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How SPP Is Funded

SPP staff and activities at The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) are funded by an array of contracts and grants, generally from 14–17 sources at any one time. In fiscal year 2026, SPP-Evergreen staff were responsible for stewarding funds from 17 different sources.

 

This diversified funding model requires significant staff time devoted to negotiations and tracking, but it also provides financial resilience, making the effort worthwhile.

Evergreen’s Institutional Support

Evergreen does not provide direct funding for SPP programs, but makes significant contributions by providing space, payroll services, access to students and faculty, human resource services, grant, foundation, budget support, more.

 

Contracts and funding come from Ecological Conservation organizations and state and federal agencies including Washington State Department of CorrectionsWashington State Department of Fish and WildlifeUS Fish and Wildlife Service, Center for Natural Lands ManagementUS Department of Defense and Bureau of Land Management. These focus primarily on Ecological Conservation, environmental education programs a staffing costs.

Foundation & Private Donations

Foundation and private donations have allowed us to create new initiatives, such as restarting SPP workshops. In addition, these donations have supported purchase of environmental education materials and have funded highly productive statewide networking events to advance SPP programs. For the past several years, generous annual contributions from an anonymous donor at The Lorna Jordan Foundation  have boosted our capacity for programming and outreach.

Past Funding Support

We have been graced by grants from the National Science Foundation, Herb Alpert Foundation, and the Russell Family Foundation. Other past funders of Ecological Conservation programs include the Oregon Zoo Foundation and Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We are grateful to all the individuals & organizations who have helped grow SPP!