This thesis seeks to examine how the Center for Sea Level Rise framed the problem of and possible solutions to sea level rise in a politically contentious context. I ask three central questions: How can organizations adapt to climate change issues in contentious contexts? What tools did the Center use to accomplish their goals? How might those tools and the Center's model be used by others? To conduct this research, I utilize a case study method that examines key publications produced by the Center for Sea Level Rise. The primary sources for my analysis are two reports produced by the Center at the end of each phase of operation. I identified four central themes in the Center's framing of the issue: (1) a focus on developing a collaborative, "whole" approach, (2) a need for an institutionalized framework for regional decision-making, (3) a need for evidence-based data gathering and adaptation schema, and (4) a need to involve the community and form education programs related to sea level rise. These themes and the Center's process evidenced a collaborative decision-making model that has potential to be applied in other areas facing contentious climate related issues.