About the Sagebrush Foundation
The Sagebrush Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing land, water, energy, and wildlife stewardship through education, fieldwork, and public engagement. We exist to serve the same people who live closest to the land: ranchers, hunters, sportsmen, scientists, veterans, and families.
While our sister organization, the Sagebrush Institute, leads in the policy arena, the Foundation focuses on hands-on conservation, research partnerships, and educational programming. From trout stream restorations to youth hunting mentorships, our projects reflect a belief that stewardship is learned, practiced, and passed down, not dictated from Washington.
Our Mission
To promote lasting stewardship of America’s land and natural resources through education, research, and community-based conservation.
Why We Exist
To educate the public on the responsible use and care of our shared natural heritage.
To support working lands and waters through field-based programs rooted in tradition and science.
To assist rural communities in caring for the places they call home.
To ensure that future generations understand, inherit, and improve the land ethic we were given.
What We Do
Public Education – We produce nonpartisan materials, field guides, and workshops that connect people with conservation practices rooted in use and responsibility.
Field Programming – From water projects to youth mentorships, we work with partners and volunteers to get our hands dirty.
Research & Stewardship Partnerships – We collaborate with scientists, ranchers, and agencies to study, document, and protect working landscapes.
Training & Outreach – We host trainings, lectures, and backcountry experiences to pass down knowledge and create a culture of stewardship.
Our Principles
Local first – Every project is grounded in the needs of local land users and ecosystems, not abstract global metrics.
Stewardship through participation – We believe that doing the work builds deeper conservation than slogans ever will.
Transparency & integrity – As a 501(c)(3), we are committed to clean accounting, principled partnerships, and absolute clarity about how donations are used.
No strings attached – We do not accept funding that undermines our independence or compromises the values of our community.
Leadership
Dr. Kelly Heber Dunning - President
Dr. Kelly Heber Dunning is the Timberline Professor of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation at the University of Wyoming and Principal Scientist at the Wildlife & Wilderness Recreation Lab. Holding a PhD from MIT, MS from Oxford, and BA from the University of Florida, her research—funded by NSF, NOAA, and NASEM—emphasizes participatory ecosystem management, inclusive outdoor recreation, and biodiversity conservation, including recent NSF grants for trout studies in Colorado and Wyoming, two books on coral reefs, and global collaborations with stakeholders like ranchers and outfitters.Braxton McCoy – Chairman of the Board
Braxton McCoy is a decorated U.S. Army veteran (Ret.) severely wounded in Iraq in 2006, earning the Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal with V Device for valor. After extensive recovery and advocacy for wounded warriors, including founding and leading a Veteran employment nonprofit, he now focuses on training horses, writing (including his book "The Glass Factory"), speaking on resilience, and pursuing backcountry hunting and fishing.Daniel Morris - Board Member
Daniel Morris is a 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran with proven leadership in natural resources management, wildlife policy, and multimillion-dollar project oversight in challenging environments. From conflict zones to disaster recovery operations with Team Rubicon, he has spent time with a federal natural resources agency, researcher at Auburn University, lab technician, and supply chain specialist in energy sectors.Daniel Webb - Board Member
Daniel Webb is a Process Engineer at a major semiconductor manufacturing firm with nearly 10 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including roles in manufacturing and operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Portland State University and an Associate of Science in Chemistry from Mt. Hood Community College. An Army veteran, Daniel served for over seven years as a Forward Observer and Fire Support NCO.Philip Reichert – Executive Director
Philip Reichert is a veteran intelligence analyst, journalist, and political communicator with experience in the U.S. Army and Space Force, producing at Fox News, leading southern grassroots for the American Conservation Coalition, and serving as Communications Director for a high profile member of the Texas House. He is the Editor and Executive Director of a media outlet in San Antonio and has been published in Newsweek, The Federalist, The Dispatch, and others.
Additional board members, including foresters, range scientists, and energy experts have been identified and will be onboarding over time.