A Blandin Foundation Initiative

Blandin Foundation Credibility Phase: 2

Executive Summary

Introduction

As part of its Vital Forests / Vital Communities Initiative, the Blandin Foundation seeks an understanding of its credibility in undertaking the effort and an assessment of progress made to date. The first review was done late in 2003; this paper summarizes the second review done for 2004.¹

The assessment was based on structured telephone interviews with 39 people on the Initiative’s mail list (see Appendix for questions. People interviewed included: Public land managers [5]; University / researchers [6]; Industry (manufacturing and land managers) [14]; Environmental / conservation groups [4]; Loggers [2]; Business development [4]; Other private [4].

Blandin Foundation’s Overall Credibility

The Blandin Foundation’s perceived credibility to undertake this initiative with objectivity and effectiveness remains universally and exceptionally high. Of the 30 people responding to this question in the second survey 18 said the Foundation is “very credible” and 7 said “credible”. In neither the 2003 nor 2004 assessments did any respondent find the Foundation to not be credible.

Initiative Credibility

Regarding the Foundation’s credibility and capacity for carrying out the Vital Forests / Vital Communities Initiative, the following conclusions can be drawn [the first three are same as last year]:

The Initiative is seen as crucial to Minnesota, its forested landscape, and to the economic vitality of the industries and communities that rely on the forests.

The Blandin Foundation is widely perceived as being a credible, if not the credible, entity for undertaking such an effort given the rancor and political dynamics that have accompanied debate around this subject within the state.

The keys to the Foundation’s credibility lie with its neutrality, effectiveness in process, location in rural Minnesota, and willingness to support results.

Everyone feels the initiative is worth undertaking and it is generally progressing on the right track.

People remain committed to participating in the initiative.

The process of making hard decisions, especially to fund projects, creates “winners and losers” and provides fodder for discussions as to the true direction of the initiative. There is little in-depth awareness of the projects supported by the initiative although most of the general topics funded were seen as high priorities.

¹ Applied Insights^north , “Vital Forests/Vital Communities: A Blandin Foundation Initiative, Blandin Foundation Credibility: Phase 2”, December 7, 2004.

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