Calling all water justice-oriented community based organizations! Are you looking to understand and influence how and where State Revolving Funds (SRFs) are distributed in your state?

The SRF State Advocates Forum is seeking individuals from community-based organizations to participate in a 9-month (November 2024 – July 2025) national cohort to strategically engage in water infrastructure advocacy related to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. We are recruiting community-based organizations to collectively advocate for more equitable implementation of SRF programs across the country. We’ll cover the fundamentals of how SRFs work and generate advocacy strategies that focus on you/your organization’s priorities on topics ranging from public participation to lead service line removal to workforce development.

Apply via this SRF Advocacy Cohort interest form.

What Does Being in this Cohort Entail?

Community Based Organizations will participate in a funded cohort that will learn all about SRFs and develop concrete action plans to advance equitable water infrastructure investment in their respective state/territory. Over the course of nine months (November 2024-July 2025), participants in this cohorts will be trained in SRF advocacy; build collective understanding of how SRFs can be used to address existing gaps in their state’s water infrastructure; advocate for more equitable implementation of SRF programs; and lift up state-based water and climate justice priorities. These trainings will take place throughout 2024 and into 2025, and will be primarily conducted by River Network.

What’s the Time Commitment?

We anticipate that individuals participating in the cohort should budget 50 hours total over the 9 month time period. This includes (but is not limited to) time spent in:

• Six 90-minute Zoom session trainings on SRFs & water infrastructure advocacy from River Network (9 hours);
• Asynchronous (on your own time/pace) foundational education (through reading, videos, written reflection and discussion) (~20 hours)
• Three SRF State Advocates Forum Quarterly Calls (4.5 hours);
• Advocacy, Outreach, and Relationship Building with local, state, and potentially federal decision-makers; this will include 1-1 support developing action plans from River Network (~15 hours).

Who Should Apply?

Community-based organizations who are justice-oriented, interested in working with others across the country in advancing equitable water policy and/or SRF reform.

We aim to have up to 10 individuals in this cohort. If you are not selected, please note that an online, self-paced SRF Advocacy Training Series is available to all.

If you have any questions about the cohort or your eligibility, please reach out directly to Erin Kanzig (Drinking Water Program Director, River Network) via email: ekanzig@rivernetwork.org.

To apply, please fill out this SRF Advocacy Cohort interest form.

Is This Opportunity Funded?

Yes, this is a compensated project. Organizations will receive $10,000 to have a staff member or volunteer fully engage in this cohort and a signed Memorandum of Understanding will be required upon acceptance into the cohort.

APPLY BY: Monday, September 9.

We will make selections and confirm participation by Friday, October 6.

Learn more about the SRF State Advocates Forum at www.srfadvocatesforum.org.