Case Studies
The team at Canopy Strategic Partners has worked closely with more than 150 mission-driven organizations around the globe, helping to build communities through innovative planning and make change happen through transformative insights.
Strengthening Organizational Structure and Impact at The Gardens on Spring Creek
The Gardens on Spring Creek is one of Fort Collins, Colorado’s premier cultural organizations: a 12-acre botanical oasis with a mission to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture. The Gardens partnered with Canopy for an organizational assessment that produced a clear roadmap spanning staffing, operations, and strategic priorities for botanical excellence.
Strategic Planning Done the Fossil Rim Way: Unique, Inclusive, and Action-Oriented
Open to the public for more than 30 years, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center houses more than 50 native and non-native species on 1,800 acres in Glen Rose, Texas. Guest offerings include a drive-through experience, special programs, and overnight accommodations. Behind the scenes, the Fossil Rim team is dedicated to world-class animal care and critical wildlife research. Canopy led an inclusive strategic planning process that emphasized the institution’s unique character and culture.
Building the Future at America’s First Zoo
As America’s first zoo, Philadelphia Zoo has over 160 years of experience in wildlife conservation, animal care, and community education. Canopy recently developed the Zoo’s 2025-2028 strategic plan, employing a process that emphasized deep stakeholder participation, data-driven strategies, and measurable outcomes.
Navigating a Pivotal Leadership Transition: Strengthening Cohesion and Culture at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
When Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium experienced a gap in senior leadership within its animal care team, Canopy Strategic Partners was engaged to provide interim leadership and transition support. The project came at a pivotal moment for the Zoo, as the team worked to strengthen communication, clarify roles, and cultivate a more unified culture among the animal care and science teams.
Rooted in Legacy, Cultivating the Future: Strategic Business Planning at McKee Botanical Garden
As McKee Botanical Garden approaches two major milestones, we led the historic Garden through a comprehensive strategic business planning process to solidify a five-year roadmap that combines guiding principles with a robust financial plan.
Centering Community with the Museum of Life and Science’s Strategic Plan
Canopy designed and facilitated a strategic planning process for the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC that served the organization’s distinct character: one centered on thoughtful decision-making, intentional inclusivity, and a spirit of curiosity and perpetual improvement.
Integrated Planning for an Interactive Zoological Experience
Since 1965, Lincoln Children’s Zoo has been serving the community of Lincoln, Nebraska as an indispensable asset, and has grown to be one of the most interactive and engaging zoological experiences in the U.S. Building on recent success and evolution, the Zoo team underwent an integrated planning process with Canopy — unifying strategic, master, and business planning — to articulate an ambitious future.
A Visionary Master Plan with Long-Term Investment: Guiding the Next Decade of Development at Naples Botanical Garden
As part of a broad team of experts, Canopy undertook a bold and visionary business planning venture to guide the next decade of development at one the world’s most unique botanical experiences.
A Feasibility Study for One of the Most Ambitious Aquariums in the World
After years of sustained growth at the John Ball Zoo, the Board of Directors and senior staff set their sights on a new challenge: What would it mean for the region to become host to one of the biggest and most ambitious aquariums in the world?
Imagining the Aquarium of the Future
How do you plan for the Aquarium of the future? In early 2023, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk embarked on a strategic planning process to reimagine the very idea of an aquarium.
Bold, Brave, Beautiful: Strategic Planning for a Best-in-Class Botanical Garden
Throughout an inclusive and community-oriented strategic planning process, we sought to directly address and amplify Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s long-standing commitment to serving diverse communities, social responsibility, organizational sustainability, and environmental resiliency.
A New Vision and Direction for a Museum’s New Identity
Following a major renovation that changed every inch of its guest-facing space, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science embarked upon a comprehensive strategic planning effort with Canopy to develop an action plan aligning with its new identity.
Integrated Planning Delivers a Bold Vision Plus Financial Sustainability
The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ new CEO desired to conduct an integrated planning process to build on the organization’s 100 year history of success.
Supporting the Virginia Aquarium’s Transformative Vision Via Integrated Planning
Outlining a bold but achievable blueprint for expansion via an integrated strategic plan and economic projection model
Determining the Optimal Pricing Strategy
The Chicago Botanic Garden existed as a free admission facility but was interested in determining the financial opportunity and upside that could be gained by implementing a per-person admission fee.
The Spirit of Interdependence in Strategic Planning
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (ZEED) desired to create a new five-year strategic plan roadmap for both facilities: disparate parks separated by 40 miles, yet unified under the same zoo and educational department for the city of Tacoma, WA.
Leveraging Opportunities of Scale in Strategic Planning & Economic Impact
With a new President and CEO, the Indianapolis Zoo leadership team knew the timing was right for a bold update to their strategic plan. At the same time, the Zoo needed to make a strong case for its new master plan, and to understand how that investment in the organization would pay dividends in the community.
The First Strategic Plan for Conservation at the Los Angeles Zoo
After her appointment as CEO and Director of the Los Angeles Zoo in July 2019, Denise Verret quickly appointed the Zoo’s first Director of Conservation, Dr. Jake Owens. Only months later, Ms. Verret engaged Zoo Advisors to guide the development of the Zoo’s first Conservation Strategic Plan.
Revealing the “Hidden Zoo”: A Strategic Planning Case Study of the Toronto Zoo
Soon after his selection as CEO of the Toronto Zoo in August 2018, Dolf DeJong knew operations needed to change. He needed a plan. Dolf’s challenge to our team: “How do we make the hidden zoo go extinct?”
What’s Your Impact?
How Akron Zoo Leveraged an Economic Impact Study Towards Huge Public Investment
Doug Piekarz, President and CEO of the Akron Zoo, demonstrated the foundational importance of the Zoo in the community via an economic impact study, leading the Zoo to $5 million in new public support via a tax levy.
