, bother the most important portion of the cycle of the permit. That's just incredible. Where where is that? Yeah, there's been a number of different locations that that have I been identified. You know, we we've also done that for for bonefish. And the most recent one is in Biscayne Bay, which is was a of a really, really great collaboration between BTT and FWC, that is a an accomplishment that we're very proud of and that we think is going to reap benefits for the species as a whole for a long, long time. we'll eventually it will sunset and we'll be able we'll be in a position where we need to demonstrate the impact that the closure or that the protection of that pre-spawning aggregation site provided. But again, we, you know, we feel as though there's enough science, there's enough raw data. that we've been able to derive from some of these efforts that there's going to be a a very valid argument to continue in those efforts and to can identify additional sites and protect them as well. Yeah, and I I hope I'm somewhat on target with this analogy. What I what I find fascinating is, you are part of a massive ecosystem. In in other words, it's your science and your research and obviously your organization and your fundraising which enables these populations to be sustained and have hopefully improve and flourish, which enables the guides, the industry. enhancing lower income people from the Bahamas to

learn how to become a fishing guide and potentially send their kids to college and transform their community and, you know, all the lodge owners and the you know, the chef and the people who clean the rooms. I mean, it's just it's some it's just a massive ecosystem that you guys are, you know, I guess in many ways the magic behind the curtain that keeps keeps these populations thriving. And also enables me, hopefully in a few years, to take my kids and hopefully eventually grandkids down to, fish for the elusive bone fish and and and tarpon. Yeah. Well, you're you're a hundred percent right. It is a very diverse let's call it cohort of of beneficiaries. that ultimately stand to gain from the work that we do. And it is not, you know, relegated exclusively to those that are anglers. You know, the the habitat delivery that BTT has embarked on is critical in terms of, you know, coastal resiliency and storm surge mitigation. it helps improve water quality. You know, we're we're just starting to tap into being able to quantify exactly what that looks like. But just over the past several years, it's estimated that with every hurricane that makes landfall, somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 billion worth of damage is is, you know, being deployed. And, you know, we're focused on trying to figure out how to implement nature-based solutions that will help tame down some of that destruction, but at the same time serve as quality habitat that can help sustain fisheries and could provide recreational opportunities to the general populace. And so when you start thinking through all the ways in which an organization like BTT can, you know, create value for the average citizen, it's everything from, you know, having a a clean drinking water to being able to go out and and, you know, hook up with an amazing, tarpon that is, 60, 70 years old. that's the thing that we all think about as anglers is being out there on the, the bow of of a skiff and and and having, a really awesome day on the water. But, truth be told, there's there's no limit to the number of people that are benefiting day to day from the the very important work that we're doing through our critical mission. Yeah, that's that's a great point. I've had some really interesting conversations with Trout Unlimited and Bill Bullock with Atlantic Salmon Federation that the challenge is to present to explain to these communities that they may have no interest in ever catching a a bonefish in a tarpon, which of course I think is a real personal problem. I'm kidding. but they they scuba dive, they bird watch, they sail through these remarkable places. And, you know, you're just, you know, a magical piece of the puzzle. Everything that you're doing for the bonefish and the tarpon and the flats and the reefs and the protection benefits all these communities. And, you know, they're always talking about it's so challenging to draw those communities in to explain that. you should give money to us. We are a great organization and we're right in the back pocket of what you love. is that a challenge for BTT to bring in the different communities other than fishermen? Yeah, I think so. it's sometimes your name in and of itself can be a limitation, right? Because you get kind of painted into this corner as to you're only focused on these species or the reach of your mission only extends so far. And so it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we're having conversations with, new different and, non-traditional audiences and and and you know, framing our messaging in such a way that it has the ability to to resonate and that it captures attention and maybe inspires some type of action. you know, I would say Of course I'm biased. I want people to affiliate with BTT and I want them to, consider making a significant contribution so that they can play, you know, an instrumental role in helping us deliver the mission at scale. but you know, beyond that, I would just say, even if it's not BTT, you know, do something. Don't don't go out