Organizational Development

Mission: To help people establish strong and enduring watershed conservation organizations and programs.

Building and Sustaining Healthy Organizations

Through Organizational Development, we help our Partners:

decide what kind of organizing approach is best for their situation;
form long-term goals and plans;
develop and sustain leadership;
raise the money they need to do their work;
communicate effectively with their public; and
take other actions necessary to build strong, effective, stable organizations.

River Network envisions a day when every watershed in America will have an active, effective citizen-based organization devoted to its long-term protection and stewardship. Hundreds of these groups already exist. Their strengths lie in their deep roots in their communities, their intimate knowledge of their watersheds and their independence.

We provide basic organizational assistance to all our Partners through our publications and on-line resource library. Partner groups are also eligible for capacity-building grants through River Network as funds are available.

River Network also providse extensive organizational development training, facilitation and consultation services. Each year we conduct dozens of workshops across the country, facilitate strategic planning processess and provide one-on-one training and consulting with scores of groups. In order to gain the most leverage from our work, we often partner with statewide and regional organizations that also provide service and support to local watershed groups in their areas.

Key Publications

River Fundraising Alert (online quarterly journal)
River Voices (quarterly journal)
Directory of Funding Sources for Grassroots River and Watershed Conservation Groups
River Advocates Fundraising Guide
Starting Up: A Handbook for New River and Watershed Organizations
River Talk! Communicating a Watershed Message

Training

River Network's Organizational Development staff offer a number of workshops in a variety of settings, including state and regional gatherings of watershed organizations and the annual National River Rally. Trainings range in length from two hours to five days. Topics include:

Fundraising
Board, Staff and Volunteer Development
Institutional Development
Leadership Development
Communications

Consultation and Facilitation

Our professional staff consult directly with dozens of organizations per year. We help staff members, board members and other leaders set long-term goals. We then help them identify and achieve clear short-and medium-term organizational goals. Our consulting projects typically include scheduled telephone meetings and may also include one or more site visits.

Intensive Services for Watershed Groups

Intensive training and consulting services are available to groups in several pilot states through our National Watershed Health Project. In those states (Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin) we have trainers working for River Network Partner organization providing workshops, training and consulting in a broad range of skills.

Some Activities and Accomplishments

Awarded 68 Watershed Assistance Grants totaling $1,006,000 to help groups develop watershed partnerships.
Awarded $125,000 in 55 River Network Partner Grants to help River Network Partners develop their base of members and volunteers.
Led or contributed to dozens of state and regional training workshops, including three intensive fundraising workshops in the Northeast and Southeast.
Assisted several groups, including the Minnesota Rivers Council, Washington Rivers Council and the Georgia River Network, work through major organizational transitions.
Provided financial support and intensive assistance to promising new state groups, such as the Tennessee Clean Water Network.
Helped many groups, including the New Hampshire Rivers Council, develop their membership base.
Provided ongoing support and intensive assistance to major basin groups such as the Mississippi River Basin Alliance and the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council.

For more information on Organizational Development consultation and facilitation, call our DC office at 1-866-221-6991 or email us at dc@rivernetwork.org.

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