Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Recent Notable Grants/Gifts (past 7 years only)
Professional Associations & Hobbies
Timeline
Generic
Eric B. Lindstrom

Eric B. Lindstrom

Bismarck,ND

Summary

Dynamic leader for more than 20 years at Ducks Unlimited, Inc., driving over $110 million in major gifts and co-managing a $67 million annual budget. Proven expertise in conservation policy and coalition building, complemented by exceptional communication skills. Recognized for fostering year-over-year team revenue growth and delivering innovative solutions in wildlife habitat conservation.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

Sr. Managing Dir. of Development - Great Plains

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Bismarck, ND
07.2017 - Current
  • Great Plains Regional Leadership Team (RLT) member who helps manage a $67+ million annual budget for the 7-state region (Dakotas, MT, CO, WY, NE, KS); this includes approximately 50/50 in public and private revenues.
  • Served on DU’s National Budget Steering Committee to help develop and oversee a complex organizational budget. FY25 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) is projected to be $425 million.
  • Oversee DU’s Great Plains Development operations, budget, and staff (8 total team members).
  • Consistent year-over-year revenue growth by exceeding New Commitment and Cash goals 7 out of 8 years (record cash year in FY25).
  • Led the development team that directly secured more than $110 million in new planned and cash gifts over the past 8 years (see the list of examples below).
  • Recognized as DU's National Managing Director of Development & Region of the Year Award (2024).
  • Served on DU's National Conservation Programs and Development Committees, National Ag. Strategic Plan Committee, National/Regional Lands Strategy Team, AGILE Coach, and Student.

National Manager - Agriculture Policy,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Washington D.C./Bismarck , ND
01.2016 - 07.2017
  • Provide leadership, innovative solutions, communications support, and tactical strategies for DU’s national Farm Bill Team and for other federal and state public policy priorities.
  • Cultivate relationships with members of Congress, state legislative leaders, administration officials, and their staff.
  • Draft and present legislative language, testimony, rule-making, and public comments.s.
  • Work closely with DU partners, staff, board members, volunteers, and policy chairs to advance DU’s advocacy efforts.
  • Work closely with DU’s communications staff to develop talking points and fact sheets for public policy priorities.
  • Assist with DU’s Government Affairs Office budget management.
  • Develop media stories for DU’s national magazine, conduct press interviews, field tours/site visits, farmer/rancher fly-ins, etc.

Government Affairs Representative,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Bismarck, ND
03.2012 - 12.2015
  • Worked as part of a collaborative Team to provide advocacy, lobbying, and communications support for DU’s state and national policy priorities.
  • Collaborated with DU’s science and research staff to secure funding for Farm Bill program and research support in the Prairie Pothole Region.
  • Work closely with DU’s communications staff to develop talking points and fact sheets for advocacy efforts.
  • Work with partners and political strategists to develop key communications, marketing, and public polling products for the state-dedicated funding effort.
  • Provided technical support for DU’s National Public Policy Steering Committee.
  • Coordinated and accompanied several agricultural producers on Farmer Fly-in visits to Washington, D.C.
  • Served on DU’s Farm Bill Team, NAWCA Working Group, Water Policy Subcommittee, AFWA Farm Bill Program Representative, Northern Great Plains Working Group, ND Outdoor Heritage Project Development Team, North Dakotans for Clean Water, Wildlife, and Parks Advisory Committee, etc.

Manager - Conservation Programs,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Ames, IA
07.2011 - 02.2012
  • Helped strengthen, grow and manage DU’s conservation program in Iowa from approx. $600,000 to over $4 million annually in ~3.5 years.
  • Worked with county, state, federal, and private partners to develop and implement habitat conservation programs on public and private lands.
  • Worked closely with DU’s engineering and accounting staff on logistics planning, coordination and budget management on multiple projects.
  • Worked closely with DU’s Development Team on major gift fundraising, foundation proposals and donor stewardship.
  • Worked closely with DU’s Dir. of Public Policy, lobbying partners and volunteers/members.
  • Co-chaired DU’s public policy committee comprised of volunteers and staff for Iowa’s dedicated conservation funding efforts (IWiLL).
  • Worked closely with DU National and Regional Communications staff on public education, marketing and outreach efforts.
  • Assisted DU’s National & Regional staff on federal policy activities (e.g., Farm Bill, Swampbuster, NAWCA and Clean Water Act).
  • Served as DU’s representative on the State Technical Committee, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) Sub-Committee, IWiLL Executive Committee and Iowa’s Conservation Alliance.

Manager of Conservation Programs

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Ames, IA
12.2008 - 07.2011
  • Iowa Field Office - Conservation lead
  • Coordinated and delivered a $1.1 to $2.1 million annual conservation budget.udget.
  • Developed new habitat conservation programs/partnerships and built staff capacity.
  • Major gift fundraising, donor stewardship and foundation relations.
  • Public/private grant writing and administration.
  • Conducted bio-engineering reconnaissance visits with DU engineering staff.
  • Assisted DU National and Regional staff on state/federal public policy efforts.
  • Land protection efforts through fee-title acquisition and other conservation easement programs.
  • Developed DU press releases, magazine features and promo videos.

