Wild Salmon Center
Wild Salmon Center is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in Portland, Oregon. Formed in 1992, its stated mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim, using science-based solutions to sustain wild salmonids and the communities and livelihoods that depend on them.
Wild Salmon Center at a glance
In short: Wild Salmon Center gave $2.3M across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $206K), mostly in Oregon. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,269,849
- +274.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $206,350
- +240.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $97,126
- Total assets
- $11,864,802
- +34.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wild Salmon Center
- Contact
Mailing address: 2001 Nw 19Th Ave 200, Portland, OR 97209-3446
Phone: (503) 222-1804
Website: https://wildsalmoncenter.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wild Salmon Center funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 56 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in Oregon, Maryland, and Washington: 92% of grant dollars went to Oregon, 4% to Maryland, and 4% to Washington. The organization’s 2024 filing also describes program work in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Mongolia, and collaborative science from California to Alaska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wild Salmon Center open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $77K; repeat grants $432K. How we count
Medians: $53K first-time, $202K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $606K (2023) to $2.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Siletz, OR | Restoration of Lower Fivemile Creek & Salamander Confluence | $1,227,628 |
| Siuslaw SWCD Florence, OR | Restoration of hanson creek & dorff nichols steinberg floodplain | $261,885 |
| Rogue River Watershed Council Central Point, OR | Restoration of Little Butte Creek | $202,999 |
| Coos Bay Watershed Association Coos Bay, OR | Restoration of tioga falls, kentuck creek, & millicoma wetlands confluence | $201,618 |
| New Venture Fund Co Salmonstate Baltimore, MD | Defend the West Su | $100,000 |
| Midcoast Watersheds Council Newport, OR | Restoration Design of Lower Drift Creek Tidal Wetlands | $97,126 |
| Nehalem Bay Watershed Council Nehalem, OR | Restoration of lower nehalem & cook creek vicinity habitats | $91,308 |
| Quileute Tribe La Push, WA | Cold Water Connection Campaign Capacity | $52,554 |
| Coast Salmon Foundation Aberdeen, WA | Cold Water Connection Campaign GIS Support | $16,000 |
| Quinault Indian Nation Taholah, WA | Cold Water Connection Campaign Capacity | $12,349 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,864,802 | $17,206,885 | $15,890,931 | $2,269,849 | 11 | $322,423 |
| 2023 | $8,842,719 | $8,141,210 | $9,391,272 | $605,934 | 10 | $145,186 |
| 2022 | $10,510,605 | $9,538,255 | $8,621,451 | $1,351,103 | 12 | $99,417 |
| 2021 | $9,026,255 | $7,988,741 | $6,780,089 | $845,764 | 9 | $49,847 |
| 2020 | $8,071,156 | $6,478,780 | $5,627,638 | $792,963 | 14 | $52,151 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Wild Salmon Center’s mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. Its 2024 filing describes work in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, including watershed conservation, forest-management and salmon-habitat efforts, culvert replacement, and restoration. It also reports collaborative fisheries science from California to Alaska and work in Mongolia on Siberian taimen conservation strategies.
The 2024 grants included restoration projects and campaign support. Among the grantees, Rogue River Watershed Council describes its mission as enhancing resilience in Rogue River watersheds through ecological restoration and community-partner engagement. Midcoast Watersheds Council describes its mission as improving the health of streams and watersheds on Oregon’s central coast to support clean water, healthy salmon populations, and a healthy coastal ecosystem, economy, and culture.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Wild Salmon Center reported 11 grants totaling $2,269,849. Grant amounts ranged from $6,382 to $1,227,628, with a median of $97,126.
