Protect It.
Support Friends of the Mississippi River's River Protection Efforts
Paddle the Mississippi River Challenge and help Friends of the Mississippi River protect, conserve and restore the Mississippi River. The pledge funds you raise will directly support our 2008 projects, including:
- Raising community awareness and developing grassroots initiatives to protect water quality, habitat and human health in rapidly developing areas
- Restoring hundreds of acres of oak savannah, prairie and wetland to provide ecological and recreational amenities to your community
- Engaging more than 3,500 volunteers and 1,300 members in activities such as river clean-ups, habitat restoration and Special Places Tours to restore and enjoy the vitality and beauty of the Mississippi River watershed.
Our Mission & Vision
Friends of the Mississippi River advocates a new vision for the Mississippi, especially the river and its watershed in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Through active leadership and education, FMR seeks to preserve and restore the river’s fish and wildlife, its vital floodplains and scenic bluffs, its natural and cultural treasures, its beauty and its romance.
FMR strives to create positive changes that improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, create education and recreation opportunities and inspire widespread commitment to this natural wonder that flows through our community. We envision a river on which small boats are safe and welcome, to which we have clear and easy access and in which we can safely swim and fish. We envision a river that is cleaner, healthier, more alive and more inviting, a river no one can ignore or take for granted.
Our Organization
FMR staff enjoy a sunny spring day above the Mississippi River at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.
Founded in 1993, FMR is a leading citizen organization working to protect and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. FMR enjoys the support of over 1,300 members, 17 active board members, and 16 staff. Our three-fold approach to our mission embraces the goals of improving water quality, protecting riverfront land, and cultivating a “Sense of Place” by introducing people to the river through a variety of educational, recreational, and volunteer events.
Addtional details about our program work are available at www.fmr.org, and funder and financial information can be found at our annual reports page.
Friends of the Mississippi River is recognized as a charitable 501(c)3 organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and is incorporated and registered as a charity in the State of Minnesota.
FMR has been reviewed by the Charities Review Council of Minnesota, and their review is available for public viewing at their web site.