Dear friends,

With tremendous joy, we announce our Celebration of 15 Wonderful Years. We continue our journey of learning, thriving, and transcending right here in our beautiful Seattle community, and our story is rich with blessings.

Fifteen years ago, I created in my own neighborhood what I was yearning for myself: a deeper connection to people, arts, and nature. That simple idea grew into what is now a thriving nonprofit and I’m in awe of what we’ve been able to accomplish together in less than two decades. Today, whether we’re teaching urban youth about planting a garden, venturing into the woods to clear the way for future towering trees, or finding glorious sanctuary in the forest at our annual Arts in Nature Festival, we are fulfilling a dream.

None of it would have been possible without you. Your gifts have helped us to plant tens of thousands of trees and understory plants, teach environmental awareness to people of all ages, and ignite a passion in urban youth about the power of creativity. Today, thousands of voices, hands, and hearts have created a legacy that we never could have imagined.

Thank you for your continued interest in our mission to connect people, arts, and nature. We are thrilled at the prospect of continuing to grow.

In gratitude,

Nancy Whitlock, Founder & Executive Director

we’re in full

bloom

Dear friends,

With tremendous joy, we announce our Celebration of 15 Wonderful Years. We continue our journey of learning, thriving, and transcending right here in our beautiful Seattle community, and our story is rich with blessings.

Fifteen years ago, I created in my own neighborhood what I was yearning for myself: a deeper connection to people, arts, and nature. That simple idea grew into what is now a thriving nonprofit and I’m in awe of what we’ve been able to accomplish together in less than two decades. Today, whether we’re teaching urban youth about planting a garden, venturing into the woods to clear the way for future towering trees, or finding glorious sanctuary in the forest at our annual Arts in Nature Festival, we are fulfilling a dream.

None of it would have been possible without you. Your gifts have helped us to plant tens of thousands of trees and understory plants, teach environmental awareness to people of all ages, and ignite a passion in urban youth about the power of creativity. Today, thousands of voices, hands, and hearts have created a legacy that we never could have imagined.

Thank you for your continued interest in our mission to connect people, arts, and nature. We are thrilled at the prospect of continuing to grow.

In gratitude,

Nancy Whitlock, Founder & Executive Director

we’re in full

bloom

Printed on:50% Post-Consumer Waste100% (De-inked) Recycled

Processed Chlorine Free Acid Free and Archival

Current Assets (Cash)Accounts ReceivableFixed Assets (Equipment)Total Assets

In-Kind

Earned Revenue

Individuals

Government Grants & Contracts

Programs

Fundraising

Administration

Foundations & Corporations

$270,863$102,061

$11,205$384,129

20%

22%48%

67%

20%

13%

7%3%

financials

statement of financial position

expenditures by percentage

income by percentage

October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012

naturec.org

“This program has given me multiple opportunities to be

myself and open up.

Andrea, 16

It has brought me to the conclusion that I can be more than a product of the hood.”

Through classes designed to increase youths’ artistic skills, a deeper connection to the environment, enhanced social competence, and an improved positive identity, we’re actively changing the inner and outer landscape for urban youth in our community.

For some, that means unleashing creativity they didn’t even know they had. For others, it means digging into the ground and holding an earthworm for the very first time. And for others it means inspiring a love of nature and a connection to the broader world beyond their urban community, helping them to pursue their dreams.

At Nature Consortium’s classrooms, we combine unique class offerings with skilled teaching artists to enrich lives. These include visual arts, digital design, performance arts, gardening and many more.

“This amazing program inspires students to help keep our Earth clean, teaches leadership, and shows them that they are capable of doing anything.” Mahlet Solomon, 17, Teens in Public Service Intern

Our Youth Art Program is a lesson in empowerment.

seeds ofpromise

“The research shows that when you involve youth and communities with art and nature, the quality of the community goes up. Students do better in school.

But also, the community takes better care of itself as well as its natural environment.”

Judy Pigott, Donor

Our Forest Restoration Project is a labor of love.

