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River Network and LeadGreen Webinar Instructions Please press *6 to mute your phone line. Please submit your questions via the chat function. Well pause to discuss all the questions at designated points. Phone lines will be opened up a couple times during the webinar for question and answer or discussion. Ryan Carter is available at 503.260.2350 for technical support if you are having trouble during the webinar. 1 Slide 2 River Network and LeadGreen Watershed Support Network Results Analysis October 2010 by Baird Straughan, from data from the OD team and WSN partners. Slide 3 River Network and LeadGreen Methodology 159 organizations filled out Initial Asessments for WSN-Phase 2 after 2007. 86 filled out Progress Reports in 2009 or 2010. (Some gave multiple progress reports.) Compare before and after. Slide 4 River Network and LeadGreen The median org budget grew $17,700, and as a whole the groups added $1.3M to their budgets. Not everyone grew. Significant drops. More or less stable. Significant increases. Slide 5 River Network and LeadGreen At the beginning of the program, organizations got 62% of their revenue from state and other government. Based on the average percentage of revenue received by groups from these sources. Slide 6 River Network and LeadGreen At the end, the government portion had dropped to 52%. Dues and corporate funding more than doubled. Based on the average percentage of revenue received by groups from these sources. Slide 7 River Network and LeadGreen 51 groups gave before and after data; they added 723 new donors. Slide 8 River Network and LeadGreen 57 groups reported adding 2,007 volunteers. Slide 9 River Network and LeadGreen Most organizations maintained their volunteer leaders, but more reported significant declines than reported increases. Significant drops. More or less stable. Significant increases. Slide 10 River Network and LeadGreen Many participating organizations adopted the best practices WSN taught. Slide 11 River Network and LeadGreen Since the WSN project began in 2003, the core of our work has focused on budgeting and strategic planning, as well as planning for fundraising and for building a strong board. Slide 12 River Network and LeadGreen Activities. Slide 13 River Network and LeadGreen For their Progress Reports, more organizations focused on organizing, education, advocacy, and planning. Slide 14 River Network and LeadGreen Outcomes: The 86 organizations reported that they achieved positive impacts, although some achieved more than others, and not all reported that their work had yet improved or protected water and health. Slide 15 River Network and LeadGreen They reported that they educated the public, changed behaviors. To a lesser degree, they contributed to better enforcement of laws. Slide 16 River Network and LeadGreen A significant (but lower) number reported they had contributed to measurable improvements in the health of rivers and people. Slide 17 River Network and LeadGreen Question 1. Do best practices (like having a fundraising plan) lead to stronger organizations? Slide 18 River Network and LeadGreen In general, groups which began the program with annual work plans had, at the end, larger expense budgets, more staff, and more donors compared to those without annual workplans. Slide 19 River Network and LeadGreen In general, groups which began the program with annual budgets ended the program with larger expense budgets, more staff, donors, and volunteers compared to those without. Slide 20 River Network and LeadGreen In general, groups which began the program with strategic plans ended it with larger budgets, more staff and more donors compared to those without strategic plans. Slide 21 River Network and LeadGreen In general, groups which began the program with fundraising plans ended it larger budgets, more staff, volunteers, and donors compared to those without fundraising plans. Slide 22 River Network and LeadGreen So yes, over two years the best practices taught by WSN correlated to stronger organizations (larger budgets, more staff, more volunteers, more donors). Slide 23 River Network and LeadGreen Question 2. Do stronger organizations report more outcomes? Slide 24 River Network and LeadGreen Yes, in every case the conditions on the left correlated with the items on the right INITIAL CONDITIONS: Larger budget at the studys beginning Larger staff at the studys beginning More volunteers at the studys beginning More volunteer leaders at the studys beginning FINAL SUCCESS: More likely to report restoration projects. More likely to report safer drinking water. safer swimming. less toxics in the water. carrying out clean-up projects. Slide 25 River Network and LeadGreen The percentage reporting measurable improvements in the health of waterways was greater after receiving WSN support. Slide 26 River Network and LeadGreen Some correlations were particular strong Having a larger budget at the beginning correlated very strongly with: Safer water for drinking and swimmming; Carrying out restoration projects. Having more volunteers at the beginning correlated with: Carrying out restoration projects Carrying out river cleanups. Having more volunteer leaders at the beginning correlated with river cleanups. Slide 27 River Network and LeadGreen Your suggestions Capture notes here. Slide 28 River Network and LeadGreen Suggestions, cont. Capture notes here. Slide 29 River Network and LeadGreen Suggestions, cont. Capture notes here.