In spring 2020, an ad hoc advisory committee of staff, board, members and environmental leaders set out to examine such issues, get concrete feedback regarding Clearwater’s role in Hudson River environmentalism, clarify and update the organization’s vision for the 21st century, and lay out a strategic plan to achieve that vision and promote our evolution into a more sustainable organization. With help from the Hudson River Foundation and the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, the planning effort identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to be considered in working towards that outcome. The committee developed a set of critical questions to be answered during development of the plan and gathered input via a community survey, a carefully curated roster of interviews, retreats, and an organizational assessment tool. Data gathered was both quantitative and qualitative, including information on member demographics, entry points and ongoing participation.
