Become a Waterkeeper

Do you lead or want to lead an environmental nonprofit organization to focus advocacy work on protecting your local watershed?

Do you have excellent leadership, communications, and fundraising skills?

If yes, we want to hear from you! Scroll down to learn more about how to start a Waterkeeper group and submit your information.

underwater image looking up at the surface

United as one powerful force, Waterkeeper Alliance fights for every community’s right to clean water.

From the Great Lakes to the Himalayas, Alaska to Australia, local Waterkeeper groups defend the fundamental human right to drinkable, fishable, and swimmable waters, and combine firsthand knowledge of waterways with an unwavering commitment to the rights of local communities.

Whether on the water tracking down polluters, in courtrooms enforcing environmental laws, advocating in town meetings, or teaching in classrooms, the Waterkeeper movement speaks for the waters it defends with the backing of local communities.

Are you interested in becoming a Waterkeeper? Send us a brief email about yourself and your work to protect your local watershed.

Types of Waterkeeper Groups

Organizations

Licensed Waterkeeper Organizations are financially sustainable. They are voting members of Waterkeeper Alliance, each representing a specific waterway. Waterkeeper Alliance offers a variety of training, organizing, communications, and advocacy benefits to strengthen their programs so that the local fight for clean water becomes a powerful, coordinated, global movement.

Affiliates

Provisionally licensed Waterkeeper Affiliates are sustainable nonprofit organizations but may have limited capacity, and/or they may be Affiliates of a fully-licensed Waterkeeper Organization, representing a specific waterway. Affiliates are non-voting members of Waterkeeper Alliance but can utilize Waterkeeper Alliance’s benefits to strengthen their programs and develop the capacity to become, if applicable, fully licensed, voting Waterkeeper Member Organizations.

How We Support Waterkeeper Groups

Communications & Marketing

Waterkeeper Alliance provides a collective voice on national and global issues affecting our waterways ...

Training

Waterkeeper Alliance provides trainings and networking opportunities, hosts webinars, creates partnerships ...

Regional Organizing

Waterkeeper Alliance provides the opportunity to participate in in-person and virtual gatherings to foster ...

Advocacy

Waterkeeper Alliance engages with lawmakers, regulatory officials, and courts to advocate ...

Conference & Regional Meetings

Every other year, Waterkeeper Alliance hosts a global conference for Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates from around ...