OWF Annual Report 2024

2024 Annual Report

Overview Dear Reader, On behalf of the Oregon Wildlife Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff, it’s my pleasure to present you with our annual report for 2024.

As you may know, our nonprofit organization plays a somewhat unique role in advancing the work of wildlife conservation in Oregon. As an operating charitable Foundation with statewide interests, we stand ready to support this important work wherever there’s a need, and in whatever way we can.

Here’s what advancing wildlife conservation in Oregon looks like for us: • • • • •

Leading capital campaigns see p. 4 Partnering on a large project initiative see p. 5 Providing financial support to a project see p. 6 Serving as the fiscal sponsor for nonprofits & coalitions see pp. 9-11 Raising awareness about wildlife conservation issues see p. 16

We’re also engaged in land stewardship when circumstances call for it. With a bevy of excellent land trusts in Oregon, our efforts are focused on protecting ecologically important habitats and wildlife movement, only if and when service gaps exist. For example, we recently acquired 65 acres along Foley Creek in the Nehalem River Basin. Ultimately this property will be conveyed to a land trust for long-term stewardship.

Finally, through the vision and hard work of our gift store's General Manager and her team, the Foundation’s retail program reflects, more than ever, our mission and conservation values. Stop by to see the difference for yourself! Our stores now feature more Oregon made and local products than ever before, including a growing list of private-label collaborations with Longbottom Coffee, Oregon Hill Farms, and Bruce’s Candy, to name a few.

The success of our work depends on the support of conservation-minded people like you.

Join our newsletter list at www.myowf.org/newsletter or follow us on socials, @orwildlife for news and updates.

Tim Greseth Executive Director

Table of Contents Discovering the Lower Deschutes River ............................................................. 3 Herman's Home ................................................................................................. 4 Conservation Spotlight ...................................................................................... 5 Grant Program .................................................................................................. 6 Donor Roll ......................................................................................................... 7 Animal Migration & Movement Initiatives ........................................................13 2024 Events ......................................................................................................15 2024 Fundraising ..............................................................................................17 Ways to Give ....................................................................................................18 1

Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors Board President Strawn Dixon Vice President Blair Bubenik Secretary EK MacColl Treasurer Pat Richardson Past President Tom Rask

Meg Braestrup Carl Burnham Dr. Debbie Colbert Matt Davis Blaine Dickason Roy Elicker Bryce Gartrell Chip Graeper Jim Irvine Craig Johnston Gordon King Dr. Jeff La Rochelle Nick McDonald

Ryland Moore Doug Nelson Gary Papé Tony Pullen Blake Seabaugh Victoria Sise Morgan Smith Graig Spolek Brad Staples Lori Steele Rob Stuart Dr. Jason Surratt Matthew Tabor

Executive Director Tim Greseth

Development Associate Jess Bynum

Financial Controller Kerwin Carambot

Project Specialist Zachary Zeaux

Retail Stores General Manager Heather Pola

Development Manager Rebecca Roberts

External Communications Manager Mo Montgomery

Staff

Retail Stores Assistant Manager Megan Breneman

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Discovering the Lower Deschutes River Brad Staples is a long-time supporter, member, and past President of our Board of Directors. Brad is also a fishing guide who has been leading trips on the lower Deschutes River for over forty years.

Brad has donated a scenic jet boat tour of the lower river to the Foundation in each of the last 14 years. We use this trip to educate staff, members, and friends of the Foundation about the Deschutes River and our role in helping acquire the lower portion of it for the people of Oregon.

“The reason that I donate a Deschutes River scenic trip is so that staff, board members, and supporters can experience the lower river,” said Staples. “It was the largest project Oregon Wildlife (Heritage) Foundation has been involved in.”

In 1983, at the request of then-Governor Victor Atiyeh, the Foundation led the effort to purchase a total of 17 miles of lower Deschutes river frontage, an extraordinary undertaking for a fledgling organization only two years into its operation.

Launching from Heritage Landing (named for the Foundation) at the mouth of the river, guests are witnesses to the stunning beauty of the lower 25 miles of the Deschutes, canyons, and a multitude of wildlife sightings that often include California bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, coyote, osprey, and wild turkey.

The scenery and wildlife of the lower Deschutes River are a living example of conservation’s importance for today’s and future generations of Oregonians.

