Under Our Umbrella – Introducing Our Five-Year Strategic Plan

Green Umbrella brings our region together to work on environmental issues that no one could tackle alone. We collaborate with governments, nonprofits, schools, businesses, and residents—helping these partners turn their ideas into action and working side by side to make our communities healthier, more resilient, and better prepared for what’s ahead.

To ensure that we do this work to the best of our ability, Green Umbrella embarked on a strategic planning process in 2025 to plot the course for our next chapter. Building on a strategic alignment process completed in 2023 with the Institute for Conservation Leadership, we worked with Skystone Partners alongside all our major stakeholders to create this plan, and with Wordsworth Communications to tell our story. We are pleased to share the outcomes of this hard work!

The Strategic Plan is designed to do three things:

1. Strengthen how Green Umbrella operates
2. Accelerate what Green Umbrella accomplishes collaboratively across the region
3. Celebrate progress—no matter how small—in the moment

Our Commitment

Over the next five years, Green Umbrella will connect, educate, and equip our partners to accelerate environmental progress for everyone in our region while becoming a resilient organization that is well known as the go-to source for climate solutions and sustainability leadership. To achieve this, our plan is focused on five strategic priorities:

1. Policy Change

Advocate for policy solutions that move our region toward a more resilient, climate-ready future.

We Will: Activate Green Umbrella constituents to adopt and implement strategies from a regional climate action playbook, leading to significant reductions in pollution and resource consumption, improved resilience and preparedness, and equitable distribution of benefits.

Example In Action: Since 2023, we have advanced sustainability while building the capacity, experience, and networks of local governments and emerging professionals through our Climate Action Fellowship. By pairing students and professionals with Green Umbrella local government members across Greater Cincinnati, we have helped foster 6 new sustainability committees, initiate 6 climate planning processes, and complete 28 community-based climate projects.

2. Collaborative Leadership

Support collaborative leadership that drives measurable, equitable action through a regional climate action playbook and our membership and convenings.

We Will: Cultivate and build ownership with new and current climate leaders in our region through training, technical resources, cohort programming, and collaborative teams.

Example In Action: With support from Green Umbrella’s Green Schoolyards Action Network, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has undergone a remarkable transformation. In just five years, what started as an effort to increase access to green schoolyards has grown into a district-wide shift in how students learn, eat, and prepare for the future. Today, through collaboration with Green Umbrella and leaders on the Strategic Partnerships for Greener Schools Committee, CPS now has outdoor learning spaces in 60 of its 66 campuses, expanded green workforce programs across grade levels, student farms feeding cafeterias, and a local school wellness policy.

3. Strategic Communications

Use bold positioning and communications to educate, engage, and celebrate the people and partners creating change

We Will: Consistently deliver communications that educate stakeholders on regional climate priorities, equip partners with actionable insights, celebrate collective progress, and connect diverse audiences to shared solutions and opportunities for impact.

Example In Action: On February 10, we hosted our Annual Impact Celebration. Sustainability leaders, community partners, and supporters came together to not only look back on everything accomplished in 2025, but to look ahead to the coming year with confidence and optimism. At the event, we announced the strategic plan and celebrated both organizational and community leadership on climate across Greater Cincinnati. Read more about the event here.

4. Revenue Diversification

Strengthen financial resilience by diversifying income.

We Will: Diversify revenue streams to ensure that at least 75% of annual income comes from non-grant sources, while maintaining strong and effective grant funding strategies.

Example In Action: We have been incredibly fortunate over the last 8 years to add staff capacity to support local environmental challenges, and much of that growth has been fueled by grants. But due to shifting priorities at the federal level with respect to climate action, we recognize that the uncertainty of grant funding—both from the public and private sectors—means we cannot be too reliant on them. In 2025, we hired our first Development Manager and worked with Skystone Partners to create a Development Assessment. With the right team and strategies in place, we are ready to take the next steps in 2026. Your support through membership, sponsorship, ticket purchases, and donations is helping us reach this diversification goal.

5. Capacity & Efficiency

Optimize our internal systems to enhance efficiency, clarity, and responsiveness.

We Will: Establish clear ownership and roles, align staff and stakeholder energy with mission delivery, and strengthen systems that promote responsiveness and flexibility.

Example In Action: Our Current Team! We are fortunate to have passionate and dedicated staff who are committed to climate action and collective impact. Whether they’re hosting collaborative meetings, designing trainings to meet community needs, or working with partners to implement plans and projects, our leaders are committed to continuous improvement both internally and in our collaborations.

Along the way, we will celebrate the wins that prove we’re building a community—and shaping a future—we want to live in. We are excited for the path ahead, but we know we can’t do this work alone; we need your engagement and support. Join us by:

– Participating in an upcoming event

– Having your organization join Green Umbrella as a member

– Donating to support the next chapter of Green Umbrella and help us create a more resilient, equitable, and thriving region

Your engagement and donations make a difference! Learn more about our impact here.

If you have questions, please connect with me directly at van@greenumbrella.org. I look forward to working with you in 2026!