High Desert Partnership
High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit collaborative facilitator based in Hines, Oregon, convening ranchers, tribal members, conservation groups, and government agencies in Harney County to address rural challenges across six initiatives covering wetlands restoration, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, economic development, and youth empowerment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersHines, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What High Desert Partnership does
High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit collaborative facilitation organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hines, Oregon, operating exclusively in Harney County. The organization convenes diverse stakeholders — local ranchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, the Burns Paiute Tribe, scientists, and area residents — to address rural community, ecological, and economic challenges through six active collaboratives: the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative, the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative, the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative, and the Youth Changing the Community Collaborative.
HDP's core "product" is the collaborative process itself — a methodology of convening tables before issues escalate, building consensus across potentially adversarial interests, and coordinating landscape-scale outcomes that no single participant could achieve. Notable technical work includes the replacement of five water diversion structures since 2019, 3,000+ acres of juniper removal, 1,300 acres of wet meadow reconnection at Dunn Dam, and the 2025 first-in-the-West deployment of an electronic fish barrier from Carp Solutions on the Blitzen River. Co-founders Chad Karges (former Malheur NWR Manager) and rancher Gary Marshall anchor the organization's credibility across conservation and ranching communities.
The business model is nonprofit and grant-dependent. Revenue is generated through donations, government grants (OWEB Focused Investment Partnership, Oregon Department of Forestry via Senate Bill 762/5506, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), and partnership funding from conservation NGOs such as Ducks Unlimited and Bird Alliance of Oregon. The staff is small (1-10 employees) and programs are project-funded. Marketing and stakeholder engagement are conducted via monthly newsletter, newsroom content, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), community events, and earned media including the documentary "The Harney Way." HDP has no technology products, software platform, or commercial pricing model; participation in collaboratives is offered at no cost to stakeholders.
High Desert Partnership firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High Desert Partnership
- Legal name
- High Desert Partnership
- Website
- https://highdesertpartnership.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit collaborative facilitator based in Hines, Oregon, convening ranchers, tribal members, conservation groups, and government agencies in Harney County to address rural challenges across six initiatives covering wetlands restoration, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, economic development, and youth empowerment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High Desert Partnership industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development and Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where High Desert Partnership is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
High Desert Partnership business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations to support their collaborative work in Harney County. They have a 'Give Today' option on their website and partner with Giving Assistant for online shopping donations.
- Government Grants and Funding: High Desert Partnership secures funding through various government programs including Oregon Water Enhancement Board (OWEB) grants, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Focused Investment Partnership funds, Senate Bill 5506, Senate Bill 762, North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants, and Oregon Department of Forestry funding.
- Partnership Funding: Funding from partners including Ducks Unlimited and other conservation organizations that participate in collaborative projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
High Desert Partnership product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit that convenes and supports six distinct collaborative groups in Harney County, Oregon, focused on wetlands restoration, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, economic development, youth empowerment, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. It functions as a neutral facilitation entity that brings together ranchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, tribal members, scientists, and residents to find common ground and execute landscape-scale conservation and community projects. The organization secures grant and donor funding to coordinate stakeholders, plan projects, and deliver measurable environmental and economic outcomes.
Product overview
High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit organization that does not offer technology products or services. Instead, it facilitates six collaborative initiatives focused on conservation and community development in Harney County, Oregon: Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Harney County Wildfire Collaborative, Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative, Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative, and Youth Changing The Community Collaborative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Multi-stakeholder collaborative that improves the aquatic health and sustainability of Malheur Lake and wild flood-irrigated wet meadows across the Harney Basin through water diversion replacements, fish passage improvements, and erosion control for ranchers, conservation organizations, and agencies.
- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Three-year (now 15-year-cycle) collaborative conservation planning process for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, convening local community, conservation organizations, government agencies, and refuge staff to produce the refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
- Harney County Wildfire Collaborative Multi-stakeholder collaborative that addresses megafire threats in Harney County by coordinating Rangeland Fire Protection Association members, federal, state, and county employees, tribal members, conservationists, scientists, and local ranchers.
- Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Collaborative effort to improve the health and sustainability of the Southern Malheur National Forest by reducing unnaturally high tree densities, mitigating fire risk, and addressing drought, disease, and insect infestations through landscape-scale restoration.
- Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Collaborative that helps rural Harney County businesses start, grow, and succeed by building a thriving local business environment for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
- Youth Changing The Community Collaborative Collaborative focused on youth empowerment, internship programs, and community engagement to expand opportunities for young people in Harney County and address brain drain.