“I hope that my guests come away from their day on the river with me having learned what the Foundation does around the State of Oregon for our fish and wildlife,” said Staples. “I also hope they gain an appreciation for the animals and the natural environment along the river corridor.”

We are grateful to Brad for all he does for the Deschutes River, the Foundation, and the state of Oregon. His support and advocacy are helping ensure that places like this can be enjoyed now and in the future.

Photos courtesy of Mark Greenfield and Rebecca Roberts.

In addition to fishing trips, Brad also guides scenic tours of the lower Deschutes through his business, Western Fishing Adventures.

Visit www.deschutesriverjetboats.com for more information.

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Herman’s Home

Sturgeon Interpretive Center Capital Campaign This fall marks the 26th anniversary of the Sturgeon Viewing and Interpretive Center at Bonneville Fish Hatchery. Home to “Herman the Sturgeon,” an Oregon celebrity (how many fish do you know with their own fan club?), the Interpretive Center has hosted millions of visitors since its inception, eager for the opportunity to see a prehistoric fish up close.

The years and Gorge weather have been tough on the Center’s structure and habitat, and the interpretive signage, designed for 1999 audiences, needs an update. The funds raised through the Sturgeon Interpretive Center Capital Campaign will be used to make necessary repairs and improvements to the center’s structure, pond habitat, and interpretive signage.

You are invited to support “Herman” and his home at the Hatchery through a gift to the Sturgeon Interpretive Center Capital Campaign. Your support helps ensure the Interpretive Center continues to be a place of learning and wonder for years to come.

To make a donation, visit myowf.org/sturgeon-interpretive-center or text HERMAN to 44-321.

SAVE THE DATE! Please join us on Sunday, June 22, to celebrate Herman the Sturgeon’s birthday! How old will he be? We asked him and he said “nun ya bizness!”

For more information, visit www.myowf.org/events.

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Conservation Spotlight: Five Rivers Project Helicopter-Assisted Stream Restoration in Oregon’s Mid-coast Region Tributaries of Five Rivers, which, in turn, feed into the Alsea River, were treated with large wood late last year by a heavy-lift helicopter. The purpose of this project was to restore these tributaries to a more natural flow, resulting in improved spawning and rearing habitats for Coho salmon and other aquatic species.

Almost eight hundred trees were placed in a series of structures along four miles of Five Rivers feeder streams.

Large wood structures are designed to slow stream velocity, engage the floodplain, aggrade gravel for spawning, deepen pools through scour, and provide cover from predators.

This project was made possible by funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, with additional support from the Inflation Reduction Act. The partnership included BLM Oregon & Washington, U.S. Forest Service - Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and Oregon Wildlife Foundation.

Photos by Justin Vernon, U.S. Forest Service (team, helicopter, staff) and Chris Mayes, U.S. Forest Service (stream flow)

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Grant Program Research

$65.3K

$702.4K Total Grants Awarded in 2024

$50K

Watch for Wildlife

$16K Education $64.5K

Access & Facilities Improvement

$506.6K Habitat Restoration

Championing Conservation Through Stewardship, Funding, and Advocacy The Oregon Wildlife Foundation’s role in wildlife conservation looks a little different to everyone. That’s because what we do is based on what is needed to move important work forward. It might be as simple as sharing our tax exempt status with a worthy initiative; we’re currently sponsoring 13 different organizations and groups. For other projects, we’re securing and administering funds to implement larger initiatives. In recent years, we’ve become more engaged in land stewardship, filling service area gaps. We’re also promoting, posting, and blogging about wildlife conservation to raise awareness about important issues. Finally, we award grants to conservation projects, and have been doing so since 2004.

Most of what we do begins with the Project committee; a group of Board members and conservation community representatives that evaluate funding and sponsorship requests, and assist Foundation staff with project development.

Last year our committee approved funding for 37 projects, awarding just over $700,000 to fish and wildlife conservation efforts throughout Oregon. Each of these projects contributes to the long-term conservation of Oregon’s wildlife and their habitats. The Foundation is committed to conserving and protecting Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and habitats for future generations. Please join us in these efforts.

