Conewango Creek Watershed group receives $25,000 grant
The Conewango Creek Watershed Association (CCWA) has been selected by the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FWP) to receive a capacity building grant. The funding, a value of $25,000, will include intensive training and consulting services based on the needs of the CCWA.
The FWP will also make a cash reward of up to $2,000 for traveling expenses incurred by participating. The purpose of the capacity-building program is to support the development of nonprofit organizations who are devoted to the restoration and preservation of clean water in western Pennsylvania.
The CCWA was one of 30 watershed groups in Pennsylvania that were invited to apply for the grant. Eleven groups were interviewed and the CCWA was one of three chosen.
The project will help the CCWA create a custom organizational development plan that will help strengthen areas in need of improvement. In order to have regular interaction, a "leadership team" was formed to attend meetings and trainings and to meet with consultants. The CCWA leadership team includes: Tom Osborne (Vice Chairman) of Russell, PA; Elizabeth Dropp (Director) of Youngsville, PA; and Annette Strasser (member) of Frewsburg, NY.
The CCWA is a nonprofit organization that promotes stewardship that enhances water quality and related sources throughout the Conewango Creek watershed. The mission will be pursued through identifying and evaluating the watersheds potential resource problems, developing practical solutions to address resources concerns, and involving and educating the people within the Conewango watershed community. The CCWA co-sponsored the Conewango Creek clean-up in September 2009. A total of 67 volunteers and 534 hours of service helped remove nine tons of garbage. They also sold rain barrels to homeowners to help save energy, conserve water, and reduce runoff. Through this development grant, the CCWA hopes that improvements can be made to expand their programs and projects. For more information about the CCWA visit their website at www.conewangocreek.org.
The FWP is a grant-making foundation that invests in efforts to protect natural streams, clean up pollution, and repair wildlife habitat. Their mission is to promote the protection, preservation, and restoration of the watersheds and water resources of Pennsylvania. The foundation has helped over 150 different groups, funded millions of dollars in projects, and restored hundreds of miles of polluted rivers and streams.
For this project, the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds partnered with the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management will design a management and governance support program. They offer consulting in various areas, such as: board development, business planning, financial management, etc.
