Members of the Land and Water Partnership

The Land and Water Partnership’s projects enhance collaboration and learning among grassroots conservation organizations. Each project is led by a committee of individuals and groups who dedicate time and resources to these initiatives.

The Land and Water Conservation Summit:
An annual conference providing information, tools and networking to Rhode Island’s conservation organizations. Led by:

• The Rhode Island Land Trust Council
• Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
• Rhode Island Association of Conservation Commissions

The Infrastructure Collaborative:
In 2005, the Land and Water Partnership established a learning group of watershed organizations and land trusts to explore whether small grassroots conservation organizations could develop shared back office services. The group called itself the Infrastructure Collaborative and worked together for six years on donor/members and volunteer management. The collaborative was led by:

• The Rhode Island Land Trust Council
• Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
• Barrington Land Conservation Trust
• Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
• Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association
  

The Infrastructure Collaborative has benefited from the input of past member organizations:

• Association of Fundraising Professionals (RI Chapter)
• Salt Ponds Coalition
• The Westerly Land Trust
  

This report: Sharing Back Office at Small Nonprofits: A Case Study of Conservation Organizations in Rhode Island summarizes the group's work and findings.