Share
Share
Next-Generation Conservation
For more than 60 years, our mission and vision have guided Openlands. While our purpose remains constant, the coming years will bring rapid change at every level of government and in the landscapes we share. These shifts will test our region’s resilience and call for bold, local leadership and collaboration.
Our 2026–2030 strategy doubles down on where Openlands leads best: our unwavering focus on land. Over the next five years, we will ground our work in land as the foundation of a connected and resilient region for people and wildlife.
Planning with Hope & Acting with Urgency
“
Next-generation conservation means protecting land at the pace and scale that climate and biodiversity imperatives demand.
Michael S. Davidson
President & CEO
“
What begins at Openlands often sparks ripple effects that influence conservation across the region and the nation.
Alan M. Bell
Board Chair
Lynn Buhl
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
The Challenge
For every acre of land we protect, more than two are lost to development—putting the future of our communities and natural systems at risk.
Why it Matters
Resilient land provides clean air, safe water, and a high quality of life. As our region grows, we must act now to protect it as a public good.
The Solution
Over the next five years, we will anchor our work in land as the foundation of a connected and resilient region for both people and wildlife.
Strategic Priorities
To protect the landscapes that sustain our region, Openlands must act with focus and urgency.
This strategic plan outlines five priorities where Openlands will invest our resources over the next five years. Each is distinct, yet together they form a unified approach.
Land Centered Leadership
We will use influence to position land conservation as a key driver of environmental health and local and regional vitality.
$150 Million
By 2030, we will unlock $100M in new state and local investment for land and water conservation.
Goals
- Work with government and civic leaders to uphold and shape policies and decisions that prioritize land conservation
- Mobilize constituencies to drive action and secure lasting conservation outcomes
- Increase public awareness of how land conservation helps solve societal challenges
- Pursue novel research and thought leadership opportunities to advance land conservation
Measuring Success
We will measure our success by the policy and funding initiatives adopted, and the public awareness built about land conservation’s role in solving societal challenges.
Resilient & Connected Landscapes
We will build a cohesive network of conserved lands and waterways.
10,000 Acres
By 2030, Openlands will conserve an additional 10,000 acres of land through protection and restoration initiatives.
Goals
- Protect critical habitats and expand parks, preserves, and natural spaces
- Reestablish natural connectivity by creating resilient land and water corridors
- Increase land conservation practices on privately owned lands
- Restore land to ecological health
Measuring Success
We will measure our success by the increase in contiguous conserved land across the region, as well as improved ecological indicators, including biodiversity, tree canopy coverage, and soil and water quality.
People & Places
We will center land conservation in community life and identity.
1 Million Residents
By 2030, Openlands will increase access to nature for at least 1 million residents, through our policy initiatives and community-driven programs.
Goals
- Build community capacity for land ownership and conservation leadership
- Support community-led initiatives that use land conservation to enhance quality of life
- Advance community efforts in adaptive land stewardship
- Strengthen the conservation economy in ways that contribute to the management and preservation of land
Measuring Success
We will measure our success by the accessibility of new land to local residents and by the number of people caring for those lands in our region.
Conservation Innovation
We will strengthen the field of land conservation through novel solutions and collaborations.
5 New Solutions
By 2030, Openlands will pioneer five innovative conservation solutions that address critical gaps in the region’s land and water systems and can be scaled or replicated elsewhere.
Goals
- Identify and test program innovations that can accelerate the pace and scale of land conservation
- Incubate conservation-focused ventures that address gaps in the market and have the potential to scale independently
Measuring Success
We will measure success by the growth and impact of our innovation pathway, tracking new ideas, pilots, partnerships, and, over five years, the replication and sustainable scaling of our models.
Organizational Excellence
We will achieve a high level of performance across all aspects of the organization.
30% Increase
By 2030, Openlands will grow our combined strategic operating reserve and general endowment by 30%.
Goals
- Embed Openlands’ values into recruitment, operations, and organizational culture
- Ensure long-term financial sustainability
- Align staff, systems, and practices
- Strengthen board engagement and governance practices
- Adopt a discipline of measurement and evaluation
Measuring Success
We will measure success by growth in the combined operating reserve and endowment, with steady gains achieved through diversified investments and board-approved policies that ensure sustainability and accessibility.
A Region Worth Protecting, Together
The greater Chicago region is one of the country’s most ecologically rich and conservation-active areas: home to rare ecosystems, vital watersheds, and a legacy of collaboration. Openlands focuses on where nature and people meet, working across landscapes, policies, and partnerships to preserve what sustains us. We’re committed to protecting this globally significant region’s resilient, thriving future.
Our Values
How we work is just as important as what we work on. Through an inclusive, iterative staff process, we refreshed our values to capture the principles that guide how we honor one another, approach our work, and advance our mission together.
Our Team
Our people are the driving force at Openlands, bringing their talents and expertise together to accomplish a shared mission to protect, preserve, and restore our area’s land, water, and wildlife.