Search

Seattle Audubon Society 

Description

Seattle Audubon is one of the oldest conservation organizations in the region. With 5,000 member households and an active base of more than 500 volunteer leaders, we work to connect people with birds and nature. As the largest Audubon chapter in Washington, we are leaders on environmental issues of local and regional importance.  We collaborate with the 25 other local Audubon chapters in the state, providing professional assistance and support on conservation and environmental education issues.

Mission Statement
Seattle Audubon cultivates and leads a community that values and protects birds and the natural environment.
Donate Now
Seattle Audubon Society
8050 35th Ave NE 
Seattle 
WA
98115-4815 
(206) 523-8243 

Mr. Charles Kahle 
President of the Board of Directors 

Programs

Seattle Audubon Society Programs

Our conservation programs include improving urban wildlife habitat, protecting regional forests, restoring declining seabird populations in Puget Sound, and protecting and growing the urban forest of Seattle. Our strategies to promote conservation include: consumer education, advocacy, litigation, and citizen science.

We offer a diverse variety of youth and adult education programs, including: Finding Urban Nature (FUN), which provides free environmental science education to elementary school students in Seattle Public Schools, BirdWatch, an out-of-school program for high school students, and our popular summer Nature Camp (scholarships available). Our adult education programs include a highly popular Master Birder program as well as a comprehensive range of classes for all levels of experience.

Our recreation programs include field trips across the region and neighborhood bird walks that provide opportunities to enjoy the birds of the region. We also maintain an online guide to the birds of Washington (birdweb.org), a comprehensive database with detailed ornithological information. Our Nature Shop offers a wide variety of the books, feeders, optical equipment, and backyard birding supplies.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Seattle Audubon successfully advocated for strengthening of the bird habitat protection policies at the local and federal level.  We helped develop the City of Seattle's Urban Forest Management Plan, as well as pressed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise the Recovery Plan for the northern spotted owl, including new provisions recognizing the need for increased protection of owl habitat on non-federal lands.

The Finding Urban Nature (FUN) elementary school program provides more than 800 students a year with hands-on, experiential environmental education. In order to meet the ever increasing demand, funds that will help us to recruit, train, and maintain more volunteer naturalist instructors are needed. Trained volunteers and staff lead the students through eight distinct nature-related curriculum sessions throughout the school year. Students that participate in FUN on average see a 16% improvement in environmental science knowledge. FUN seeks to nurture the next generation of environmental stewards.

Evaluation


The Seattle Audubon works to increase knowledge of birds and nature while also changing attitudes and behaviors concerning environmental stewardship.

Proven Success
Through their local and regional conservation programs, they help communities and individuals identify and preserve important bird habitat in the Pacific Northwest. In order to create a broader constituency for protecting birds and nature, they offer environmental education programs. Seattle Audubon helped develop the City of Seattle’s Urban Forest Management Plan and encouraged the US Fish and Wildlife Service to revise the Recovery Plan for the northern spotted owl.

Collaboration
Seattle Audubon currently coordinates the statewide conservation activities of the 26 Audubon chapters across the state, most of which have no paid staff and small budgets. They provide expertise, guidance and resources for collaborative Audubon projects in the state.

Financial Health
2009 was a challenging year and revenues stabilized in 2010. Their earned revenues from program fees and sales are the same and they have seen increases in contributed income and investment income. They have diverse revenue coming from individuals, sales, grants, fees, corporations, events and investment income. They have focused on their core programs and have decreased spending to balance their budget.

Sustainability
2016 is the celebration of their centennial. They are beginning discussions of what they want to do to celebrate this milestone.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
6/10/2008 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

Similar Organizations

Give broadly to the Environment
If you care about restoring the environmental health of Puget Sound, ensuring sustainability in our region, and broadening the environmental movement, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.
Questions or comments about this organization?
Contact us to learn more.