Eligible applicants from all parts of the country may be considered for this program.  Due to grant restrictions, many of the 2007 FUNDS participant groups will fit one or more of the following categories:

• Working on fresh water issues east of the Mississippi
• Based in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, or Washington State
• Working on water issues affecting the Mississippi River in the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri
• Based in the greater metropolitan area of Houston, Texas, or the San Francisco Bay area of California

The most successful participants in FUNDS will:

1. Make fundamental changes in their approach to fundraising, such as:

•  Imbedding grassroots fundraising into the structure of the organization
• Incorporating fundraising planning into broader strategic planning
• Developing a “leadership team” of board and staff members to build the membership or donor base and diversify the funding mix
•  Investing time in building donor relationships

2. Steadily increase their individual donor base, and in the total income of their organization

3. Increase the ratio of non-foundation revenue to total income over two to three years

4.  Work with a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes strategies to increase revenue through donor “upgrades” (donors making larger gifts over the previous year)

If you think your group qualifies for FUNDS, please send a brief email along with a completed ESC Cover Sheet to FUNDS Manager Peggy Mathews. 

Back to FUNDS Program Discription