Help Save Ohio Parks achieve nonprofit status

In December 2022, when the Ohio legislature changed one word in existing state law to mandate fracking of Ohio state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands, citizens sprang into action. Before our campaign even had a name, we mobilized hundreds of people to submit written comments and dozens to testify in person demanding that the people who own and use Ohio’s state parks and public lands be heard.

Since then we have accomplished incredible things, including:

• Helping 5000 people submit public comments on nominations of two state parks and two wildlife areas for fracking during our first year
• Placing 150 articles and opinion pieces in state and national media outlets, reaching over 1 billion people last year and 1 billion so far this year
• Proving that over 100 pro-fracking comments sent to state were not submitted by the people whose names were on those comments, leading to a state investigation
• Organizing rallies at Salt Fork State Park and the Ohio Statehouse, and packing the room at hearings on fracking nominations
• Educating the public about fracking on public lands through our website, flyers, brochures, and an original song and animated film
• Pulling public documents showing a track record of nearly an accident a day at oil and gas facilities in Ohio

Despite our incredibly hard work as volunteers to mobilize the public and educate the state commissioners in charge of decisions on leasing our public lands for fracking, the commission has approved nominations and bids for Salt Fork State Park, Valley Run, Zepernick, and Keen wildlife areas. The commissioners say they have been directed by the state legislature to lease these public lands for fracking.

Clearly, participating in the public commenting process, though important, is not enough. We must come up with another way to stop fracking in our state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands. And that requires a new legal structure for Save Ohio Parks.

Save Ohio Parks is now pursuing nonprofit status as both a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4. Although as volunteers we have accomplished a great deal, all of us have jobs and/or families and cannot keep up this pace. However, interest in our mission has not abated.

On the contrary, many individuals and groups have reached out to ask what they can do to help. We want to formalize this organization as a nonprofit so we can apply for grants to hire a small staff that can keep these activities going.

We have an attorney ready to work with us to file the necessary paperwork for 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 status. What we need now is the money to pay the attorney and filing fees. The total cost is about $6000. We’ve set the fundraiser for $6300 to cover GoFundMe fees. Our steering committee is all volunteer and will not be paid for this work. All proceeds will go toward obtaining nonprofit status for Save Ohio Parks.

Once Save Ohio Parks gains nonprofit status, the current steering committee will transition into the role of a board, and we will be able to fundraise to hire staff to carry out statewide educational and campaign activities. We are looking into all options for stopping fracking of our beloved state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands, which are meant to be protected.

Please consider making a donation to help us attain the next level of effectiveness in this work. Thank you!

Save Ohio Parks is a campaign of People Protecting Ohio Public Land, LLC.