Oregon Zoo Foundation

Elevating Animal Welfare Through Community

A Shared Mission for Conservation and Care

The Oregon Zoo and its Foundation share a singular mission: to foster community pride, inspire action, and secure financial support for the conservation, education, and welfare of animals. The zoo, as an enterprise fund of a regional government, relies on its own revenue streams, while the foundation amplifies this work by providing critical resources through donor contributions and strategic partnerships. Together, they aim to “raise the volume for the animals’ voices” and create a global impact on wildlife conservation.

Watson Creative has had the privilege of partnering with the Oregon Zoo Foundation for several years, working through pivotal moments, including the challenges of the pandemic. From comprehensive marketing strategies to donor cultivation campaigns, our collaboration has played a vital role in advancing the foundation’s mission and enhancing the zoo’s presence in the community.

oregon zoo foundation strategy
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Challenges in Aligning Impactful Messaging

The Oregon Zoo Foundation faced several challenges when they approached Watson Creative:

  • Brand Identity: The foundation’s branding was inconsistent, with temporary visuals and messaging that lacked cohesion. This made it difficult to convey their mission and attract donor support.
  • Complex Relationships: The branding efforts of the foundation and the zoo often conflicted, creating challenges in presenting a unified voice to the community.
  • Donor Engagement: The foundation needed effective strategies to cultivate and inspire donors, emphasizing the tangible impact of their contributions.
  • Revenue Generation: As the zoo operates as an enterprise fund, fundraising efforts needed to align with its mission to ensure sustainable growth.

Strategic Solutions for Lasting Impact

Watson Creative worked with the Oregon Zoo Foundation to address these challenges through a multi-layered approach.

Branding and Messaging

We refined the foundation’s branding to create a cohesive identity that resonated with donors, zoo visitors, and community members. Messaging focused on the emotional connection between contributions and their impact on animal welfare. By emphasizing collaboration and global conservation efforts, the foundation’s campaigns inspired pride and action.

Comprehensive Marketing Strategies

Through primary and secondary research, including qualitative and quantitative studies, Watson developed multi-year strategies that aligned with the zoo’s goals. Campaigns highlighted key programs such as conservation initiatives, educational outreach, and unique wildlife care efforts.

RESEARCH

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Results

Results That Inspire Hope

The partnership between Watson Creative and the Oregon Zoo Foundation has delivered measurable success:

  • Increased Contributions: Donations and sponsorships grew by 31%, enabling the foundation to support critical conservation and welfare programs.
  • Enhanced Brand Recognition: The foundation’s new branding resonated with the community, leading to a 28% increase in donor engagement.
  • Community Connection: Campaigns emphasizing collective effort fostered greater pride and involvement among supporters.
  • Global Impact: The foundation’s efforts gained national and international attention, furthering the zoo’s mission to create a better future for wildlife.

Benefits

  • Unify Branding Efforts: Create a cohesive identity across organizations to present a unified voice and inspire trust among stakeholders.
  • Highlight Tangible Impact: Use storytelling and data to demonstrate how contributions make a difference, fostering a deeper connection with donors.
  • Cultivate Emotional Connections: Frame campaigns around community pride and the shared mission of conservation to encourage engagement.
  • Invest in Research: Use qualitative and quantitative insights to guide multi-year strategies that align with organizational goals.
  • Celebrate Collaboration: Showcase partnerships with individuals, corporations, and community organizations to emphasize collective effort.

Matt Watson, CEO, Watson Creative

“Our partnership with the Oregon Zoo Foundation has been one of impact and inspiration. Together, we’ve helped amplify their mission, engage donors, and support global conservation efforts that make a real difference for wildlife.”

Not Everything. Just What Works.

Strategy

Build from insight. Strategy isn’t guesswork—it’s groundwork. We listen, research, and distill what matters to guide smarter decisions and set a solid creative direction.

Content

Make it meaningful. From naming to narratives, we create content that speaks with purpose—rooted in truth, tuned to your audience, and built to connect.

Digital

Design for behavior. We craft digital experiences that are intuitive, scalable, and aligned with how real people move, click, swipe, and search.

Experiential

Bring brands to life. Physical spaces, moments, and memories matter. We design experiences that feel human—and stay with you long after the lights go out.

Marketing

Drive connection. Our marketing approach blends data and instinct—getting the right message to the right people, in ways that actually move them.

Consulting

Partner on progress. We work alongside your team to solve real problems, shift thinking, and build internal alignment—without the agency ego.