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Futurewise 

Description

As Washington's premier Smart Growth advocate, Futurewise creates long-term solutions to increase the quality of life for both our urban and rural residents. We work to protect forests, farms and shorelines by limiting development on critical rural and resource lands and habitat while advocating and promoting vibrant, compact, livable development in our urban communities by supporting housing options, transportation choices and smart development patterns. Futurewise is also on the forefront of leveraging how smart growth policies can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.

Mission Statement
Our mission at Futurewise is to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting farmland, forests, and shorelines for this and future generations.
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Futurewise
814 2nd Ave Ste 500 
Seattle 
WA
98104-1543 
(206) 343-0681 Ext 117 

Angela Uhl 
Co-Director, Development & Operations 

Programs

Futurewise Programs

Community & Resource Protection Program
We are seeking appropriate environmental protection during the ongoing major updates to local level planning including Comprehensive Plans, Development Regulations, Critical Areas Ordinances, and Shoreline Master Programs while working at the state level to prevent rollbacks of environmental protections in the Growth Management Act. We are improving local protections by growing and mobilizing our base of support in targeted communities across the state.

Creating Transit-Oriented Communities Program
We are encouraging decisions that promote sensible, higher intensity development in urban centers, particularly around transit investments, while fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. Our focus is on maximizing this investment in mass transit by engaging citizens and key community stakeholders and providing tools and technical assistance to local communities with Transit Oriented-Development.

Local Solutions to Global Warming Program
We aim to incorporate voluntary climate change responses into land use and transportation plans and build statewide support for local actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both urban and rural communities. We seek to incorporate a climate change requirement into land use and transportation planning during comprehensive plan updates in order to reduce land use and transportation related greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

In recent years, Futurewise was instrumental in securing voter approval for Sound Transit 2; worked to pass HB 1967 to stop further building in floodplains; ensured appropriate zoning on 243,514 acres (380 sq. miles) of rural land, increased density in Urban Growth Areas on 2713 acres (4.2 sq. miles), and increased protections for tens of thousands of acres working farmlands. We've also protected 7000 acres (10.9 sq. miles) of working forest land, improved stream, wetland, and marine buffers.

Futurewise is seeking support for each of our core programs and has a specific need to build capacity in Field Organizing, Communications and Development. Our organization is efficient, working statewide with just 6 full time staff and 5 part time staff. We currently dedicate over 80% of funds raised to programs.

Evaluation


For more than twenty years, Futurewise has worked to promote smart growth in our region, advocating for compact, livable development in urban communities and protecting forests, farms and shorelines necessary for the health and sustainability of Puget Sound.

Proven Success
Futurewise was instrumental in mobilizing the community to pass a temporary $20 vehicle license fee that will prevent a 43% reduction in Metro bus service in King County. As a result of effectively engaging King County residents, between 700 to 1,000 individuals were estimated to have attended community hearings in support of the Congestion Reduction Charge. Futurewise plans to leverage the increased community awareness resulting from this brief campaign to transition the conversation to long-term solutions for Metro’s sustainability.

Leadership
In 2011 Futurewise moved away from the three co-director management structure. They have hired Hilary Franz as their executive director with the three co-directors continuing as senior management, leading their key programs and advocacy efforts.

Collaboration
Futurewise is co-chairing the Transportation for Washington campaign with Transportation Choices Coalition. Responsibilities have been split based on each organization’s strengths in a coordinated effort to create more transit and to build healthy, livable communities.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2012 $8,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/10/2011 $5,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/17/2008 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/15/2005 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/18/2003 $10,000.00support general operating expenses of the King County Smart Growth Campaign.

Financials

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