and and enjoy the resource and and take from it in some way, shape, or form and not be willing to reinvest back into it. you know. Hunters and anglers specifically have always been regarded as the greatest conservationists of all because they're the individuals that are willing to invest back into those resources so that they can to continue to go out and enjoy them in some capacity. I mean, the whole concept of the Pittman Robertson Act is based upon that general theory. and so, you know, I would just encourage anybody that's listening to get involved in some way, shape, or form, whether it's with BTT or another affinity organization that you're passionate about. find a way to impact the resources that that you're enjoying in a positive way and leave them a little bit better than you found them. So we're at a perfect point to say, you know, how do people find BTT? How do people learn more, get information? How do they kind of at a basic level start getting involved? Yeah. I mean, we have a a really robust website that discusses, you know, all the different ways that somebody can become affiliated with the organization and the number of different channels in which somebody can choose to align their support. if you're passionate about mangroves and and the Bahamas, you have the ability to support just those things. If you're passionate about Belize and our educational programs that are helping inform people as to the the the benefits of their local habitats and why it's so important, then we have an option for that. If if you're just exclusively eaten up with the idea of permit fishing, you can you can restrict your funding to that. Or if you just want to support BTT and trust us to utilize, your resources. in a priority way a as we you know see fit based on what you know the science and the data is telling us, you know, we're glad to accept unrestricted gifts as well. you know, I'd encourage anybody to go to our website, you know,

BTT.org, and and, you know, get involved in some way, shape, or form, whether it's by attending an event or becoming a member and and reading the BTT journal, or if you'd like to make a significant contribution, we can certainly talk about that as well. to gain more information about ways in which you can, you know, play a a more critical role in some of the things that we're doing. We have a very talented development staff that would be glad to have a discussion with you and and and give you some additional guidance or give anybody some additional guidance on what exactly it is that they can become involved with. Thank you for that. So, Will, in the the most important part for all nonprofits and what you're in charge of, what are some of the opportunities you see in the fundraising arena moving forward? well, thank you for the the very softball toss question. you know, we absolutely live in a space where, you know, individual generosity plays a critical role in our sustainability and efficacy as an organization. And so, you know, first and foremost, the I always want to say thank you to anybody that either currently supports or you know is thinking about doing so. it's truly a noble effort for anybody to consider, you know, giving of their their time, their talent, their treasure, or their ties to an organization like BTT. from an opportunity standpoint, you know, my My number one objective and that of our entire team is always to try to bridge a a donor's or a prospective donor's personal intent with organizational objectives. And so, you know, first and foremost for us is is education. Let's let's provide as clear an understanding of ways that somebody can get involved and play a role in BTT's mission delivery. as we possibly can. And then from there, we'll start talking about maybe the finer details of what that looks like and, you know, what maybe some of the organizational needs might be. and and you know, just kind of work through what that path is. you know, I think the the fundraising industry as a whole or the the nonprofit community as a whole recognizes that this is a a critical, let's call it, you know, decade or or two decades span where there's a pretty significant transfer of wealth that's taking place between, you know, the baby boomers and the generation that that that they're they're leaving, you know, some of their their legacies to. and so, you know, we're we're spending more and more time not only working with the individuals and the foundations that have traditionally supported us for for many, many years, but we're also starting to have critical conversations with the next generation of Angler. or of conservationists to make sure that they understand, where the support has been applied traditionally through, their family or through their foundation and why it's important and how they might be able to pick up the torch and continue to to run with it if it's something that they desire. you know, we're we're extremely fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world that has a number of platforms in place that allow for organizations like ours to thrive. And there are now more programs that are available through public and private grants than there have ever been that make conservation at scale possible and that really supercharge the engine, so to speak. And so we're we're exploring more and more of that. but as part of that that effort, you know, we're seeing that some of those those public grants, in order to unlock the the