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Merger exploration
Community Feedback & FAQ
Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and Dishman Hills Conservancy have been exploring the possibility of a merger that would broaden and strengthen our collective impact. As one part of a broader review, our boards have completed an initial due diligence process to better understand what a potential merger could mean for our mission, our work, and the communities we serve.
Since our last update, we’ve spent time listening — to survey responses, community meeting conversations, and one-on-one feedback from members of both organizations. Below is the latest on where things stand, including why the community engagement phase will continue without a set end date, and answers to some of the questions we’ve heard most often.
An Update Regarding the Merger Exploration Process
By Toni Pessemier, Board President, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and AT Miller, Board President, Dishman Hills Conservancy
Thank you again to everyone who completed the survey, attended recent community meetings, or shared insights in other ways. You spoke, we listened, and we heard you. We are grateful for your thoughtful feedback, and your questions, ideas, and concerns are helping to shape this important conversation and process.
Some members expressed understanding and support for the concept of a proposed merger, while others raised important questions or concerns. For a merged organization to reach its full potential, broad support from members of both organizations would be essential. That kind of support is built on trust.
For some, that trust is already present. Others have shared that they need more time, information, and engagement before determining whether a merged organization is the right path forward. Land conservancies understand better than most the significant investment of time, relationship building, and careful evaluation required when considering a prospective opportunity. For that reason, the community engagement phase of the merger exploration process will continue without a fixed timeline, in order to create space for further listening, reflection, and dialogue. Our members are the lifeblood of our organizations, and your perspectives are important to our discernment process.
This continued engagement may take many forms, including individual conversations, group discussions, collaborative projects, meetings, or other ideas that emerge from members and community partners. Each organization will continue to monitor its own strategic direction throughout this process. It is also important that DHC has the time it needs to consider questions raised during the engagement process about its interests, needs, and future.
We have added several new questions and answers to the Frequently Asked Questions sections on our respective websites in response to feedback we received. A couple of the most frequently asked questions are highlighted below.
We look forward to continuing these conversations with members of both organizations and welcome further engagement from those who are interested in participating. By allowing the community engagement phase to continue without a fixed timeline, we are intentionally creating more space for community input, thoughtful dialogue, and the relationship-building needed to guide any next steps with care.
Why are the organizations exploring a merger?
Both organizations share a commitment to protecting important lands and connecting people to nature.
The central question being evaluated is whether a merged organization would be better positioned to protect and care for the Dishman Hills and other important landscapes for generations to come. As board members of two prominent land conservation organizations in our area, it is imperative for us to consider how to best protect and conserve these landscapes into the future, with a focus on economic, social, and environmental changes on the horizon.
Dishman Hills Conservancy has built an extraordinary conservation legacy through decades of community leadership, volunteerism, and successful land protection. At the same time, perpetual stewardship of more than 1,000 acres of conservation land requires long-term organizational capacity, dedicated stewardship resources, stable funding, and the systems necessary to fulfill conservation commitments indefinitely.
One of the reasons the Boards are exploring a merger is the belief that Inland Northwest Land Conservancy has developed the governance structure, stewardship capacity, financial systems, and organizational scale necessary to help carry the Dishman Hills legacy forward into the future.
The question before both organizations is whether combining DHC’s deep community roots with INLC’s long-term organizational capacity would create a stronger and more resilient conservation organization than either could achieve independently.
Has a decision already been made?
No.
The purpose of the current process is to determine whether a merger should occur.
The Merger Management Committee has been gathering information, conducting due diligence, identifying opportunities and risks, and making recommendations to the Boards. No merger proposal has been completed. No final decision has been made.
The Boards are committed to making decisions based on the information developed through that process and the feedback received from members, supporters, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the benefits of the two organizations merging?
Dishman Hills Conservancy brings sixty years of grassroots spirit, volunteer leadership, and deep local connection to Dishman Hills. INLC brings regional reach, robust stewardship capacity, and experience protecting a variety of lands across the Inland Northwest. Together, a merged organization could coordinate efforts, optimize resources, gain greater visibility, and create a broader conservation impact. Together, we could accomplish more.
Q. What changes to existing land can the public expect to see if the merger goes through?
The public can expect continuity of access and protection. Proceeds from the sale of any lands in the Dishman Hills corridor to a conservation partner would be restricted for future acquisitions in the Dishman Hills. Both organizations are committed to ongoing protection, access, and care for lands within the Dishman Hills corridor. Restricted gifts to support future conservation projects in the Dishman Hills would be preserved, and donors would be able to make such restricted gifts going forward. Public access on the Wilson Property would also be retained, and INLC’s publicly accessible properties, including Waikiki Springs, would remain open and actively stewarded. Much of DHC’s existing programmatic work would continue within the merged organization, and INLC’s established conservation strategies and practices would be maintained. If anything, a merged organization would have greater capacity to expand conservation efforts – deepening education programs that connect people to the land, continuing forest health and fuels reduction, and working toward completing the Dishman Hills corridor from Appleway through the Palouse, as outlined in the Dishman Hills Strategic Plan. INLC’s public recreation support would expand, and a committee dedicated to integrating the priorities, practices, and people of Dishman Hills would be formed.
Q. What would this mean for the community?
The merger would mean stronger conservation outcomes, more resources for community engagement, and a unified approach to protecting the landscapes that define our region. Community members would see expanded opportunities to connect with and learn in nature. A merged organization would also bring together the volunteer communities of both organizations, creating even more opportunities for people to get involved in stewardship, education, community outreach, and conservation work.
Q. How would a merger affect the mission and priorities of each organization?
A merger would strengthen the mission and priorities of both organizations. The Dishman Hills would remain a priority, with a continued commitment to completing the Dishman Hills corridor and honoring the community-centered spirit that DHC has cultivated. At the same time, the merged organization would carry forward INLC’s commitment to protecting a diverse range of lands across the Inland Northwest, including the organization’s owned recreational land – Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve, through conservation easements and collaborative work with public and private landowners. The conservation experience and community connection developed at Dishman Hills would help shape the future of these landscapes and many others. Our shared intent is to build a resilient network of protected places, deepen human connection to nature, and ensure lasting conservation success across the region.
Q. Will protecting and caring for Dishman Hills still be a priority?
Yes. The Dishman Hills would remain a primary focus area. The proposed merger ensures Dishman Hills will benefit from the combined organization’s added capacity and resources.
Q. How does this impact my membership and donation?
Your membership and your investment in conservation matter deeply to both organizations. It has made, and would continue to make, a significant impact. Restricted gifts for land acquisition in the Dishman Hills would be held in a dedicated fund to honor donor intent.
Q. How can I continue to volunteer?
Volunteering is at the heart of both organizations and would not change. A merged organization would bring together the volunteer communities of both organizations, creating more opportunities to get involved. We anticipate a growing need for volunteers who want to make a difference in the places they love, as the need for conservation continues to grow.
Q. When will a final decision be made?
There is no firm date yet, but both organizations have completed Phase 1 due diligence, and we’re now moving into a Phase 2 community feedback stage. An essential component of a merger will be an affirmative vote by members from both organizations. We are committed to ensuring members have ample opportunity to learn, ask questions, and share feedback before any vote takes place. Updates will be shared through each organization’s communications channels.