GOLD2023

LightHawk

Grand Junction, CO   |  http://www.lighthawk.org

Mission

LightHawk brings aviation and conservation together to improve efforts to protect land, water and wildlife. The aerial perspective provides a better understanding of the ways environments are connected and how policies impact life on the ground. Many nonprofit organizations lack the resources to effectively harness the gift of flight. LightHawk staff provide the expertise needed to plan and execute flights in support of important conservation projects. We fly partner scientists, philanthropists, media and other stakeholders in an effort to shine a light on important conservation issues. Our work is focused on protecting land, water, wildlife and building climate resilience. Flights are provided to our partners at no cost thanks. to the generosity of volunteer pilots.

Ruling year info

1982

Chief Executive Officer

Jim Becker

Main address

P.O. Box 2751

Grand Junction, CO 81502 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

84-0852104

NTEE code info

Environmental Quality, Protection, and Beautification N.E.C. (C99)

Natural Resource Conservation and Protection (C30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

LightHawk accelerates conservation success through the powerful perspective of flight.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Overview

LightHawk’s program priorities are focused on areas where aviation can make a significant contribution. We plan and conduct flights to collect scientific data, transport endangered species and to educate policymakers and stakeholders. We also conduct flights for reporters, photographers and filmmakers working on environmental stories. LightHawk flights take place throughout North America.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Landscapes and wild areas can be difficult to examine from ground level. Aerial observations can allow for more area to be covered by partners. LightHawk flights assist conservation organizations in monitoring conservation easements, document pollution and other threats to the important lands.

Population(s) Served
Adults

LightHawk flights address conservation issues around both fresh water as well as oceans and coastlines. Our work helps partners monitor waterways for pollution, overuse and other threats. They also monitor and document and issues in oceans and coastlines including impacts due to climate change.

Population(s) Served
Adults

LightHawk flights transport endangered species for the purpose of breeding and/or release into the wild. Our flights are able to move animals more efficiently and in better conditions reducing stress during transport, leading to better outcomes when released into the wild. LightHawk flights have seen higher rates of survival than other methods of transport.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Our flights improve the collection of data and documentation of the environmental impacts of climate change. We also fly government officials and stakeholders over climate impacted areas to increase their understanding of the impacts of policies they have enacted or are considering.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Awards

4-star Rating 2021

Charity Navigator

Affiliations & memberships

International Union for Conservation of Nature 2021

Videos

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We know that aviation can greatly enhance and accelerate conservation work. We also know that aviation resources are often too costly for conservation efforts.

LightHawk conservation staff seek out projects and partners where we know we can make a significant contribution. We then serve as consultants co-designing flight campaigns to achieve relevant and important conservation outcomes, educational objectives and outreach strategies.

Once we have a project planned, we tap into our network of over 300 volunteer pilots who donate expertise, time, aircraft, and fuel to support the project, making flight support free of direct cost to our partners.

- We work with more than 100 of the best and most effective conservation partners
- We have a corps of more than 300 skilled and dedicated volunteer pilots
- We fly internationally acclaimed writers, photographers, videographers who journal our work.
- We fly dozens of decision makers each year whose hearts and minds are changed, and who go on to make changes on the ground to air, land, and water quality.
- We form coalitions to address national, regional and local conservation problems.

LightHawk stopped the construction of a coal-fired power plant on the edge of the Grand Canyon in 1979. One pilot in one plane garnered national media attention and started LightHawk by protecting one of our nation’s greatest treasures.

Since then, we have grown to 300 volunteer pilots, each year flying hundreds of missions and 1,000 passengers across the US.

LightHawk has an amazing team to tackle the continent's most pressing conservation issues:
- A national Board of Directors
- A staff that is distributed throughout the US
- A network of more than 100 of the most effective conservation organizations in the US, Mexico and Canada. Here is a small sampling of conservation partners and journalists:
~ National Geographic
~ Surfrider Foundation
~ The Nature Conservancy
~ National Audubon Society
~ Waterkeeper Alliance
~ Restore America's Estuaries
~ National Park Service
~ US Fish and Wildlife Service
~ Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
~ The Bay Foundation
~ Sonoran Institute
~ William Penn Foundation
~ The Walton Family Foundation
~ Trout Unlimited
~ Numerous NPR and PBS affiliates

Visit: https://www.lighthawk.org/projects/our-conservation-work/

Financials

LightHawk
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

LightHawk

Board of directors
as of 08/01/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Steve Kent

Textron Aviation

David Kunkel

Josh Marvil

Will Worthington

Steve Kent

Phil Walker

Jim Becker

Erin Manzitto-Tripp

Kimberly Eckert

Erin Cooke

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes