TROUT LAKE — Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships between people and the natural world, has announced that it will cease operations and formally dissolve effective Dec. 31.
The decision was approved by the MAI board of directors following extensive reflection and an emergency session held on Jan. 28. The board cited compounding federal funding reductions, the unforeseen loss of AmeriCorps support, and the departure of key staff members as primary factors making continued operations no longer feasible.
“This decision was not made lightly. The past year has been extremely challenging for MAI,” said Eric T. (Rick) Mogren, board chair. Despite significant restructuring and early success transitioning to a fee-for-service model, the combined loss of funding and institutional knowledge ultimately led to this difficult decision.
MAI laid off approximately 60% of its staff in 2025 following major federal cutbacks. While leadership and the board worked to adapt the organization’s business model, additional staffing transitions including the loss of two key staff and ongoing uncertainty within federal partnerships made long-term sustainability unrealistic.
Executive Director Aaron Stanton emphasized the organization’s commitment to a values-aligned transition. “Between now and the end of 2026, we are committed to navigating this closure with integrity. That means supporting current participants and partners, honoring our commitments to the best of our abilities, utilizing our resources to support others and approaching this transition with transparency and care,” Stanton said.
Sense of Place (SOP) program, now in its 16th season, will continue independently.
“Sarah Fox has helped SOP grow into an irreplaceable community asset. The support it has generated in the greater Columbia River Gorge will allow SOP to move forward and continue to grow,” said Stanton.
More information, including a full dissolution statement, is available at mtadamsinstitute.org.
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