With federal and traditional funding sources shifting rapidly, many of us are finding ourselves in unfamiliar, unstable territory. How do we build a sustainable future when the old funding models are no longer reliable? This session will dig into strategies for cultivating individual donors, writing and managing grants, building foundation relationships, and thinking strategically about where your next dollars can come from. You'll leave with real-world examples, templates for your own fundraising strategy, and tips you can immediately put into action—whether you’re an all-volunteer organization or part of a larger team. Change can be tough, but it can also spark new ideas, new partnerships, and new opportunities.
Executive Director, Kentucky Association for Environmental Education
Ashley Hoffman has served as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education since 2010. She holds a B.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida and a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University... Read More →
Thursday May 8, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT Ballroom G
Rhonda Lewis has dedicated her entire career to educating and advancing individuals in an effort to drive success to rural communities in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Rhonda has 25 years of experience working as an educator in elementary, middle, and high schools. Currently... Read More →
Thursday May 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am CDT Ballroom G
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program (MSCCP) is bringing hands-on experiences to Coastal Mississippi classrooms! MSCCP is a non-profit educational program that promotes the conservation of the local marine environment by facilitating active stewardship within coastal Mississippi. The MSCCP was formed with the mission of preventing and removing litter from the coastal environment through education, outreach, research, and cleanup events.
MSCCP hosts and facilitates cleanups throughout the year, bringing together volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to help keep Mississippi beaches clean and beautiful. Our volunteers make a huge difference in our understanding of the types and quantities of litter found locally, but reducing litter and marine debris starts long before a beach cleanup. While cleanups are important to collect data and possible sources of debris, the cycle will never end if we do not stop it at its source. A critical step toward this end is education.
MSCCP visits classrooms in K-12 schools as well as community organizations to teach students about the hazards associated with marine debris and ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce in our daily lives. MSCCP engages students in learning through hands-on activities, including microplastic filtration and observation, the "Fishing with Trash" game, and opportunities to participate in cleanups on or off campus. All presentation materials and activities are aligned to Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards.
This session relates to the conference strand “Bringing EE to the Classroom” as it incorporates standards, supports teachers with activity guides, and is nature-based. It also opens pathways to partnering with school districts for long-term, sustainable programming through alignment with state standards.
Participants can expect to learn the details of each activity as well as receive activity guides, if desired. Participants will also take part in playing the "Fishing with Trash" game.
NEED offers a vast number of activities that combine our desire to have energy and the impact it has on the environment. We will work through activities and explore the NEED website.
