We couldn't do it alone. Join the growing community of partners and supporters!
- Our Partners
- Our Recent Grant Supporters
- Who We Support
Our Partners
In remote Harney County, partnerships are essential to the success of local conservation efforts. That is why Friends of Malheur is proud to work with organizations that focus their conservation and habitat restoration efforts at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and elsewhere in the Harney Basin. We acknowledge the importance of support of local and regional businesses as well as national conservation organizations in funding Friends projects and program initiatives. Such efforts include restoring or enhancing wildlife habitat and providing educational and recreational activities for Refuge visitors and much more.
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR)
Since being founded in 1999, FOMR has assisted Refuge staff with interpretive programs, habitat restoration, visitor services and other projects at Malheur Refuge. The Friends of Malheur is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sanctioned Friends Group that provides critical support to Malheur Refuge.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages National Wildlife Refuges, protects endangered species, manages migratory birds, restores nationally significant fisheries, and enforces federal wildlife laws. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of habitats that benefits wildlife, provides unparalleled outdoor experiences for all Americans, and protects a healthy environment.
Portland Audubon Society (PAS)
Founded in 1908 the Portland Audubon Society is devoted to the conservation of Oregon’s last remaining wild places. Portland Audubon works with the Friends of Malheur and other Harney Basin organizations to implement Malheur-specific conservation and outreach initiatives.
High Desert Partnership (HDP)
Bringing disparate voices together for collaborative conservation work is where the High Desert Partnership excels. For the Partnership’s Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative, FOMR joins a long list of other invested parties to improve aquatic health in and around Malheur Refuge.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA)
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System. As such, they protect, promote, and enhance America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries. We know that working with the NWRA amplifies our voice on behalf of Malheur NWR.
Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
Friends of Malheur NWR join with other community organizations and representatives from federal land management agencies to plan and coordinate the annual Harney County Migratory Bird Festival. While the festival takes place every year in April, the planning committee meets year-round to pull it off.
Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA)
Friends of Malheur NWR and ONDA work together to design and implement a Refuge Boundary Fence Mapping program on Malheur NWR. ONDA is responsible for the project design while FOMR oversees the on-site project management including coordination with volunteers, necessary technologies, and project progress.
Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)
Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA) is a community of Friends members joining together to strengthen our organizations and our ability to support refuges and hatcheries. Together we are creating opportunities to network and support each other by sharing materials and experiences.
Our Recent Grant Supporters
The Friends of Malheur’s members and donors provide critical funding for our annual general operations and stewardship projects. But when the need arises, the Friends reach out to granting organizations to assist in funding a variety of new programs and projects. These organizations are a few of our recent Grant Supporters. We thank them for their support!
Kenmour M. & Marjorie Spencer Wildlife Fund & Bainbridge Community Foundation (BCF)
In 2022, Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was awarded an unsolicited $70,000 grant. This grant was made possible through the generosity of Kenmour M. & Marjorie Spencer Wildlife Animal fund and Bainbridge Community Foundation and will be received over a five-year period. The grant funds are deemed unrestricted by the donor and thus will be allocated to support FOMR’s on-going Malheur Refuge Stewardship Projects and education programs.
Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission (OCHC)
The Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission (OCHC) is an Oregon-based non-profit organization formed in 1988. OCHC's mission is to discover and commemorate important literary and cultural contributions to Oregon's history. Their grant of $6,000 will support FOMR's engagement with Northwest Youth Corps and Oregon Natural Desert Associations Tribal Stewards Program on Malheur NWR. www.ochcom.org
High Desert Partnership (HDP)
The High Desert Partnership, in coordination with The Ford Family Foundation’s Ford Institute for Community Building, is providing funds up to $5,000 in support of the Friends of Malheur’s commitment to Strategic Planning. This grant will be a pilot project for HDP and FICB who are interested in helping Harney County based non-profit organizations support one another and thrive.
Worthy Garden Club of Bend
In 2019, Worthy Garden Club of Bend, Oregon agreed to become the primary project sponsor for a native plant pollinator garden project at Refuge Headquarters. With a lead grant of $2,000 from the Garden Club, the Friends of Malheur established a pollinator garden at the Crane’s Nest Nature Center to provide additional habitat and a demonstration garden for insect pollinators plants. The pollinator garden also includes a wildflower interpretive panel.
East Cascade Audubon Society (ECAS)
In 2019, Friends of Malheur committed to installing bird safe caps on all four of the Refuge’s vault toilet vent pipes. East Cascade Audubon Society recognized the value of this project and contributed a $200 grant to support the purchase and installation of these caps.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
In 2017, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded FOMR a grant to help defray costs of establishing our new Nature Center and Store Nature Center at Refuge Headquarters. The grant also provided funds to purchases two Cornell Ornithology Lab eBird Trail Tracker kiosks, one for the Nature Center and one in the Burns Community, which allows Malheur Refuge and Harney County bird sightings to post live to eBird and our website.
Clean Trail Grant Program
FOMR received $250 from the Extreme Terrain Clean Trail program to purchase equipment and support trail maintenance at Malheur NWR. This program provides eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement related project, which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few.
Who We support
The Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge fulfill a commitment to advocacy by making contributions that support conservation efforts on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and for wildlife that depend on Malheur, including birds in the Pacific Flyway. Additionally, we believe that connecting with and supporting our local and regional communities not only builds meaningful relationships, but spreads goodwill and fosters support for our Refuge and the larger Refuge System. We are proud of the support we are able to offer these programs. With the continued support of our Members and Friends, we aim to increase and diversify these contributions when possible.
High Desert Partnership (HDP)
High Desert Partnership manages the Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative and a collaborative group of partners invested in improving the aquatic health in and around Malheur Refuge. To further the study of invasive Carp and their detrimental effects on Malheur Lake, the Friends of Malheur provided a grant of $11,160 to fund a critical and final stage of the 2020 research season.
The Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS)
The mission of The Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS) is to assure the vitality and welfare of wild Trumpeter Swans. TTSS has been North America’s leader of Trumpeter Swan conservation since 1968. The Friends of Malheur provide TTSS with an annual grant that helps support their conservation efforts in Oregon, including Malheur NWR, Summer Lake, and other central Oregon project sites.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA)
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) is the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System. As such, they protect, promote, and enhance America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries. We know that supporting the NWRA amplifies our voice on behalf of Malheur NWR.
Harney County Supporting Our Students
Since 2018, the Friends of Malheur have awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a Harney County graduate seeking higher education in Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources, or other Conservation related field of study. We believe that in order to secure a future for our public lands, we must invest in future conservationists. HC SOS manages the application process and funds disbursement along with that of other local memorial funds, foundations, and organizations.
Harney County Chamber of Commerce
The Friends of Malheur believe in the importance of community engagement in developing strong support for the Refuge and it’s mission. By being an active member of the Harney County business community, we strive to meet our community engagement commitment. We are proud to be a member of the Harney County Chamber Commerce.
Shop Harney
The Friends of Malheur NWR, with the Crane’s Nest Nature Store at Refuge Headquarters, is an active member of the Harney County small business community. Not only are we members of the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, but sponsors of the Shop Harney program. This new program is a coalition of over 40 Harney County Businesses who are accepting Shop Harney virtual gift cards in an effort to encourage shopping small and local!
Be a Malheur Refuge Advocate.
You can become a Malheur Refuge champion by joining the Friends of Malheur and together we can advocate for a secure and more prosperous future for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and our national wildlife refuge system.
