This is the time of year when we take stock of progress and look ahead at obstacles and opportunities that impact our ability to meet our mission of scaling the equitable implementation of GSI across North America. Board President, Claire Maulhardt, and I gave a presentation on this topic during Learning and Networking week. Because our deliberations will likely result in some changes to our current Strategic Plan, I wanted to let you know about them and your opportunities to weigh in before the Board’s decision meeting on December 4. Here are the highlights:
1. Growth & Growing Pains
Our persistent efforts to grow the network and embrace new sectors have paid off. As shown in the graphic below, membership has grown by 93% since 2023, leading to a sectoral make-up that is increasingly diverse.
This positive change in membership comes with some growing pains that we will need to navigate. Many of those who participated in a recent review of challenges to meeting our mission cited a need to take a second look at our overall value proposition and programming offerings in light of our growth and sectoral diversity. Among the proposed responses is a survey to gauge where members stand on these issues.
2. Revenue Mix & Sponsorship
Increased revenue from membership dues has helped to balance a predicted decline in foundation philanthropy and led to a healthier revenue mix, as shown below, even if overall revenue is down somewhat from what it was in prior years.
As shown in the graphic below, foundation support of environmental causes remains a small piece of the philanthropic pie with little change predicted for future years.
Corporate giving has seen an uptick and there has been record growth in the stormwater management systems sector. Together, these considerations argue for developing a more robust sponsorship program that taps this growth.
3. Achieving Independent Nonprofit Status
A final proposed change of note has to do with pursuing nonprofit status, something not in the strategic plan when it was approved a year ago. As shown in this timeline, we’ve made substantial progress in this pursuit, having successfully formed a Maryland nonstock corporation, formed an active Board of Directors, and filed an application for tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service in the current year. The board is proposing a new priority to continue this effort, securing the necessary support services to spin out from our fiscal sponsor once our IRS application is approved.
4. The Upshot
These proposed changes will be discussed with the Primary Member Council at its December 1 meeting. If you have questions or concerns about them, please contact the representative from your organization who serves in that role in advance of the meeting. You can also reach out to me at barbara@giexchange.org. The Board of Directors will approve changes to the Strategic Plan and tie the 2026 budget to the plan at its December 4 meeting.
