Environic Foundation International
Building Sustainable Societies
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Most people are unaware of the presence, scale and long-term impact of the diverse sustainability challenges we face, nor do they know of effective ways to address them. Climate change, water scarcity, and the collapse of fisheries are just a few of the signs that humans are exceeding the planet’s natural resource limits. While generally conceptualized as separate issues, these global challenges are all symptoms of a larger problem, the collective overuse of the Earth’s ecological capital and systems. This overarching issue of over consuming the planet’s available natural resources is known as the Global Sustainability Challenge. EFI works to develop educational programs and materials that educate populations to address and find solutions to the Global Sustainability Challenge.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Sustainable Societies Education
These are higher education level courses that explore the full range of social, economic and environmental sustainability challenges and strategies to address them. Some examine specific regions and their local challenges. Some examine the issues at global and regional scales. The courses result in students’ significantly increased awareness and understanding of sustainability challenges and ways to address them. Global Sustainable Societies Sustainable Societies – James River Basin Sustainable Societies in Africa: Modules on Education for Sustainable Development Regional sustainability courses, such as Sustainable Societies - James River Basin, offer in-depth study of sustainability issues in a specific region so that students gain significant knowledge they can apply in creating locally relevant solutions. Sustainable Societies for Business is targeted to business students and professionals who want to understand the impacts and opportunities that the global drive toward greater sustainability will have on business.
Research & Content Development
In 2018 EFI launched a web content development strategy that includes development of original educational and policy materials in the twenty-five issues areas of EFI's focus, including climate and environmental policy, for web distribution and use in our new courseware platform.
Research Fellowship
The Research Fellowship Program recruits young professionals interested in scientific, socio-economic and policy issues related to sustainability and climate change. Fellows are early to mid-career professionals from around the world and from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from environmental studies and public health to urban studies and computer science. In this unpaid program, Research Fellows volunteer a few hours-per-week and train in academic and policy research skills and are immersed in the latest trends and concepts in sustainability and climate change issues. Fellows are trained and guided by a small group of pro-bono senior experts.
As part of the program, Research Fellows develop, author, and publish original education and policy materials for free distribution through EFI’s web platform and for use in EFI’s online courses. Through this program, EFI fulfills two goals: contribute to the professional and intellectual development of a new generation of sustainability professionals and provide valuable and innovative educational and policy materials for global audiences. To learn more about our current Research Fellows contact us at [email protected]. You can also visit our education modules at www.environicfoundation.org/our-approach.
Region360 Latin America Initiative
Region360 is a multi-disciplinary, international initiative spearheaded by EFI that develops climate change education tools and knowledge of circular economy approaches in Latin America by applying rigorous analytical methods to develop educational and policy tools to help achieve resilient, healthy, and sustainable societies. Learn more at www.region360.org
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of curricula designed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Sustainable Societies Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Each year EFI develops syllabi and materials for three college-level courses delivered at VCU and is developing a program to offer online courses for the general public.
Number of downloads of the organization's materials and explanations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Sustainable Societies Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Each year, students in classes at VCU download over 540 materials/per student from EFI's library of curated content (does not include optional additional resources).
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Sustainable Societies Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Each year at VCU students enroll in three courses developed with EFI materials and method.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal at EFI is to understand the most pressing issues in sustainability, recognize their interrelationships, integrate strategies to address them, and apply those strategies effectively.
EFI’s education programs seek to train people in a systems thinking methodology that combines personal skills development with an examination of the twenty-five most critical social, economic and environmental issues that will drive global change.
EFI’s goal is to develop individuals who are able to ask the right questions to make effective decisions to find local and global solutions to our sustainability challenges.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
EFI's strategies involve:
Research: EFI researches global, regional and local sustainability issues and strategies being used to address them.
Teaching: Based on our research we create and provide educational programs, resources and learning tools for higher education, government, and community groups. Our programs have been United States and Africa in fields ranging from business, health care, government, community development and art to natural and life sciences, environmental studies, agriculture and engineering.
Social Action: EFI has developed a comprehensive plan to engage global audiences trough online platforms and through support and consulting services. EFI's web platform serves as a hub for curated information, content delivery, and distribution of free educational materials. EFI's consulting serves as a platform that supports the development os innovative ideas and projects.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
EFI's director, Bill Godfrey has developed educational programs in the United States and Africa. Godfrey is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Center for Environmental Studies and the Center for Corporate Education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Vice Chair of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, and a member of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Education Caucus.
With teams in Washington, DC and Richmond, VA. EFI's staff includes a team conducting research and fundraising and an extended group of volunteers and expert consultants. Staff posses experience in sustainable development and environmental studies.
EFI is supported by an engaged Board of Directors and a diverse Board of Advisors. Both Boards include distinguished scientists, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, and policy experts. Both boards comprise a wide and impressive array of skills and experience that enhance EFI's organizational capabilities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Over the last thirty years, EFI's educational programs have reached individuals mainly in the US and Africa. In the US, EFI's courses and materials have reached hundreds of students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels.
EFI has partnered with universities, high schools, leading environmental organizations, community groups, and the United Nations, where EFI is a consulting partner. Each year, EFI's trademarked course materials and method are used in several courses at Virginia Commonwealth University and in high school summer programs.
In 2018, EFI launched a strategic planning initiative to enhance and expand its program offerings through in-situ teaching, online content delivery, and through a consulting and support platform to reach larger audiences. EFI is committed to developing updated and innovative educational materials, increase its reach in US communities, and expand to a second global region.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Environic Foundation International
Board of directorsas of 11/14/2019
Mr. Charles Swaim
Thomas Nelson Community College
Term: 2015 - 2018
William Godfrey
Environic Foundation
Charles Swaim
Thomas Nelson Community College
Cary Jamieson
The Steward School
Mickey Edwards
Aspen Institute
Terry Sherman
Sherman Financial Management, LLC
Kathleen Godfrey
Aspen Institute