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Donor Roll

** denotes recurring donor

Unrestricted Gifts exceeding $20,000 Greenfield/Hartline Habitat Conservation Fund at The Nature Conservancy Craig & Lynn Johnston Strawn Dixon and the Searle Family Trust

Unrestricted Gifts of $10,000 - $19,999 Randy Labbe In honor of Gordon King

Unrestricted Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous** Elizabeth S Holden Fund Kim MacColl Jr and Melinda of Oregon Community Bishop MacColl Foundation

John Matthew Kolar In honor of Brad Staples

Unrestricted Gifts of $1,000 - $4,999 J & S Bishop Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation Blair & Peggy Bubenik John D. Carr William Culver Jilda & Craig Danielson Janet Davis & Mark Rogers Bud & Kitty Dietrich In memory of Frank Halvorson Ron & Linne’ Dodge Diana Gardener & Judson Parsons In memory of Raphael Gardener Bryce Gartrell

John & Emma Gilleland Chip & Emily Graeper The Horstkotte Family Foundation Knapp Family Philanthropic Fund Craig & Louanne Koch Jeff La Rochelle Mike & Tracy Martinson John & Susan McCracken Sally & Paul McCracken Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation Bruce & Michelle McIntosh Jim & Mary Meier Danielle & Sanders Nye Gary Papé

Bill & Susan Parks** Ted & Rita Powell Pat & Priscilla Richardson Nelson Rutherford Victoria Sise Brad Staples Lori Steele Mr/Mrs LL Stewart Subfund of Oregon Community Foundation Stuart Family Gift from the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Nancy Zvan

Unrestricted Gifts of $500 - $999 Anonymous Jim Atwood David & Judith Berg Ethel & Robert Berney and Sons Philanthropic Fund Christ & Barbara Bouneff Wayne & Patty Bowers Todd Brickey**

William Edlefsen Elements Massage Tanasbourne Roy & Marny Elicker Marvin & Penny Harrison Marcia & Bud Hartman Harriett Kazzimir In honor of Strawn Dixon

Theresa Kirsch E.K. & Christy MacColl Jim Diamond & Judy Rea Dale Suran Jason Surratt Tim & Tracie Unterwegner In memory of Jeff Unterwegner

Unrestricted Gifts of $500 - $999 Anonymous (x 12) Anonymous In honor of Herman’s Birthday 7

Anonymous In honor of Tom DeArmond Sherilyn Aasen

Marvin Abe Jacklyn Amberwood Sarah Armstrong Tyler Armstrong

Unrestricted Gifts of $1 - $499 Lisa Ashcraft Gene Banducci Adrienne Banks Charlotte & Richard Barnhart Lee Barth Lonny Bass In honor of Dr. Philip Marucha and Jamie Marucha Jason Bergstrom Nancy Bower In honor of Devin Macam Lynne Bridges Barbara K. Brown Charlene Brown In honor of Janelle St. Pierre Brett Brownscombe Ann & Andrew Clark Simon Colcord Elizabeth Collins Kathy & Dallas Coon Charlotte Corkran John Crawford Catherine Dalziel In honor of all who love the natural wonders of Oregon Dobbes Family Estate Tom & Julie Donovan In memory of Dick & Gail Clairmont Les Fahey Ariana Flores Cinda Flynn John & Susan Fortune Kyle & Trisha Freres Melissa Garcia Samuel Gaumer** Jim Greer Christina Gullion Paul Hazel Rob Hehlen Jeffrey Hicks David Holaday Gary Host Edward House

Greg Hublou Jim Irvine Julia Jackman David Jarman Dave Johnson Lynn Jones Sameer Kapur Eliza Kelly In honor of Suzanne & Dick Linford Kathie Koellmann Nancy K Koontz Kurt Kremers Ron & Sharon Krettinger William Douglas LaCour Suzanne Linford** Shawn Looney Kim MacColl Jr & Melinda Bishop MacColl In memory of Jeffrey David Waarvick Ken MacDonald Stu Magee In honor of Tom and Alison Theodore & Terri Malaska Stephen & Lee McConnel David McGrouther Karen Moss In memory of Snowflake Next Level Burger Kenneth Olson William & Joanna O’Sullivan Jim Owens Stephen Pio Point Forward Wealth Advisors In honor of Megha Agarwal In honor of Todd Seidel Marna & Robert Porath Rebecca & Evan Roberts Linda Robinson Barbara Russell Nathan Rutledge-Gorman Gregory Sanduinetti Peter Saraceno Guy Schoenborn Ethel Schoenborn

