Patricia Dowd

Patricia works as the Director of Public Funding for The Nature Conservancy. She has spent her career working on conservation, wildlife habitat, climate change, water rights, tribal and agriculture issues in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. During her career she’s successfully worked in a bi-partisan manner to pass legislation at state legislatures, including:

  • Creating the Wyoming Wildlife + Natural Resources Trust Fund, a $200 million trust fund that enhances and conserves wildlife habitat and natural resource throughout the state;

  • Passing legislation in Montana to ratify the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact;

  • Passing legislation to create the Colorado Voluntary Soil Health Program; and

  • Working on legislation to create The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, a $100 million trust fund for existing state programs and a permanent trust fund managed by the State Investment Council. 

She served as Campaign Director of Gallatin County, Montana’s FOR Open Lands program, securing $20 million of taxpayer dollars for the program and 62% of the vote.

As a Natural Resource Policy Advisor to Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Patricia was instrumental in creating Montana’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, negotiating bison management issues between Yellowstone National Park and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and working with the Western Governors’ Association.

Patricia worked as a Senior Program + Impact Officer for Governor Polis at Serve Colorado, where she managed a portfolio of national service programs focused on climate change, resilience, environmental education, farmer in training and food security.

Patricia is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts (BA), the University of Wyoming (MA) and is a proud AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni.