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nature: progress reports

CitySprouts (Cat’06 – [link]) was listed only last year, but when that apparently doubled the number of their individual donors, they were emboldened to propose, and they received the go-ahead, to expand their school garden services throughout the entire Cambridge school district, from six to 12 schools. Now there will be gardens sprouting throughout the city.

WalkBoston (Cat’99,’06 - [link]) since their listing last year has launched New England’s first “Safe Routes to Schools” (SRS) program—a great idea in which they draw maps for the safest walking routes children may take to every public school; the school then promotes the maps as guides for their students. At a stroke, this project has extended WB’s dedication to walking, to children and schools throughout Boston. Moreover, “Our listing in the latest Catalogue led to several new donors. As you suggested, we have followed up with them and hope this will be the beginning of long and strong relationships.”

From the first Catalogue, the Toxics Action Center (Cat’97 - [link]) reports that they have now expanded their purview from Massachusetts to New England. Their staff has doubled, their budget has quadrupled, and they are still sharing office space with other charities to keep their overhead low. From a leaking landfill in Hardwick, MA, to aerial pesticide spraying in Maine, TAC continues to be a leader in toxics use reduction. They are a good example of philanthropy helping people help themselves, empowering them with skills and strategies to prevent toxic pollution. “Our listing in the Catalogue has provided a credibility and name recognition we did not have ten years ago. In our major donors program (begun in 2000) we found that thoughtful, engaged donors want to know that TAC has been listed in the Catalogue before making a significant gift. Since we derive a quarter of our current budget from our major donors, our listing has been extremely helpful in growing our organization over the past ten years.”

In southeastern Massachusetts, the Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies (Cat’98 - [link]) has grown enormously, effectively combining research and public education to protect local species and resources. Their “Feathery Focus” (teaching 3rd graders about science through birds) and “Turn the Tide Education Program” (teaching fifth graders about coastal research) curricula were piloted in the Dartmouth public school system three years ago and are now written into the curricula of the Dartmouth and Westport public schools, as well as in 93 classes in Fall River and Fairhaven school systems. They now teach 13,000 children from Boston to Cape Cod.

Through science, advocacy, long-term planning and cutting-edge management practices, the Charles River Watershed Association (Cat’98 - [link]) has transformed the Charles from a sewage and garbage dump into “the people’s river” and one of our most enjoyed and cherished urban environmental resources. CRWA has participated in some of the city’s most significant urban projects, including the Big Dig and Harvard’s expansion into Allston, and played a significant role in creating the Department of Conservation and Recreation, superseding the Metropolitan District Commission. With the restoration of the Charles still its top priority, CRWA, together with various government agencies, recently released 1.5 million migratory fish into the watershed’s lakes.

When we first listed the Whale Center of New England (Cat’00 - [link]) they were working to help secure National Marine Sanctuary status for Stellwagen Bank, at the eastern edge of Massachusetts Bay, with 17 species of marine mammals. Today Stellwagen Bank is one of 13 sites managed federally for both species protection and commercial use. The Whale Center continues to be a shining example of how conservation and commerce can work together for everyone’s benefit, including the whales. They received several thousand dollars in donations from their initial Catalogue listing, and the publicity brought increased whalewatching business and professional credibility.

Sometimes philanthropy works in strange ways. MassRecycle (Cat’02 - [link]) in 2006 advertised its Catalogue listing on its website. When a Waltham resident passed away, his daughter asked that donations be made to them in his name because he had been an avid recycler and environmentalist. As it happened, our mechanism for e-donations helped his family and friends donate online, and MassRecycle received over $1000 “without even trying”. They have progressed significantly aside from that—with $41,000 start-up money and a matching grant from the Department of Environmental Projection, MR is launching a statewide campaign to increase paper recycling. Their goal is to recover at least half of the 2 million tons of recyclable paper currently being thrown away. You will hear about it.