CORPORATE GIVING

Corporate Membership

Become a Corporate Champion of CRWA’s Work

1. Become a CRWA Corporate Leadership Member
2. Underwrite a CRWA scientific project
3. Sponsor a CRWA public event
4. Market CRWA’s work with products, print materials or events.
5. Sponsor a water quality flag on the river (more information coming soon)

1. Become a CRWA Corporate Leadership Member
Please consider becoming a Corporate Member of the Charles River Watershed Association with an annual gift of $10,000.

Corporate Member Benefits:
            Logo and listing in CRWA Website and Annual Report
            Special seating preferences at CRWA Events
            Invitations to exclusive events for Corporate Members

When one of the most conspicuous effects of climate change will be on water resources, it is a good business decision to support the work of CRWA. Our team of hydrologists, scientists, environmental engineers, urban restoration specialists/city planners and environmental lawyers are tackling problems of flooding, poor water quality, sedimentation and degraded aquatic ecosystems.  All of us are served by healthy urban ecosystems. 

 2. Underwrite a CRWA scientific project
Here are some of the many projects CRWA is currently working on:

Eliminating Illegal Sewage Discharges to the River
Together with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Conservation Law Foundation, CRWA science proved instrumental in eliminating daily discharges of raw sewage to the Charles, and in providing the basis and impetus for the best combined sewer overflow elimination program in the nation.  “In a landmark settlement aimed at completing the transformation of the Charles River from one of the nation’s dirtiest urban rivers to one of the cleanest, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has agreed to dramatically curtail the amount of sewage and storm water that pours into the waterway each year.”  (Boston Globe, March 16, 2006). Our efforts to find and eliminate discharges of pollution to the river continue to bring significant improvements in water quality. With a much cleaner river, the push to renew the parklands lining the river has taken on new life. 

Protecting River Flow
River flow continues to shrink as competing water demand for residential, commercial and industrial uses expands everyday.   A high percentage of the water withdrawn for human uses is lost to the river, sent to the Deer Island treatment plant or evaporated from thirsty lawns. Especially in the summer, the resulting low river flow concentrates pollutants and contributes to increased river temperatures, which contribute to summertime algae blooms and toxic cyanobacteria blooms in the river.  In response, CRWA successfully convinced the state to begin writing conservation-based public well withdrawal permits.  The new permits will protect existing stream flow, buying us time to resolve other more difficult issues over time. 

Promoting Water-Sensitive Urban Development and Redevelopment
Two years ago, CRWA entered discussions with Harvard over building and site design for their new campus in Allston.  CRWA’s work with Harvard has led to significant improvements in campus planning and design, and serves as a template for development and redevelopment throughout the city.  CRWA is working with Harvard to reconnect rainwater to groundwater, and recharge the river with clean water. With innovative engineering, this can be accomplished while still allowing for  a dense campus development.  CRWA’s approach also creates green open space, connecting the new campus and the Allston community to the river, and is winning strong support with neighborhood groups and the city.  Since beginning this process, Harvard has redrawn their master plan to include more water-friendly landscaping and natural water features, and is considering “daylighting” (i.e. restoring to the surface) a stream buried in a culvert for a century.  Using this same approach, CRWA is working hard at “green” development in the Longwood Medical Area, East Cambridge, Charlestown, and Somerville, Waltham, Blackstone and Dorchester.

Addressing Problems Caused by Stormwater Runoff
CRWA science and environmental planning staff leads the nation among nonprofits working to restore rivers.  Our expertise on the impacts of the built environment on rainwater, groundwater, and rivers and streams is changing state and federal water regulation, has led to the cleaning of the Charles, and will lead to a restored river and a more vibrant Boston.   

This past year we made exceptional progress in developing and implementing water policies that protect water resources and provide for environmentally-sensitive growth.  The strategies we have created and continue to refine are at the cutting edge of restoring our environment in even the most densely urban areas. 
Please help CRWA continue to forge ahead by making a generous donation with your membership support.  You are key to keeping CRWA’s environmental stewardship efforts moving forward. 

3. Sponsor a CRWA public event - click here for more information

4. Market CRWA’s work with products, print materials or events

Building 19
In 2006 CRWA awarded Building 19 “Creative Corporate Philanthropy Award” for their Charles River Spring Water. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of their perfectly safe spring water benefits the Charles River Watershed Association.  This campaign has generated over $40,000 for CRWA, while customers at Building 19 are enjoying 16.9 oz bottled water for only 19 cents.

Whole Foods Markets
From 2004 until 2007, Whole Foods Markets held a shoppers’ day at stores in the Charles River Watershed.  CRWA benefited from a percent of the revenue from the shopper’s day and each store learned more about protecting water from representatives from CRWA. 

Aveda
Aveda Northeastern Region selected CRWA as their recipient for their corporate campaign to protect water resources during their 2007 Earth Month Campaign.  Each salon in the region created events to raise money.  Several salons held service days where all the proceeds for the day went to CRWA.  One salon held an evening fashion show at a local restaurant.  The combined efforts raised over $40,000 for CRWA.  Patrons learned more about water resources from CRWA.

5. Sponsor a water quality flag on the river (more information coming soon!)

For more information about corporate donations to Charles River Watershed Association, contact Peggy Sunshine, Director of Development, at 781-788-0007 x235 or