JMRPWG agenda 102898 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

arise . Insurance is necessa even if the land trust does not hold any land or easements, because ry trust officials should understand that a prime reason for insurance is to protect them should they - . be named in a suit along with the trust . Membership & Fundraising Community support is vital as the source for volunteers and board members as well as funds and land donations . A public image that gains community support also attracts assistance from businesses, foundations, and government agencies . Increasing public support involves three interrelated activities : building public awareness, developing membership, and fundraising. Public Awareness . One of the most important determinants of a land trust ' s success is the extent to which it makes the public aware that it exists, is needed, and is effective . A primary tool is media coverage, but a public awareness program can also include lectures and workshops, nature walks, talks for other groups, newsletters and brochures, special events, and environmental education programs for local schools . !; In developing a public awareness program, a land trust will want to determine who they want to reach and what they want their audience to hear or do . While the community at large is the primary audience, a land trust will need to reach a number of audiences . Once the audience has been chosen, the land trust should think about what each audience does and give it the information that will make them want to do it . Likewise, the most effective method for conveying , rness age c. xt be chosen . Membership Development . Most land trusts have members who contribute annually . These are sim 1 people who financially contribute to the trust on a regular basis, usually in PYP P Y � response to a mailing . A dues-paying membership gives a land trust a relatively steady and predictable source of income . Having members also helps build good will in the community and provides the basis for a pool of potential volunteers . Likewise, membership support can help convince public agencies and the media of the trust ' s legitimacy, encourage corporate and foundation funding, and meet the IRS public support tests . .t 'N Land trusts with members almost always designate categories of membership . One category used to raise early seed money is to solicit "charter" members who contribute $ 1 , 000 or more . Although many development professionals advise against it, another category is the "life" member who makes a very large contribution and receives all membership benefits for life . Finally, the mainstay of most trusts are its "regulaz" members who generally contribute $ 15 to $25 as a minimum membership fee and help establish it as a community organization . Fundraising . Fundraising is one of the top concerns of most new land trusts and of every active land trust . On average, more than two -thirds of land trusts ' operating budgets comes from individual donations and memberships . While each community and land trust is different, individuals are the most reliable and consistent source of funding . Most of the money raised from individuals comes from large donations . For example, a fundraising rule of thumb is that 80 percent of the money comes from 20 percent of the donors . 17