20th Anniversary Program Spotlight: Operations

As we enter this season of gratitude, there is much to be thankful for. Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) continues to share its appreciation for everyone who has helped in pursuit of its mission to protect, restore and enhance tens of thousands of acres of wildlands across Southern California for the past two decades. This work is made possible by countless partners, staff, volunteers and supporters. While many program areas shine in the public eye, one group works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every effort comes to fruition. IRC’s operations team. 

From the organization’s earliest days to now, the operations team has been a fundamental part of IRC’s success. Though their work may not always appear as exciting as field restoration or public programs, it is vital, providing the support needed to run a successful organization.

The operations team encompasses finance, accounting, legal, government relations, fundraising, human resources and more. Together, these functions drive not only the organization as a whole, but also the individual projects within each specialized program area.

• Finance & Accounting: With any organization, especially a non-profit, finance and accounting play a pivotal role in its success. Managing multiple grants, a dozen different funders and complex budgets is no small task. Nonprofit accounting requires attention to detail, especially when working with numerous landowners with unique needs.
• Legal Compliance: The team is focused on ensuring compliance with all legal requirements across the business, including specific programs and projects. Every project must meet local, county, state and federal requirements. From contracts to insurance policies, Operations ensures projects move forward within the proper parameters.
• Government Relations: Daily collaboration with government agencies, from their partners to land owners, is essential. Aligning various projects with IRC’s mission and public land obligations requires careful balance.
• Fundraising: Partners and grants alone rarely cover the full cost of the projects IRC implements. Operations helps secure community support, ensuring IRC’s mission resonates with donors and partners alike.
• Human Resources: Hiring qualified and experienced staff is a challenge for any organization, especially when the organization has such a wide range of needs. The Operations team works hard to recruit candidates who will fit in with the organizational culture while advancing IRC’s mission.

Given all the operations team does, it is no surprise that the team has grown over the last two decades. In the beginning, staff often wore multiple hats, working in the field one day and reviewing contracts the next. Today, the team includes specialists who bring their expertise and skills to allow IRC to grow strategically and sustainably. Throughout the years, finding people who not only possess the right skills but also share IRC’s mission has been key. The more successful the Operations team is, the more successful the programs are. Their dedication strengthens every program, and ultimately, the wildlands themselves.

“Celebrating 20 years is a celebration of success. Over two decades, we have demonstrated the success of the adaptive management strategies we have implemented, and people want to work with us because of those strategies and the benefits of them,” said David Raetz, Vice President and Chief Administration Officer, who has been with IRC from nearly the beginning, for 19 years. “I get a lot of satisfaction from working with a mission-oriented organization, and no matter what you are doing for the organization, you are still contributing to the mission. I always say, it doesn’t matter if you are doing something big or small, you are still helping us achieve our goals. Everything the operations team does is important because it helps get the mission done.”

IRC is thankful for the dedicated work of the operations team. The success of all of IRC’s programs and the health of Southern California’s natural wildlands are helped by the strength of its operations team. Their behind-the-scenes diligence ensures that the organization can continue protecting and restoring wildlands for generations to come.

Stay tuned this year for more ways to help celebrate 20 years of stewardship with IRC!