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Sightline Institute 

Description

Over the past twenty years, Sightline Institute’s goal has been to develop sustainable models for change that simultaneously encourage environmental protection and economic prosperity in our region. As an independent, nonprofit research and communications center, our in-depth research, analysis, and ideas help connect the dots across a wide range of issues, and support allied organizations and citizens advocating for sustainable solutions.     

By placing powerful, long-term solutions in the hands of people who make change happen, Sightline helps prompt dramatic advances toward a sustainable economy and way of life.

Mission Statement
Sightline Institute’s mission is to make the Northwest a global model of sustainability—strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
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Sightline Institute
1402 3rd Ave Ste 500 
Seattle 
WA
98101-2130 
(206) 447-1880 

Alan Durning 
Executive Director 

Programs

Sightline Institute Programs

Champion smart solutions
Sightline focuses on policies that can bring long-term prosperity to the region. And we work with our allies in the sustainability community to help bring those ideas to fruition. Whether it’s helping to determine an equitable way to price carbon; promoting the benefits of “low-impact” development to reduce damage from polluted stormwater; or in identifying and advocating for the removal of  outdated regulations to allow sustainable solutions to flourish, Sightline believes that ideas have consequences, and that “the truth, well told” speeds progress toward responsible stewardship.

Inform our region’s leaders and citizens
Our in-depth research reports, regular blog commentary and analysis, and daily news digest keep Northwest leaders on top of their game. Sightline staff conduct economic analyses, sort through dizzying data sets, and weigh policy proposals in terms of environmental and social impact, as well as translate our analysis into language and stories that everyone can use to advance smart solutions that will benefit all northwesterners.

Empower citizens and decision-makers
Sightline provides communication tools that social change-makers need to put sustainability theory into practice and convert scientific findings into clear language and policy that resonates with social values. We help our allies in the sustainability movement distill complicated issues and find the best ways to talk about these issues in our communities.  

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

In 2012, Sightline continued to navigate public policy debates around climate and clean energy in the Northwest. We focused specifically on issues of climate policy, energy efficiency, and protecting our environment from toxics: including coal power, coal exports, and polluted stormwater runoff.

By digging deeply into the issues and building on our solid reputation for providing smart solutions, Sightline has been able to increase our efforts to support advocates, policymakers, and the media—providing the analysis and communications tools they need to advance sustainability policies and promote healthy communities. 

An example of how our work impacts the shape of a debate:

Last year, Sightline published an analysis of the traffic congestion that proposed coal trains would cause in Seattle. We identified specific streets that would be blocked by coal trains and calculated delay times at intersections. That analysis sent waves through the city’s manufacturing sector and it prompted the mayor’s office to commission a detailed study of the issue. The mayor’s study confirmed Sightline’s findings almost exactly: coal trains would shut down eight major streets by 1 to 3 hours a day, 365 days a year. Within a day, the study results had been reported on by the Seattle Times, The Stranger, NPR, the AP, every TV news station in Seattle, and numerous other outlets.

 This research helped further educate the public on the potential impacts of coal export facilities on our communities and provided critical fuel for the coalition working to stop them from being built.

Evaluation

Sightline Institute strives to empower changes in government policy, business practices and individual and community decisions that will make our communities stronger, our economy fairer, and our environment and region healthier in for the long-term.

Proven Success
Sightline uses four key strategies designed to move sustainability idea onto the public agenda. First, they find the best policy ideas through rigorous, in-depth research; second, they identify proven tactics and strategies for communicating about sustainability problems and solutions; third, they make sure that their ideas reach the hands of the most important decision-makers, by disseminating them through traditional news outlets, online and social media. And finally, they collaborate strategically with like-minded advocates and policy champions.

Each year, Sightline selects a handful of promising policy arenas and regional issue areas to pursue in depth. Sightline’s recent work in the Puget Sound area has specifically focused on advancing affordable, greener alternatives for polluted storm water runoff; removing regulatory barriers to alternative transportation and other sustainable innovations; and working closely with allies on education and communications efforts to block Big Coal’s escape route to Asian markets by opposing schemes to turn Northwest ports and communities into massive coal export facilities.

Best Practices
They provide thousands of community leaders across the Northwest with online communication tools, such as their Cascadia Scorecard regional indicator updates, the Sightline Daily news digest and blog, and message-framing Flashcards. Some 25,000 community leaders visit their website every month, and 13,000 people subscribe to their email products.

Accessibility and Cultural Competency
Sightline adopted a Diversity Action Plan. The Plan guided their programmatic work planning and set specific goals for both collaborative partnerships and audience growth within communities of color. Sightline was successful in their attempt to diversify news coverage, but they found that diversity among their audience had not increased by any measurable amount. Sightline will continue working on building thoughtful, authentic relationships with communities of color and invite them to become part of their work.

Sustainability
In 2013, Sightline will celebrate its 20th anniversary. They are looking forward to taking advantage of this occasion to raise awareness of their mission and introduce more people to Sightline.

Sightline has maintained strong financial support from foundations and individuals including funds raised for future years. Their development portfolio is a combination of grant revenue, major donor and annual fund gifts, planned giving, and earned income.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2013 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/10/2012 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/10/2011 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/10/2010 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2007 $30,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/22/2005 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/12/2003 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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