Rouge River nonprofit raises money amid federal cuts

What they're saying: "What we put in this river, what we do to this river ultimately impacts all of us," Ashley Flintoff, executive director of Friends of the Rouge, tells Axios.

Driving the news: To cope with the cuts, the Friends of the Rouge launched a fundraising drive. Donations through Friday will be tripled by ITC Holdings Corp.

State of play: Friends of the Rouge was formed in 1986 by citizens concerned about the river's pollution.

• The organization now has 23 employees and performs various public involvement and education programs.
• The $1.5 million in federal funding that the nonprofit receives either directly or indirectly represents about 22% of its budget.

Threat level: Many of the federal grants and awards that help fund Friends of the Rouge fall under environmental categories that are being targeted by federal funding cuts and freezes, Flintoff says.

What's next: The organization is unsure when federal funding clarity will emerge. In the meantime, money raised will help restructure the organization and identify more diverse funding sources to continue nurturing the watershed.