Our main restoration goal is to reintroduce native conifer species to the greenbelt. We also focus on invasive plant removal, site maintenance and environmental education. Rain or shine, each year, volunteers remove invasive plant species, mulch, clean up litter, and install native plants.

One critical area of the greenbelt known as the Soundway site includes over 20 acres of land that the City of Seattle planned to sell to developers. In 2004, Nature Consortium and other community members banded together to lobby to save the land from development and preserve it as urban green space. Thanks to our collaborative efforts, today Soundway is a parcel of forest that is actively under restoration by Nature Consortium’s hardworking staff and volunteers and is a parcel of forest that is guaranteed to be a public green space in perpetuity.

Henry David Thoreau once wrote: “We need the tonic of wildness,” and we agree. Our continued commitment to this beautiful urban refuge in Seattle creates a critical, unique, and enduring sanctuary for all living things.

guardians of the forest

“We’re at risk of losing what’s important, those things that connect us all together.

Taking care of our community means nurturing our creativity, taking care of our

environment and ourselves.”

Barry Boone, Founder of earthbongoBarry Boone, Founder of earthbongo

“When you’re out in nature, experiencing art, it just brings joy to the whole community.”Christina Gallegos, formerly of Seattle Dept. of Parks & Recreation

Our Arts in Nature Festival is an exercise in enchantment.

Delightful. Mystical. Magical. Our annual Arts in Nature Festival, which sparked the founding of our organization, has been a celebratory summer weekend full of entertaining performances and beautiful art and sound installations throughout the woods at Camp Long since 1998. This unparalleled experience -- with surprises around every corner -- is a feast for the senses, immersing festival-goers young and old in a broad range of performances, interactive multimedia experiences, and arts activities, all under a beautiful canopy of trees and sunny open meadows.

“Bees, mosquitoes, dragonflies zipped along around us as we played our pollen form-inspired marimbas and steel drums. It was a sweet moment of noticing the huge importance of small things.” Lelavision, festival performers

“Arts in Nature is my favorite music festival in Seattle. Instead of a sweaty crush of bodies, bad food, and scarce tickets, we’re treated to a beautiful park, leisure wandering, wonderful lunch on a sun-speckled patio, and the most diverse array of performances, from Country Western music to man-eating metal volcanoes. I hope the festival continues for many, many years, and that I have the opportunity to attend every time.” Steven Arnston, musician, college instructor, Seattle resident

a sense ofwonderful

findingsanctuary

“It’s tremendously important to have people who have learned to steward the land, who have that ethic and who have the skills. It’s particularly important that young people are becoming involved in the arts and in environmental preservation and restoration because they’re the ones we’re going to rely on when I’m an old man to lead us forward.”

Dow Constantine, King County Executive

Crystal Alberthal and David ParrishSandra Pinto de Bader and Gregory BaderKaitlin and Johny BarbosaGail BartholdKaren BinkhorstSheila BrownLaura ChedalawadaCarey ChristieKenneth CrawbuckDan CrouseCharles Dannaker and Erica SandersLee DawsonLori DillonJason DoughertyEd and Judy DoughertyKathleen and Jonathan Dowd-GaileyJohn Floberg and Lisa BellefondAllen GrissomThe Corbin/Gryniewski/Perry FamilyGretchen HeidenAdam and Lizzie JacksonNickie JostolArthur Larson

Susan LawrenceEllen and Ed LenhartMeg LudlumTimothy JaureguyNicole and Shawn MazzaMichael O’Leary and Libby CunninghamDerek OrmerodBeth and Graham PatrickBenjamin PaulusJackie PhillipsSusan and Jed ReinitzKatherine SamsonSarah SchieronGary Smith and Karen EkbladStephen and Liann SundquistKeely WolframJennifer and Brian Zumsteg

donorsadvocates 1000+ allies 250+

stewards 500+

friends 100+

Deep Roots monthly giving circle

Gifts made from October 1, 2011through September 30, 2012.

