BY Kerry Hastings, Program Coordinator, TFN’s Urban Water Funders

This April, funders and leaders from across the water sector gathered in Philadelphia for a meeting of the Water Table, a forum for funders to learn together, coordinate resources, and take action on water housed at the Water Foundation, a TFN member organization.

The Water Table is a key partner of TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group. We’re in a pivotal moment for those of us dedicated to addressing both upstream and downstream water issues, and the gathering reaffirmed just how deeply interconnected our conversations around conservation, clean water, equity, and infrastructure are. Over the past year, we’ve been working to bridge the divide between traditional “conservation” funders and urban water funders, and it’s clear that we have much more in common than we often realize.

One of the most striking moments came from a speaker who shared reflections from her time in the federal government. She recounted a meeting where philanthropy CEOs were invited to discuss water priorities with the Biden administration. Her key takeaway: There was no clear, coherent ask from the water sector.

This lack of alignment left many in the previous administration feeling unsure of what water advocates actually wanted. The speaker noted that while we are currently playing defense and pausing certain priorities, we also have an opportunity to step back as a sector and build a unified water agenda — one that a robust, multi-stakeholder coalition can co-create and support. There is tremendous opportunity for philanthropy to step into this moment and provide the leadership and resources needed to weave together diverse players in the water space.

Philadelphia water department staff and PowerCorpsPHL grads joined to share about their work maintaining the city’s green infrastructure.

For philanthropy, the essential question is: How can we use our unique power to advance a shared water agenda?

In addition to supporting the development of networks and shared priorities, there is also the opportunity to invest in water communications and uplift water as a “light in the darkness” for climate action.

While the water sector is being heavily impacted by the changing priorities and paused federal funding, there is also opportunity for real movement and action. Heather Taylor Miesle, Senior Vice President at American Rivers shared that survey after survey show that water is a priority for people — even more so than climate or clean air. In the fall of 2024, she reported, a significant number of water-related ballot measures passed. We’re continuing to see progress on water access in traditionally conservative places, including rural areas, showing that we can keep pushing forward even amid tremendous challenges.

So what messages work? Andy Kricun of Moonshot Missions, who previously led the Camden, N.J., water department, emphasized the importance of telling stories that evoke visceral reactions and drive home the need for safe, affordable water for everyone.

For instance, he would describe the devastating impact of flooding when raw sewage filled a family’s basement, or how kids were sent to foster care simply because a family couldn’t afford water bills.

“People should be angry,” he said.

Beyond messaging, we need people who are ready to act and prioritize water.

Hahrie Han, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University who studies movement-building, shared a powerful distinction between “mobilizing” and “organizing.” Mobilizing, she explained, is about getting people to do a thing — usually through a simple, top-down ask. Organizing, on the other hand, is about helping people develop an internal compass, navigate uncertainty, take action when needed and enact the values we want to see in the world.

“Don’t outsource your outrage to someone else,” Han said.

This powerful invitation is a reminder to philanthropy to fund to critical work of grassroots organizing.

 

 The Philadelphia event included a tour of the Fairmount Water Works.

One final reflection: The best way to mitigate risks down the line is to build partnerships now. Across all speakers, this message rang loud and clear. For the water sector, that means working beyond our traditional silos to create durable, cross-sector partnerships — especially with fields like public health, economic justice, and democracy.

Funders have a critical role to play in this moment. The roles lifted up during our discussions included:

  • Fund leaders and convening efforts to build a culture of collaboration across the sector, while mapping out the next steps for collective action.
  • Tell local stories with local people — make them both visual and visceral.
  • Support networks for the systematic sharing of information across the field.
  • Help build national narratives that unite us around a collective belief that enough is enough.
  • Fund grassroots work — change happens in place, and people are empowered through personal connections

At the conclusion of the Water Table meeting, folks met from the Urban Water Initiative, a growing collaboration between TFN’s Urban Water Funders and Water Table. Funders from both groups have been participating in co-facilitated meetings and we are actively exploring coordinated outreach strategies to build new partnerships and drive resources to our sector. We are more committed than ever to ensuring that water becomes a central focus in the broader conversations shaping the future.

Whether your focused on public health, economic justice or democracy, there is a place for every funder to see how water fits into their goals and issues. Now is the time to act. Let’s work together to make water a common cause and drive real, lasting change. If you’re interested in connecting with TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group, please reach out to me, Kerry Hastings, at kerry@fundersnetwork.org.

About the Author

Kerry Hastings is the Program Coordinator for TFN’s Urban Water Funders working group. 

 

 

 

 

Featured image: (From left) Nicole Cordan of Hewlett Foundation, Mami Hara of US Water Alliance and Andy Kricun of Moonshot Missions share their thoughts on a panel about scaling work. All photos courtesy of Kerry Hastings.