WYLAND FOUNDATION
Bringing People Together for Clean Water and a Healthy Ocean
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The ocean and coasts comprise the basis of much of the world’s economy, providing key services such as climate regulation, storm protection, nutrient cycling, food security, and tourism. Yet regardless of this importance, this critical global ecosystem is suffering under the increasing impacts of land-based activities, including runoff from chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation
The annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water
Conservation, is a non-profit community service campaign for cities across the nation to supplement their water
conservation and education efforts. For nearly a decade,
the mayor’s challenge has promoted a long-lasting mindset of water conservation at a time when changing climate,
growing populations, drought conditions, and an aging water delivery infrastructure are impacting the future availability of this resource.
Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center
A 1,000 square foot science exhibit on wheels that teaches students to explore their relationship with our ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. Exhibit includes a 40-person on-board movie theater; six interactive touch based learning stations, and a city model with actual falling rain. Program includes a teacher's guide with STEM based lessons tied to national and California science standards and post activity assessments.
Wyland National Classroom Mural and Art Challenge
A national competition for grades K-12 that challenges tudents to work together on small and large scale art projects focusing on the importance of sustainable water usage and protecting aquatic habits. Includes art and science teacher guides with art lessons and prize incentives including classroom art supplies and scholarships.
Wyland World Water Pledge
Partnership between the United Nations Environment Program and the Wyland Foundation encouraging a broader understanding of global water issues using an online pledge platform. Areas targeted for action under the Wyland World Water Pledge relate to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including clean water sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption, climate action, life below water, and life on land.
Where we work
Awards
Innovation in Environmental Stewardship 2017
OC Conservation Corp
Coastal Above And Beyond Awards 2022
Angel Light Academy
External reviews
Photos
Videos
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?
With roughly eighty percent of marine pollution originating on land, the Wyland Foundation uses a range of innovative programs and strategies to foster a broader understanding of the causes of marine pollution and promote sustained and effective actions to reduce land-based impacts on the marine environment. This upstream approach to eco-system management supports a host of additional benefits that correspond to healthier, more sustainable communities
Our goals include:
1) Promoting understanding of the human relationship to watersheds and the global water cycle
2) Raising awareness about the ways upstream activities contribute to non-point and source pollution
3) Increasing the willingness of individuals to change behavior to reduce runoff
By working together with our community partners across the United States and the world, the Wyland Foundation believes it can contribute to a measurable improvement in the overall environmental stress on local, regional, and national marine systems
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Wyland Foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, public arts projects, and community events. We utilize a “whole community” engagement strategy that incorporates goal setting, social modeling, and connecting with the positive associations consumers have with cleaner communities and the benefits of reducing waste.
Business community
Leverage common interests in the health and well being of our ocean and waterways
Families
Introduce school based interactive education — art projects, traveling science museums, classroom activities — that can inspire and inform.
Government
Work with municipalities on conservation outreach in every region of the country
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Wyland Foundation programs are notable for their ability to connect on a grassroots level, while scaling up for national impact.
National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation
Since 2012, the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation has encouraged residents from more than 3,000 cities across the U.S. to take specific actions to improve water quality and reduce pollution in local water sheds. The program in association with Toyota, the Toro Company, U.S. EPA and the National League of Cities brings together schools, governments, business, and civic leaders to promote a broader understanding of water issues across the country.
Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center
This 1,000 square foot science center on wheels has served nearly a million people since it was created a decade ago. The center, which includes a 40-person on board interactive movie theater, and a range of exhibits, including an actual running river, computer model simulations, and city models with falling rain, provides museum quality education to schools that have been impacted by budget cuts.
National Art Challenge
The foundation’s focus on water quality comes alive through the vivid imagination of thousands of students across the country. Classrooms that take part in the challenge are encouraged to work in collaboration to identify local or national water issues and create a visual response through the painting of 50-square foot murals. The murals are used as public messaging to inspire and inform the community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
From May to August 2018, the foundation conducted a research study to assess the success of its clean water mobile learning center program with Irvine-based research firm Evalcorp of 16 classrooms at 3 school sites to over 400 students in 4th and 5th grade in southern California. Three data collection tools were used to assess the success of the MCE Program and collect important information from students and teachers.
Findings from data collection efforts showed that the MCE Program is successful in its goals to:
• Increase students’ knowledge of water conservation efforts and other related topics
• Encourage students’ attitude and behavior change to reduce water waste/runoff
Findings included:
- 20 percent increase in knowledge of source pollution
- 30 percent increase in knowledge of issues related to eutrophication
- 21 percent increase in knowledge of estuaries
Moreover
- 87 percent of the students in a post visit survey expressed a willing to change behavior at school in order to reduce source pollution
- 85 percent of the students in a post visit survey expressed a willing to change behavior at school in order to change source pollution
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
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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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
WYLAND FOUNDATION
Board of directorsas of 07/05/2023
NFN Wyland
NFN Wyland
Internationally Renowned Artist / Conservationist
Greg Stone
Chief Scientist, Oceans, Conservation International
Jan Dell
Chief Engineer, PE, Global Water and Climate Expert
Ted Verdon
Principal, Hess Verdon & Associates
Tom Klingenmeier
President, Sawdust Festival, Laguna Beach
Carlton Lund
President, Lund Real Estate, San Diego
Howell Melody
CFO, Integrity Ingredients, Torrance
Jim Minarik
President Emeritus, Sound United
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/02/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.