About Us
Who is Rare?
Rare is a global leader in community-led solutions to protect nature, fight climate change, and build resilient communities.
We partner with people around the world to adopt sustainable practices, restore ecosystems on land and at sea, and strengthen their livelihoods. Grounded in local leadership and behavioral science, our work helps communities drive lasting change — ensuring people and nature thrive together.
Our priorities
Rare is dedicated to ensuring the well-being and prosperity of all life on Earth. We focus on addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, securing food systems, promoting equity in conservation, and directing public and private capital toward sustainable, community-based, and people-centered environmental solutions, among other priorities.
Revitalizing coastal fisheries to empower local communities to manage them sustainably.
Mobilizing farmers to adopt regenerative practices.
Connecting frontline communities to the formal financial sector.
Designing and delivering people-centered solutions to urgent environmental challenges.
Advancing locally-led, community-based solutions for biodiversity.
Accelerating people-centered solutions to foster a climate-resilient future.
Our inspiration
In 1977, a young student named Paul Butler arrived on the island nation of St. Lucia to find the beautiful St. Lucia parrot was in critical danger. Fewer than 100 remained. Paul knew that to save the parrot, he would need to inspire St. Lucians to be part of the solution. Working with the Forestry Department, Paul led a social marketing campaign to inspire pride in the bird. He visited schools and churches, recorded radio spots, produced bumper stickers and billboards, and he even created a parrot mascot named Jacquot.
The campaign worked. The community embraced the parrot as a national treasure, and its population surged. What made this underdog campaign successful? Pride. The campaign stirred an emotional connection. A Rare approach was born.
Our core values
Rare’s core values define the organization as well as the individuals who make it successful. These values support Rare’s mission and culture while reminding people what is truly important when showing up to work every day. The values show that Rare dreams big, holds itself accountable and stays positive even in the face of challenges.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Rare promotes, respects, and values the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of our staff, partners, and supporters around the world.
We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that welcomes qualified individuals of all races, gender identities, sexual orientations, physical abilities, religions, political beliefs, and socioeconomic status.
We believe that including a broad range of ideas is integral to empowering communities and inspiring change so both people and nature thrive.
Work at Rare
We are a team of diverse and driven colleagues committed to making Rare not only diverse, equitable and inclusive, but anti-racist.
Rare looks for people who are curious about the world, willing to try new things and build their skills to advance Rare’s mission.
Years in Review
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Ethics and Whistleblower Hotline Reporting Mechanism
Rare is committed to the highest possible standards of ethical, moral, and legal business conduct and has established an Ethics and Whistleblower reporting mechanism. Learn more about the Ethics and Whistleblower Hotline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rare’s mission?
Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive.
Where does Rare work?
Rare’s work spans the globe. Our programs are centered in the Global South, while our training in behavior-centered design for community-led conservation has reached practitioners and communities in more than 100 countries.
We partner with fishers, farmers, and local leaders across Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific in some of the world’s most biodiverse and climate-vulnerable areas. Our flagship programs for sustainable fishing and farming are underway in Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mozambique, Honduras, Guatemala, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, with work beginning in The Bahamas.
How can I support Rare’s mission?
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