Lili Allala and Josh McCraneyAmanda AllisonCynthia AnselmiCharles AnstettRyan ApplegateShelli ApplegateChris Ballew and Kate EndleKim BecklundDiane BowebuphaloDavid CallahanBob Carrasca and Susan MelroseSteve CarstensenJudy and Tim CashmanKatie CavaMogese Cherinet and Tita BegashawRichard ConlinAngie ConnellElizabeth DahlMelissa DismukeRandy Engstrom and Joselynn Tokashiki EngstromRita Sanchez Fasso and Gary FassoRachel and Jonathan FaunceSarah FowlerTerry Gaddis and Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis

Stacey Gianas SowersEvan GregerJanice GreggDerek GutzMary HackettVicki and Tony HewlettBill HiblerBrandon JepsonGina Kallman and Jim SchulzDavid Kipnis and Catherine PaganoPamela KruegerHannah LewisPhyllis and Lawrence LoebDomenica LovagliaThe Matheson/Seuferling FamilyDrew McGougan and Patti Skelton-McGouganJohn McGovernAndrea MeninKallie MenoAshley Miller and Evann StrathernSandra MitchellAndrea MojzakDaniel MooreTracy and Mark MorgensternJames Murphy

Jane NishitaMerry and Scott PantaleoJean ReidRebecca Saldaña and Dave McGrawDanny SanchezLynn and Randolph SealeySurinder and Nancy SinghMelissa SpanglerDiane StevensRachel StoermerMonica ThomasCindy TorkelsonChristy TrueSteve UhrichJanine Van SandenJeffrey VargoLindsay and Maxx von MarbodGene WanAndrew WardMargaret WayJennifer WeberNancy WeinsteinAdam WernerMeghan WestFritz WollettMark WordenMichael Yadrick

Ryan ApplegateKim BecklundDavid CallahanTim & Judy CashmanLaura ChedalawadaCarey ChristieKen CrawbuckElizabeth DahlEd & Judy DoughertyCasey DoughertyRachel & Jonathan FaunceRichard FoughtLizzie & Adam JacksonBrandon JepsonEmily KnudsenAshley Miller

James MurphyDerek OrmerodPhilip PantaleoJackie PhillipsJustin RoddaRebecca SaldañaDanny SanchezStacey & Patrick SowersMonica ThomasJanine Van SandenLindsay & Maxx von MarbodNancy WhitlockKeely WolframMark WordenMichael Yadrick

Brad and Erin ApplegateBecca Fong and Rory DenovanCasey DoughertyTodd ErskineWill HeatonSeth HillmanAnne Kroeker and Richard LeedsJennifer and Mike MortensenLinda and Joseph PetrinJoan PoorJulie Schickling and Rhonda Smith

AnonymousRichard FoughtRob and Amy LaRubbioSandra O’ConnorJudy PigottDavid Mann and Ann Thomson MannEric Ward and Teresa GalloThe Whitlock Family

sponsors Please excuse any omissions or inaccuracies. For corrections,

call our office at (206) 923-0853.

Cantadora re-imagined Nature Consortium’s annual report through visual storytelling and effective cause messaging. Their communication expertise and professional guidance was essential in creating a compelling, emotional narrative. The printing of this report is made possible by a generous contribution from the Cantadora team. More information at www.cantadoracommunications.com.

Photography by Catharine Gately, Mira Anselmi, and Terry Schmidbauer.

4CultureAlki Bike & Board AmericanWest BankAnchor QEA Employee Matching ProgramAnonymousA-Pizza MartAveda Bader ArchitectureBeveridge Place PubBill & Melinda Gates Foundation Matching Gift Program Boeing Employee Matching ProgramBurien BotanicsCareer Path Services Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. Constellation EnergyCornerstone ConsultingDetour Wine ImportsearthbongoFender Music FoundationForterra Foss Maritime CompanyGallatin Public AffairsGrainger Matching Charitable Gifts ProgramGreen Mountain Coffee Roasters

