Supporting Northumberland Land Trust to increase number of volunteers, grants, fundraising, and land donations
MPP David Piccini met with the team at the Northumberland Land Trust (NLT) to share how the Ontario Government is helping to protect more environmental lands that are critical to the welling-being of the nature and wildlife around us. He attended its volunteer appreciation event to formally congratulate them on the $45,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant it received in 2023 through the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The NLT has experienced some of its fastest growth in land donations and fundraising. The OTF grant allowed NLT to hire a fundraising and communications consultant to lead the development of annual fundraising and communications plans.
“I am glad that our government is investing in Northumberland Land Trust as it is the foundation of our community’s way to protect and preserve our province’s biodiversity” said MPP David Piccini. “The Ontario Government will continue to support crucial organizations, like Northumberland Land Trust, to ensure that communities across Ontario have access to nature, while maintaining and conserving it.
The grant also enabled NLT to purchase digital ads and help with the costs for an annual customer relationship management data system. The Northumberland Land trust holds free nature walks, a birding marathon, prescribed burns as well as stewardship activities such as removing invasive species and forest management. The NLT relies on volunteers and donations to do its work. In 2023, membership and individual donations increased 69 per cent, and stewardship donations increased 58 per cent. Corporate and foundation donations increased more than tenfold.
“With the OTF grant, the Northumberland Land Trust was able to hire Peterborough-based V-Formation, a fundraising and communications firm. We were able to raise public awareness of our efforts to preserve nature in Northumberland County,” said Rob Kennedy, President of the Northumberland Land Trust. “We had an increase in volunteer requests, successful grant applications, and an increase in donations.”
“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”
About Northumberland Land Trust
The Northumberland Land Trust (NLT) is committed to preserving the natural heritage of Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada. Its mandate is to establish, maintain and manage protected areas. The NLT is a not for profit, charitable organization, which accepts donations of land, enters into conservation agreements for the permanent protection of natural landscapes, forests, farms and waterways and provides public education and information on land conservation tools. The Trust also raises funds to purchase local land for the purposes of conservation. The NLT is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a cross section of the community including landowners, farmers, business people and professionals. People can donate through the NLT’s website at nltrust.ca or email at info@nltrust.ca.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