the the primary or the principal funding associated with them, they need private match. And so we're having conversations with foundations and corporate groups and individual contributors to demonstrate to them how, you know, their support in that capacity can help unlock significant funding on the back end. And we call it, you know, leveraged funding, where, you know, sometimes an individual's modest gift can can be leveraged into many, many times more than what they originally, offered the organization by themselves. So I I think that those are some of the things that we're looking at. you know, we have just embarked on a five year strategic plan that is very ambitious in terms of our our habitat goals and our organizational goals for for growth. And you know, to accomplish those things, we recognize that we need to develop relationships. with quite a few more individuals and and people that have the ability to significantly impact conservation delivery. And so we're spending a lot of time and attention and energy on that effort. And you know, we look forward to to you know sh having a dialogue with people that share some of our common interests and passions and and demonstrating to them what exactly it is that they can do to help sustain Flask fisheries well into the future. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, and that's certainly in my arena and certainly was in your father's arena. I think it's awesome that you kind of understand, you know, from the strategic perspective that a lot of a lot of your audience and a lot of, you know, my clientele, the world, they just don't understand all the options. you know, they think it's about writing a, you know, a check, which is always painful. But there's so many ways, to give and I love the leverage giving concept. you give one and it turns into three. you give a hundred thousand and it's three hundred thousand. what are what are some other ways that you've seen with your audience that is out of the typical thinking? I think you had mentioned life insurance for a four. Yeah, yeah. There's some there's a lot of of of novel giving strategies that are available to anyone and everyone now. it It's it is a misnomer for people to believe that the only way in which they can support an organization is to write a check or to get cash. you know, one of the simplest ways that that anyone can can play a a critical role in supporting their favorite NGO is to consider including that that organization in a life insurance policy or a bequest. or as, a contingent beneficiary or, perhaps a primary beneficiary of a 401k or something along those lines. It's relatively simple language that can be inserted. most organizations don't need anything other than the page in which they're named, as well as a signature page that, demonstrates that it's been appropriately endorsed. with with life insurance policies in general, it's really, really simplistic. You ask for a copy of the the the beneficiary page and you write in your NGO and you can set it up as a percentage or you can set it up as a as as a dedicated amount. And, you know, as as long as it's being responsibly done and the the family or those that you know need to be well taken care of in the event that someone does pass, as long as it's well communicated and everybody's on board and there's an understanding of of what the plan is. We've seen that be a very effective and and and beneficial and enjoyable process for a lot of people. So I would say that regardless of where you are in your stage in life, whether you have, you know, great assets that you could give away freely immediately or whether, you know, the vast majority of your capital is tied up in, you know, building your business and expanding your family and, you know, other things, a simplistic life insurance, you know, policy that has a a carve out. specific to your preferred NGO is a really effective way to support. we're also seeing a a big, big shift into more donor advised fund contributions, you know, for for those that are familiar, the most simplistic way that I can I can say it is that it is a a a vehicle that allows for you to you know shelter some of your your assets where you immediately realize your tax benefit and then those assets can can grow and you can distribute them to whatever organization that you're interested in. and, you know, the painful part has already been done. You've already decided to contribute those funds. Now it's just a matter of picking the organizations that you're most passionate about and coming up with a gift that you think is appropriate to accomplish whatever your objective with that organization is. I would say the same is true for qualified charitable distributions through IRAs and through other investment vehicles. those are some really unique giving strategies that not a lot of people are are are utilizing that make a ton of sense in terms of you know, the benefit not only to the organization, but also to the donor. so those are those are a couple that I think are are worth mentioning. and then there's some more complex stuff out there too that you know we're we're starting to see. Bridge financing is something that a lot of you know. high net worth individuals are starting to to consider as it relates to nonprofit organizations, especially those that are interested in some type of land acquisition or protection opportunity. we're seeing, you know, more and more of those type things.