Author: Hana Sant | Published: May 1, 2026 | Category: Look Back
2026 Member Survey Highlights
At ONDA, we know our conservation achievements are made possible by the passionate community that supports our work to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s high desert. This winter, we invited you to share your thoughts on our conservation work, your connection to the desert, and your experience as an ONDA member. Nearly 400 of you took the time to provide thoughtful, honest feedback. We are incredibly grateful for your insights.
Here’s a look at what we learned from you.
What You Love About the High Desert
When asked what draws you to Oregon’s high desert, your responses painted a beautiful picture of a landscape that is as restorative as it is expansive. The top reasons you feel connected to this region include:
- Solitude and Peace: The quiet and restorative nature of the desert is your primary draw. Whether you live in Oregon’s high desert, or admire it from afar, your love for this landscape is immense and inspiring.
- Vast Open Spaces: You deeply value the “big sky” feel and the intact character of the land.
- Unique Ecology: Your interest in the natural history, wildlife, and flora of the desert remains a cornerstone of your involvement.
“The Oregon High Desert has many callings to me. From the geology, the wildlife, the remoteness, the history both written and oral, and the freedom to explore.”
“I love the beauty and serenity of Oregon’s high desert. I love encountering the wild animals that inhabit the high desert. I love the star filled nights. I love the vast landscapes. I love the quiet. I love the discovery.”
“The high desert has always been a magical place for me. The vastness of the sky and land are incomparable to anywhere else…There’s just something so profound about immersing myself in our high desert. It calms my mind, soothes my soul and opens my heart!”
Why You Support Oregon Natural Desert Association
It is an honor to be the organization you trust to defend eastern Oregon’s public lands. Your feedback showed that your support is grounded in trust and effectiveness. When asked to describe ONDA in three words, the most frequent descriptors were effective, dedicated, advocacy-focused, and trustworthy.
Specifically, you told us that you value:
- Effective Advocacy: Protecting public lands from harmful policies and actions.
- Tangible Results: Stewardship and ecological restoration projects that show real-world impact.
- Mission Consistency: You appreciate ONDA’s long-term commitment to being a primary defender of these landscapes.
“I donate and hope to participate in projects because ONDA appears to have the same love (and values) that I feel for these lands.”
“I support ONDA because Oregon’s high desert is important environmentally, ecologically, and culturally, and ONDA fights to take good care of all aspects of it.”
“I love the passion, intelligence and experiences of the staff and the community of ONDA. Likeminded people who truly care to spend their precious time and money for such a wonderful cause. I love the friends that I have made through ONDA trips, events and at the office. I love that ONDA is working with Indigenous peoples and trying to get more, younger community members involved. Let’s just say, I love it all!”
Your Experience as a Supporter
We were thrilled to hear that over 90% of you believe your contributions make a real difference in desert conservation. You also shared:
- Ease of Giving: The majority of you find the donation process convenient and easy.
- Impactful Updates: You feel most connected when receiving specific updates on conservation success stories and how your gifts are put to work.
- Favored Communications: You stay most connected through our email updates, our Desert Ramblings newsletter, and the Wild Desert Calendar.
“Keep up the great work and don’t ever go away. You give me hope.”
“ONDA is great and does good work. Persist.”
“Thank you for your dedication and hard work. It matters.”
Looking to the Future
Your feedback is valuable, and we’re already putting it to use. We are focusing on:
- Expanding Opportunities for Engagement: We are looking for more ways to engage members through things like regional gatherings, more recorded programs and virtual events, and a wider variety of advocacy opportunities.
- In-Depth Learning: You expressed a strong desire for more educational content. We are keeping this in mind as we plan for future events, blog posts, and newsletter articles.
- Advocacy and Action: You asked for more ways to stay informed on policy work. We are prioritizing timely action alerts and opportunities for you to defend Oregon’s high desert.
- A Smoother Experience for Monthly Donors: Many of you mentioned wanting more control over your recurring gifts. We are looking at ways to upgrade our systems to make the monthly donor experience easier and more seamless for you.
Your enduring support and advocacy make all the difference. Be sure to stay informed on action alerts, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. We look forward to connecting with you—whether in person or online—through our shared passion for high desert conservation.
Do you have other feedback to share? Email us with your thoughts today, and thank you for being such an active and vital part of Oregon Natural Desert Association’s community of conservation advocates.
