MLTN Infoline – February 20, 2025
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Federal Funding Uncertainty
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President Trump signed and then quickly rescinded an executive order in late January freezing funds for a variety of policy initiatives including many conservation programs. Despite the rescission, there continues to be uncertainty regarding the fate of federal funding approved by Congress and set in motion by the Biden Administration. We want to hear from you. MCHT is actively compiling examples. Let us know what you’ve been experiencing:
Please send information to MCHT Policy Director Jeff Romano.
Once we have a better understanding of the current situation, we can better assess what impacts, if any, the current administration is having on conservation funding initiatives. Then we can develop appropriate strategies in response.
Thanks for your help!
Angela, Jeff, Donna, and Katia
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MLTN Webinar: New IRS Reporting Requirements on Gifts from Pass-Thru Entities – How Land Trusts Can Comply
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Wednesday, March 19, 2025 via Zoom
9:00-10:00am
Cost: FREE but please pre-register
On February 11, MLTN offered a Lunch & Learn webinar with Diana Norris, Conservation Defense Network and Tax Manager with the Land Trust Alliance. The topic was Navigating IRS Regulations: New Reporting Requirements for Donated Conservation Easements and Land. Diana discussed new U.S. Treasury regulations that, in short, mean that certain conservation easement and land donations from pass-through entities may need to be reported to the IRS; failure to do so could trigger significant penalties. If you missed that webinar, you can watch the recording here. On March 19 at 9:00am, Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s General Counsel Karin Marchetti, will present a follow up webinar to help land trusts understand how they can comply with the new rule and share provide practical steps they can take. We will record this one, too, so if you can’t make that day but want to recording, please register.
Learn more and register for the webinar on mltn.org.
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Practical Leadership 1.0: Cultivating Thriving Supervisory Relationships
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 4, 5, & 6, 2025 via Zoom 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: $135 for MANP members*, $175 for non-members
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Effectively carrying out a supervisor role is more “art” than science. Often, managers are left on their own to try and figure out how to implement their supervisor duties. Unskilled supervision can create organizational cultures that are ineffective at best, and “toxic” at worst. When supervisors understand the expectations of their role, they are able to supervise in a way that fosters healthy working relationships with each employee that reports to them. This, in turn, creates thriving, inclusive organizational cultures.
This highly interactive training provides participants with immediately implementable tools and strategies.
This workshop is one of MCN’s most popular trainings and consistently receives high evaluations. You will receive tools and ideas that you can immediately implement.
Learn more on MANP’s website and get a link to register on partner website. Please note that a separate user account is required on MCN’s website to register.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status
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EXCEL-lence Spreadsheet Bootcamp
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Four Wednesdays, March 5-26, 2025 via Zoom 12:00-3:15pm
Cost: Invite your whole team for one flat fee! $125 for MANP members*, $250 for non-members
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Montana Nonprofit Association
If you work with any type of data, from grant reporting to program tracking, improving your skills in Excel is one of the easiest ways to level up your efficiency and productivity at work. This fast-paced course will start at the very beginning: introducing Excel as an essential tool for any nonprofit professional. We will build on that foundation to teach participants how to effectively organize, analyze, and visualize data in ways that make work easier, smarter, more productive, and more efficient.
This course will be broken into three sections: Excel 101 (Beginner), Excel 201 (Intermediate), and Excel 202 (Upper Intermediate). The only prerequisite for this course is that participants are encouraged to have an active subscription for Microsoft Excel.
Learn more on MANP’s website and get link to register on partner website. Simply select the MNA Member rate when registering and be sure to provide your state when asked during registration, to verify. No code needed!
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Practical Leadership 2.0: Building Engaged Teams
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Three Thursdays, March 6, 13, and 20, 2025 via Zoom
11:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $135 for MANP members*, $175 for non-members This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Many work environments are increasingly complex and uncertain, requiring high functioning teams. Effective teamwork and collaboration needs to be cultivated and given regular attention. This workshop helps team leaders develop shared leadership among team members and provides concrete tools for improving collaboration between team members.
This workshop is designed specifically for team leaders. It is one of MCN’s most popular trainings and consistently receives high evaluations. You will receive tools and ideas that you can immediately implement.
Learn more on MANP’s website and get a link to register on partner website. Please note that a separate user account is required on MCN’s website to register.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status
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Introduction to GIS Mapping Online Course
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Fully online, instructor-supported, at your own pace
Available starting Feb. 18, 2025 but you can join anytime to complete it before June 30, 2025!
$100 includes course module and software access, instructor support, and project assessment.
Apply online instruction to “real-world” problems while gaining valuable Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills! The Maine Geospatial Institute, in collaboration with the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative, is offering this professional development opportunity to learners from any discipline who would like to understand the basics of cutting-edge mapping technology and tools – and use them, too! No prior GIS experience is required.
Learn more about this courses read testimonials, and register here. |
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Acquisition and Stewardship Peer Group for Land Trusts
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Every three weeks on Tuesdays from May 2025 through November 2026, except for instances where the date had to be shifted 11:00am-12:30pm
Cost: FREE
Join your land and conservation easement acquisition and stewardship peers across the eastern half of the U.S. to expand your knowledge and skills and find a place for support — sharing your successes and seeking solutions to your challenges. This is a peer learning experience especially for land trust professionals working on acquisition, stewardship and management of land and conservation easements. Beginning in May 2025 and running for 18 months, this opportunity will offer multiple ways to connect and learn with others, from training to network building to roundtable discussions focusing on various aspects of acquisition and stewardship.
Learn more about the program components, eligibility, and how to apply at LTA’s website.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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Once again we have more openings posted to our job board than we can list here, so please visit our website for the full list and all the newest additions. Here are some highlights. Program Internship – Maine Audubon
Part-Time Development & Outreach Coordinator – Great Works Regional Land Trust
Finance Grants Manager – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Summer Education and Communications Specialist – Scarborough Land Trust
Seasonal Steward, Washington County – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Stewardship Coordinator – Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Director of Stewardship – Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator – Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
Seasonal Assistant Steward, Mount Desert Island – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Project Manager: West Branch of the Pleasant River – Downeast Salmon Federation
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Clif Family Foundation Open Call Grants
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The Foundation reviews applications twice a year; the deadlines are March 1 and August 1. The Clif Family Foundation was established in 2006 to support grassroots groups led by people with vision and commitment.
The foundation invites applications for its Open Call grants, which support general operating cost or specific projects. Priority is given to applicants that advance the foundation’s strategic priorities and align with its values, focus their work primarily in the United States and its organized incorporated territories, demonstrate strong community ties, have operating budgets under $3 million, and operate at the grassroots level to implement change at the local, state or national stage.
Foundation priorities include regenerative and organic farming, food production workers’ health and safety, climate justice, healthy food access, inclusive outdoor access, and pollution-free indoor and outdoor environments. Typical grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and last for one year.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Clif Family Foundation website.
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