The Cinnabar Foundation was created in 1983 to support the constitutional right of Montanans to a clean and healthful environment.

Terry and Phyllis Buckridge shared a deep love for nature and wildlife that shaped their personal lives and continues to influence Phyllis’ philanthropic legacy today. As a lifelong educator and passionate outdoors enthusiast, Phyllis is dedicated to preserving the wild landscapes and wildlife habitat that she and her late husband cherished in Montana. Today, their conservation values are honored through their support of the Cinnabar Foundation, which has established a Conservation Endowment at the Montana Community Foundation (MCF).

A Shared Love for the Outdoors 

Terry Buckridge, born in Hamilton, Montana, spent his early years immersed in the wild landscapes of the Bitterroot Valley and beyond. After high school in Hot Springs, MT, he served a three-year enlistment in the Army Air Force, using his GI Bill to attend the College of Idaho, where he earned a B.S. in Zoology. He later earned an MS in Fisheries and a Secondary Teaching Certificate from the University of Washington. Terry’s life was defined by his love of biology and the natural world. He taught for over 25 years, sharing his passion for the environment with students at Kennewick High School and Everett Junior College in Washington.  Terry was an avid hunter, fisherman, and adventurer, spending countless hours on rivers and in mountains. His work as an educator and his personal experiences in nature helped him understand the delicate balance between human activity and conservation.

Terry and Phyllis lived a life dedicated to education, exploration, and stewardship of the natural world. Whether it was sail-boating in Puget Sound, camping in Alaska, or hiking in Montana’s wilderness landscapes, they embodied the idea that conservation is not just about protecting land but also about protecting wildlife habitat. 

Phyllis, who lives in western Washington, shared Terry’s commitment to preserving nature. With a B.S. and M.S. in Zoology from Washington State University, Phyllis appreciates conservation efforts to protect native wildlife and habitat. Phyllis seeks to make a difference in the places she and her husband loved, particularly the beauty and health of Montana’s natural landscapes. 

Phyllis’s love for the state is intertwined with a recognition of the environmental challenges Montana faces today.  As she observes, “As population increases, wildlife habitat diminishes and the wildlife have to struggle to adapt.” In the face of these challenges, Phyllis’ vision for Montana is one where wildlife thrives and where open spaces remain intact. 

Though Terry passed away in 2016 after 44 years of marriage to Phyllis, his spirit lives on in Phyllis’ conservation efforts. 

The Cinnabar Foundation Conservation Endowment at the Montana Community Foundation The Cinnabar Foundation

Conservation Endowment at the Montana Community Foundation (MCF) was created to allow Cinnabar to easily administer charitable gift annuities that support Cinnabar’s conservation projects in Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  Through the Cinnabar-MCF partnership, these charitable gift annuities can qualify for the Montana Endowment Tax Credit.  The Cinnabar Foundation Endowment at MCF also allows Cinnabar to benefit from gifts from donor advised funds.

Phyllis expresses the sentiment shared by many donors when she says, “Cinnabar is in a better position to place my money in a location where it can do the best.” By contributing to the Cinnabar Foundation, donors like Phyllis help ensure that Montana’s wild landscapes remain protected and preserved for wildlife habitat. 

Honoring the Past, Protecting the Future

By supporting the Conservation Endowment with the Montana Community Foundation, Phyllis Buckridge has set in motion a legacy that will continue to support conservation efforts in Montana for generations.

As Phyllis reflects on her life and the values she shared with Terry, she sums it up simply: “MT still feels good.” And through her enduring commitment to conservation, that sentiment will continue for many years ahead.

Protect What You Love

The Cinnabar Foundation serves as Montana’s Conservation Fund for those - like Phyllis - who love Montana, value its natural heritage, and wish to invest in Montana’s future . . . in perpetuity. We focus on a highly balanced approach that ensures investment is well leveraged through strategic partnerships.  We know Montana’s conservation community, and fund conservation organizations and projects that have been carefully vetted through field visits and independent evaluations.  We annually review and reallocate our grant portfolio to reflect conservation opportunities and challenges, as well as remain open to changing conservation priorities in the field. 

Contact us to discuss how we can help you invest in Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem America’s “Last Best Place.”  Donations can be made directly to the Cinnabar Foundation, PO Box 9184, Missoula MT 59807, or for some types of gifts, through the Cinnabar Foundation’s Conservation Endowment at MCF.  For more information, please email Program Officer Beverly Dupree at bdupree@cinnabarfoundation.org or call 406-919-5368. 

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