Building Capacity
The NET is an innovative strategy for developing a sustainable
environmental movement in Canada. While there is funding available
from government sources, public and private foundations as well
as corporations to finance environmental initiatives, that funding
is almost exclusively project-based. Therefore, under this traditional
format, underlying organizational weaknesses are not addressed.
The NET's concept of targeting the core capacity and operational
level for funding aims to restore environmental organizations'
capacity for strategic planning and maintaining long-term effective
communication and public education programs.
Working Locally and Nationally
Much of the funding available is regional, which cannot meet Canada's
national environmental needs and objectives. Environmental issues
transcend human-made political boundaries, requiring efforts at
all levels. The NET is unique in working with groups locally,
regionally and nationally.
Catalyzing Partnerships and Collaboration
The NET also models an unusual organizational structure, one that
puts primacy on relationships, partnerships and committed joint
actions. The NET is committed to remaining a virtual-based organization,
and will not grow into a national organization with its own central
hard infrastructure. Rather, it reaches into communities through
existing networks and innovative partnerships - both with traditional
and non-traditional allies of the environment, working through
others, while retaining a small central core. This unique administrative
structure allows the NET to minimize its administrative costs,
and, as an operating principle, we commit to taking no more than
10% of monies generated for administration.
Creating Tools for Action
The NET has already developed one educational and awareness tool,
the Climate Change EcoSavers Coupon Book.
The Coupon Book educates the public around issues of climate change,
raises awareness about how consumer behaviour impacts on climate
change, provides a fundraising tool for both the NET and community
NGOs, and promotes the use of environmentally-friendly products.
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