by John Theilacker, Co-Chairperson, VtF
After twenty years of all-volunteer efforts, View the Future, Inc. plans to hire its first paid staff person in 2024. Hiring our first staff person to help grow our land trust and increase our positive impact in the Yachats community is a major goal of the board’s recently adopted five-year strategic plan.
Our first staff person will be primarily responsible for administering our conservation programs, managing our day-to-day operations, and continuing our community outreach efforts. In particular, they will continue our focus on the funding and development of a management and restoration plan for Yachats Ridge, assuming its purchase by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). However, should OPRD’s Commission decide not to purchase these coastal headlands, having a full-time, professional staff member will help View the Future pivot to other land protection options for this key property, in addition to expanding our land and water conservation efforts within the region.
To help us realize our goal, a staffing committee of board members and volunteers has defined the position and recently began our efforts to raise the funds needed to employ a qualified individual. Key funding sources include individual donors and private foundations. This committee is also coordinating its needs with our larger fundraising and public relations committee.
Grant application windows for several major northwest foundations are both time-sensitive and increasingly competitive. Some of the key foundations that have long supported environmental nonprofits in Oregon are in the process of re-evaluating their funding priorities, creating a challenging and somewhat uncertain climate for pursuing grant opportunities in the near future. Nevertheless, staffing committee volunteers have been reaching out to various foundation staff and will be pursuing several applicable grant opportunities in early 2024. Depending on the award, VtF may need to combine multiple grants to fully fund a position for more than one year.
Individual contributions to View the Future are increasingly critical to reaching our goal and are greatly welcomed at any time! General donations to VtF can have an immediate impact as we hope to hire our first staff person as soon as we are able.
With the necessary funds secured to retain a staff person for multiple years, VtF will increase its ability to become a lasting environmental institution focused on protecting this coastal area’s natural and cultural resources and providing recreational access to its incredible open spaces. Questions regarding our staffing committee’s efforts can be directed to VtF Board Co-Chair John Theilacker at johntheilacker@viewthefuture.org.
