USDN brings local government sustainability practitioners together to learn, collaborate, and accelerate the work of local sustainability. By equipping them with the knowledge, resources, and partnerships they need to succeed, USDN helps advance change locally in member communities as well as across the field of practice. The aggregate impact and influence of our collective work makes an equitable, resilient, and sustainable society more attainable.

Mission

USDN works to create equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by advancing the field of local government sustainability and equipping practitioners to be catalysts of transformative change

Vision

An equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for all

Core Beliefs

  1. A diverse, inclusive, and equity-centered approach is essential to achieving our mission.
  2. Local governments have both an influential role and an inherent responsibility within the movement toward equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities.
  3. Meaningful, long-lasting change happens from the ground up through a collaborative approach
    where local governments work with the communities they serve.
  4. By working with each other and their communities, local government sustainability practitioners can
    accelerate transformative change.

2022 Annual Report

Learn about the significance of this network of sustainability practitioners in local government, and get a snapshot of last year's programming, impacts, and financial information.

Read the 2022 Annual Report »

High-Impact Practices

USDN’s High Impact Practices (HIPs) are the priorities in which USDN programming is helping members take impactful actions to advance equity, GHG reduction, and resilience. These are practices where USDN members are leading and counting on USDN to support their learning, collaboration, and action.

Read the High-Impact Practices »

Impact Evaluation

This report presents the findings of an impact evaluation of USDN completed by Ross Strategic and Ullman Consulting in 2020/21. It explores the effectiveness of the organization, network and program delivery as whole, and helps inform USDN’s program design and strategic development. Note: data gathering and analysis generally focused on activities with the most longevity and/or widespread implementation and as such does not reflect all current programming or new innovations.

Read the Impact Evaluation »

2022-24 Strategic Plan

USDN and the field of urban sustainability have grown and changed tremendously over the last several years. Our updated strategic plan reflects a sharpened mission, vision, theories of change and organizational goals. The plan guides USDN programming and our internal structure, and is designed to increase our impact as individuals and a network collective. 

Read the 2022-24 Strategic Plan » 

Introduction to USDN

Want an overview document of who we are, what drives us, and our approach?

Download Intro to USDN » 


USDN is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.