Regional Biologist,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Richmond, TX
10.2006 - 12.2008
  • Managed >50 habitat conservation projects (6,000-8,000 acres) each fiscal year on public and private lands along the Texas Gulf Coast.
  • Managed $2.3 million annual budget for the TX Gulf Coast.
  • Supervised entry-level Regional Biologists
  • Conducted due diligence requirements on DU-held conservation easements (e.g., conduct preliminary property inspections (PPIs), draft CPC proposals for board review, Baseline Documentation Reports, and property appraisals for landowners, assist DU land protection and legal staff negotiate easement language, conduct annual easement monitoring and compliance visits, etc.)
  • Assisted DU staff development various public and private funding proposals (e.g., NAWCA, Coastal Impact Assistance Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement, various private corporations, foundations, and major donors).
  • Assisted Dir. of Development with major gift fundraising and communications team with public education and outreach.

Project Biologist,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Richmond, TX
03.2005 - 09.2006
  • Coordinated the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project across 28 Gulf Coast counties.
  • Restored/enhance approx 3,000 wetland acres (~35-50 individual projects) on private lands each fiscal year.
  • Developed wetland development agreements and habitat management plans.
  • Assisted DU engineering staff with project survey, design, stakeout and construction management.
  • Provided technical assistance and monitoring on conservation project, bid solicitation and budget management

Graduate Research Assistant,

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
01.2003 - 01.2005
  • Thesis title: Examining postovulatory follicles of post-breeding mallards: Implications for estimates of breeding probability”
  • Teaching assistant for Waterfowl Ecology undergraduate course (ZOOL 462).

Biological Technician (Volunteer),

University of Manitoba
Manitoba, Canada
08.2002 - 09.2002
  • Wildlife Research Laboratory, Dept. Of Zoology
  • Primary Research Topics: Waterfowl Breeding Ecology, Reproductive Success, Wildlife Population Dynamics, and Avian Physiology, Assisted the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) band 1000+ ducks near Long Creek.

Lab Assistant,

South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
01.1998 - 01.2002
  • Assisted Dr. Les Flake in the SDSU Ornithology Collection Lab
  • Prepared numerous avian study specimens and trained other student workers and prepared classroom for Ornithology Labs.

Biological Technician/Crew Leader,

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Waubay, SD
08.2001 - 09.2001
  • Led the Central Flyway (USFWS) banding crew operation in Day County, SD, where we banded 7,000+ ducks during 1 August through 8 Sept.
  • Ducks Unlimited, ND Game and Fish Dept. and the SD Game, Fish, and Parks Dept. provided financial and logistical support for this project.

Biological Technician,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fergus Falls, MN
05.2001 - 07.2001
  • Assisted on a waterfowl/upland bird nest-drag study for the MN Waterfowl Association in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-HAPET Office in Fergus Falls.

Research Assistant,

South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
01.2000 - 01.2001
  • Worked on SDSU GAP analysis mapping project
  • Conducted literature review for habitat selection/preference of various fish, bird, mammal and reptilian species of South Dakota

Biological Technician,

MN Dept. of Natural Resources/USFWS
06.2000 - 08.2000
  • Assisted the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service Cooperative Banding Operation in Manitoba, Canada (helped band 3,000+ ducks at Oak Lake and Big Grass Marsh, MB).
  • Completed college-accredited internship with the MN Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) under Dr. Les Flake (SDSU). Primary duties included assisting area wildlife managers with day-to-day habitat management activities on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and Norman county, MN.
  • Various duties included noxious weed control, prescribed burning; woody cover maintenance (tree planting, mowing, and matting), Canada goose depredation (food plots, electric fences, etc.), native tall grass prairie establishment & restoration, wood duck boxes and over-water nesting structure maintenance, habitat evaluation study for Greater Prairie Chickens in northwest MN and native mussel surveys along rivers/streams in Lac Qui Parle Co., MN.

Volunteer,

Pheasants Forever
Brooten, MN
12.1995 - 03.1996
  • Assisted local Pheasants Forever chapter establish winter food plots in west-central MN.

