Now Hiring: Fundraising Sustainability Consultant

by | Dec 9, 2025 | Uncategorized

Introduction

The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) is seeking proposals from qualified Financial Sustainability Consultants to help expand and strengthen the Coalition’s fundraising program. The consultant will support GWC’s long-term financial sustainability by identifying new funding opportunities, developing funder relationships, preparing letters of inquiry (LOIs) and grant proposals, and exploring options for establishing a future endowment or reserve fund.

Background

The Georgia Water Coalition is an alliance of more than 260 organizations committed to protecting and ensuring clean water for Georgia’s people, wildlife, and environment. Founded in 2002, GWC unites environmental, civic, and community groups across the state to advocate for responsible water management, conservation, and equitable policy.

GWC has historically relied on foundation grants, member support, and partner contributions. As the Coalition looks to its next chapter, it aims to diversify funding sources, cultivate new philanthropic partnerships, and lay the groundwork for a sustainable funding model that supports long-term advocacy and programmatic work.

Scope of Work

The consultant will work closely with GWC’s Director of Operations and Fundraising Committee members to:

  • Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Generation
    • Develop a plan to secure a minimum of $80,000 in new revenue during the contract period. 
    • Develop a long-term strategy to diversify GWC’s funding stream. 
    • Identify and research potential foundation, corporate, and major donor prospects aligned with GWC’s mission. All prospects must be new to GWC and are not currently being solicited by or giving to our fiscal agent or members of the Leadership Team.
    • Provide monthly updates to the GWC Leadership Team including details on pending proposals, secured funding, as well as any upcoming deadlines.
  • Proposal & LOI Development
    • Prepare and submit a minimum of 10 letters of inquiry (LOIs), concept notes, and brief proposals on behalf of GWC.
    • Assist with preparation and submission of full proposals based on invitations or identified opportunities.
    • Create a timeline for GWC Leadership with a new grant reports schedule.
  • Donor Engagement 
    • Make strategic introductions or facilitate connections with relevant program officers, donors, or philanthropic networks.
    • Advise on stewardship and cultivation approaches for new and existing funders.
  • Endowment/Reserve Fund Exploration
    • Assess feasibility and best practices for establishing an endowment or reserve fund to support GWC’s long-term financial health.
    • Provide recommendations on structure, policies, and potential seed funders or mechanisms.

Deliverables

The consultant shall provide the following deliverables by the end of the contract period:

  • Fundraising Outcomes
    • A minimum of $80,000 in new revenue, secured or with contracts pending, generated through foundations, corporations, or other major donors.
    • Submission of Letters of Inquiries (LOIs) to a minimum of 10 new funders.
    • Submission of full grant proposals to new funders, based on invitations from LOIs or other opportunities.
    • Development of a 3-year founding strategy to diversify GWCs funding streams.
  • Endowment/Reserve Fund Exploration
    • Comprehensive report on feasibility for endowment/reserve fundraising including recommendations on target donors, timeline, and fundraising approach. 
  • Final Report Presentation
    • Comprehensive presentation to Leadership Team summarizing outcomes and status of the above deliverables.

Consultant Qualifications

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or philanthropic advising.
  • Demonstrated success securing grants or major gifts from foundations and/or individual donors.
  • Knowledge of foundations and funders outside of Georgia.
  • Strong writing skills, particularly in crafting concise and persuasive LOIs and proposals.
  • Experience working with environmental or conservation organizations preferred.
  • Familiarity with coalition-based or networked organizations is a plus.
  • Understanding of Georgia’s environmental landscape and regional philanthropic community.

Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants should submit:

  1. Cover Letter summarizing qualifications and interest in working with the GWC.
  2. Proposed Approach and Work Plan, including how you would address each element of the scope of work.
  3. Timeline for deliverables over a 12-month engagement period.
  4. Budget and Fee Structure (hourly or project-based).
  5. Qualifications and Experience (resume or firm background).
  6. References from at least two clients for whom you have provided similar services.

Timeline

  • Issue Date: Dec. 9, 2025
  • Proposals Accepted on Rolling Basis
  • Anticipated Start Date: January 2026
  • Project Duration: 12 months

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

  • Relevant fundraising and philanthropic experience.
  • Demonstrated understanding of GWC’s mission and work.
  • Quality and feasibility of the proposed approach.
  • Cost-effectiveness and clarity of budget.
  • References and previous results.

