River Network

The way money moves matters. Right now, too much of it is trapped in slow, bureaucratic systems that don’t reach the people on the front lines who are making a difference. Climate disasters are escalating, communities are fighting for resilience, and yet, traditional philanthropy is still funneling funds through disconnected institutions instead of resourcing those with the deepest knowledge of their land and people. Too often, it’s foundation and charity leaders—who are removed from the realities of the communities they aim to support—who decide what change "should happen." Rather than resourcing those already creating solutions, funders often set priorities based on their own perspectives, requiring prospective grantees to fit into pre-set funding categories instead of addressing needs as they arise. That’s why Flow Funding is a game-changer—it shifts decision-making power to those on the ground, the people who actually know what their communities need. At Kinship Earth Flow Fund, we’re taking it a step further with Bioregional Flow Funding—because solutions are most successful when they are designed, led, and implemented by the people who live in and care for the places they call home. By directing funds to groups of leaders organizing within a bioregion, we strengthen the relationships, knowledge, and long-term care needed to restore ecosystems and build community resilience. Bioregions are defined by the natural ecosystems and the cultural identities of the people who live there. Instead of change-makers operating in silos, competing for grants, and spending valuable time navigating bureaucratic hurdles, Bioregional Flow Funding ensures that resources flow to those already collaborating, supporting each other, and stewarding long-term change where they live. This is how we shift from fragmented funding to true ecosystem restoration and community resilience. If we want to heal the planet, we need to fund solutions that actually work. ?? How can you help? ? Get involved—Connect with others in your bioregion or start a bioregional organizing group! Check out the Design School for Regenerating Earth to meet other leaders working on place-based solutions, and explore The BioFi Project and its Communities of Practice. ? Make a donation—Support Kinship Earth Flow Fund, the Earth Regeneration Fund, or a bioregional organizing group directly. Please reach out if you're interested in directing resources to a specific bioregion or want to learn more about Flow Funding in action. ? Spread the word—Philanthropy needs to evolve! Share this with funders, organizers, and change-makers who care about shifting resources in a way that actually makes an impact. Read the full article I've written here: https://lnkd.in/e7R-iT9q Let’s change the way funding flows—because the future depends on it.

RIVER VOICES ??? The March issue of River Voices is out now! In this month’s issue, we’re highlighting the vibrant story of Flow Funding at River Network, a trust-based philanthropy program supporting local leaders in a variety of community initiatives, from fighting for greenspaces to securing extreme weather preparedness, responsible development, clean water, and access to basic needs for community members. These funds have rippled out to 34 recipients in communities across the country in the past four years – learn about these creative projects and initiatives created by and for community. https://ow.ly/jfNJ50VbrM0 Plus, in a special episode of At the Water Table, staff member Renee Mazurek reflects on exploring Flow Funding impacts via Ripple Effects Mapping, a collaborative evaluation tool for storytelling and impact mapping. #WaterEquity #WaterStories #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalStorytelling ID: Graphic shows a letter popping out of an envelope that reads “River Voices.” In the center is a photograph of River Rally 2024 Flow Fund session participants Lesley Slavitt, Teresa Davis, Arthur Johnson, and Sharee Harrison. Photo by Renee Mazurek. Overlaid in the top left, text reads MAR 2025. On the right, titles of features in this issue of River Voices, displayed in boxes, read: The Story of Flow Funding, New Online Learning Series: Building Blocks of Trust, and A Joyful & Collaborative Evaluation Tool. The boxes are framed above and below by text that reads, Including… and more!

RIVER VOICES ??? The February issue of River Voices is out now! In this month’s issue, we’re sharing organizations’ stories and lessons on creating community leadership and stewardship programs, from planning and design stages all the way to launching a successful program. Plus, explore our newest learning series! And don’t forget to read or listen to this month’s At the Water Table conversation with Andrea Lubberts, Matt Hubers, and Haley Kornoelje of Plaster Creek Stewards. Check out these stories and more: https://lnkd.in/g6jEEpdk #WaterEquity #WaterStories #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalStorytelling ID: Graphic shows a letter popping out of an envelope that reads “River Voices.” In the center is a photograph of Project GreenER participant Nathan M. gathering with a team of his coworkers at a Meijer store in the Plaster Creek Watershed. Overlaid in the top left, text reads FEB 2025. On the right, titles of features in this issue of River Voices, displayed in boxes, read: Building Local Leadership for Community Resilience, New Online Learning Series: Building Blocks of Trust, and At the Water Table: Andrea Lubberts, Matt Hubers, & Haley Kornoelje. The boxes are framed above and below by text that reads, Including… and more!

Over 36 years and half a dozen presidents, we’ve provided the technical support local leaders need, resources to help you do the job, and a community of thousands of organizations and individuals committed to healthy rivers, clean water, and climate-resilient communities for all. If you haven’t already joined our mailing list, now is a great time – stay connected and informed through our monthly newsletter, River Voices, as well as other network updates, announcements, and resources. https://ow.ly/2xaL50UPVuz #CleanWater #HealthyRivers ID: A graphic that reads Stay informed! Sign up for our newsletter for resources, support, & community. Below the main text are bubbles that look like a signup form. They say Name, Email Address, and Sign up! To the left of the text is an envelope opening to show the River Network logo, and a group of smiling people below who are waving and have arms around each other in support.

