What Your Donations Support at WNPS
Whether it has been about the damming of the Skagit River, creating the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, or studying the aftermath of Mt. St. Helens, the Washington Native Plant Society works to protect and monitor the vitality of this state’s native plant ecosystems.
Conservation and Advocacy:
Conservation and advocacy make the Washington Native Plant Society the “voice for native plants”. Our greatest conservation work is on-the-ground and around the state where hundreds of Society members volunteer their time to restore habitats, strive for good conservation policies, conduct native plant inventories and monitor rare plant populations.
Research: Plant surveys are critical for knowing what we need to protect and Society members have played an active role throughout the years in identifying valuable plant communities in Washington and advocating for their protection. For over 35 years the Washington Native Plant Society has been financially supporting plant surveys, graduate research and other scientific inquiries to advance our knowledge and understanding of Washington's native plants.
Education and Outreach: We think people are more likely to value native plants and work toward their conservation when they know about them and come to appreciate their beauty and their value. On the ground, last year we organized and coordinated 189 field trips and 79 programs about native plants.
Our Native Plant Stewardship Program has a reputation for excellence in training volunteers who become committed leaders in habitat restoration and environmental education. The Native Plant Stewardship Program has graduated 22 classes and 511 Stewards since 1996. These Stewards have given over 100,000 hours of service, restoring degraded habitats and providing environmental education.
Ivy OUT was initiated in 2000 as a pilot project. Education, public outreach and community involvement at one location, Seward Park, has now expanded to communities throughout western Washington where citizens are engaged in removing ivy from their community parks and their own backyards.
Native Plant Appreciation Week For ten years we have been the moving force behind Native Plant Appreciation Week declared each year by the Governor for the state. Native Plant Appreciation Week inspires citizens through diverse activities and events to learn more about native plant species and their habitats and how to protect them.The public can participate in everything from talks, walks, hikes, garden tours, and visits to our natural areas to active involvement in habitat restoration projects. It is also an opportunity for governmental agencies, non-profit groups and environmental organizations to highlight their work in protecting native plant species and restoring native plant habitats. The public can learn about the many projects and hard work that enhances their area. Over 70 activities and events are scheduled throughout the state during the week each year.
Operations: The day-to-day management of an expanding education and conservation environmental group cannot rely on talented volunteers alone. General donations received are applied to the operations of the Society including maintaining an office in Seattle, communications, publications, mailing, a vast array of projects, and outreach support.
Endowment Fund: The purpose of the Washington Native Plant Society Endowment is to provide stable, long-term support for research, education, and conservation grants and projects. Grant and project funding provided from the WNPS Endowment is independent of the organization’s operating budget. Review endowment policy.
WNPS Grants: Grants are awarded by the Society to conservation, education and research projects in the state on an annual basis.