Madrona Institute

What it reported doing in 2025

The coastal salish youth coalition branched off from the madrona institute to become its own independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, furthering its mission: empowering indigenous youth through cultural collaboration and enviromental stewardship of traditional foods and ancestral lands. This year's challenge paddle had four canoes on a 5-day journey, carrying all the gear needed-tents, table, even solar showers-without any ground crew, just like their ancestors did. They had 44 pdddlers, including 20 youth and 7 elders, who shared meals of traditional foods like chalem (eelgrass) and q oya: ch (elk) and spent evenings paddling through glowing bioluminescence. Along the way, youth practiced journey protocols, honed their skills as skippers, and participated in workshops on waving and traditional games. The coast salish youth coalition brought their brand new canoe on this journey for her first big trip. The climate compass project got underway. Compass (comprehensive plan outreach for meaningful public action & substainable solutions) is an interactive, informative climate excercise, designed to engage community members in conversation and mutual learning about climate change in san juan county. One of the goals is to gather meaningful comments for the climate element of the comprehensive plan and empower future engagement. Developed by a small team led by faith van de putte, chom greacen and nikyta paimisani through the madrona institute and partnership with friends of the san juans and family resource centers, compass is suppored by a department of commerce grant to expand public participation in the comprehensive plan process. Cedar rock was established by an agreement with the university of Washington friday harbor labs cedar rock, on behalf of the coast salish youth coalition. Cedar rock provide a place for canoe jurneys to land and for tribal youth to learn about habitat restoration. The san juan islands youth conservation corps (sjiycc) offers an 8-week summer program for youth aged 12-18 on orcas, lopez, and san juan islands. Led by knowledgeable field guides, students engage in conservation projects, outdoor education, and professsional development. Weekly themes cover various topics, including team building, marine ecosystems, and art/enviromentalism. Daily activities involve forest mapping, native plant knowledge, wildifre risk reduction, wetland recovery, invasive weed removal, and trail building. The program provides valuable skills, fostering a sense of community and enviromental stewardship, and participants receive a financial stipend for their contributions. Awarded paula fawn sharp the david giuliani climate leadership award, honoring her work and commitment to climate engagement.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.4%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 33.6%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.92; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.5% per year; rating input score 0; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.5% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings