Freshwater Future Strategic Planning
Working Goals and Objectives May 15, 2008
Staff Draft Vision: Inspiring One Great Lakes Community
1. Create a powerful grassroots voice recognized for the passage and enforcement of good policy at all
levels.
 Continue to participate in inner policy circles representing Grassroots interests in
state/provincial/regional and local policy efforts. (Board and staff)
 Insert the need and identify opportunities to include grassroots groups in policy happenings with
regional groups. (ongoing Cheryl and Jill)
 Create opportunities to participate in written communications with decision makers such as petitions,
sign on letters. (ongoing Cheryl)
 Organize opportunities for our network to communicate with decision makers.(Such as inviting a
legislator to participate in a blog or webcast.) (ongoing Cheryl)
 Maintain a calendar of advocacy happenings and events on regional policy issues. (ongoing Cheryl)
 Send out monthly alerts to the network informing them of policy happenings and opportunities to get
involved. (ongoing Cheryl)
 Organize regular, possibly annual, meetings with Members of Congress when they are in-district.
(ongoing Cheryl)
 Develop and distribute educational tools, such as a PP on how to have an effective meeting with
decision makers.
(ongoing Cheryl and Jill)
 Better define advocacy to reflect the work of the organization and take into account the different
terminologies in the U.S. and Canada. (Board Advocacy Task Force)
2. Strengthen the capacity of individual Great Lakes groups.
 Create a holistic process the “Grassroots Health Team” to help determine services/best fit for their
group
o Develop and pilot an assessment tool that all groups seeking assistance will complete that
helps the group and FF staff determine their organizational and issue needs. (yr. 1 all staff)
o Utilizing the assessment tool, FF staff will develop a menu of opportunities for each group
that include services available from FF and where we see additional needs beyond our
expertise where they might find assistance for those needs. (yrs. 1-2 all staff)
o Develop a follow-up assessment tool to measure organizational and issue growth based at
least in part on assistance provided by FF. (yr. 1 all staff)
o Utilize the assessment as a way to track program success and refine programs. (yr. 2 all staff)
 Maintain the grants program as a key tool available in our menu of services.
o Develop more clear connections between the grants and other parts of the program to support
stronger organizations and project success. (yr. 2 Jill and Lauren)
 Implement Advocate Mentor Program as a key tool available in our menu of services.
o Evaluate, monitor and refine first sets of mentor/mentee relationships and refine the program.
(yr. 1 Jill and Kate)
o Provide opportunities for mentors to continue to build their skills and remain active in the
network. (yrs. 1-2 Jill and Kate)
o Create online forum for Advocate Mentor Program through which we can alert participants to
our services and events. (yr. 2 Jill and Kate)
o Develop a marketing strategy for the Advocate Mentor Program. (yr. 1 Jill and Kate)
 Implement programs to build specific organizational and issue skills as part of our menu of services,
including paid consulting.
o Determine new symposium format and determine viability for future events. (yr. 1 all staff)
o Develop online and teleconference workshop opportunities. (yr. 1 all staff)
o Pilot and refine online and teleconference workshop opportunities. (yrs. 1-2 all staff)
o Develop fee-for-service consulting program to meet individual organizational needs. (yrs. 1-
2 Jill, Ann, Cheryl, Dorothy)
3. Utilize innovative communications methods to become the lead organization to connect Grassroots
Groups and citizens with each other, resources, experts and larger groups.
 Develop written communications plan for the collective communications work (Board and Staff)
 Provide 2 “issue update” newsletters per year to members highlighting issues people can act upon
from each lake basin. (yr. 1 Cheryl, Ann and Jill)
 Provide 2 “organizational update” newsletters per year to members highlighting the accomplishments
and upcoming work of Freshwater Future. (yr. 1 All Staff)
 Provide monthly electronic action alerts on both regional and grassroots work from each lake basin.
 Develop marketing strategies to help spread the work about our work and solicit new members and
funders. (yr. 1 Jill and Board)
 Utilize board presence throughout the Basin to provide local connections through speakers, meetings,
etc. (yrs. 1-2 Board)
 Develop pitch for board and others re: importance of grassroots and role of grassroots and Freshwater
Future. (yr. 1 Jill and Board)
4. Provide presence and accessibility throughout the basin.
A) Consider the appropriate geographic location of staff and board members as the organization develops.
 Research appropriate organizational structure for our work in Ontario. (yr. 1 Jill, Bonnie and board)
 Consider charitable corporation, charitable foundation, etc. and the legal and financial requirements.
 Implement the organizational structure for Canada. (yr. 2 Jill)
B) Provide engaging and innovative opportunities for volunteer involvement.
 Provide opportunities for volunteer Grant Readers to review grant applications each year. (yr.
