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About the Sagebrush Institute

Conservative stewardship for America’s land

The Sagebrush Institute is an unapologetically conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit created by hunters, ranchers, veterans, and outdoor professionals who believe conservation is a patriotic duty. We fight to ensure that environmental, energy, and land policy in the United States always has a clear conservative voice that balances responsible use with lasting stewardship.

Formed in the wake of a hard-won public-land fight, the Institute exists because we learned that victories are temporary unless backed by a durable, values-driven institution. We built Sagebrush to be that institution. Far from Washington and shielded from big-donor strings—we do not accept major gifts that could compromise our independence or values, and are committed to unprecedented financial transparency—we work to ensure a permanent conservative seat at every table where America’s land, water, and energy future is decided.

Our Mission

Advance conservative stewardship of America’s lands through principled advocacy, practical policy solutions, and a grassroots membership that puts America first.

Why We Exist

  • Preserve an uncompromised conservative voice in every land, energy, and environmental debate.

  • Hand the microphone to people who work the land far beyond the Beltway echo chamber: ranchers, hunters, loggers, drillers.

  • Build a community of principled, talented advocates ready to defend America’s resources with facts and tenacity.

  • Advance practical, forward-looking policy that strengthens the nation while safeguarding the ground beneath our feet.

What We Do

  • Rapid-response advocacy ― we counter misleading narratives with full-spectrum digital media outreach.

  • Legislative testimony ― our expert council will speak in statehouses and Congress when public access or habitat is at risk.

  • Member mobilization ― supporters receive action alerts, town-hall invites, and tools to hold policymakers accountable.

Our Principles

  • Financial transparency — Though our main entity is a 501(c)(4), which is has limited financial disclosure requirements, we are committed to monthly financial disclosures so our supporters know we are not compromised by donor interests. Our goal is to raise most of our funding from members.

  • Independence from D.C. — We have no desire to participate in the broken system that D.C. operates in. We will not have an expensive office near the Capitol, we will not pay for fancy galas and dinners, and we will not use precious funding to have conversations on the Hill. We believe D.C. corrupts, so we will remain with the people.

  • Authentic grassroots — The power flows from the people to D.C., not the other way around. We will develop a healthy network of state chapters, led by you, and these chapters will be empowered to tackle the issues they recognize on the ground. We do not dictate our policy to our members, our members dictate it to us.

Leadership

  • Braxton McCoy – President & Chairman of the Board
    Braxton McCoy is a decorated U.S. Army veteran (Ret.) severely wounded in Iraq in 2006, earning the Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal with V Device for valor. After extensive recovery and advocacy for wounded warriors, including founding and leading a Veteran employment nonprofit, he now focuses on training horses, writing (including his book "The Glass Factory"), speaking on resilience, and pursuing backcountry hunting and fishing.

  • John Nores
    John Nores is a retired California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lieutenant and career game warden who spent decades investigating environmental and wildlife crimes, including cartel-linked illegal grows on public lands. During his tenure he helped build specialized enforcement capabilities within CDFW (including the Marijuana Enforcement Team) focused on high-risk wilderness operations. He is the author of Hidden War and War in the Woods, was awarded the California Governor's Medal of Valor for lifesaving and leadership efforts, and he now speaks nationally on public-safety and environmental-crime threats.

  • Jocko Willink - Advisor
    Jocko Willink is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, Dichotomy of Leadership, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor.

  • William Atwater - Advisor
    William Atwater is a Field Engineer and Site Manager with a career spanning multiple heavy industry sectors, including upstream oil and gas, water treatment, and construction aggregates. He is also a freelance researcher and data scientist specializing in government spending and tax-exempt entity finances. His research services have been contracted by multiple conservative think tanks, including the Capital Research Center and the Center for Immigration Studies. He is an avid hunter and fisherman and an Eagle Scout.

  • Philip Reichert – Executive Director
    Philip Reichert is a veteran intelligence analyst, journalist, and political communicator with experience in the U.S. Army and Space Force, producing at Fox News, leading southern grassroots for the American Conservation Coalition, and serving as Communications Director for a high profile member of the Texas House. He is the Editor and Executive Director of a media outlet in San Antonio and has been published in Newsweek, The Federalist, The Dispatch, and others.

Additional leadership, including foresters, range scientists, and energy experts have been identified and will be onboarding over time.