Pictured: Community Advisory Team member for a project partner to Delta Institute looks across Chicago’s Lake Calumet on a site visit where we are planning to implement multiple green infrastructure solutions.
Often it seems to me that simply believing in a vision for a brighter future for our planet is an act of defiance and courage..
On a global scale, we’ve heard the United Nations share that we’ve fallen far behind on our emission reduction goals this year. Here in the Midwest, many of us see growing climate threats on a local level in our backyards, ranging from dangerously poor air quality days polluting the air we breathe to downpours of torrential rain flooding our streets and damaging our homes.
And yet, we still believe in our vision: a future where our home and region are more resilient and equitable for all Midwesterners.
We believe in our vision not because we’re naïve or carelessly optimistic. We believe because we know the grit, the tenacity, and the resolve of our partner communities. We see our vision in the devotion of our project partners who have been steadfast and committed to protecting their communities’ natural resources for decades. We see our vision in the dreams and aspirations of the volunteers who show up at tree planting days, as they plant for the future, believing that future generations will continue to benefit from—and care for—the trees we plant today.
Simply put… most people support Delta Institute because they also still believe in our vision and they want to make a difference. And exactly how are we making a difference?
We’re improving equitable access to clean drinking water for dozens of Midwest towns, villages, and cities. Since being appointed as the U.S. EPA’s Environmental Finance Center for Water Infrastructure in the Midwest, we’ve worked with 60+ communities to help address needs like removing lead pipes, green infrastructure planning, and strategies for reducing water pollutants like PFAS and harmful algae blooms.
We’ve planted 4,000 trees over the past four years—and have plans for another 700+ trees in 2027. But our work goes beyond simple tree plantings. From Winthrop Harbor, Illinois (pictured above), to Hammond, Indiana, we are engaging hundreds of community members in forestry work, inspiring residents to get involved in long-term stewardship and care for their newly planted trees.
We’re revolutionizing the way farmers can invest in climate-smart agriculture. For decades, farmers have known that regenerative farming practices can improve soil health and capture carbon from the atmosphere. Yet adoption remains slow because the financial value of healthier soils is rarely reflected in the way we value farmland. We are developing new ways to connect soil stewardship with land valuation, creating economic incentives that reward long-term investment in healthier agricultural landscapes.
We’re increasing climate resilience and reducing flooding risks on Chicago’s South Side. We’re currently working on projects that will mitigate millions of gallons of stormwater overflow each year. From Lake Calumet to South Shore, we are working with community groups and partners to install green infrastructure solutions that increase neighborhood resilience and protect local water quality.
However, we’ve also been impacted by the funding cuts and decreased amount of grant opportunities that many nonprofits have experienced these past couple years. Like so many households across our home region, we’re also expected to do more with less. Right now, our organizational budget is 20% smaller than it was two years ago.
Despite this reality, we strive to for resilience. We are committed to our community partners and the neighborhoods we’re actively working in. Please join us in this shared effort today by making a donation so that 2027 carries us all forward into the brighter future that we all deserve. Our work is fueled by hundreds of donors like you every year: people who care deeply about the future of our planet, our Midwest region, and our own home communities. Please join us in making our vision just one step closer toward becoming a reality.