Quantifiable outcome
- Replaced 5 key water diversion structures since 2019, creating safer and more efficient water management for ranchers and wildlife
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use High Desert Partnership
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
High Desert Partnership technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
High Desert Partnership partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifecoreProvided fish passage funds that helped complete the Dunn Dam replacement project. The agency works with the collaborative on habitat restoration and wildlife management across the Harney Basin.
- Ducks UnlimitedcoreDucks Unlimited is a key partner in the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, providing technical expertise and funding for water diversion structure replacements. Ashley Tunstall serves as Ducks Unlimited Southeast Oregon Biologist and has been involved in overseeing dam replacement projects and monitoring their effectiveness. The partnership enables access to OWEB grants and other funding for engineering, planning, removal, and construction of replacement dams.
- Xerces SocietyminorDuring Dunn Dam construction when the area was dewatered, the Xerces Society organized a rescue and relocation of more than 8,000 western ridged mussels that were embedded around the dam, demonstrating conservation collaboration.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a key partner through the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) was developed through a three-year collaboration starting in January 2013, with ongoing collaborative conservation planning beginning January 2025 for the next 15-year plan.
- Malheur National ForestcoreThe Southern Malheur National Forest is a key focus area for the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative, addressing unnaturally high tree densities, fire risk, drought, disease, and insect infestations through landscape-scale restoration.
- Burns Paiute TribecoreThe Sovereign Nation of the Burns Paiute Tribe is a key stakeholder in the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and other collaborative efforts. The tribe participates in natural resource management decisions affecting the Harney Basin.
- Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon)coreBird Alliance of Oregon has invested in a Field Coordinator position (Teresa Wicks) who lives and works in the Harney Basin. The organization has been involved since the founding of HDP and participates in the CCP and Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative. Bob Sallinger served as Conservation Director for 30 years and was instrumental in the collaborative effort.
- Bureau of Land ManagementcoreBLM works with the Harney County Wildfire Collaborative and Forest Restoration Collaborative on rangeland management, fire protection, and habitat restoration across federal lands. Bill Dragt serves as Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist.
- Oregon State University ExtensioncoreOSU Extension provides research support through the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center. Scientists including Vanessa Schroeder and Katie Wollstein work with collaboratives on rangeland and fire management research.
- Treasure Valley Community CollegeminorTVCC Natural Resources Instructor Marcus Nichols participates in the Youth Changing the Community Collaborative, exposing students to real-world conservation work and potential employers.
- Harney County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictcoreJason Kesling serves as District Manager, helping facilitate funding for landowners to implement conservation projects. Sarah Mundy coordinates the Rangeland and Sage Grouse Program. The district coordinates with BLM, Forest Service, and other agencies on conservation efforts.
- U.S. Geological SurveycoreUSGS Oregon Water Science Center conducts scientific investigations on Malheur Lake to inform management actions. Ecologist Casie Smith has been actively involved with the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative since 2018.
- Oregon Desert Land TrustcoreBrandon Palmer serves as Regional Stewardship Lead, coordinating management and stewardship activities on conserved properties throughout Southeast Oregon, particularly Trout Creek Ranch.
- Grayback ForestryminorDave Hannibal serves as Base Manager for Grayback Forestry's John Day operations, providing forest restoration and prescribed fire services. Represents the service contracting industry in the Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative.
- Greater Eastern Oregon Development CorporationminorTory Stinnett serves as Executive Director and participates in collaborative efforts supporting rural economic development in Eastern Oregon.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
High Desert Partnership competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
High Desert Partnership social profiles
Digital presenceHigh Desert Partnership financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High Desert Partnership leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
High Desert Partnership funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High Desert Partnership M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about High Desert Partnership
What does High Desert Partnership do?
High Desert Partnership is a nonprofit that convenes and supports six distinct collaborative groups in Harney County, Oregon, focused on wetlands restoration, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, economic development, youth empowerment, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. It functions as a neutral facilitation entity that brings together ranchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, tribal members, scientists, and residents to find common ground and execute landscape-scale conservation and community projects. The organization secures grant and donor funding to coordinate stakeholders, plan projects, and deliver measurable environmental and economic outcomes.
Is High Desert Partnership a public or private company?
High Desert Partnership is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was High Desert Partnership founded?
High Desert Partnership was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is High Desert Partnership based?
High Desert Partnership is headquartered in Hines, United States, in the North America region.
How does High Desert Partnership make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding and partnership Funding.
Does High Desert Partnership have an API?
No public API is recorded for High Desert Partnership.
What industry is High Desert Partnership in?
High Desert Partnership's product category is Community Development and Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 813312.