Oregon Natural Desert Association

What Oregon Natural Desert Association does

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, with a second office in Portland. It is the only organization dedicated exclusively to preserving Oregon's high desert — roughly half the state's land area — through an integrated four-pillar model: policy advocacy, litigation, science-based habitat restoration, and community-based stewardship. ONDA operates across five geographic regions (John Day River Basin, Central Oregon Backcountry, Greater Hart-Sheldon, Steens Mountain, Owyhee Canyonlands) and stewards the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail. Core technology capabilities are anchored in a GIS/spatial-analysis practice led by a dedicated specialist, supporting wilderness inventories and a proprietary Sage-Grouse Habitat Monitoring Protocol. Staff count is approximately 14-16 full-time plus seasonal interns and Tribal Stewards participants.

ONDA's business model is a multi-stream nonprofit revenue structure anchored on voluntary, recurring donor support: any-amount annual memberships, the Sage Sustainers monthly giving program, Legacy/Bequest planned giving (Rimrock Society), business memberships and sponsorships, event revenue (notably the Wild & Scenic Film Festival), merchandise sales (Bonfire online store), and likely institutional grants. Pricing is fully voluntary and not publicly tiered. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: stewardship trips, Sagebrush Socials, High Desert Speaker Series, and advocacy mobilization campaigns (10,690 actions in 2023; 70,000 Owyhee petition signatures) drive both engagement and donor acquisition. Customer segments include thousands of individual members, hundreds of volunteers annually, tribal/indigenous communities (seven tribes plus NCAI), business sponsors, and creative contributors (photographers/filmmakers).

Operational scale is substantial: ONDA has secured protection for 1,153,000 acres in Greater Hart-Sheldon, 400,000+ acres in Owyhee Canyonlands, established Steens Mountain Wilderness (Oregon's first desert wilderness) and the Oregon Badlands/Spring Basin Wilderness areas, removed 300 miles of wildlife-impeding fencing, planted 25,000+ trees along the South Fork Crooked River, and led 30 stewardship trips annually. It maintains a Charity Navigator 4-star rating (91.44/100 as of December 2021) and reports 90%+ member satisfaction in its 2026 survey.

Name

Oregon Natural Desert Association

Legal name

Oregon Natural Desert Association

Website

https://onda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that preserves Oregon's high desert through advocacy, litigation, habitat restoration, and community stewardship, serving thousands of members, volunteers, and tribal partners across eastern Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Public lands conservation
• Habitat restoration services
• Wilderness advocacy
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Desert stewardship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: ONDA operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization. Members make annual donations of any size to support conservation work, receiving benefits including the Wild Desert Calendar, Desert Ramblings newsletter, email updates, and event invitations.
2. Sage Sustainers Monthly Giving: Monthly recurring donations through the Sage Sustainers program, allowing supporters to give ongoing monthly gifts to sustain high desert conservation efforts year-round.
3. Legacy/Bequest Giving: Planned giving opportunities including bequests, estate gifts, and Rimrock Society membership for supporters who wish to leave a legacy gift for Oregon's desert wildlands.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, with raffle tickets and sponsorship opportunities supporting conservation work.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including Wild Desert Calendars, volunteer gear, and branded items through the Bonfire online store.
6. Business Memberships and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships and business membership opportunities for companies supporting high desert conservation, providing funding, product donations, or event hosting support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Oregon Natural Desert Association is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects, defends, and restores Oregon's high desert public lands, waters, and wildlife. Its core activities include public lands advocacy, science-based habitat restoration (beaver dam analogue installation, fence removal, riparian tree planting, weed management), litigation to enforce environmental protections, and stewardship trip programs that engage volunteers in hands-on conservation. The organization also develops and maintains the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail and produces educational publications and calendars to connect the public with the high desert.