Submission Instructions

Please submit your proposal as a single PDF to:

Emma Alligood, GWC Director of Operations
Email: emma@gwf.org
Subject line: “RFP – Financial Sustainability Consultant Proposal”

Questions may be directed to Emma Alligood at emma@gwf.org.

 

A copy of the RFP as a PDF can be downloaded here.

Volunteers Needed: Join Our Okefenokee Social Media Campaign

by | Dec 2, 2025 | Issues, Uncategorized

As part of our efforts to promote legislation to protect the Okefenokee Swamp, the Georgia Water Coalition is planning a social media campaign that we’ll launch during the 2026 Legislative Session.

The campaign is called “40 Days For The Okefenokee” or, in hashtag terms, #40days4oke. Here’s the premise: Every day that the legislature is in session (40 days total), we want to send a letter to the governor and other legislative leaders asking them to pass legislation to protect the swamp. We are recruiting volunteers to write these letters, and more than that, to record themselves reading their letters out loud so we can post the videos on social media.

The caption under each video will say something like “We encourage Gov. Kemp and his allies in the legislature to take action to protect the Okefenokee, so we’re sending him a letter every day. This is day X of #40days4oke.”

If you’re interested in participating, here are some guidelines.

 

GUIDELINES:
  1. Write out what you want to say first! Why is protecting the Okefenokee is important to you and why are you getting involved in this fight? It could be because you want to protect the endangered and threatened species that call the Swamp home, because you’re worried about climate change and want to preserve one of the most impactful carbon sinks in Georgia, because you’ve spent time at the Swamp and want to make sure future generations get to experience it. Speak from the heart!
  1. If you want any help at all in writing your message, let us know! We can give you statistics and sources, and we’re also happy to help you brainstorm ideas! At some point, please say your name and where you are from (we don’t need an address, just something like “I’m John, and I live in Blue Ridge, Georgia.”). Your letter should be 150-300 words, otherwise your video will be too long. The video should be about 1-3 minutes.
  1. Please: No profanity or name calling. It’s ok to take “a tone” in your letter, as my mother would say, but we want to be civil. And remember, you’ll be recording yourself reading your letter. If you’d be uncomfortable saying it to the governor’s face, probably best to leave it out.
  1. No need to reference the campaign or the 40 days for Okefenokee stuff. Just introduce yourself and talk about why the Okefenokee is important. But you should start your letter (and your video) with “Dear Governor Kemp” then proceed with your letter.
  1. Once your letter is written, if you want, you can send it our way and we’ll give you some feedback before you record yourself. We can help make sure all our facts are correct and the message is clear. We’ll also use the text of your letter to caption the video and include it in the post itself.
  1. Find a quiet and well-lit spot. Natural light works great, so try standing near a window or filming outside. Avoid noisy backgrounds so your voice comes through clearly.
  1. When recording yourself, hold your phone in vertical/portrait mode. This format works better for social media. Make sure your camera is as steady as possible. Hold it yourself at arm’s length if you have a steady hand, prop it up on a table or something similar, or ask someone to hold it for you.
  1. Once the video is done, send it to Emma Alligood at Georgia Wildlife Federation at emma@gwf.org or if the video file is too big, you can text it to her at (706) 474-5730 and we’ll do the rest! We’ll get the post ready to go and let you know what day your letter/video will be posted.

 

GWC’S PLATFORM TO PROTECT THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP:

Here are some options that the Georgia Water Coalition views as progress in protecting the Okefenokee Swamp and Trail Ridge. Take these into account when creating the script for your video.

  1. Pass HB 561 – The Okefenokee Protection Act
    This bill would prohibit surface mining on Trail Ridge, the eastern rim of the Okefenokee Swamp. Experts say that Trail Ridge plays a critical role in the flow of water out of the swamp, and small changes there can have outsized impacts.     
  2. Pass HB 644 – “Bad Actor” legislation
    This bill makes it easier for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to deny permits to applicants who have a history of violating environmental laws or regulations, including violations in other states.     
  3. Use state budget surplus or GOSA funds to purchase land near the Okefenokee for permanent conservation
    The “Georgia Outdoors Stewardship Act,” or GOSA, uses tax revenue from the sale of outdoor equipment to fund the protection and conservation of land in our state. In 2025, more than $24 million in grants were given to conservation projects through the GOSA fund.

 

Thanks for your help with this campaign!