1. Reconnecting to Our
Waterways (ROW)
A Collective Impact Model for Watershed Challenges

2. The Challenges
• Five Natural Waterways
• One Man-Made Canal
• 80% of City
• Turned Backs (Literally)
• 10 Organizations

3. Multi-Element
Solution
• Aesthetics
• Connectivity
• Ecology
• Economics
• Education
• Health & Well-Being

4. Collective Impact
Model
• Common Agenda
• Shared Measurement
• Mutually Reinforcing Activities
• Continuous Communication
• Backbone Support

5. Common Agenda
• Common Understanding of the Problem
• Shared Vision for Change

6. Shared Measurement
• Collecting Data and Measuring Results
• Focus on Performance Management
• Shared Accountability

7. Mutually Reinforcing
Activities
• Differentiated Approaches
• Coordination Through Joint Plan of
Action

8. Continuous
Communication
• Consistent and Open Communication
• Focus on Building Trust

9. Backbone Support
• Separate Organization(s) with Staff
• Resources and Skills to Convene and
Coordinate Participating Organizations

10. ROW Today
• 150 + Organizations
• 3 Full-Time Staff Members
• Leveraged Support Exceeding $9 Million
• Major Foundation Support – Locally and
Nationally
• Formation of Partners for White River – 3
Year Financial Support from the Nina
Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust in Excess
of $4.9 Million

11. Success Story #1 • Barth Avenue Bridge Project

12. Success Story #2 • Pogue’s Run Rest Stops

13. Success Story #3 • Rediscovering the Central Canal

14. Success Story #4 • Indy Urban Bioblitz

15. Success Story #5 • Destination Fall Creek Takes Root

16. Success Story #6 • Wellness on the White River

17. Success Story #7 • Recreation Along Our Waterways

18. Success Story #8 • Art Along Our Waterways

19. Partner Organizations
Arts Council of Indianapolis
Bates-Hendrick Neighborhood Association
Bicycle Garage Indy
Big Car Collaborative
Bike Indianapolis (formerly IndyCog)
BioCrossroads
Bohlsen Group
Broad Ripple Village Association
Butler University Center for Urban Ecology
Central Indiana Community Foundation
Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI)
Central Indiana Land Trust/Greening the
Crossroads
Central Indiana Watershed Foundation
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Citizens Energy Group
City of Indianapolis, Department of Parks and
Recreation
City of Indianapolis, Department of Public Works
City of Indianapolis, Office of Sustainability
City of Indianapolis, Office of the Mayor
Cottage Home Neighborhood Association
Cummins, Inc.
DaVinci Pursuit
Destination Fall Creek
Dirty Dozen Hunting and Fishing Club
Friends of the White River
Groundwork Indy
Growing Places Indy
Hawthorne Community Center
Health By Design
Herron School of Art + Design
Hitchcock Design Group
Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Hoosier Environmental Council
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Indiana Academy of Science
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Department of Natural Resources –
Hoosier Riverwatch
Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife
Indiana Humanities
Indiana Invaders
Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
Indiana University School of Public and
Environmental Affairs
Indiana Wildlife Federation
Indianapolis Art Center
Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indy Chamber
Indy Convergence
Indy Parks Foundation
Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
International Marketplace Coalition
Indianapolis Public Schools
IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute
IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science
IUPUI Center for Service and Learning
IUPUI Center for Urban Health
IUPUI Department of Earth Science
John Boner Neghborhood Centers
Jump IN for Healthy Kids
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Kresge Foundation
Learning Tree
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation
Marion County Health Department
Marion County Soil and Water
Mind Trust
Nature Conservancy
Near Eastside Community Organization (NESCO)
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Olympia Stone
Paramount School of Excellence
People for Urban Progress
Plews Shadley Recher & Braun
PNC Bank
Purdue Extension
Ravenswood – Riverwood Neighborhood
Association
Riley Area Development Corporation
Riverside Civic League
Roberts Environmental Services
SENSE Charter School
Southeast Neighborhood Development
Spirit and Place Festival
Springdale Neighborhood Association
Storrow Kinsella Associates
United Way
University of Indianapolis
Visit Indy
WECAN Neighborhood Association
West Indianapolis Development Corporation
Westside Community Development Corporation
White River Alliance
White River State Park
Wilcox Environmental Engineering, Inc.
Williams Creek
Windsor Park Neighborhood Association
YMCA