?? Calling all community-based organizations doing environmental justice work – applications are open for federal environmental justice funding! The EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for small, community-based organizations—particularly those with low capacity or resources—and other eligible organizations to access federal environmental justice funding for projects that identify, document, address, and respond to conditions related to environmental and/or climate injustice. Interested applicants should apply through the program for their geographic region. Due dates vary based on the location of your organization, so check your regional program for more information. Find your region’s application page: https://ow.ly/aLYH50UMcPV Specific details and application timelines vary by program, so reach out to the program for your region directly if you have questions. Even if your program is not yet open, websites for each program have information that will help you begin preparing your application. #EnvironmentalJustice #Grants #Funding ID 1: Text set against an image of trees in a city reads Thriving Communities: Environmental Justice Funding. Apply now! Due dates vary by region. ID 2: Text with the heading Who and What it’s for. Body text reads, Community-based organizations—particularly those with low capacity or resources—and other organizations with a history of equitably engaging their local communities. For projects that identify, document, address, and respond to conditions related to environmental and/or climate injustice. ID 3: Text with the heading Assessment Project Funding. Body text reads, Some examples of what it's for: Research (that is incidental to the project design); sampling; testing; monitoring; investigations; surveys and studies; public education. Award & duration of funding: Up to $150,000 for a one-year project period. [image descriptions continued in comments]

TOMORROW ?? Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement Join us tomorrow for the first event in a two-part series on Equitable Engagement, featuring 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad (she/her). Hira and her collaborators, Francesca Levethan (she/her) and Kausthubh Sumanth (he/him) - all graduate students at the University of Michigan - embarked on a project to develop recommendations for media organizations and philanthropic foundations to advance equitable and community-based environmental justice journalism. The three researchers interviewed dozens of community organization leaders, media organizations, and experts and funders in the field of journalism, the environment, and community engagement. Based on their findings, they co-authored “Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region.” Now, they’re sharing their findings in these two sessions to help organizations approach relationship building, storytelling, and environmental justice journalism with intention and impact. Part 1, Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement, is TOMORROW, 1/22/25 from 12-1pm ET. Part 2, Equitable Engagement in Practice, is two weeks later on Wednesday, 2/5/25 from 12-1pm ET. You won’t want to miss these! Register: https://ow.ly/VCXE50UKC2E #EnvironmentalJustice #EthicalStorytelling ID 1: A graphic displaying information about the upcoming webinar. Title reads Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement: Tools and strategies for authentic storytelling and engagement. Smaller text reads Wednesday, 1/22, 12-1pm ET, registration in bio/register at the link. Additional text reads 2-part series! Part 1. With the authors of Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region including 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad! 2: A graphic displaying information about the upcoming webinar. Title reads Equitable Engagement in Practice: Learn to use “A Toolkit for Transformative Community-Centric Environmental Journalism.” Smaller text reads Wednesday, 2/5, 12-1pm ET, registration in bio/register at the link. Additional text reads 2-part series! Part 2. With the authors of Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region including 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad!

???A new EPA report finds that 19.2 million households, or 1 in 7 people in the U.S., face unaffordable water bills. The U.S. would need to invest $8.8 billion a year for families to have permanent relief from high water costs. That’s why we need policies like the H2O UP Act to ensure every family has access to #SafeAffordableWater now and in the future. Together, we can solve this problem through water safety investments and low-income water bill assistance. Read the Water Equity & Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus press release: https://lnkd.in/ecgpHc2t? #SafeAffordableWater?

JANUARY FEATURE ?? Making Sense of Federal Funding For and with Local Changemakers Equitable and enduring solutions start with community – created with, by, and for the people most impacted. Despite the recent influx of federal funding for water infrastructure and other local projects, many communities have continued to face traditional barriers to accessing that money. River Network has been directing national dollars to local communities for 25 years, through many federal programs. This month, learn about our most recent efforts to ensure these dollars are accessible for communities, making those equitable and enduring solutions possible. Check out this feature and other stories: https://ow.ly/tfZh50UGz6W #FederalFunding #CleanWater ID: A graphic with text that reads: JAN FEATURE. Making Sense of Federal Funding for and with Local Changemakers. Ryleigh Nucilli. January 7, 2025. In the lower left is a photograph of water exiting a pipe with dollar sign icons overlaid. In the lower right is a photograph of a person sitting underneath shady trees by Lake Monona in Wisconsin.

AT THE WATER TABLE ?? This month, meet Jerry Calderon (he/him) and Amanda Zeidner (she/her). Amanda is the Project Manager for Community Planning at the Council for Watershed Health (CWH) in Pasadena, California, and Jerry Calderon serves as the Policy and Outreach Coordinator on behalf of the Tataviam Land Conservancy (TLC). TLC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of the Fernande?o Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (FTBMI). In this conversation, Jerry and Amanda share their experiences securing federal funding, the challenges faced by community-based organizations, and the importance of diversifying funding sources for organizational sustainability. Hosted by River Network’s Renée Mazurek and Campbell Simmons, this conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement and equitable funding practices. Read or listen to the full conversation: https://ow.ly/BINn50UCWtr #WaterEquity #WaterStories #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalStorytelling ID: A graphic showcasing the two speakers from this month’s At the Water Table episode, an Urban Waters Learning Network collaboration. On the left is a photo of Amanda Zeidner accompanied by text that reads Project Manager for Community Planning, Council for Watershed Health (CWH). To the right is a photo of Jerry Calderon with text that reads Policy and Outreach Coordinator, Tataviam Land Conservancy.

River Network was honored in 2005 when President Jimmy Carter wrote the foreword to the second edition of our Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual. We, with the rest of the United States, mourn President Carter’s passing and are grateful for his lifetime of support for clean water and healthy rivers across the country. To read President Carter’s full foreword, please visit bit.ly/CarterCWA. And if you are inspired by President Carter's call to action, you can access the third edition of our Clean Water Act Owner's Manual to learn how to use the Act to protect your local waters: https://ow.ly/X4YW50UCPsV #PresidentCarter #CleanWater #HealthyRivers