DISCOVER YOUR NORTHWEST
Cultivating appreciation of Northwest public lands.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Washington CoastSavers
If you have ever walked along the Washington coast, you probably noticed all kinds of things washed up on the beach: plastic water bottles, fishing nets, old tires, and maybe even a rusted-out crab pot or two. Besides spoiling the beauty of our coastline, such ocean trash is also a serious hazard to our coastal ecosystems. Birds, fish, and plantlife are all harmed by these items and the toxins they carry.
So we got together with several other nonprofits and agencies and organized the Washington CoastSavers(http://www.coastsavers.org/) program. The year-round program focuses on organized beach cleanups, but also includes educational outreach and other efforts to help make sure the astounding beauty and ecological diversity of Washington's coast is kept free and clear of plastic and other man-made trash. In April 2009 alone, over 1200 volunteers removed over 30 tons of debris from Washington's Pacific Coast!
Mountain-to-Meadow: Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run
This annual run starts at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center in Clearwater National Forest on the Idaho-Montana border. The course winds for 14 miles through forests of Engleman Spruce and White Pine and has dramatic views of the Bitterroot Mountains in the distance. Both the 5K run and the 14-mile loop pass Packer Meadows, a historically significant site along the Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark trails. Proceeds of this event are used to help visitors discover and appreciate the rich history and striking beauty of the area around Lolo Pass Visitor Center. See www.runlolopass.org(http://www.runlolopass.org/) to signup for the next event!
Ballard Locks Fish Ladder Renovation
The Fish Ladder Viewing Gallery at the Ballard Locks needs your help. The gallery needs major renovations to serve the million annual visitors who come to experience Seattle's iconic returning salmon.
The gallery that houses the fish viewing windows has not been updated much since the 1970s. We plan to improve its physical structure, interpretive exhibits, and educational technology. It’s long overdue attention needed for a well-loved and popular local resource.
Donations will be used to renovate the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Fish Ladder and expand interpretive opportunities that connect interpretive messages from the fish ladder plaza with the underwater viewing story. Some of the project goals for the renovation include improving the lighting and acoustical quality, better utilization of the space, along with providing dedicated ranger speaking posts.
Where we work
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We cultivate appreciation of Northwest public lands by operating on-site educational bookstores that provide visitors with high-quality books, educational products, maps, media, and other items that enhance visitor understanding. Our retail sales fund visitor events and programs, state-of-the-art displays, free publications, speakers and performances, habitat cleanup and restoration, and programs for volunteers of all social backgrounds.
Our retail activities provide the foundation for us to successfully fundraise for various projects and administer grants and agreements that enhance visitor experiences across Northwest public lands.
You'll find us in urban industrial locations as well as remote wilderness areas. Whether serving the visitors of the Ballard Locks in Seattle or Montana's historic Lolo Pass Visitor Center, we are proud to serve our mission in well-loved places across the Northwest.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Inclusive partner, visitor, and community engagement in public lands in the Pacific Northwest.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- 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.
DISCOVER YOUR NORTHWEST
Board of directorsas of 04/21/2023
John Allen
Dean Yoshina
Christy McDanold
Rika Ayotte
Seth Felker
Randy King
Bonnie Lippitt
Celese Spencer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? No -
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? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No