The Environmental Quality Institute may be able to continue its work supplying environmental information to the government, citizens and businesses thanks to the nonprofit fundraising efforts of a grassroots environmental alliance.

EQI is a former University of North Carolina program that was closed by the school due to budget cuts in 2009. But because of the work of the Western North Carolina Alliance, the environmental program and its laboratory could make a comeback.

WNCA executive director Julie Mayfield says her organization has the experience and support from the community that is essential for the nonprofit fundraising that is needed to keep the institute alive, the Mountain XPress reported. After being approached by the institute's former head chemist, Mayfield said members of the WNCA were convinced that they could generate the $150,000 a year to continue EQI's work, which includes the testing of water quality in the region's streams.

"It was an easy decision for our board," Mayfield told the Mountain XPress. "They were very excited about it, given the role that EQI has played in the community for such a long time."

Similar environmental organizations across the country are struggling with funding. According to some experts, fundraising management software could help nonprofits that are having financial problems to organize and add strategy behind their outreach campaigns.