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Planning for Washington’s
Future

Futurewise works throughout Washington state to encourage healthy, equitable and opportunity-rich communities, and to protect our most valuable farmlands, forests, and water resources through wise land use policies and practices.

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Your Voice for Washington's Future

From small towns of 5,000 to cities of 500,000 or anywhere in between, Futurewise believes that the elements of a strong, resilient community are the same. You should have a healthy home you can afford, You should be able to walk, bike, roll and take transit to get where you need to go. You should have access to food from local farms. You should enjoy stunning natural spaces and wildlife habitats.

Futurewise works across Washington to make this vision a reality

For three decades, Futurewise has been your steward of the GMA, helping rural and urban communities across Washington plan for a just, sustainable future. Futurewise is your voice for forward-looking and use policy across Washington, with offices in Seattle, Spokane and Port Angeles.

A group of concerned community members knew it didn’t have to be this way. In the late 1980s, they got organized to find a solution. As a result of their advocacy, Washington passed the groundbreaking Growth Management Act (GMA), a statewide land use framework for where and how Washingtonians live, work and play. These same activists founded Futurewise, to continue their passionate advocacy for livable, forward-looking land use policy in Washington.

Washington state is renowned for its spectacular beauty – from the peaks of the Olympics to the rolling hills of the Palouse. But in the 1980s, more and more of our farmland, forests and open space were being gobbled up by car-centric suburban sprawl, threatening our natural resources, degrading our quality of life and laying the groundwork for decades of greenhouse gas pollution.

For three decades, Futurewise has been your steward of the GMA, helping rural and urban communities across Washington plan for a just, sustainable future. Futurewise is your voice for forward-looking land use policy across Washington, with offices in Seattle, Spokane and Port Angeles.

Concentrate Growth in Existing Cities

Ensure Clean Healthy Water and Protect Critical Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Protect Working Farms and Forests

Create Great Cities with Access to Housing, Transit, Jobs and Basic Services

Make it Easier for People To Get To Where They Need To Go

Encourage Economic Development

Land use is central to the most pressing issues facing our communities.

A spirit of community, collaboration, and collective action anchors all of our work. Together, we build collective power to change laws, policies and systems to make durable, lasting change. Our on-the-ground partners in every corner of Washington provide local context, knowledge, solutions, and boots on the ground, while Futurewise brings 30 years of land use advocacy and expertise to our shared priorities.

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Invest in Washington’s Future

Your gift today powers our work across Washington to promote equitable livable communities, protect our farms, forests and wildlife habitat from sprawl, and ensure that Washington stays a great place to live for generations to come.

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Hear what our supporters and partners have to say about Futurewise

“When Futurewise told me that they were making HB 1110 [to legalize middle housing] one of their top two priorities, I almost cried. I said thank you, because not only would I love their help as a lawmaker, but it also represents to me a sea-change in how we’re talking about housing and land use, that gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

– Rep. Jessica Bateman

“The rate of growth has been exponential and unprecedented. We are grateful that Futurewise is working to protect water, agriculture and promote livable cities. It’s a David and Goliath situation.”

– Jim and Nancy Soriano, Okanogan County Futurewise supporters and donors since 2008

Explore our events

  • 18 May 2024

    Futurewise Livable Communities Spring Celebration

    Join your friends, new and old, to celebrate Futurewise's success and build for the future. We will gather at a working farm, with music, appetizers and drinks. To learn more, support us, and join the event: Click Here

    Find out more
    21 Acres Center, 13701 NE 171st St
    Woodinville, WA 98072 United States
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    Stay up to date with the latest
    dispatches from Futurewise

    March 2024 Executive Director Note – The Seattle Comprehensive Plan Needs Your Help

    I have a rule at Futurewise: don’t focus on Seattle. There are so many great places across the state where important planning decisions are being made. Many of those places and decisions get too little attention from the media and … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    April 1, 2024

    Connecting Communities 2024 Legislative Recap

    And that’s a wrap! The 2024 legislative session ended earlier this month on March 7, and our Connecting Communities campaign with it.  This short session was a roller coaster of wins and losses as we sailed to the finish line.  … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    March 29, 2024

    Legislative Updates – Week of 3/3/24

    Week of March 3 Legislative Update The 2024 legislative session officially ends this Thursday, March 7!  Unfortunately, our two priority bills, Transit-oriented development (HB 2160) and Rent Stabilization (HB 2114) did not pass out of the Senate Ways and Means … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    March 3, 2024

    Legislative Updates – Week of 2/25/24

    Week of February 25 Legislative Update We’re in the home stretch! The session ends on March 7, meaning this is the last FULL week.  It’s been a busy week too as we are knee deep in cutoffs. Last Wednesday marked … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    February 25, 2024

    Legislative Updates – 2/18/24

    Week of February 18 Legislative Update Wow, what a week it’s been!  Last Tuesday marked the House of Origin cutoff, and we had a clean sweep!  Both transit-oriented development (HB 2160) and rent stabilization (HB 2114) passed out of the … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    February 18, 2024

    Legislative Updates – Week of 2/11/24

    Week of February 11 Legislative Update We’re over halfway through the 2024 legislative session!  It always catches me by surprise just how short the short session is.  But halfway means we have a big cutoff coming up– the floor vote … Continue reading →

    Marcella Buser
    February 11, 2024
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