Who is Rare?

Rare is a global leader in accelerating social change for people and nature. For 50 years, across 60 countries, we have supported millions of people and thousands of communities to shift their behaviors and practices to protect our shared planet.

Change is what we do. That’s what makes us Rare.

Our Mission

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive.

Our Vision

We envision a future where people and nature thrive.

We believe in the power of individuals, communities, and their local leaders to restore and protect the waters, lands, and climate that sustain us all. By igniting collective action, we can create lasting change for the planet.

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.

Our Programs

Rare’s programs – The Center for Behavior & the Environment, Fish Forever, Lands for Life, Climate Culture, and Innovative Finance – support the shared goal of driving collective action at the local level to address global challenges.

Center for Behavior & the Environment
Our People-Centered Approach

Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment (BE.Center) is the world’s first center dedicated exclusively to behavioral science and design for the environment.

Climate Culture
Inspiring Individual Climate Action

Rare’s U.S. climate program harnesses our expertise in using the science of human behavior to empower tens of millions of Americans to act against climate change.

Fish Forever
Revitalizing Coastal Communities

Our work supports coastal communities and their local leaders to protect, restore, and manage the coastal waters and habitats on which we all depend.

Innovative Finance
Financing Sustainable Ecosystems

Rare’s Innovative Finance program connects the formal financial sector and rural and remote communities on the frontlines of our greatest environmental challenges.

Lands for Life
Empowering Farmers

Through Lands for Life, Rare partners with farming communities in Colombia to implement regenerative and low-carbon agriculture as a powerful climate solution.

Watch this video to learn about our work.

 

Our Origin

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.

Read the full inspiring story

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 individuals of all of 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.

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Years in Review

2023 Year in Review
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Imagine a future where people and nature thrive.

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Women in Mozambique carying the day's catch on their heads.

Ethics and Whistleblower Policy and Reporting Mechanism

Rare is committed to the highest possible standards of ethical, moral, and legal business conduct and has established an Ethics and Whistleblower Policy and Reporting mechanism. LEARN MORE