Robert Schroeder Alexander Schwindt III Steve Scroup Ryan Shepard Paula Sheppard Dave Sill Tracie Sorenson Manuel Soto** Kristin Stern Jim Sternberg & Kathleen Huntington Yi-Shan Sung In honor of Barko Meow Gary Tate In honor of Austin and Megan, in Memory of their Father Dani Terrazas & Mike Downing Matthew Thompson In memory of Darlene Thompson Megan Thornton In memory of Thomas Thornton Randy Tomer Jordan Trefzger In honor of Tucker Trefzger Christy Uhrich** Nicholas Van Zante Lauren Vick Sara Viernum Tracy Villano Jon Waldum Kenneth Walter Mark Ward David Whitmore Capt. Dennis Widme & Deborah Widme James Williams

We regret any errors or omissions to these lists.

Contact OWF with any questions.

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Donor Roll ­— Restricted and In-kind Gifts Corporate Support and Matching Gifts Apple Benevity Community Impact Fund

Bright Funds Foundation Clorox Intel

Kroger Microsoft PayPal Giving Fund

Grants Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

Gifts In Kind Blair & Peggy Bubenik Crowley Wines Hood River Distillers Inc

Irwin Hodson Breakside Brewery Nick McDonald

Doug & Candace Nelson Rebecca & Evan Roberts Sage Canyon Outfitters

Gifts of Estate and/or Property Estate of William K. Lofton

Basalt to Breakers Anonymous Kelly Ausland Taylor Ayers Jesse Cauble

Beverly Hobbs Brian McCool Kent Naffziger Steve Smith

Jacob Turner Kendall Williams

Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Crossing Initiative Anonymous (x 5) Rebecca Adams Savage Adrienne Banks Lauren Barnes Gary & Diane Beeler Rod Carter Central Oregon LandWatch Will Clark In honor of Aubriana Grace Clark Kyle Collins Kathy & Dallas Coon

Elizabeth Dawn Creach Emily Farrer Cinda Flynn Shireen Gastineau In memory of Jerry Gastineau Kristi Gilman-Miller Donna Harris & Dwane Williams Andrew Hill Karl & Michele Kugler Ruth Malloy

Christopher Powell Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Gillian Rowley Patricia Scarci Jonathan Thorn Tracy Villano Mike & Christin Zapp In honor of Mike and Christin Zapp

Brown Folks Fishing Dora Quach

Friends of Baltimore Woods The Portland Garden Club 9

Sumner Sharpe & Margaret Strachan

Leslie Smith Nikkie West

Forest Park Pond Project Greenfield/Hartline Habitat Conservation Fund at The Nature Conservancy

Friends of Fanno Creek Headwaters Anonymous (x 3) Jason Bergstrom Dennis Brown Rob Diffely Joan Hamilton Elizabeth Johnston **

Portland Parks Foundation Ilana Rembelinsky In memory of Terrible Tim Rebecca Smith Barbara Stedman Marilyn Trusty

Laurie Wall Andrea Wall Steven Wasserstrom Melanie Wilson

Harborton Frog Crossing Project Anonymous Henry Clifford Nicholas C. Esser Sherry Hanrahan Brooke Huber

Ann Littlewood Sally LeBaron In honor of Linda, Top the Border Collie

Candace Lynn Sweeney In memory of Bob Sallinger June Yamrick

Linnton Frogs/Harborton Frog Shuttle Kirsten Croswell In honor of Elaine Akamian

Gary Lothian Ian Meyer ** In honor of Bee

Darrick Wong In honor of World Frog Taxi Day

Metolius Winter Range Projects Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Oregon Hunters Association Bend Chapter

NE Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition Olseth Family Foundation Stuart Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund Sunny Bane Simon Colcord Reva Gillman Patty Nordyke

