My Nonprofit Reviews
mostlymike
Review for Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Bozeman, MT, USA
I was a founder of the GYC, and here writing under a pseudonym. So I have been a member of the GYC since the early 1980s when we established it. It was first the Greater Yellowstone Alliance. A place like the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem) that sprawls into 3 states and many jurisdictions needs an overarching organization.
The GYC has done a good job conserving the environmental and scenic resources of the GYE. Over time the organization has had its great moments and some that were less. Some staff now have been with them from the start, and are retiring.
When I was on their Board of Directors, I noticed the caution with which they approached things and how well they secured the financial status of the group. They also paid the executive director a lot for an organization like this, but compared, of course, to corporate CEOs even back in the day, it was a token. I do not know about the Board's demeanor today. I have just scant experience with their Board today.
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
In the past, this caution under one executive directors led to too much effort at good relations with the rural interests that are inherently antagonistic to the vision of most Americans and conservationists for the Park and is surroundings. I can't speak for the present. They should be more militant in these days of the Tea Party.
Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Likely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Unsure
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
Review for Western Watersheds Project Inc, Hailey, ID, USA
Although the livestock industry likes to portray Western Watersheds as anti-rancher, I think they are one of the few that propose a way to resolve issues over public lands grazing. I like their proposed (and introduced) legislation in Congress that would allow payment to retire a grazing lease if a rancher wants to sell it and a non-profit wants to buy it and retire the lease for the benefit of wildlife, watershed, etc.
Despite this difficulty, WWP has gotten grazing leases in harmful locations closed, wildlife and water protected.
Currently there is no way to retire a federal grazing lease except for bad performance or other illegalities by a permittee and subsequent permittees. So at the present, retirement requires a tactic of pressing the agency to strictly enforce the laws and regulations. They are loath to do this, so WWP has to go to court on behalf of the public. It would be terrible if urban law enforcement had to use this method!
Anyway, cheers for WWP. They are braver than other organizations that deal with our public lands.
More Feedback
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Likely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
