The River Alliance of Wisconsin created the Dale Druckrey Action Fund to continue Dale Druckrey's conservation legacy. Dale cared deeply about the rivers and lands of Wisconsin, and tirelessly engaged with local and state decision makers to promote protection of these resources.  He watched, he participated, he cared and he donated. He was a model conservation citizen. Dale passed away in 2010. The Dale Druckrey Action Fund includes the Dale Druckrey Advocacy Grant Program to help watershed groups carry on his work. 

The purpose of the Dale Druckrey Advocacy Grant Program is to build strong community conservation advocates. Local watershed groups can use the grant funds to establish or grow an existing local, regional or state-wide water-related advocacy effort.  

Examples of types of activities that this grant will fund:

The River Alliance of Wisconsin will consider grant applications that help river and watershed organizations increase their ability to be long-term advocates on local and statewide water issues. 

"Advocacy," by our definition, means working to affect public policy decisions.  That can happen by promoting your organization's cause through educating the public and policymakers, organizing your supporters, and lobbying government staff and elected officials to influence their decisions. 

It can also include taking legal action to promote a cause.  

For the purposes of this Grant Program, funded projects must include direct engagement with a decision maker.  Funded projects need to have a clear goal and measurable outcome(s); i.e. legislator was personally engaged with the issue in a way they weren't before.

Specifically, the Dale Druckrey Advocacy Grant Program will fund activities such as:  

• In-district meetings with legislators (town halls)
•  Issue campaigns (public communications on an issue)
• Fun but educational meetings with elected officials (Example: Pontoons & Politics)
• Campaign planning and training
• Travel to Conservation Lobby Day

Application deadlines and submission information:

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the annual allotment of funds is distributed. The amount of funds available each year will vary. Contact River Alliance staff to find out if funds are available prior to submitting your application.

We will do our best to review your proposal and respond to you within 30 days of your submission. If your proposal is time sensitive because of an emerging issue, please indicate that in your application.

Proposals must be prepared based on the questions and format contained in the Dale Druckrey Advocacy Grant Program Form. The form is only available by contacting River Alliance of Wisconsin staff.

Your application will be stronger if you read two of the tools in our Watershed Advocate Toolkit, Influencing Decision that Affect Your Environment and Communicating Environmentally: Changing Minds, Building Momentum and our issue of the TRIB about lobbying.

Funding amount:

The River Alliance of Wisconsin's Dale Druckrey Advocacy Grant Program provides grants up to $500.

Please go to the River Alliance website for the full grant details.