In memory of Mike Nordyke

Richard Ray & Anne Philipsborn

In honor of Mark Stern

Lauren Powell ++ Linda Robinson Peggy Runcorn ++ Barry Sanders

Mary Wahl Melissa Wells ++ Diane Whipple ++ Jennifer Wright ++

Mike Schrankel ++ Luke Seus

++ Denotes gifts given in honor of Stephen Ford

In honor of Garrick Schermer and The Book of Hours

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Donor Roll ­— Restricted and In-kind Gifts Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Fund Jane Hartline

Oregon State Police K-9 Team Roger Emigh** Warren King

Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture Barbara & Peter M. Folger

Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition Anonymous Beatrice Frederickson Head and Heart Foundation Timothy and Bridget Molinari

Sturgeon Interpretive Center Improvement Project Anonymous (x 3) Elizabeth Collins Kelley Deas Anonymous Donor Sonja Farris In honor of Herman’s Birthday

Steve Glazer Bryan Gonzalez Andrea Moore Austin Roberts Jim Scheppke

Will Staiger Suky Wan Douglas Witham In honor of Lois Witham

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortion Claire Carder USFWS, Oregon Fish & Wildlife City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES)

Watch for Wildlife Fund Gene Conner Marita Ingalsbe Lynn Jones In memory of Peggy Lewellyn

Carol Murdock Wendy Beth Oliver Margaret Shannon Perry Waddell

West Willamette Restoration Partnership Forest Park Conservancy 11

Ron Walp In honor of Dale Madden Robert Woodward

Donor Roll ­— Summer Soiree Paddle Raise Gifts of $5000 and above Strawn Dixon and the Searle Family Trust Craig & Lynne Johnston

Gifts between $1000 and $2000 Blair & Peggy Bubenik Blaine & Cynthia Dickason Sally & Hayden Gaussoin Fund at the National Christian Foundation

Tim & Lisa Greseth Jim Irvine Lynn Loacker McBain Associates Pat & Priscilla Richardson

Victoria Sise Stuart Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation

Gifts between $250 and $500 Carl Burnham III Bruce & Beth Carpenter Dave & Patti Cummings Roy & Marny Elicker Spencer French Bryce Gartrell Chip & Emily Graeper Dan Grierson Allison & Michael Halvorson Marie Hepner

Gordon King Jeff La Rochelle E.K. & Christy MacColl Bill & Susan Miller Doug & Candace Nelson Tom & Suzy Rask Jill & Mark Reynolds Rebecca & Evan Roberts William Russell Blake Seabaugh

Graig Spolek Charlie Stenvall Dani Terrazas & Mike Downing Chris & Tracy Vaughan Zach Walker & Angelina Pereira

Gifts between $1 and $249 Anonymous Franc Cafferata Debbie Colbert & Eric Johnson

John Loen Brad & Kim Pepper

Patsy VandeVenter In memory of Gary VandeVenter

Event Sponsors (see page # for event information) Aquatic Contracting LLC Blair & Peggy Bubenik Carl Burnham III Certified Languages International Conrey Electric Dave & Patti Cummings Roy & Marny Elicker Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Co. Bryce Gartrell Chip & Emily Graeper

Hoffman Construction Irwin Hodson Craig & Lynne Johnston JW Fowler Kell Alterman & Runstein LLP Gordon King Jeff La Rochelle Steve Leeb Kim MacColl Jr & Melinda Bishop MacColl David Mansfield Moss Adams LLP

Doug & Candace Nelson Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Pacific Foundation Gary Papé David & Gagan Pazourek Perkins & Co. River Design Group Victoria Sise Strategic Solutions NW Umpqua Bank 12

Animal Migration and Movement Initiatives The Watch for Wildlife Fund All species must move to live. Be it for food, water, shelter, finding mates, or escape from predators, the ability of wildlife to move between habitat patches is critical to their survival.

Human-made alterations to our landscape, including roads, fences, and development, have fragmented wildlife habitats, creating barriers to their movement that have profound impacts on them and the function of our ecosystems.

Like a dam in a stream, busy roads can become almost impassable barriers for wildlife. A fish ladder helps aquatic species get around dams in the same way that wildlife under and overpasses help terrestrial species migrate and move to fulfill their life purpose.

We use the proceeds from the sale and renewal of our Watch for Wildlife specialty license plate to support projects that reduce barriers to wildlife movement. Purchasing our specialty plate or donating to our Watch for Wildlife Fund helps prevent further loss of biodiversity by lowering the incidence of wildlife-vehicle collisions, supporting habitat connectivity, and increasing wildlife resilience to climate change.

