A historic West Marin conservation nonprofit, Audubon Canyon Ranch, has rebranded itself to reflect its expanding mission and distance itself from a 19th-century naturalist who had slaves. The group’s new name, All Hands Ecology, signals its effort to engage more people in the stewardship of local ecosystems, the protection of at-risk species and the improvement of climate resiliency. “We wanted our name, like our relationships, to reflect the ecosystems we care for—diverse, interdependent and full of life,” said C.E.O. Tom Gardali, an Inverness resident who has led the Stinson Beach-based organization since 2021. The hunt for a new name started out as a job description: “What are the qualities or characteristics we’re looking for? Then we looked for the candidate who met them,” he said. In the search for a name, Mr. Gardali, a research scientist, created a database with specific criteria where staff and board members collected more than 70 ideas. After the list was whittled down—some names were already in use—each one was scored. After discussions, they agreed upon a winner. The 63-year-old organization had long outgrown its name. The nonprofit was conceived at the site of a former dairy ranch, called Canyon Ranch, to save heron and egret nesting sites and block the development of Bolinas Lagoon. Marty Griffin, then president of the Marin chapter of the National Audubon Society, helped launch Audubon Canyon Ranch. Today, the group stewards not just one site but a large system of nature preserves totaling 5,000 acres across 26 properties in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Meanwhile, its younger members have sought to drop any reference to John James Audubon, once the patron saint of birders, as have groups in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, which now call themselves “Bird Alliances.” With the new name, “it’s about what’s possible,” Mr. Gardali said. “Who’s not part of our organization, but could be? We want to be forward-looking.”