Education

M.S. Degree - Zoology (Waterfowl Ecology & Management)

Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL
01.2005

B.S. Degree - Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Biology

South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Brookings, SD
05.2002

H.S. Diploma -

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa H.S.
Belgrade, MN
05.1998

Skills

  • 25 years of experience in wildlife research, conservation program delivery, partner coalition building, conservation policy, and high-level fundraising
  • Proven major gift fundraiser, staff supervisor, and team leader (more than $110 million secured in cash and planned philanthropic gifts over the past 8 years)
  • Accelerated Growth in Leadership (AGILE) coach, student, and regional leadership team member
  • Extensive grant writing, administration, and budget management experience (co-manage a $67M annual regional budget)
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as people skills, with several peer-reviewed and popular article publications
  • Extensive conservation policy, community engagement, and lobbying experience at local, state, and federal levels
  • Extensive public speaking experience (TV/media interviews, invited National Press Club speaker, legislative testimonials, conservation promo videos, partner roundtables, etc)
  • Tech-savvy and experienced in using ArcGIS, Microsoft Office, Adobe, Blackbaud CRM, Power BI, and other accounting software
  • Extensive knowledge and field experience in wildlife and wetland ecology, research, management, and policy, field research, wildlife surveys, and flora and fauna identification

References

Available upon request.

Recent Notable Grants/Gifts (past 7 years only)

· $25 million planned/estate gift (Unrestricted and Prairie Program Support–SD donor)

· $15 million planned/estate gift (Unrestricted and Prairie Program Support–SD donor)

· $6.36 million cash gift (5-year national coop. agreement - Apex Clean Energy)

· $4 million cash gift (Private family foundation; Nebraska, Prairies, Unrestricted)

· $3 million planned gift (Unrestricted; CO donor)

· $2 million cash gift (NE and Prairie programs; NE private donor)

· $1.75 million cash gift (NE and SD programs - FNBO)

· $1.5 million cash gift (US/CAN Prairies - SD donor)

· $1.1 million cash gift (US Prairies/SD – SD donor)

· $1 million cash gift (ND – American Foundation for Wildlife)

· $500,000 cash gift (Dakotas – Millborn Seeds, Inc.) 

· $500,000 cash gift (US/CAN Prairies - Private Individual) 

· $400,000 cash gift (CO/KS – Cargill, Inc.)

· $350,000 cash gift (ND – ND Wildlife Federation)

· $350,000 cash gift (ND & TX – Private Energy Company)

· $300,000 cash gift (SD – Private Individual)

· $280,000 cash gift (Dakotas – Millborn Seeds, Inc.)

· $300,000 cash gift (IL – Apex Clean Energy, Inc.)

· $200,000 cash gift (WA/OR - CO private donor)

· $200,000 cash gift (MN/IA, Dakotas, NE – SCHEELS Corporation)

· $150,000 cash gift (CO – Gates Family Foundation)

· $100,000 cash gift (KS – Cargill Protein Headquarters)

· $100,000 cash gift (NE – Private Individual)

· $100,000 cash gift (SD – TC Energy)

· $100,000 cash gift (CO/Prairies – Private Member Hunt Club)

· $100,000 cash gift (ND – Starion Bank)

· $100,000 cash gift (ND –Starion Bancorporation)

· $100,000 cash gift (ND private donor)

· $100,000 cash gift (Audubon Dakota)

· Several other private gifts ranging in size from $10,000-$99,000)

Professional Associations & Hobbies

Present Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Northern Plains Board Member

Present Ducks Unlimited Grand Slam Life Sponsor & Feather Society Member

Present Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, National Wildlife Turkey Federation, Delta Waterfowl Member

Past The Wildlife Society (TWS) Member (North Dakota Chapter of TWS)

2001-Present Collegiate Golden Key National Honor Society

2006-2008 Member of the Southwest Section & Texas Chapter of TWS

2003-2004 Member of North Central Section & Illinois Chapter of TWS

2001-2002 Vice President of the SDSU Conservation Club (TWS student chapter)

1999-2002 SDSU Wildlife Conservation Club

1996-1998 National Honor Society

***Avid conservationist, hunter, angler, camper, gardener, gym rat and outdoor enthusiast.

Timeline

Sr. Managing Dir. of Development - Great Plains

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
07.2017 - Current

National Manager - Agriculture Policy,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
01.2016 - 07.2017

Government Affairs Representative,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
03.2012 - 12.2015

Manager - Conservation Programs,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
07.2011 - 02.2012

Manager of Conservation Programs

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
12.2008 - 07.2011

Regional Biologist,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
10.2006 - 12.2008

Project Biologist,

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
03.2005 - 09.2006

Graduate Research Assistant,

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
01.2003 - 01.2005

Biological Technician (Volunteer),

University of Manitoba
08.2002 - 09.2002

Biological Technician/Crew Leader,

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
08.2001 - 09.2001

Biological Technician,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
05.2001 - 07.2001

Biological Technician,

MN Dept. of Natural Resources/USFWS
06.2000 - 08.2000

Research Assistant,

South Dakota State University
01.2000 - 01.2001

Lab Assistant,

South Dakota State University
01.1998 - 01.2002

Volunteer,

Pheasants Forever
12.1995 - 03.1996

M.S. Degree - Zoology (Waterfowl Ecology & Management)

Southern Illinois University

B.S. Degree - Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Biology

South Dakota State University (SDSU)

H.S. Diploma -

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa H.S.

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