Visit www.myowf.org/watchforwildlife to make a charitable gift or learn more about our Watch for Wildlife specialty license plate.

Plates sold all other years

Watch for Wildlife by the Numbers

$1.32MM Total $$ Generated

$246.8K Spent on projects so far

15,374 22,273

Some projects supported so far: • • • •

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Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Crossing Project Coastal Marten Wildlife Crossing Project Palensky Highway Wildlife Crossing Project NE Oregon/Highway 82 Wildlife Crossing Project

Plates sold in 2024

Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition The Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition (SOWCC) is a broad-based partnership focused on reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and increasing habitat connectivity in a 14-mile corridor of I-5 between Ashland and the California border. This section of I-5 bisects the Klamath Siskiyou National Monument, established largely because of the area’s remarkable biodiversity.

The Foundation has served as SOWCC’s fiscal sponsor and agent since the Coalition’s inception in 2021. SOWCC commissioned a phase 1 wildlife crossing and conceptual design study in 2022. The study identified eight priority wildlife crossing locations within the study corridor, and conceptual designs for different crossing configurations at each one. Among those locations and crossing options was a wildlife overcrossing near Mariposa Preserve, approximately 4 miles north of the California border and squarely within the Klamath Siskiyou National Monument.

ODOT began engineering design and submitted a funding request for construction funding in 2023 through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program.

While our initial funding proposal wasn’t approved, the feedback was extremely positive.

The Department and Coalition agreed to reapply in summer 2024.

Success! The Department received word at the end of last year, that the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Overcrossing Project was awarded $33 million to complete design of and construct all elements of the project (fencing, jumpouts, and deer guards). The Mariposa Preserve project will be the first wildlife crossing project anywhere on I-5 and, once completed, the first overcrossing in Oregon.

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2024 Event Snapshot Oregon Wildlife Fundraising events help raise important funds for conservation in Oregon, and comprise roughly a fifth of the Foundation’s operating budget. We are thankful for our event sponsors, guests, and donors who help to make our annual events a success each year.

Event support helps to keep us moving forward with conservation projects in an efficient and expedited manner, and under the guidance of a vision that our citizens experience a remarkable diversity of fish and wildlife in natural habitats that are healthy for all.

We held our second annual Clays for Conservation event in June at Mid Valley Clays, and it was a smashing success! Thirteen enthusiastic teams gathered for a morning of friendly clay shooting competition, followed by lunch, an awards ceremony, and camaraderie among fellow OWF supporters.

A special congratulations to Team Aquatic Contracting for clinching the top prize of the day! Thank you to all who participated and made this event memorable. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Platinum Team Sponsor Hoffman Construction Gold Team Sponsors Blair and Peggy Bubenik Conrey Electric Irwin Hodson Company

Team Sponsors Aquatic Contracting Carl Burnham Dave Cummings Roy Elicker JW Fowler

Gordon King David Mansfield Pacific Foundation Strategic Solutions NW Station Sponsor Tori Sise

Save the date for our 3rd Annual Clays for Conservation event! Join us Friday, June 6, at Mid Valley Clays in Gervais.

After several years of hosting our largest annual fundraising event on Sauvie Island, OWF switched gears in 2024 by welcoming supporters and friends of the Foundation “off island” at the Butler Barn in Scholls.

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Celebrate the last day of summer at Summer Soirée on Sept. 21st, 2025, at the Butler Barn.

Guests enjoyed a memorable evening filled with delicious food, beer, and wine, thanks to the generous contributions from Breakside Brewery and local winery Crowley Wines.

The farm-to-table dinner and live music from Portland’s own Pressure Point added a unique charm to the event.

We were thrilled to witness the generosity of our supporters during the paddle raise, which helped us collect over $33,000 for conservation efforts in Oregon. Please see the donor roll and back cover for the full list of contributors.

A Conversation With Ben Goldfarb The Oregon Wildlife Foundation believes in the symbiotic relationship between education and conservation. Our initiatives support wildlife migration and movement through collaboration with state agencies and community partners on essential wildlife passage projects throughout Oregon. From frogs to deer, the Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all wildlife species are able to move safely around roads and highways for their health and long-term survival.

