Get involved

For Organizations

Become a Member of the Coalition

Our members and partners form the backbone of our work and have been key to our success. The strength of our Coalition draws from the many groups across the region dedicated to local, regional, and national water issues. Becoming a member of the Coalition provides your group access to the resources and partnerships built by the Coalition. The Coalition offers support to members in a variety of ways, including:

Access to Decision Makers

  • Connect local advocates and activists with federal policy decisionmakers

  • Advocate for funding federal programs to support communities in the Great Lakes

Community Building

  • Create opportunities for engagement and learning with other organizations in the Region

  • Give space for strengthening professional networks in areas of interest

  • Host annual Great Lakes Conference and advocacy Days

  • Assist with financial support for participation and travel in Coalition events

Outreach and Advocacy

  • Create and share resources for organizing around points of interest, including messaging guidance, action alerts, sign on letters

  • Provide platforms for sharing success stories and uplifting the work and amplifying the needs of Coalition members and frontline communities

Joining is easy! An authorized member of your organization should contact our field director, Celia Haven at HavenC@nwf.org to request an application to join. Our board approves new member applications quarterly. All members will be added to the Coalition’s email listserv, which is main form of communicating with our members. There is no membership fee associated with joining the Coalition.

For Individuals

Contact your Member of Congress

Let your Member of Congress know they should take action to protect the Great Lakes! Contact your senators and representative and tell them:

  • The Great Lakes are our most important source of fresh water, providing drinking water to 30 million people. We must continue our efforts to clean and restore them.

  • Although we have made progress the lakes still face serious threats.

  • We can’t afford to stop now. These projects to clean up our lakes will only get harder and more expensive to solve the longer we wait.