When our $1.5 million For the Fen! campaign crossed the finish line last month, our small team switched gears to continue some of the less visible parts of the work.

Conservation work comes in several phases. The moments people see most clearly are often the milestones: a campaign launch, a community event, a fundraising goal reached, a property protected.

However, most of the work happens in between those moments.

Land conservation is built on relationships, patience, persistence, and a surprising amount of paperwork. A project can begin with something as simple as a conversation about a piece of land, but bringing that opportunity all the way to permanent protection takes time.

That’s where we are now with Bonaparte Meadows.

One of the biggest pieces to fall into place recently was the project’s ranking through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, or RCO. RCO administers competitive state grant programs for conservation projects across Washington, including the Critical Habitat category where Bonaparte Meadows was evaluated.

Bonaparte Meadows ranked first in that category. This amazing news means the project is first in line for funding when the state legislature allocates funding through the next biennial budget. It gives us a very high degree of confidence, while also reflecting the value the statewide evaluation committee sees in the project.

Bridge financing

The $1.5 million For the Fen! campaign was one part of the larger funding structure developed to protect Bonaparte Meadows. State grants are another important piece of that plan, but those funds will not be allocated until mid-2027. Because the acquisition needs to happen sooner, bridge financing was anticipated as part of the project’s overall funding strategy.

OLT has now been approved for two conservation bridge loans that will help cover the period between closing and the arrival of state funding. One will come from the Washington Opportunity Fund, founded by philanthropists John and Patty Rose and housed within the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. The other comes from Craft3, a community lender with extensive experience working with land trusts on conservation projects.

Pictured above, our Craft3 loan officer joined OLT staff for a tour of Bonaparte Meadows last week, finally getting to see the site after months of planning.

These funding timelines and contingencies were built into the purchase agreement, with the RCO grant ranking as the final piece we were waiting for. Once that fell into place, we wrote to the owners committing to the purchase. We’re now completing final due diligence and looking forward to a late October closing.