About Wild Salmon Center
Our mission is to protect the world’s salmon strongholds.
Focus Areas
salmon conservationriver and watershed protectionhabitat restorationfisheries science and genomicspolicy and advocacycommunity and Indigenous partnershipsforest conservation
Who They Fund
Coho salmon populationsanadromous salmonid speciesriverine and watershed ecosystems
Funding Style
project implementationplanning and strategic action plan development
About Wild Salmon Center
Wild Salmon Center’s recent grantmaking is anchored in salmon strongholds and the local groups that keep recovery plans moving on the ground. Its largest recent grant, $416,660 to Coos Bay Watershed Association, supported development of the Strategic Action Plan for Coos Bay Coho Population Recovery, showing a preference for planning tied to specific watersheds and salmon populations. The foundation also backed implementation work, including $161,964 to Upper Nehalem Watershed Council for a large wood placement project tied to the Strategic Action Plan for Nehalem River Coho Population Recovery. Grants frequently support habitat restoration, fish passage, streamflow protection, and science or monitoring, often through watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, tribes, and other local partners. Wild Salmon Center’s mission statement is direct: protect the world’s salmon strongholds. The grant list reflects that mandate through place-based work in Oregon watersheds, Indigenous-led restoration, and policy-oriented efforts connected to salmon conservation.
What Wild Salmon Center Funds
A major strand of support goes to coho salmon population recovery planning. Wild Salmon Center gave $154,730 to Rogue River Watershed Council for development of the Strategic Action Plan for Upper Rogue River Coho Population Recovery, and $62,144 to Midcoast Watersheds Council for development of the Strategic Action Plan for Siletz River Coho Population Recovery. Another set of grants supports habitat work tied to those plans: $80,422 went to Siuslaw Soil and Water Conservation District to install large wood on habitats in Upper Indian Creek, while $77,081 went to Curry Soil and Water Conservation District for implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for Elk River Coho Population Recovery. The foundation also funds instream flow protection, with $25,000 to Waterwatch of Oregon for that purpose. Science and monitoring appear as well, including $175,000 to US Geological Survey for a streamgaging program.
How Wild Salmon Center Gives
Typical grants cluster in the mid-range, with a p25 of $27,481, a median of $72,902, and a p75 of $121,226. The recent list includes both larger planning awards and smaller implementation grants, suggesting a mix of strategic and project-level funding. The grant record also shows repeated support to some recipients across 2023 and 2024, including Coos Bay Watershed Association, Rogue River Watershed Council, Midcoast Watersheds Council, Waterwatch of Oregon, and Curry Soil and Water Conservation District. Wild Salmon Center does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The active programs described are partnership-based, and both state that they do not accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.3M
Total Assets
$11.9M
Total Revenue
$17.2M
Total Expenses
$15.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $27K and $121K, with a median of $73K.
25th Percentile
$27K
Median
$73K
75th Percentile
$121K
Geographic Reach
Regional5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
GUIDO R RAHR III
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