Stewardship Works 2008!

Year 2008
Leader Stewardship Centre for BC
Project type Engagement
FSWP funding source Living Rivers
Grant amount $43,500
Total project cost $302,000
Other project funders

Living Rivers
Ministry of Environment

ID number 08 EE LR 128

Location: Fraser River Basin, BC

Project Summary

Stewardship Works! is a multi-partnered core funding challenge grant program to support community-based stewardship groups in B.C. Proposed by the Stewardship Centre for BC and the Ministry of Environment, Stewardship Works! will help address the known core funding barrier that community-based stewardship groups currently experience. This program would allow these groups to improve how effectively and efficiently they deliver a wide range of conservation projects throughout the province.

The goals of the project are:
1. Quantify the benefits of stewardship group core funding
2. Provide core funding to stewardship groups
3. Encourage dialog and action among stakeholders

A three year pilot project is proposed to determine the most effective way of delivering a core funding program. The first year of the pilot project is almost complete, and the following major milestones have been met:
1. Conducted a successful workshop in May 2007 with 33 funders, stewards, and government representatives to discuss and provide feedback on the Stewardship Works! program design.
2. Developed a funding program model for testing by the pilot project
3. Embarked on a process of developing and implementing a developmental evaluation framework with an exceptional evaluation consultant
4. Assembled an Advisory Committee to guide the delivery of this project
5. Prior to the end of this fiscal year, we will have distributed core funding grants to a pilot project group of 9 stewardship organizations

This proposal is a request for funding the second year of this pilot project. There are two components of this phase of the pilot project:
1. Distribute the 2nd year of core funding grants to selected stewardship organizations
2. Complete an evaluation of the effectiveness of the first year of core funding grants.

Receipt of this grant would enable the SCBC to offer organizations in the Fraser Basin Region grants that would be equivalent to other areas of the province (funding provided by the Ministry of Environment). Currently organizations within the Fraser Basin region are receiving $2,500 per year, while other regions receive $5,000 per year.

Audience: This project is intended to assist the broad community-based stewardship community by developing an understanding among funding organizations about the importance of providing core funding support as a mechanism to increase capacity of stewardship organizations.

Need or Demand: The need for increasing the capacity of stewardship organizations in BC is well documented, and the importance of core funding is consistently emphasized. This project is responding to this need. We also understand that a more comprehensive approach to building capacity is necessary, and have also applied for funding to develop a business plan to investigate other mechanisms for increasing capacity.


See also:

Stewardship Centre for BC