Heaton-Dainard, LLCJeffris Wood FoundationJubilation FoundationKEXP 90.3FMKing Conservation DistrictKing County Employee Giving ProgramKlorfine Foundation KPLU 88.5FMKUOW 94.9FMLong Provincial Vietnamese RestaurantLucky Seven Foundation Make the Dash Count FoundationMicrosoft CorporationMicrosoft Matching Gifts ProgramMusica Sacra Chamber ChoraleNBBJNew Belgium Brewing CompanyNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNorcliffe Foundation Nucor Steel Seattle Inc Paladino & Co. Employee Matching ProgramProject BionicREI Richard & Francine Loeb Family Foundation

Rite in the RainSeattle Dept. of Parks & Recreation Seattle Housing Authority Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural AffairsShadow Inventory SolutionsStarbucks FoundationSteven and Lisa BrownTagney Jones Family FundThe Dr. Maxwell Hurston Family FoundationThe Wilson Fund Two Mountain WineryWaggener EdstromWashington Native Plant Society Washington State Arts CommissionWest Seattle BlogWindward Environmental LLC

“Nature Consortium is a way to connect my own desire to be more creative, to connect my desire

for justice, my desire for a better place and a cleaner place, for myself and future generations.”

Rebecca Saldana, Deep Roots Member

Printed on:50% Post-Consumer Waste100% (De-inked) Recycled

Processed Chlorine Free Acid Free and Archival

Current Assets (Cash)Accounts ReceivableFixed Assets (Equipment)Total Assets

In-Kind

Earned Revenue

Individuals

Government Grants & Contracts

Programs

Fundraising

Administration

Foundations & Corporations

$270,863$102,061

$11,205$384,129

20%

22%48%

67%

20%

13%

7%3%

financials

statement of financial position

expenditures by percentage

income by percentage

October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012

naturec.org

In less than two decades, we’ve rallied more than 23,000 environmental enthusiasts of all ages to help us plant more than 21,000 native trees and 20,000 understory plants in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest contiguous forest in Seattle. This spectacular forest includes foxes, red-legged frogs, coyotes, hawks, bald eagles and over 40 other species of birds are found within the greenbelt.

Since 1998, we’ve engaged more than 15,000 youth and offered just under 9,000 classes in our Youth Art Program spanning music, dance, theatre, culinary arts, visual arts, gardening and much more.

As a community cornerstone, the Arts in Nature Festival has brought over 22,000 people together to experience inspiring performances and intriguing art installations from over 2,100 talented artists. All of this takes place throughout one of Seattle’s most beautiful parks.

education hours

native plants in the ground

youth served

a lasting

from 2012

17,000just under

more than

more than

3,000

1,400

impact

numbers

Printed on:50% Post-Consumer Waste100% (De-inked) Recycled

Processed Chlorine Free Acid Free and Archival

Current Assets (Cash)Accounts ReceivableFixed Assets (Equipment)Total Assets

In-Kind

Earned Revenue

Individuals

Government Grants & Contracts

Programs

Fundraising

Administration

Foundations & Corporations

$270,863$102,061

$11,205$384,129

20%

22%48%

67%

20%

13%

7%3%

financials

statement of financial position

expenditures by percentage

income by percentage

October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012

naturec.org

Dear friends,

With tremendous joy, we announce our Celebration of 15 Wonderful Years. We continue our journey of learning, thriving, and transcending right here in our beautiful Seattle community, and our story is rich with blessings.

Fifteen years ago, I created in my own neighborhood what I was yearning for myself: a deeper connection to people, arts, and nature. That simple idea grew into what is now a thriving nonprofit and I’m in awe of what we’ve been able to accomplish together in less than two decades. Today, whether we’re teaching urban youth about planting a garden, venturing into the woods to clear the way for future towering trees, or finding glorious sanctuary in the forest at our annual Arts in Nature Festival, we are fulfilling a dream.

None of it would have been possible without you. Your gifts have helped us to plant tens of thousands of trees and understory plants, teach environmental awareness to people of all ages, and ignite a passion in urban youth about the power of creativity. Today, thousands of voices, hands, and hearts have created a legacy that we never could have imagined.

Thank you for your continued interest in our mission to connect people, arts, and nature. We are thrilled at the prospect of continuing to grow.

In gratitude,

Nancy Whitlock, Founder & Executive Director

we’re in full

bloom