"Collaborating for Clean Water: Building Stronger Proposals Together"

This interactive session will guide participants through a series of case studies, proposal simulations, and collaborative exercises that illustrate how Vermont’s agricultural communities, service providers, and partners can work together to design strong, competitive projects for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF). By using real-world LISFF examples and engaging activities (e.g., mock proposal scoring, role-playing diverse stakeholder perspectives, “speed dating” networking) to spark potential partnerships, the session will build practical skills that apply not only to LISFF but also to a wide range of grant opportunities at NFWF and beyond. Participants will leave with strategies for strengthening collaborations; insights into the anatomy of successful proposals; and firsthand experience in how equitable, partnership-driven approaches can advance both clean water goals and the long-term resilience of Vermont’s food system.