Islands' Oil Spill Association

When oil hits the water in San Juan County's remote 174-island archipelago, the clock starts immediately — and help can be hours away. That's where Islands' Oil Spill Association (IOSA) comes in.

Founded in 1985 after a mysterious oil spill threatened the islands we call home, the IOSA is San Juan County's only dedicated oil spill response organization. We train and coordinate a team of 50+ HAZWOPER-certified community volunteers who serve as the critical first line of defense — on the water and on the shoreline — before state and federal responders can arrive. IOSA works hand-in-hand with the Department of Ecology and the U.S. Coast Guard to protect the waters, wildlife, and communities of the San Juan Islands. We are, at heart, a community organization: neighbor helping neighbor, islander protecting island.

Your GiveBIG gift supports volunteer training, emergency equipment, and the operational readiness that keeps our team prepared year-round, because oil spills don't wait for convenient moments.

This is IOSA's first full year participating in GiveBIG, and we're building something important: a broader network of supporters who believe, as we do, that strong communities make the best first responders. As traditional funding sources face increasing uncertainty, IOSA recently earned 501(c)(3) status — and this GiveBIG campaign is our very first step toward building the community-based donor support that will carry us forward. Your gift matters now more than ever.

Please help us protect what makes the San Juan Islands extraordinary.