Impact: Building Results-Based Organizations

Call for Participation

Purpose | Program Benefits | Eligibility |
Application Due Date | Submission Process

Purpose:

River Network’s Impact: Building Results-Based Organizations is an intensive, 18-month program designed to help watershed organizations increase their on-the-ground impact through the development and implementation of performance management systems and other organizational best practices. Performance management refers to the systems and processes that an organization uses to measure its progress and improve its performance toward reaching its desired outcomes.

To put it simply, how well are you doing protecting your river, watershed and/or the communities that depend on them? How do you know if your work is making a difference? How can you improve? All organizations, no matter how small, can benefit from developing a shared understanding among the Board, staff and volunteers about the changes they are trying to create, developing a clear picture of how their programs help achieve those, and collecting basic information that informs and guides the organization’s work.

Toward that goal, River Network is issuing this Call for Participation to recruit 15-20 organizations working in disadvantaged communities in the following states/watersheds: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Anacostia River watershed (Maryland and Washington DC). Through the Impact program, selected organizations will have access to a range of trainings, resources, and consulting services at no cost.

Program Benefits Include:

• 40-80 hours of FREE individualized capacity-building assistance and consultation.
• A complementary River Network Partnership.
• Guaranteed scholarships to attend the 2012 and 2013 National River Rallies.
• Peer learning and networking opportunities.
• Opportunity to receive up to $1,000 for additional consulting or for expenses related to the implementation of a Performance Management system.

Eligibility:

Nonprofit organizations – either 501c3 or those working under a nonprofit fiscal agent – focused on river or watershed protection/restoration, or community development groups that have an existing river or watershed initiative are encouraged to apply. They must work in disadvantaged communities in the following states/watersheds: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Anacostia River watershed (Maryland and Washington DC). Eligible applicant organizations must be at least 2-years old.

Application Due Date:

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, Wednesday, February 29th, 2012.

Submission Process:

Send your application and attachments via email in a Word attachment to Cara Meyer of River Network at cmeyer(at)rivernetwork.org. Please do not fax your application.