This project was funded by a Capacity Support Grant from the MWCC Watershed Fund.
Project Description
Funds will focus immediately on two of the Lolo Watershed Group’s key strategies for implementing our mission and goals: Promoting the Lolo Community Watershed Concept and Increasing LWG’s Capacity.
The idea behind the Lolo Community Watershed Concept is to work with and support partners to promote, communicate, and collaboratively work toward improved watershed health through watershed-based education. This includes increasing LWG’s Capacity. In 2022, LWG’s Watershed Coordinator moved to a different job and since then, LWG has been a wholly board-run organization. In 2022 and 2023, LWG used a consultant for fundraising and outreach assistance, and also to review some of LWG’s internal documents and materials, making suggestions to the board for hiring a new Watershed Coordinator and maintaining the organization until that person can be hired. Capacity Support funding will cover continuing the contract with that consultant to complete some of the priority tasks identified in that process: submitting a WaterSMART Collaborative Watershed Management grant proposal for a Watershed Coordinator salary, identifying other fundraising opportunities, updating the LWG website, and outreach via social media and newsletters to keep LWG in the public profile until a new Coordinator can be hired.
A side effect of this consultant’s assistance has been a reinvigorated board of directors, eager to keep the organization active and on-track until a Coordinator is hired. MWCC Watershed Funds will continue that momentum and keep the board energized as we see our work continuing to move forward.
Without a Watershed Coordinator, LWG’s board of directors is responsible for keeping the organization running. For the most part, the board has stepped up beyond expectations, including running a kids’ conservation camp in 2023 and anticipated in 2024. However, there are some tasks outside the board’s skillset and time availability and for that we seek to hire assistance. The intention is to maintain LWG’s visibility and at least some impact on the community as we seek funding to hire a Watershed Coordinator again.. LWG has a consultant currently bringing our website up-to-date, and MWCC funds will help that consultant work with our fundraising and outreach consultant to identify further website improvements, such as adding fields to join our mailing list, and to keep the website updated for the term of this funding agreement. It is essential that LWG keep up the image of an active and relevant group as we seek funds and support for future activities.
Project Outcomes and Impacts
Project in progress