FAQs
Have any questions? We're here to assist you.
Green Umbrella's Programmatic Work
A: Regional Climate Collaboratives are networks that coordinate adaptation and mitigation work across jurisdictional boundaries in municipal regions of the US and often include local and state government representatives as well as nonprofit, academic, and private partners. There are more than 30 Regional Climate Collaboratives currently in the US. Regional Climate Collaboratives often form with the understanding that working together can leverage and connect existing networks with others in specific regions, implement more effective solutions without being inhibited by administrative borders, and provide consistent strategies for protecting shared ecosystems such as watersheds and coastal areas that jurisdictions both impact and rely on.
A: You’re correct! We did launch the Regional Climate Collaborative in 2022. This original Collaborative launch was geared toward providing tools, resources, and technical assistance to regional governments, communities, and their partners related to climate action. We still do this work! But this framework has so much more potential. We have decided to grow this Collaborative model from an element of our programmatic work to an overarching, organization-wide framework to better support our members, partners, and communities. Collaborative membership is now open to not just governments but to all types of organizations and businesses interested in furthering climate action in our region. With this shift, we are able to provide new and improved member benefits, more streamlined ways to get in touch with our staff and work with our programs, and more opportunities for regional collaboration!
A: Green Umbrella’s existing programs aren’t going anywhere and remain an important part of our collective impact approach. Shifting to the Regional Climate Collaborative model not only helps our staff better align internally from an operational standpoint but also allows for a more cohesive and streamlined response to climate change as we collaborate with members and partners across our region. Our programs are also now able to scale their impact across more members with the new model. Importantly, if you are a Green Umbrella member moving forward, you receive benefits from across our programming – compared to the previous model where multiple program memberships were required to receive benefits. Changing to the Regional Climate Collaborative model helps Green Umbrella support meaningful action with members that leads to real impact at the scale needed to address an issue as large and profound as climate change.
We do not have plans to develop new programs in the near future, but the Regional Climate Collaborative model allows for the integration of new programs and/or support staff as needed and determined by members, partners, and communities. If you are interested in helping shape the trajectory of regional climate action, we encourage you to engage in leadership opportunities and become a member! Our partners will help influence the direction of existing programs and plan for strategic priorities in the future.
Green Umbrella Membership
A: Our evolved membership structure is designed to provide greater benefit to our members for maximum regional impact. Our member benefits are now broken into three categories: Capacity Building, Communications & Marketing, and Resources & Technical Support. Governments, organizations (such as nonprofits), educational institutions and businesses can join at Participating, Supporting, or Leading levels to receive these benefits. Cost of membership is dependent on these levels, in addition to factors such as revenue for businesses or nonprofits and population size for jurisdictions. Learn more by visiting our Become a Member page.
A: Green Umbrella membership is designed for organizations (businesses, nonprofits, governments, educational institutions) that are passionate about making Greater Cincinnati more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. Membership enables all staff at participating organizations to be involved in our work and access our member benefits. While there is no “individual membership,” individuals are an extremely valuable part of our community. Individuals are invited to participate in our work through our leadership opportunities, by attending our events, contributing to our open community engagement initiatives, and by supporting our work with a financial contribution. Your tax-deductible donations are a vital part of our unrestricted revenue to help support and expand climate action in Greater Cincinnati.
A: Please read our Become a Member page first, and contact membership@greenumbrella.org with any additional questions regarding Green Umbrella membership. A real person will get back to you.
A: Green Umbrella’s membership structure has not changed in over 13 years (yes, really!). That means our membership prices have also not been updated since they were first set in 2010. Since then, we’ve grown substantially in our staff and programs, and the benefits of being part of our network are much greater in value. We greatly appreciate the support of our current and past members, who have helped us grow over the years. Our new pricing was benchmarked to be in alignment with other professional associations and will help us continue to offer more benefits and resources where our region needs them most. To learn more about member benefits or to change your current member level, visit our Become a Member page, or contact us at membership@greenumbrella.org.
A: We want everyone to be able to participate in our work. Financial assistance is available for grassroots, frontline, and equity-based community organizations, social entrepreneurial start-ups, small local farms, and qualifying governments. If cost is a barrier to you, please fill out this form, and a member of our team will be in touch.
