1. New England Grassroots Environment Fund Webinar
Energy Efficiency for Low-Income People The Importance of Grassroots Outreach – Basic Principles Elizabeth Chant
New England Grassroots Environment Fund Webinar

2. Introduction to VEIC Mission-driven nonprofit
30 years of reducing economic and environmental costs of energy use
Energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation
Consulting and implementation
3 utility-scale implementation programs
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 2

3. Introduction to Elizabeth Chant
Principal Consultant, VEIC, focused on needs of low-income people and multifamily buildings
10 years at VEIC, focused on utility and public benefit programs
Efficiency Vermont
DC Sustainable Energy Utility
10 years with low-income Weatherization Assistance Program
Boards of Directors of National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, National Housing Trust, Home Performance Coalition
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 3

4. Responsive to local conditions
Data-centered
Best Practices for Reaching Low-Income People for Energy Efficiency Programming
Leverage existing resources
Strong partners
Responsive to local conditions
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 4

5. Start with Goals…Always!
What are your objectives?
Whom are you trying to reach?
Outreach plan should be designed as integral part of program plan, not as a later add-on
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 5

6. What Are Your Objectives?
Program goals are clear and minimize inconsistencies or potential conflicts that add costs, hinder effectiveness, and encourage unnecessary debate
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 6

7. Whom Are You Trying to Reach?
Target populations are well defined and consistent with program goals
Eligibility requirements are consistent with the target populations
Application processes, including income criteria, are simple and consistent with other low-income programs
Program accessibility is maximized – participation barriers are identified and minimized
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 7

8. Whom Are You Trying to Reach?
Barriers to enrollment are minimized, including the application process, and comprehensiveness and quality of service delivery
Active outreach strategies are used to recruit participants
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 8

9. What is the Offer? What is the Need?
Map your offering to what your client / customer wants or needs
Base your outreach on customer wants and needs
Focus on primary needs, with secondary wants as….secondary!
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 9

10. With Whom Can I Partner? Why partner? Who is trusted?
Who already has relationship?
What are the leverage points?
What do I bring?
What does my partner bring?
How can we both increase our impacts?
Do I need to redesign my offering?
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 10

11. What Data Do I Have? What Do I Need?
How will you know outreach has been successful? Or not?
Be methodical and analytic
Lead initiation
Lead development
How many touches to acquisition?
What is the final trigger?
Customer acquisition
Start with basics, and grow from there
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 11

12. How Can I Maximize Referrals?
Create the channels.
Make it easy!
Your clients / customers are a “best source” for new clients / customers
If you like our work, tell your friends.
If you like our work, give us the names of friends, family, neighbors.
Paid referrals – cost, benefit
Follow up – immediately and over time
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 12

13. Quick Summary Partner, partner, partner “Add on” to existing programs
Collaborate in design and delivery
Use trusted networks and channels
Meet people with what they want / need
Be opportunistic
New England Grassroots Environment Fund | | Slide 13

14. Contact Elizabeth Chant echant@veic.org 802-540-7659
Thank you!