Spring is the season of new growth, and that momentum is in full swing thanks to the Oregon Coast’s partnership with Kind Traveler, where contributions have grown to more than $50,000 supporting local communities and ecosystems.
In April 2025, total campaign donations through Every Stay Gives Back were $16,290. As of March 2026, that number has reached $52,036—an increase of 219% year over year, happening across 9 lodging partners and 7 coastal nonprofits.
What began as a pilot has now become a steady source of funding for conservation, education, and community-based work across the coast. As we reflect on the incredible dedication of our coastal partners, we’ve compiled up-to-date impact numbers, and reflections from the people on the ground doing the work.
Our Impact Dashboard
Funds generated through Every Stay Gives Back continue to support a wide range of stewardship, education, and conservation efforts across the coast, including:
- 10,097 volunteer hours supporting stewardship education at Cape Perpetua
- 1,817 hours of nutritional care provided to rehabilitating Common Murres through Wildlife Center of the North Coast
- 1,708 individuals educated on the cultural and ecological importance of sea otters via Elakha Alliance
- 308 days of food provided for marine patients at Oregon Coast Aquarium
- 239 acres of protected land maintained through North Coast Land Conservancy
- 1,510 tidepool education engagements facilitated by Friends of Otter Rock
- 149 water samples collected and processed to determine if waters are safe for recreation and public health by the Nestucca, Neskowin & Sand Lake Watersheds Council
Each participating lodging partner commits to supporting a vetted local nonprofit aligned with OCVA’s Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resiliency Plan, ensuring that traveler dollars directly support decarbonization, biodiversity protection, and equity-focused community initiatives.
A huge thanks to our lodging partners leading the way as members of this program:
- Driftwood Shores (Florence)
- Pacific View Lodging (Depoe Bay)
- The Wildflower Inn (Gold Beach)
- Ocean Inn (Manzanita)
- Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa (Pacific City)
- Bowline Hotel and Ashore Hotel (Astoria and Seaside)
- Saltline Hotel (Seaside)
- Two Capes Lookout (Tierra Del Mar)
Reflections from the coast
March was Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the people shaping the systems behind the places we care about. This year, Kind Traveler highlighted voices from across its global network in 44 Women Creating Impact Through Travel, reflecting on the role women play in advancing more responsible, community-centered tourism.
As the story notes, travel has the power to transform communities, but that impact is driven by the people who choose to build it. That perspective is reflected along the Oregon Coast:
At Cape Perpetua:
“The Land and Sea Environments of the Cape Perpetua Region are unique, biodiverse, and beautiful… contributions directly fund our small team to continue doing important conservation and stewardship work and inviting the public to participate through free programs and events.”
— Talaina King, Cape Perpetua Collaborative
“This unique symbiotic relationship is a fantastic step and example in working to navigate the delicate balance of tourism in protected and sensitive environments like the Central Oregon Coast.”
— Jamie Kish, Cape Perpetua Collaborative
In Tillamook County:
“Travelers staying at the glampsites are helping support our work to keep our waterways clean… contributions from each guest help support our bacteria monitoring program, which informs our approach to restoration projects throughout the county.”
— Natalie Nites, Nestucca, Neskowin & Sand Lake Watersheds Council
And across the program as a whole:
“We’re cultivating a community of businesses, environmental stewards, and thoughtful travelers who believe that exploring a place should also mean caring for it.”
— Arica Sears, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
These reflections remind us that this program is funding real work in our backyard that has a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of our people and landscapes.
Expanding the model: Every Adventure Gives Back
As the program moves into April (and in honor of Earth Month), Kind Traveler is expanding into a new phase of impact. OCVA and Kind Traveler are excited to introduce Every Adventure Gives Back: an opportunity to include guides, outfitters, and experience providers in the same model that has already brought in over $50k impact dollars for the coast.
Tours, excursions, and activities can now contribute directly to local nonprofits in the same way overnight stays already do.This shift opens the door for more of the visitor economy to be part of the same shared effort.
First year FREE
To support this expansion, Kind Traveler is waiving the first year of membership for the first three new lodging or adventure partners to join in 2026. This represents a $7,500 value and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
As visitor impact and climate change continue to shape the future of tourism, programs like Every Stay Gives Back provide a powerful, transparent way for travelers to Coast Like a Local—making conscious choices that strengthen communities and protect the places they love.
For those interested in learning more or joining the program, contact Jessica Blotter at Kind Traveler at jblotter@kindtraveler.com.