The largest reported grants included $1,227,628 to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for restoration of Lower Fivemile Creek and Salamander Confluence; $261,885 to Siuslaw SWCD for restoration of Hanson Creek and the Dorff Nichols Steinberg floodplain; $202,999 to Rogue River Watershed Council for restoration of Little Butte Creek; and $201,618 to Coos Bay Watershed Association for restoration of Tioga Falls, Kentuck Creek, and Millicoma Wetlands Confluence. Other grants included $100,000 to New Venture Fund Co SalmonState for “Defend the West SU,” $97,126 to Midcoast Watersheds Council for Lower Drift Creek tidal wetlands restoration design, and $91,308 to Nehalem Bay Watershed Council for restoration in the Lower Nehalem and Cook Creek vicinity.
Wild Salmon Center’s 2024 filing says grantees generally report quarterly on progress and deliverables. Satisfactory progress and outcomes are required for the next payment, and grantees must report on activities and deliverables to receive payments. The organization also reserves the right to examine recipients’ books and records. No application process or deadline is stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these directors: Mary Ruckelshaus, David Kelley, John Childs, Joel Starlund, Jon Callaghan, Mitch Zulke, Rhea Suh, Ray Lane, Loretta Keller, and Michael Overcast.
Wild Salmon Center is led by Guido R. Rahr III, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 9 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Guido R. Rahr III
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$204K (2020) → $342K (2024)
Emily Anderson
Alaska Program Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $139K (2024)
Jessica Helsley
Washington Op Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $132K (2024)
Matthew Sloat
Science Director
Director of Science → Science Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $129K (2024)
Oakley Brooks
Communications Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$128K (2023) → $141K (2024)
Andrea Reid
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Childs
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Keller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ruckelshaus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Zulkie
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nate Mantua
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Lane
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Halford
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Kohl
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Kelley
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Callaghan
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhea Suh
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Errett
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Bowles
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel Starlund
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Overcast
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Finkel
Vice President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$146K (2020) → $196K (2024)
Katherine Holler
CFO, Secretary & Treasurer
CFO & Secretary → CFO, Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$137K (2020) → $211K (2024)
Mark Trenholm
Vice President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$130K (2022) → $197K (2024)
Michelle Cramer
Habitat Restoration Engineer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Former officers (16)
- Former: Ivan Thompson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mariusz Wroblewski (2020–2023) — Western Pacific Program Director
- Former: Kirill Kuzishchin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nikita Mishin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert VanDyk (2020–2022) — Oregon Policy Director
- Former: Tatiana Degai (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sue Allen (2022) — Executive Vice President
- Former: David Welles (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ilya Sherbovich (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rocky Dixon (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sara LaBorde (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Arthur Brooks (2021) — Director of Communications
- Former: April Vokey (2020) — Director
- Former: Fraiser Rieche (2020) — Director
- Former: Randall Peterman (2020) — Director
- Former: Tom Hansen (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $342K, to Guido R Rahr III (President & CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wild Salmon Center
How much does Wild Salmon Center give each year?
Wild Salmon Center gave $2.3M across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $606K across 10 grants.
What is Wild Salmon Center's typical grant size?
Wild Salmon Center's median grant in 2024 was $97,126, and its average grant was $206,350, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wild Salmon Center that year got $77K on average.
Where does Wild Salmon Center give grants?
Wild Salmon Center gives mostly in Oregon: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Wild Salmon Center give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Wild Salmon Center's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Wild Salmon Center's largest grantees?
Wild Salmon Center's largest 2024 grantees include Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians ($1,227,628), Siuslaw SWCD ($261,885) and Rogue River Watershed Council ($202,999), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wild Salmon Center?
Wild Salmon Center reported $11.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.2M.
What does Wild Salmon Center fund?
Wild Salmon Center’s mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wild Salmon Center?
Wild Salmon Center has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wildsalmoncenter.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wild Salmon Center's EIN?
Wild Salmon Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3166095. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Wild Salmon Center funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wild Salmon Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wild Salmon Center funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wild-salmon-center-morg_def6415b9e9a4b15a51f6501d0022cb8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943166095_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wild Salmon Center funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wild-salmon-center-morg_def6415b9e9a4b15a51f6501d0022cb8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Wild Salmon Center's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Wild Salmon Center down — hundreds of funders to go?