1 Jill)
 Implement the Mentor Program and refine based on year one evaluations. (yr. 1 Jill and Kate)
 Develop an intern program and recruit summer volunteer interns. (yr. 1 and 2 Jill and Kate)
 Provide board and board committee roles that offer engaging connections to Freshwater Future and
the grassroots and ensure geographic balance on board and committees. (yrs. 1-2 Jill and Board)
C) Develop and refine the administrative capacities of the organization to support the programmatic work.
 Evaluate and use effective technology
o Utilize an outside consultant to conduct an assessment and develop a plan for utilizing
technological tools to make our administrative and programmatic work effective and
efficient. (yr. 1 staff and consultant)
o Implement the plan. (yrs. 2+ staff)
 Develop and refine processes and manuals for major program areas, and administrative systems. (yr.
1 Lauren)
 Support the work of the board administratively with assistance in their efforts and by providing good
data keeping. (ongoing Jill and Lauren)
 Create new wording that will work with Canadian requirements for our current use of “advocacy.”
(yr. 1 Jill and Board)
D) Retain professional, high quality staff.
 Review existing HR and further develop HR policies, manual/handbook that will ensure
retention of staff & assist the ED in hiring future staff. (yr. 1 Board)
 Develop regular review process of staff salaries and benefits. (yr. 1 executive committee)
5. Develop a diversified funding base to sustainably support the programmatic work of the
organization.
 Develop membership, major donor and business/corporate giving programs to provide 1/4 of revenue
by 2012.
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o Refine the membership program to recruit 200 new members each year. (yrs. 1-2 Jill, Ann and
Kate)
o Retain 75% of members through renewal program each year. (yrs. 1-2 Kate, Ann, Jill, Board)
o Secure10 new major donors each year. (yrs. 1-2 Jill, Ann and board)
o Develop corporate donor program including sponsorship programs to provide 10% of income
by 2012. (yrs. 1-2Cheryl, Ann and board)
o Develop a giving circle to support $10,000 in discount scholarships for our consulting
services. (yr. 1 Jill, Ann, Cheryl, board)
o Develop a Canadian giving circle to help gain momentum for Canadian funding and work.
(yr. 2 Jill and CA board members)
Develop fee-for-service consultation program to provide intensive one-on-one services and group
workshops to member organizations on both organizational and campaign topics.
o Develop consultation program guidelines and description and business plan. (yr. 1 Jill, Cheryl,
Ann and board).
o Pilot consultation ideas through River Network Grant. (yr. 1 Jill, Ann, Cheryl)
o Market the fee-for-service programs. (yr. 1 Jill, Ann, Cheryl and board)
o Implement the new consultation program, resulting in $10,000 in fees. (yrs. 1-2 Jill, Cheryl
Ann, Dorothy)
Diversify and grow our foundation sources, to provide additional funding to support the mission
work.
o Secure new foundation funding to maintain 2008 foundation funding levels as Mott decreases
by $50,000 per year. (yrs. 1-2) (Jill, Ann, board)
o Develop a foundation specific fundraising plan each year. (yrs. 1-2 Jill, Ann, Board)
o Develop Canadian foundation connections to support Toronto office, programs and staffing.
(yrs, 1-2, Jill, board)
Begin development of operating reserve. (yr. 1 board)
6: Strengthen board functioning and refine and expand board roles.
 Continue current board activities in fundraising (Fundraising Committee to oversee)
o Continue to assist staff with fundraising (identify foundations, donors, etc);
o Provide guidance on fundraising, assist with reserve development in budget (Board Finance
Committee)
 Continue to assist staff with “inner circle” work by providing introductions, staying “on message,”
 Continue to develop and approve policies that affect program and operations, with special attention
to: (entire board)
o Review HR policies
o Better define advocacy to reflect the work of the organization and take into account the different
terminologies in the U.S. and Canada. (Advocacy Task Force)
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o Oversee development of donor base, member base, fee structures and foundation support.
Develop written communications plan for the collective communications work (Communications
Task Force)
Strengthen board capacity (Board Development Committee)
o Create annual calendar of board responsibilities as a basis for agendas
o Create agenda template to indicate type of action needed (discussion, action, for information
only)
o Help identify volunteers to serve on board committees
o Develop a board member matrix to guide in member recruitment
o Implement new board member orientation
o Develop pathways to board membership thru committee membership, etc
Develop Board accountability structure
o Track action items following each meeting (Secretary)
o Follow up on Action Items (President)
o Consider a mid-quarter conference call with committee chairs (Exec Committee)
o Establish more frequent communication between ED and Board President (ED and President)
For outside version:
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Introduction including who we serve: Strengthen “grassroots” groups and their Great Lakes advocacy efforts
Define target audience more clearly