Product overview

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) operates as a single, unified nonprofit conservation organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings center on public lands protection advocacy and hands-on habitat restoration programs, complemented by educational publications and outdoor recreational infrastructure. The main products and programs include: the Oregon Desert Trail (a 750-mile recreational trail system with accompanying guidebook), stewardship trip programs for volunteer restoration work, the Wild Desert Calendar and Desert Ramblings newsletter as member publications, region-specific visitor's guides, and membership/donation programs (including Sage Sustainers monthly giving and Legacy Giving). These offerings work together to advance ONDA's mission of protecting, defending, and restoring Oregon's high desert through advocacy, ecological restoration, community engagement, and public access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wild Desert Calendar Annual wall calendar showcasing high desert photography, produced by volunteers, featuring images of Oregon's high desert landscapes and wildlife; distributed as a membership benefit.
• Desert Ramblings Newsletter Twice-yearly print/digital newsletter sent to members featuring deep dives on conservation issues, high desert adventures, natural history, and ONDA program updates.
• Oregon Desert Trail A 750-mile long-distance trail route traversing eastern Oregon's public lands, connecting landscapes including Hart Mountain, Steens Mountain, and the Owyhee Canyonlands, open to hikers and managed/marketed by ONDA.
• Oregon Desert Trail Guidebook Comprehensive guidebook to the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail route, including maps, mileage and elevation profiles, water caching guide, desert safety tips, and cultural and natural history.
• Stewardship Trips Volunteer-led group restoration trips in Oregon's high desert offering multi-day and single-day opportunities for habitat restoration, fence removal, beaver dam analogue installation, planting, and monitoring.
• Visitor's Guides Region-specific visitor guides for Owyhee Canyonlands, Steens Mountain, Greater Hart-Sheldon, Central Oregon Backcountry, and John Day River Basin with recommendations for lodging, dining, and activities.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program providing the Wild Desert Calendar, Desert Ramblings newsletter, email updates, event invitations, and stewardship trip access in exchange for a donation of any size.
• Sage Sustainers Monthly Giving Program Monthly recurring donation program allowing supporters to make ongoing contributions to high desert conservation efforts year-round.
• Legacy Giving Program Planned giving program including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and other estate planning instruments for long-term conservation support, including the Rimrock Society membership tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured protection for 1.153 million acres in Greater Hart-Sheldon
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• National Congress of American IndiansflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ONDA expanded tribal support for protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands by securing an endorsement from the National Congress of American Indians on behalf of more than 250 Tribes from across the country, representing a major coalition-building achievement.
• Confederated Tribes of Warm SpringscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ONDA has partnered with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs on restoration projects in the John Day River Basin since 2014 (10-year anniversary celebrated in 2014). Projects include restoration work on Pine Creek Conservation Area (34,331 acres owned by the Tribe) and Robinson Creek restoration to enhance fish and wildlife habitat. The partnership connects Indigenous Knowledge with innovative restoration techniques.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ONDA works closely with BLM across multiple districts (Lakeview, Prineville, etc.) on conservation planning, wilderness inventory, habitat restoration, and policy advocacy. BLM manages millions of acres of Oregon's high desert public lands. ONDA has secured five years of restoration project support through BLM partnerships.
• Conservation Coalition PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ONDA led a coalition of conservation organizations, sporting interests, Tribal Nations, businesses and community groups representing 22 million individuals in support of protecting over 1 million acres in the Owyhee Canyonlands, generating 70,000 petition signatures and thousands of advocacy actions.
• Owyhee Canyonlands CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ONDA leads a diverse coalition of conservation, sporting, recreational, business and tribal interests advocating for permanent protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands through the Malheur Community for the Environment Act and complementary Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument campaign.
• Northwest Youth CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ONDA launched a Tribal Stewards initiative in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps to provide job experience and career mentoring in natural resources for Native young adults, combining ONDA's conservation expertise with youth development programs.
• Bonneville Environmental FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ONDA board member Scott McCaulou serves as director of the water stewardship project portfolio at Bonneville Environmental Foundation, where he develops conservation partnerships that may benefit ONDA's restoration work.
• Prineville District BLMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ONDA and the Prineville district of the Bureau of Land Management signed a historic agreement to monitor public lands, establishing a framework for ongoing conservation monitoring collaboration.
• Hart Mountain National Antelope RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONDA works with Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (US Fish and Wildlife Service) on post-fire recovery and habitat restoration, including beaver dam analogue installation projects along Rock Creek following 2024 catastrophic wildfires.
• Malheur National Wildlife RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONDA works on conservation and management initiatives at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge located at the foot of Steens Mountain, supporting wildlife habitat and ecological restoration.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Wild: Oregon-based nonprofit conservation organization focused on protecting and restoring Oregon's wild places, including forests, rivers, and public lands. Highly comparable to ONDA given overlapping Oregon geography, similar advocacy + litigation + grassroots model, and shared focus on federal public lands management.
• Cascadia Wildlands: Oregon-based grassroots conservation nonprofit protecting and restoring Cascadia's wild ecosystems through advocacy, litigation, and field projects. Direct peer to ONDA in scope (Pacific Northwest public lands), strategy mix (legal + advocacy + restoration), and organizational size.

Broad incumbents

• The Wilderness Society: National nonprofit dedicated to protecting wilderness and wild lands across the U.S., with a long history of legislative advocacy on public lands including in Oregon. Broader in geographic scope than ONDA but comparable in mission, wilderness designation campaigns, and policy influence.
• Defenders of Wildlife: National nonprofit focused on the conservation of imperiled species and their habitats, including greater sage-grouse, pronghorn, and wolves that are central to ONDA's high desert work. Comparable in wildlife advocacy, federal lands policy engagement, and litigation strategy.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that works to protect land for public enjoyment, including through conservation easements and land trust establishment. Closely comparable to ONDA's newly created Oregon Desert Land Trust and the organization's broader land protection work.
• Conservation Lands Foundation: National nonprofit supporting the National Conservation Lands system administered by BLM. Comparable to ONDA in its public-lands focus, BLM partnership model, and grassroots Friends Grassroots Network model used in the Owyhee and Hart-Sheldon campaigns.
• National Audubon Society: National nonprofit focused on bird and habitat conservation, with strong engagement in Oregon's high desert sagebrush and riparian ecosystems. Comparable to ONDA in habitat and public lands focus, but operates at much larger national scale and has a chapter/regional structure.

Emerging players

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization that litigates high-impact public lands and wildlife cases. Comparable to ONDA's litigation-driven strategy (Steens Mountain, John Day, Owyhee cases) and frequently a co-counsel or aligned party with ONDA in federal court actions.
• Wildlands Network: Conservation nonprofit focused on reconnecting and protecting fragmented landscapes and wildlife corridors across North America, including the Greater Hart-Sheldon wildlife migration corridor central to ONDA's work. Comparable in corridor and connectivity science, but national rather than Oregon-specific.

Regional players

• Friends of the Owyhee: Grassroots nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands and wild Owyhee River in Oregon and Idaho. Direct, regionally focused peer to ONDA's Owyhee campaign; shares advocacy and coalition-building model on a narrower geographic mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theoregondesert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-natural-desert-association
• Facebookfacebook.com/OregonNaturalDesertAssociation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oregon Natural Desert Association