San Juan Islands Stewardship Special License Plate

The Madrona Institute is the organizational sponsor of the San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate established on October 1, 2019 at the Department of Licensing.  Purchasing a San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate is a great way to support stewardship of the San Juan Islands.

The idea for a San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate was conceived by Marcia deChadenedes at the San Juan Islands National Monument, and endorsed by the Terrestrial Managers Group of the San Juan Islands and the Stewardship Network of the San Juans.  The Madrona Institute gratefully acknowledges the efforts of State Representative Debra Lekanoff and State Senator Liz Lovelett in securing passage of the special license plate bill in  the Washington State Legislature. 

The Madrona Institute established a grants program in 2021 to which local nonprofit and tribal organizations can apply for funds.  Applications will be reviewed by a grants committee.  Awards will be made on an annual basis for local projects that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic and natural resources within the islands.  The entirety of the plate revenues collected will support stewardship programs in the islands. 

The initial cost of a San Juan Islands license plate is $77.25 for cars, $76.50 for trucks. The annual renewal fee is $30 in addition to annual tab fees, which vary by location and type of vehicle.  

Here are step-by-step instructions for ordering your plate: Download PDF. During the pandemic period, the best way to order your plate is online at: dol.wa.gov/specialplates. Alternatively, the special plate application is also available here - simply download, complete the application, attach your check or money order payable to the Department of Licensing for the plate fee, and mail it to: Special Plate Unit, Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9909, Olympia, WA 98507-8500.  The San Juan Islands Stewardship Stewardship Special License Plate is listed under Special Interests as the “San Juan Islands” option. After the pandemic period, you can visit any county Auditor’s Office to purchase your plate. 

View the San Juan County Council Resolution No. 35-2019 endorsing the San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate as a benefit to the conservation and stewardship of the islands here.

The San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate design is based on local artist Nancy Spaulding’s work entitled Evening Passage.

1,741 Stewardship license plates have been sold as of March 31, 2024.

The Madrona Institute Stewardship Grants

Nov 29th, 2023: The Madrona Institute Awarded $53,198.45 to Local Organizations in 2023 Through San Juan Islands Special License Plate Fundraising

2023-24 Grantees Include:

• Alchemy Art Center - Awarded $8,000 for their Young Environmentalists Art Intensive & Exhibit Program

• Children of the Setting Sun Productions - Awarded $8,000 for the continued development of "The Sound," an Indigenous-created and casted narrative production centering the voices of native youth and their journeys of self-discovery and reconnection with culture and place

• Friends of the San Juans - (Amount: $7,150) - Granted $7,150 for their Environmental Mentorship Program with the FHHS Green Club

• Wild Orca - Awarded $5,000 for the expansion and continued development of the San Juan Island Naturalist Program

• Wolf Hollow - Awarded $5,048.45 for the development of a winter/spring partnership project with the San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps

In addition to the above grant awards, Special License Plate funds continue to support the San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps and The Coast Salish Youth Coalition, formerly known as the Coast Salish Youth Coalition, on an ongoing basis. Both programs received $10,000 in 2023.

Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, and natural resources in the islands, with an emphasis on youth engagement.

As expected, grantmaking has increased since its first year in 2021 where $22,500 was awarded. We expect grant-making will continue to increase each year as plate sales increase across the county, region, and state.

Purchasing a San Juan Islands Special License Plate is a great way to support stewardship in the San Juan Islands. Visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/spsanjuan.html to order your plate.

If you would like to stay informed of future grant opportunities please sign up for our newsletter at madrona.org.

Grantmaking doubles in 2022

The Madrona Institute has awarded $45,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations in its second year of grant making based on revenues received from the sales of the San Juan Islands Special License Plate.

This years grantees include:

● $10,000 to the San Juan Islands Conservation District for their San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps program

● $10,000 to the Madrona Institute for their Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps program

● $5,000 to the Friends of the San Juans for their Youth Environmental Mentoring Program

● $5,000 to the Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Arts Intensive Program.

● $5,000 to the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild for their Farm Heroes for Environmental Stewardship Program

● $5,000 to Wild Orca for their San Juan Islands Naturalist Program

● $5,000 to the Children of the Setting Sun Productions to support the creation of the indigenous film series and pilot episode “Canoe Journey”

Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic, and natural resources in the islands, with emphasis on youth engagement.

As expected, grantmaking has doubled since its first year in 2021 where $22,500 was awarded. We expect grant making will continue to increase each year as plate sales increase across the county, region, and state.

Purchasing a San Juan Islands Special License Plate is a great way to support stewardship in the San Juan Islands. Visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/spsanjuan.html to order your plate.

If you would like to stay informed of future grant opportunities please sign up for our newsletter at madrona.org.

2021 Stewardship Grant Awards

The Madrona Institute has awarded $22,500 in grants to local nonprofit organizations in its first year of grantmaking based on revenues received from sales of the San Juan Islands Stewardship License Plate.

This year’s grantees include the San Juan Islands Conservation District for their San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps ($6,000), the Friends of the San Juans for their Youth Environmental Mentoring Program ($5,000), the Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Art Intensive & Exhibit Program ($5,000), the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps operated by The Madrona Institute ($4,000), and the Indigenous Education Institute for their Indigenous Speaker Series – A Sense of Place in the Pacific Northwest: Indigenous Perspectives on Land, Water, and Sky ($2,500).

Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic, and natural resources in the islands, with emphasis on youth engagement. It is expected that grantmaking will increase each year as plate sales increase across the county, region, and state. Stay tuned for information on the 2022 Grant Application.