Kitsap Environmental Coalition

KEC receives most of our general revenue from this fundraising drive. 

Your donations keep our website up and running and help us rent space for our monthly KEC Presents! in Kingston and special workshops focused on improving the environment throughout the County.

Donations also helps pay legal fees as we challenge the County to improve its ordinances and permitting for developments. 

Sometimes we also have to hire an environmental specialist (wetland biologist to comment on a critical area variance) to testify about agency mistakes.

"Protecting Kitsap's Natural Environment: It Takes Us All"

Guiding Principles

KEC sees nature as having its own inalienable and inherent rights. We also

1. Acknowledge our presence on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people. 

2. Build honest, respectful relationships with all people affected by KEC work. 

3. Build community with integrity, transparency, humility, compassion, and joy. 

4. Use scientifically- and factually-based data, inquiry methods and decision-making. 

5. Recognize nature's rights locally and more broadly within the northwest ecosystem.

Who are We: Past and Future

KEC was formed in 2018 by a fired-up group of people who had seen enough of our precious county cut down in clear cuts and routinely sprayed with toxic chemicals.  Since then, we’ve worked hard to protect the things we love.  And we have been effective.  

Our 6 years of successful environmental education and advocacy has been performed by volunteers. Last year we logged in over 2,000 hours of volunteer time. We are increasingly engaged in activities that benefit from fundraising. While KEC is volunteer-operated, KEC needs assistance for media and communications work where we do not have available volunteers. We also need assistance for meetings and materials to support events. Over the past 2 years, we: 

•  were key participants in the successful reactivation of the state's Trust Land Transfer program to preserve state lands, including the Eglon Trust Lands.

• were a major force in the successful effort to transfer Eglon Trust Lands from state controlled "management for money" to a County controlled "management for nature".

• supported the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners' efforts to protect state lands on Green Mountain.

• supported KEC members as they challenged the County about excessive variances to wetland buffers and other critical areas.

• extensively commented on proposed changes in the County's Comprehensive Plan; Critical Areas Ordinance; and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan to ensure that these guiding documents reflect alignment with our mission.

• continued the monthly KEC Presents! , the monthly film and discussion series at the Village Green in Kingston.

• received the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners' Earth Day Award.

• created more alliances with other organizations to support our mission. 

• organized a nature preservation workshop in Bremerton attended by County staff, Commissioners and 7 other non-profit organizations

In 2024, KEC took on a new challenge with our partners: achieving Net Ecological Gain. Net ecological gain means that we no longer accept only preventing damage, contamination, and loss to existing natural areas due to human activity. Net ecological gain means that after development, there is an increase in biodiversity and/or resilience that improves the functioning of ecosystems. KEC also advocates for protections and improvements to more areas than those already preserved.

It's easy to get focused on things we don't want. We are increasingly focused on things that we do want to see in Kitsap County. KEC's vision is a county where people along with wildlife thrive.

“As I write my check to donate to KEC via the Kitsap Great Give, I think of the reasons I support KEC. First, KEC is the only organization of its kind in the County. We deal with the full spectrum of environmental issues and all aspects of nature. Second, the volunteers are passionate and focused on solutions. KEC is run by volunteers and the hard work is accomplished by volunteers. At least 20 people spend several hours per week (each) helping you and KEC protect and improve the environment. Third, we clearly identify problems and offer solutions. Solutions to crises and improvements to the County's long term strategies and ordinances. I urge you to support our team with a donation.”  - David Onstad, KEC Board President