Ten of the state’s leading environmental nonprofit groups are joining forces for an Earth Day fundraiser, in hopes of raising money to protect the environment.

The goal? Raise more than $250,000 to protect Minnesota’s land, water and wildlife — and spark action on urgent issues like climate change, polluted lakes and disappearing pollinators, organizers said.

The “One Day, One Earth, One Minnesota” collaboration will raise funds to protect Minnesota’s natural resources while also addressing the state’s most urgent environmental challenges like climate change, water pollution, habitat loss and environmental injustice.

Tuesday, April 22, marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day but organizers encourage people to donate early.

Money raised will help account for a shortage in public funding, with recent federal cuts widening the gap, they said in a news release Friday.

“This initiative empowers individuals to step up, take action, and drive meaningful change. Every donation will directly support critical, on-the-ground efforts across the state, including ecological restoration, habitat protection, community engagement, and climate resilience,” organizers said.

Proud to participate

Members of the participating organizations all said they felt proud to be involved in the collaboration.

“We’re proud to be part of One Day. One Earth. One Minnesota, because real environmental change doesn’t happen alone — it takes collaboration, creativity, and collective action,” said Kateri Routh, executive director of Great River Greening. “This Earth Day, we’re joining forces with nine incredible organizations and leaning into community-centric fundraising to turn individual passion into collective impact — for our land, our water, and future generations.”

The collaboration is especially important in light of recent cuts in government funding.

“For months, we’ve felt uncertainty and dread about the loss of environmental funding at the national level. It feels great to join with other Minnesota environmental groups to fight that uncertainty,” said Patricia Ohmans, founder and director of Frogtown Green.

“Not only will this campaign raise much-needed funds to continue our important work in environmental restoration, but it also demonstrates our commitment to working together to improve green spaces for the future of all Minnesotans,” said Hayley Ball, executive director of Urban Roots.

When Rebecca Otto, board chair of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, first heard her organization was participating in the collaboration, she said, “I thought, ‘Yes — that’s exactly what this moment needs.’” She said she was proud to be part of an organization that recognizes the future is in partnerships.

Luisana Méndez, founder and executive director of Huellas Latinas, said that every step taken in nature “can be an act of transformation — not only personal, but also collective.”

‘Stronger together’

All of the organizations said they believe strength is in numbers.

“We believe everyone deserves clean air, land, and water, and we won’t get there alone. Community is the heart of our work, and it only makes sense for us to carry that commitment to collaboration through our fundraising. We are stronger together,” said Laura Scholl, executive director of Metro Blooms.

Participating organizations include:
● Environmental Initiative. The Minneapolis organization “brings people from communities, businesses, nonprofits and government together to solve environmental problems.” They do this by: Convening and facilitating conversations on environmental issues where collaboration is needed most; planning and hosting events for people to network, share ideas, and learn from one another; and managing on-the-ground projects to improve our air, land and water.
● Friends of the Mississippi River. The St. Paul organization “engages people to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region.” It works with public and private landowners, local governments and concerned community members to protect and restore critical lands ecologically linked to the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro. In addition, it works and protects habitat and improves climate resilience through planning, land protection and natural resources restoration services.
● Frogtown Green. This St. Paul organization is “a resident-led, volunteer-powered group that began with the creation of Frogtown Park & Farm. (…) Since that success, we have created six more parklets and gardens; planted more than 1,000 free fruit and shade trees; created 10,000 square feet of pollinator habitat; and sponsored dozens of events.”
● Great River Greening. This St. Paul organization’s goal is “to inspire, engage and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the water and land that enrich our lives.” They work to “increase biodiversity, cleaner water and air, improved soil health, stronger natural systems, and enhance habitats for pollinators, wildlife, plants and people.”
● Huellas Latinas. The St. Paul organization “was born to inspire and empower Latino communities to embrace and participate in outdoor recreation through inclusive and culturally responsive year-round outdoor recreation programs that promote wellness and connections to nature, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen community ties.”
● Metro Blooms. This Minneapolis organization “partners with communities to create resilient landscapes and foster clean watersheds, embracing the values of equity and inclusion to solve environmental challenges. It “works with individuals, community groups, local government, nonprofits, business owners, artists, elders, renters, youth and people most impacted by environmental injustices.
● Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. The St. Paul and Duluth-based organization said it uses “law and science to protect Minnesota’s environment, its natural resources and the health of its people. For 50 years, we’ve worked in the courts, at the Legislature and with public agencies to enact, strengthen and enforce smart environmental law. (…) We work in solidarity with communities to protect the environment, especially where people are disproportionately impacted by pollution and social inequities.”
● Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light. This Minneapolis organization “works in partnership with faith and spiritual communities and all Minnesotans to build transformative power and bring the lights of people’s unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis.”
● Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. The Owámniyomni project (previously called the Falls Initiative) in Minneapolis is “an effort to create a place of healing, restoration, connection and education at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), on 5 acres of property adjacent to the Upper Lock. The lock closed to commercial navigation in 2015 and is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is the city and Park Board’s agent in negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is also a cost-sharing partner.”
● Urban Roots. The St. Paul organization’s mission is to “cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food and community.” It “operates as a youth development program and is one of the largest youth employers on the East Side of St. Paul. We create economic and educational opportunities for under-resourced, majority BIPOC youth. Its vision is “a world where all communities have unlimited access to nature and healthy food.”

Routh of Great River Greening said the donations will “help fuel efforts to restore lakes and rivers, safeguard forests, protect pollinators and build a healthier Minnesota for future generations.”

How to help

To donate to the “One Day, One Earth, One Minnesota” fundraiser, go to givemn.org/organization/Earth-Day-Collaborative.