Join us in welcoming Ben Strand, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s new Philanthropy Advisor!
We sat down with Ben so you could learn more about his career journey and how moving back to the Midwest led him to major gift fundraising and NRF. Welcome to the Foundation, Ben!
Headshot of Ben Strand standing in front of a tulip tree. Photo courtesy of Ben Strand
Coming Full Circle: Bringing a Lifelong Passion for Conservation to the Foundation
I’m excited to join the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and put my years of experience in fundraising and building community partnerships into practice. I’ve been a fan of NRF’s mission for years. It’s been great meeting so many passionate individuals who are actively protecting Wisconsin’s landscapes.
I grew up in Dodgeville in the Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin. Back then, the area was known as “the Uplands” and some remnants of that branding remain here and there. For the past fifteen years, Milton, WI has been home. My family and kids have benefitted from having so many great parks and easily accessible natural areas. In fact, the wonderful Ice Age Trail goes right by our house – it’s been great watching the popularity of the trail grow and grow.
I began my non-profit career at the offices of the Wisconsin Conservation Corps (WCC), serving as a student limited term employee. At WCC I was able to attend a couple prescribed burns. I also learned about all the great work crews were doing across the state (by entering all the Crew Leader’s work reports into excel spreadsheets!). Additionally, I saw firsthand how outdoor field management can be a rewarding and important profession.
I’ve been a volunteer for the DNR’s Snapshot Wisconsin wildlife monitoring program since 2020, and captured this fine fellow who seems to have a knack for modeling. Photo by Ben Strand
From Vermont Watersheds to Wisconsin Fundraising
After earning two degrees at UW-Madison, I moved out to Montpelier, Vermont for a position at River Network (RN). I was lucky to be on the team for three of their National River Rallies, which bring hundreds of river and watershed enthusiasts together.
While at RN, I joined the local Friend of the Winooski River group. First, as a volunteer and then I became a Board Member. As sometimes happens to unprepared volunteers, I was then recruited to serve as their part-time paid Coordinator. It was a great experience to be the lead fundraiser, community organizer, and expert at teaching high schoolers how to safely pull tires out of riverbanks!
While it was hard to leave the Winooski River, and white cheddar cheese, Wisconsin still was home. So, our family returned to the Midwest in the early 2000’s. Back in Wisconsin, my career took me to Higher Education fundraising. I’ve been fortunate to work with great organizations that gave me a diverse and broad experience. For the last ten years I’ve focused on major gift fundraising, first with the UW-Madison Foundation and then with the UW-Whitewater Foundation. I’ve enjoyed meeting donors across Wisconsin, the region, and the nation.
A backdrop of over a hundred tires made a great visual for a press conference. In 2004, the Friends of the Winooski River in Montpelier, VT, decided to display the tires from our summer river clean ups to counteract dumping waste into the river. Photo courtesy of Ben Strand
Sharing Wisconsin’s Hidden History
I’ve always kept an interest in learning about Wisconsin’s unique cultural and environmental landscapes. My weekend family trips culminated into a book published by Arcadia press in 2021: A Black Hawk War Guide. My book explores the 1832 conflict between American Indian communities and the United States regular troops and militias. This somewhat accidental guide grew out of realizing that many of these important sites weren’t easily accessible to the general reader or visitor. Through the research and writing process, I’ve been fortunate to get to know members of the Sac and Fox Nations, including a member who wrote the forward to the book. In 2024, I was able to attend the annual Sac and Fox Nation’s Pow-Wow in Oklahoma with my daughter. I highly recommend everyone attend a Pow-Wow and learn about the history of native communities.
With NRF, I’ll be working closely with our team to grow our membership. I’ll be supporting donors who feel passionately about NRF’s mission and who want to help protect our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife.
Please join us in welcoming Ben!
Written by Ben Strand, Philanthropy Advisor