Eric Swanson Email & Phone Number

Global Scope; Based In Annapolis, Md, Us

I am currently carrying out consulting projects for The Paulson Institute and a couple other clients on finance-related topics. For The Paulson Institute, I am supporting a major new effort in China to advance development of conservation finance and market-based ecological compensation programs to support China's efforts to protect and restore their natural resources. Although retired, I intend to remain active both domestically and globally in conservation finance and investment through consulting with a small number of clients. I am additionally involved in local land and water conservation through pro-bono work.Additional clients for whom I have carried out conservation finance, market and investment consulting in recent years include the Overlook International Foundation, the Gold Standard Foundation, the World Bank, EDF, and the Conservation Finance Alliance (via WWF).

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Forest Trends is a global conservation organization that supports protection of forests, water and wildlife habitat. The organization does this by promoting financial markets and mechanisms that create incentives or payments for ecosystem services such as water, carbon or food, and channel this financing – often in the tens of millions of dollars – toward conservation practices. As COO, I provided strategic leadership, oversaw all programs, staff and operations, helped to secure new partners and resources, and managed programmatic and operational integration for key initiatives on private and public finance, impact investing, biodiversity mitigation, and other emerging areas of environmental finance.

Oversaw development of sustainable financing for highest-priority programs. Launched initiatives in impact investing, carbon finance and biodiversity banking. Provided leadership for effort to achieve long-term conservation program permanence. Managed bilateral and multilateral institutional relations and grant-making. Secured large-scale, long-term public and private partnerships with major companies and government institutions. Managed projects with U.S. Treasury, State and Interior departments. Led support of field-based strategy setting, conservation design, and monitoring and evaluation. Specific accomplishments:Headed department securing $391,000,000 from conservation finance mechanisms and deals. Co-led team securing strategic partnership for WWF with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as an accredited GEF Implementing Agency. Led development of portfolio of carbon finance projects, representing $29,400,000 in carbon offset (VER) sales. Led creation of WWF’s large program management methodology, resulting in a common framework and language for planning, executing and monitoring conservation programs, adopted by WWF as well as other NGOs and donors. Designed and implemented successful and well-received integrated plan, performance-monitoring dashboard and executive-level program review system.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Oversaw board relations, five direct reports, 100 staff, 40 state offices and $12,000,000 annual budget. Provided strategic leadership for major program and policy initiatives, including election reform and campaign finance policy initiatives, mostly in U.S. Congress. Structured and led major reorganization and turnaround, setting stage for rapid fiscal recovery and more focused and productive resourcing of major policy initiatives. Served as Secretary for Common Cause Education Fund. Accomplishments:Succeeded in winning four-year legislative fight to pass McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation, described at the time by both New York Times and Washington Post as single most important proposed law before Congress. Launched 501(c)(3) educational affiliate, Common Cause Education Fund, and created and hired development department and staff, leading rapid and successful growth of new funding.Oversaw complete system overhauls for accounting, membership and HR, replacing systems dating back to early 1980s.

Served as first Executive Director and managed board relations, built and led new programs, and oversaw staff and contractors. Conceptualized and launched ten distinct, funded and staffed programs. Directed production over 10-year period of 425 workshops, events, publications and videos encompassing a broad array of topics including writing, producing, digital journalism, and substantive content programs on political reporting, investigative reporting, environment and health. Grew endowment for journalism scholarships, fellowships and internships. Positioned foundation as world’s largest journalism training organization at the time.

Arlington, Va

Evaluated, helped select and negotiated conservation lands for acquisition. Secured multiple land purchases of priority wetlands and coastal areas around Chesapeake Bay. Completed homeowner survey on conservation land values. Wrote original business plan for wetland mitigation and offsetting project, called Wetlands Incorporated. Helped design new Giftlands program to encourage donations of property and land for conversion into operating capital for ongoing conservation needs.

Arlington, Va

Worked closely with both IWLA and Endowment boards of directors. Functioned as CFO (without title) and oversaw fundraising, membership development, accounting and ten staff. Grew revenue, erased deficit, reversed 20-year membership decline and led IWLA’s first capital campaign. Launched and oversaw three programs to protect wetlands and streams in Chesapeake Bay, Ohio River and Mississippi River basins.

New Haven, Ct

Served as first Executive Director, managing programs, staff and fundraising. Achieved growth in programs, staff, membership and overall impact. Raised funds for new staff and second office in Hartford. Helped to position organization as a highly-regarded leader in Connecticut environmental action to this day.

Monpelier, Vt

Mba, Finance And General Executive Management, Honors

Activities and Societies: Beta Gamma Sigma honor society

Dual: Wildlife Biology; Environmental Policy, Natural Resources Management And Policy