FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS
Protecting and restoring the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea for people and nature since 1979.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Friends of the San Juans has been working hard since 1979 to protect what we all love about the islands: thriving local communities, vibrant natural shorelines, and healthy marine waters teeming with fish and wildlife. Friends is an innovative and effective force and catalyst for positive change, with expertise on critical topics such as nearshore habitats, marine shipping safety, land use, and climate change. We work across topic areas to help local communities identify and advance solutions that support people and the environment. Beyond the archipelago, our programs benefit all who rely upon and cherish the natural resources of the Salish Sea.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Healthy Salish Sea
Friends' Healthy Salish Sea Program focuses on partnerships, community education, and decision-maker engagement to stop new and expanding fossil fuel projects and projects that will increase large commercial vessel traffic that have associated risks and impacts. We also focus on safe shipping and improving oil spill prevention and oil spill response preparedness.
Natural Shorelines
Beginning in 1999 and continuing today, Friends work includes shoreline research and endangered species protection. We identified and mapped marine resources throughout the San Juan archipelago including surf smelt and sand lance spawning beaches, herring spawning sites, nearshore eelgrass beds, kelp, feederbluffs, and shoreline modifications. We provide this best available science on San Juan County’s marine habitats to over 175 local, state, federal, tribal and NGO scientists, policymakers, and land managers. Best available science informs restoration actions that improve shoreline habitat for forage fish and salmon - both are critical prey for sea birds and marine mammals. Friends has successfully implemented over 20 on-the-ground restoration projects, and in partnership with local conservation organizations, preserved thousands of feet of priority shoreline habitat in perpetuity.
Thriving and Resilient Communities
Friends of the San Juans was founded in 1979 to support San Juan County's efforts to protect natural environments and manage growth. Friends protects habitats and San Juan County’s rural character through various land use actions and citizen education and engagement. Our education and community science programs teach students and community members about the critical habitats and species in the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea, and the pressures our local marine ecosystem faces. We also provide tools and resources to take action through science, conservation, and stewardship opportunities. A benefit of engaging youth and community members in meaningful science is that the data that is collected can be applied to restoration and protection work. Our programs empower and energize participants to keep engaged and involved in making positive changes.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of new grants received
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of multi-year grants received
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Natural Shorelines
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These are just grants that span more than a year.
Number of critically endangered species for which conservation measures have been launched or supported
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Southern Resident Killer Whales, Chinook salmon, Marbled Murrelets
Number of press articles published
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of donations made by board members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Engaged participants include Board Members, volunteers helping with forage fish sampling, eelgrass surveys, beach clean-ups, boater education, and students in VR immersive education program.
Number of stakeholders/stakeholder groups with whom communication has been achieved and expectations shared
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Communication to take action through email to members, stakeholders and groups.
Number of links and collaborations with external organizations that support student learning and its priority tasks
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Thriving and Resilient Communities
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Public and private schools on three ferry served islands plus multiple new connections with regional organizations for our Virtual Reality education program.
Number of consulting projects completed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Natural Shorelines
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Consulting with shoreline property owners regarding technical assistance for restoration work.
Number of conservation actions at site(s)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Natural Shorelines
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of initiatives where site(s) have been declared protected areas
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Natural Shorelines
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Acres of natural habitat restored
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Natural Shorelines
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Organizational Goals
• Prevent or reduce the cumulative impacts and risks from increased vessel traffic in the Salish Sea, especially vessel traffic that transports hazardous materials and fossil fuels as cargo.
• Protect and recover endangered Southern Resident killer whales through shoreline protection and restoration, oil spill prevention and spill response preparedness, and terminal and refinery permit review and engagement, and litigation when needed.
• Reduce cumulative impacts on marine species (primarily forage fish, salmon, eelgrass, and kelp) from individual actions of shoreline property owners.
• Mitigate the impacts of climate change for critical habitats and ecosystems.
• Educate and engage students and the public in science-based and solution-oriented actions.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To achieve our goals, we use science, education, community engagement, and advocacy to identify and advance solutions that support people and the environment. We collaborate with tribal and other governmental agencies, elected officials, agency and department staff, business leaders, conservationists, other environmental nonprofits, and individual property owners to protect the transboundary region’s cultural and ecological resources. Our staff also participates in regional vessel traffic risk assessments and research, planning, and recovery efforts for orca, salmon, forage fish, eelgrass, and kelp.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Protecting and restoring the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea requires a team effort. Our staff of policy experts, scientists, educators, and an attorney are leveraged by a strong team of consultants, interns, volunteers, and a dedicated Board of Directors. To protect the region’s cultural, ecological, and economic resources, we collaborate with citizens; non-profit organizations in WA State and BC; regional and local business leaders; and local, regional, state, provincial, Tribal, US, and Canadian governments. We are supported by a dedicated membership base, foundation, state, and federal grants.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
A few of Friends of the San Juans’ recent accomplishments include:
1) multiple on-the-ground restoration projects at beach sites (8 projects), coastal wetlands (4), lagoons (1), and subtidal sites (multiple creosote dock, float, buoy, and pile removals);
2) prevention of fossil fuel terminal expansion projects that would have increased vessel traffic risks in the Salish Sea (Tesoro Xylene and Phillips 66 Refineries);
3) identification and protection for 21 new forage fish spawning beaches in San Juan County;
4) helped improve land use policy through engagement in updates to the Shoreline Master Program, Critical Areas Ordinance, and Comprehensive Plan;
5) and led innovative education programs in San Juan County schools focused on the marine food web, plastics reduction, and climate change.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
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.
FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS
Board of directorsas of 11/10/2023
Ken Carrasco
No Affiliation
Term: 2022 - 2024
Ken Carrasco
President
Bruce Rylander
Treasurer
Carol Kibble
Secretary
Chris Wolfe
Kas Guillozet
Ron Zee
Vice President
Matt Krogh
Bob McPherson
Erin Licata
Joseph Cohen
Natalie Baloy
Kai Sanburn
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? Yes -
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
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/08/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.