Welcoming Kim Howes back to the Sageland Team!
If you’ve been part of our community for a while, you may feel like you’re experiencing deja vu—but let us assure you, this is no trick of the memory…
We are thrilled to welcome Kim Howes back to the Sageland Collaborative team as our Development Director! Having originally joined our team in 2018, Kim brings an impressive amount of development expertise and passion for Western wildlife to this work. We cannot wait to see how Kim continues to inspire and bring folks into our community.
Get to know Kim in our interview with her below!
Can you tell us what interests you about Sageland Collaborative?
I’ve always admired Sageland Collaborative’s approach of combining scientific expertise with community engagement to create a lasting impact. What stands out to me is the team’s collaborative energy—how we come together, elevate one another, and harness each individual’s strengths to achieve our shared goals. Being part of a team that thrives on passion, partnership, and a common vision for conservation continually inspires me.
What are you most excited for in this role?
What I'm most excited about in this role are the incredible projects I'm privileged to support. I’m lucky to have participated in our Riverscape Restoration, Wasatch Wildlife Watch, and Shorebird Survey projects as a community science volunteer. Through these opportunities, I’ve experienced first-hand how these projects bring together and educate communities to promote meaningful climate resilience. Knowing I'll play a role in our team’s work to build a better future for people and wildlife while ensuring our natural world thrives is what inspires me to be part of the Sageland team.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I’ve spent nearly 18 years working in nonprofit development, focusing on raising awareness and funds to support meaningful causes. My background includes a bachelor’s degree in economics, which initially left me wondering what path my professional life would take. I realized that my passion for making a positive impact in my community aligned perfectly with nonprofit work. While my fundraising career began in education organizations, I eventually found my path in conservation. I’m fortunate to combine my experience in development with my dedication to preserving the environment and supporting wildlife.
What is your "conservation origin story" - do you have experiences in nature or with people that have been particularly meaningful to your path?
As a child, I was surrounded by nature in Utah's mountains, where I would collect fallen leaves and dead bugs, marveling at the diversity of life. In summers, I spent time on my family's land in Durant, Oklahoma, where I helped pick pecans and explored the forests of the bottoms where my grandma grew up in a one room cabin with her nine brothers and sisters. That’s where I learned that there is a bathroom behind every tree. Although I’m a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, I didn’t have a strong understanding of the relationship between indigenous peoples and the land. Over time, I’ve realized that conservation is not just about protecting the beauty of nature, but also about understanding and preserving the intricate connections between communities and the environment. These formative experiences continue to drive my passion for conservation and my belief in the power of collective action to protect nature.
What do you love about Western wildlife, conservation, etc.?
What inspires me most about Western wildlife and landscapes is their extraordinary resilience, beauty, and diversity. I’m struck by the closeness of the mountains that seem to be right next to you and the desert landscapes on the side of the interstate that showcase the diversity of ecosystems that exist here in Utah. The West is home to a stunning array of wildlife that thrive in these diverse environments. This incredible adaptability—whether it’s the pronghorn navigating migratory pathways or the shorebirds making a stop at the Great Salt Lake—continually fills me with awe.
What drives my passion is the urgent challenge and opportunity we have right now to safeguard these irreplaceable species and their habitats. At a time when Western wildlife face escalating threats from habitat loss, climate change, and the alarming decline of critical ecosystems like the Great Salt Lake, I feel a responsibility to take action. For me, conservation is not only about preserving what once was, it’s also about envisioning and actively creating a future in which humans and wildlife flourish side by side.
What is the importance of development in conservation work?
Our donors are the heart of every one of our conservation projects. Their generous support makes it possible to turn our shared vision into tangible action—whether it's increasing biodiversity, ensuring wildlife have pathways to move across landscapes, or restoring habitats so they are more resilient to climate change. Development is not just about securing funds; it’s about cultivating deep, meaningful relationships with individuals, foundations, corporate partners, and communities who are united by a shared commitment to protecting the environment. Without these relationships and the financial backing they provide, organizations like Sageland Collaborative would be unable to achieve our goals, drive real impact, or create lasting change. The trust and partnership we build through development are the driving forces behind our success and the future of conservation.
What else would you like people to know about you?
I have been practicing yoga for most of my life. Yoga has become an essential part of my daily routine because it teaches me the importance of slowing down, staying grounded, and cultivating mindfulness. It’s not just a practice of physical flexibility, but a way to embrace balance, resilience, and intentionality. These qualities resonate in my work as a fundraiser. Much like yoga requires dedication and presence, fundraising is about building authentic, long-lasting relationships, and staying focused on the bigger vision. Yoga helps sharpen my ability to listen actively, adapt with grace in the face of challenges, and maintain a sense of calm—skills that are important in navigating the complexities of fundraising! Ultimately, yoga empowers me to connect with others more deeply, approach my work with a clear sense of purpose, and sustain the passion necessary to drive impact.
Kim Howes joined Sageland Collaborative as the Development Director in 2018 and rejoined in 2025, bringing nearly 18 years of nonprofit development experience and passion for conservation. She has a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and is a proud tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Interview & nature photos by Sierra Hastings