Our Approach

Conservation and restoration of the Great Lakes have been central to the work of Mott’s Environment program since the 1980s. The Flint water crisis marked a pivotal shift, revealing the need to focus not only on protecting natural water bodies, but also on ensuring safe, affordable drinking water for every community.

This led us to adopt a One Water framework — a holistic approach that recognizes all water as connected and calls for integrated, collaborative management across communities, geographies and natural systems.

Our goal is to ensure that clean, ample freshwater is supplied to both people and nature. By supporting high-leverage model projects and advocacy efforts, we advance ambitious, effective and durable water policy reforms at the local, state and federal levels.

We have two strategies to achieve our goals:

Promoting One Water in the Great Lakes.

Our grant funding supports:

• Leadership development and capacity building of community-based organizations and networks to strengthen the One Water Movement.
• The development and demonstration of model approaches, emphasizing nature-based solutions.
• Efforts to inform and strengthen One Water policies in the region.

Promoting One Water in the U.S.

Our grant funding supports:

Networking and technical assistance for groups in the water policy and adjacent fields to build movement strength nationally.

Opinion research, message development and media to tell One Water success stories at the local, state, regional and national levels.

Selected efforts outside the Great Lakes basin to build momentum for progress nationwide.