The Foundation was honored to host award-winning conservation journalist and author, Ben Goldfarb at the Multnomah Arts Center last October. Ben has traveled extensively, sharing his research and vision for a better future that builds on our growing understanding of road ecology. His books include Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping The Future of Our Planet and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.

Ben used his talk to highlight road ecology, which studies the interaction between roads and nature. He discussed the problematic impact roads have on ecosystems and the importance of finding solutions that minimize those negative effects. There are 4 million miles of road in the U.S., making our traffic system the largest and densest in the world. Our efforts at OWF include improving habitat and conserving migration corridors to help ensure that wildlife can move safely around the many barriers we put in their way. These efforts are vital for the health of Oregon’s ecosystems and the diverse species that inhabit them.

Ben’s Insights “Road ecology is basically this relatively small but fast growing field of science that looks at all of the different ways that roads and nature interact, all of the connections between our transportation infrastructure and the natural world, most of which, of course, are problematic and negative for ecosystems. And I think just as important as that, road ecologists tend to try to figure out how to heal those negative interactions and make our roads lie a little bit lighter on the land and be less harmful for wildlife. We have these kinds of related problems, right? We have all of these wildlife vehicle collisions that are both an existential threat to some populations and even species, and are a huge danger to human drivers. And we have this habitat fragmentation problem. There, again, these walls of cars, preventing animals from getting where they need to be to survive. So, how do we solve those two problems? The best solution in our toolbox are wildlife crossings. Overpasses, underpasses, culverts, various structures that allow animals to safely move across highways, back and forth.”

Your Support Your support is vital in helping us accomplish our mission.

Donate to the Foundation or a wildlife crossing project by visiting www.myowf.org, and learn more about Ben Goldfarb and his work by visiting www.bengoldfarb.com.

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2024 Fundraising

$2.67MM Total Fundraising Income Event Fundraising

$128.5K

Unrestricted Gifts

$255.7K

$14K

Gifts In-Kind

Restricted Grants

Watch for Wildlife

$1.17MM

$562.5K

Managed Funds $25K

Restricted Gifts

$514K

Restricted Giving encompasses gifts and other income to our fiscally sponsored partners, and other gifts to specific projects. Restricted Grants include grants given to OWF, including grants through the federal government. Managed Funds include funds given to OWF exclusively for management and project spending.

For audited financials, please visit www.myowf.org.

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Ways to Give Help Us Do Good Work Across Oregon Supporting the Oregon Wildlife Foundation empowers us to drive and execute wildlife conservation initiatives across the state. Your individual contributions form the cornerstone of our organization. Thanks to the commitment and generosity of conservation-minded individuals like you, we can forge a brighter future for Oregon’s wildlife.

Contributions to OWF are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. OWF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization with tax ID 93-0797904.

Donate Online Use the donate button on our website, www.myowf.org, or text OWF to 44-321.

Send a Check Checks can be mailed to the address below.

You will receive an acknowledgement letter appropriate for tax purposes.

Oregon Wildlife Foundation 2337 NW York St. #201c Portland, OR 97210 Rather than donating gifts of cash, many of our supporters opt for non-cash options that not only support our mission but also offer a variety of tax benefits.

For gifts through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), gifts of stock, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD), or gifts of crypto currency, visit www.myowf.org/smartgiving, or navigate from the Ways to Give drop down menu on our homepage.

For gifts of property, art and other physical items, contact Development Manager, Rebecca Roberts at rebecca@myowf.org or by calling 503-255-6059.

X Oregon Wildlife Foundation is pleased to partner with FreeWill, an online platform that helps individuals create a free will or trust to support the people and causes they care about most.

To learn more about Legacy Giving and how you can join OWF as a Conservation Circle Member, visit www.myowf.org/legacygiving.

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Thank you to our event sponsors!

Thank you to our Summer Soireé sponsors

Gold

Platinum

Blair & Peggy Bubenik

Gold Craig & Lynne Johnston

Gary Papé

Silver Blair & Peggy Bubenik

Jeff La Rochelle Gartrell Group

Bronze Roy & Marny Elicker Doug & Candace Nelson David & Gagan Pazourek

Additional Support Kim & Melinda MacColl

Gary Papé (music sponsor)