A: Is your organization already a member? If so, ask your membership coordinator within your organization to add you as a user. All membership coordinators have login information as of 10-19-2023. If your organization is not yet a member, you can sign up for a membership by visiting our Become a Member page, and login credentials will be created for you there.
If you are unsure who your membership coordinator is, please email membership@greenumbrella.org.
If you don’t know if your organization is a member, check out our Member Directory.
A: If your organization joined as a Green Umbrella member prior to August 2023, your membership is still active through its renewal date. You will receive all of our new membership benefits at the “supporting level” during this time. You can reach out to membership@greenumbrella.org to upgrade your membership to the “leading level” at any time. Our membership team will reach out in the months leading up to your renewal date to answer any questions and help navigate the renewal process. But please take a look at the updated membership fee structure now so you can budget for the level that gets you the benefits you are looking for, even if your renewal date is next year.
A: Please reach out to us at membership@greenumbrella.org, and we will help!
A: We’re grateful to have so many people, organizations, and businesses involved in our work! Check out the following answers for different buckets of our programming. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to membership@greenumbrella.org.
A: Greater Cincinnati Food Policy Council members do not need to reapply at this time. Council members are individual leadership positions that renew on an annual basis and do not require a Green Umbrella membership. However, if you are a Food Policy Council Member representing an organization, you will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for that organization. Free membership levels are available for governments and NGOs, and financial assistance for higher levels of membership is available for small farmers and social entrepreneurial start-ups. Learn more on our Become a Member page.
Current 2030 District benefits and so much more are included in the new membership levels. Current 2030 District Building Members who are also Green Umbrella members will have their membership extended at the supporting level through their renewal date. Building Members who are not current Green Umbrella members will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for them and to learn more about the expanded set of benefits offered for your organization. To reflect their commitment to emissions reduction goals, we are encouraging 2030 building members to commit to membership at the Supporting or Leading level.
Certain 2030 District services will also be available a la carte if expanded membership is not of interest at this time.
Professional Partners will be transitioned to Green Umbrella membership at the Supporting level through the renewal date of their Professional Partner commitment. Membership in Green Umbrella will provide a variety of additional benefits, which you can learn more about on the Become a Member page. We encourage Professional Partners to level up to the Leading member level to be able to maximize their exposure to other organizations in the Green Umbrella member network.
Current 2030 District Community Partners who are also Green Umbrella members will have their membership extended at the supporting level through their renewal date. Community Partners who are not current Green Umbrella members will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for them and to learn more about the expanded set of benefits offered for your organization. We will continue to engage you on 2030 specific activities but will also help you engage in a broader set of climate action work across the region.
Current founding members will have their membership extended through October 2024 and have full access to the expanded membership benefits. A member of our team will contact you in 2024 to discuss a recommended level of membership for your renewal. Free membership levels are available for public sector and NGOs, and financial assistance for higher levels of membership is available for equity/justice-focused community-based organizations and communities with over 80% "disadvantaged" census tracts according to the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
Schoolyard projects that are currently underway will continue uninterrupted. If you are a partner representing an organization, you will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for that organization. Free membership levels are available for public sector and NGOs, and financial assistance for higher levels of membership is available for equity/justice-focused community-based organizations and social entrepreneurial start-ups. Individuals not representing an organization are invited to apply for leadership positions that renew on an annual basis and do not require a Green Umbrella membership.
Current Greenspace Alliance participants will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for that organization. Free membership levels are available for public sector and NGOs, and financial assistance for higher levels of membership is available for equity/justice-focused community-based organizations, small farmers, and social entrepreneurial start-ups. Individuals not representing an organization are invited to apply for leadership positions with the Alliance that renew on an annual basis and do not require a Green Umbrella membership.
Current stewards are invited to apply for leadership positions that renew on an annual basis and do not require a Green Umbrella membership. However, if you are an orchard host or steward representing an organization, you will be invited to work with our membership team to identify the best membership level for that organization. Free membership levels are available for public sector and NGOs, and financial assistance for higher levels of membership is available for small farmers and social entrepreneurial start-ups.
Green Umbrella no longer has individual memberships, but there are many ways to be still involved in and support our work. We consider individuals who contribute to Green Umbrella to be donors. We will occasionally offer discounted event registration or exclusive events to donors but do not offer member benefits for individuals. Please visit our Get Involved and Leadership Opportunities for more information.