Spring Project Grantees
Freshwater Future is excited to announce the 2025 Spring Project Grantees! Congratulations to the 17 grantees from all corners of the Great Lakes Basin. These grassroots organizations will use the funds to support their water advocacy work in the Great Lakes region. We look forward to seeing all of the great work and positive impact on local water issues that protect our drinking water from source to tap. Visit our Grant Program site to learn more about Spring and Fall Project Grants, Special Opportunity Grants, and Coaching and Consulting.
- Blue Fish Canada (Ontario)
- Bridges//Puentes Justice Collective of the Southeast (Illinois)
- Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, Inc. (New York)
- Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior (Michigan)
- Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE) (Wisconsin)
- Environment North (Ontario)
- Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands, Inc. (Wisconsin)
- Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, Inc. (GARD) (Indiana)
- Great Lakes Water Protector Network (Michigan)
- Lake Erie Waterkeeper (Ohio)
- Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition (Michigan)
- Native American Educational Technologies, Inc. (Wisconsin)
- Northwatch (Ontario)
- Save Our Water (SOH2O) (Wisconsin)
- Talking Rivers, Inc. (New York)
- WaterLegacy (Minnesota)
- Williams County Alliance (Ohio)
Thank you to the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation for continued support for the Great Lakes Network (GLN)
“Advancing water policy in the Great Lakes region requires collaboration across jurisdictional borders and creative problem solving. The Great Lakes Network connects organizations and fosters partnerships to tackle complex issues across borders. Thanks to the commitment from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, the Great Lakes Network will continue to improve policies that reduce impacts from toxins, road salt, resource extraction, phosphorus pollution, and so much more,” shared Jill Ryan, Executive Director, Freshwater Future. Interested in learning more about the Great Lakes Network–visit https://www.greatlakesnetwork.
Upcoming Deadline: No Michigan Taxpayer Dollars for the Copperwood Mine
Time is running out to send a message to Michigan lawmakers to deny funds for a copper sulfide mine in the Upper Peninsula. As budget negotiations continue against a July 1st deadline, we have an opportunity to stop two identical grants in Michigan’s state budget that would open the door to pollution and damage from mining next to and beneath Porcupine Mountains State Park. This mine, expected to have an 11-year lifespan, is located just upstream from Lake Superior and would produce massive amounts of toxic waste in a pristine wilderness area. Send a quick message to the Michigan Legislative Appropriations Committees explaining why the Copperwood Mine project doesn’t deserve our tax dollars.
Last Chance: Tell Your Senators to Protect Nonprofits in the Budget & Tax Bill
This weekend, the U.S. Senate may be voting on the new budget and tax bill, and constituents like you have the power to influence their positions and votes. Your voice is needed now to help protect nonprofit organizations. Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to contact your two U.S. Senators and ask each of them to:
- Reject any limits on charitable donations made by individuals and corporations
- Preserve and strengthen charitable tax incentives
Learn more here about why incentivizing donations are critical not just for nonprofit organizations to succeed, but for all the individuals and communities they serve. Remember to call as soon as possible – Senate Majority Leader Thune hopes to bring it to a vote this weekend.
