MLTN Infoline – October 28, 2026

Drum Roll Please: Announcing our 2027 Conference Keynote Speaker! 

If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to mark your calendar and save Tuesday and Wednesday, April 27 & 28 for the 2027 Maine Land Conservation Conference. This year’s featured keynote speaker on Wednesday, April 28 will be best-selling author of How to Love a Forest and the recently released The Forest Year, Ethan Tapper! We are super excited to host Ethan fresh off his book launch tour. 

For more than a decade, Ethan has been recognized as a thought-leader in the world of ecosystem stewardship and, following the release of his 2024 book, as an accomplished writer. He has won numerous regional and national awards including the 2025 New England Book Award for nonfiction for How to Love a Forest, a book that has also enjoyed growing international acclaim.   

We think Ethan’s message of relationship, responsibility, and hope is just the thing to inspire and motivate us next spring. Learn more about Ethan on his website. 

And don’t forget, we are currently accepting proposals for conference field trips, workshops, and round tables on both April 27 & 28. Read the RFP and contact us if you’d like to discuss an idea before submitting a proposal. We want to hear from you! 

Be part of next year’s conference as a presenter, an attendee, or even as a sponsor! 
Angela, Donna, Jeff, Katia, and Megan

2026 Report on Nonprofit Wages + Benefits in Northern New England: Maine Edition

To attract and retain talent, nonprofits need to set competitive wages and benefits, especially in today’s tight market. Based on data collected in the Spring and Summer of 2026, this report from Maine Association of Nonprofits covers staffing and compensation practices of 290 Maine organizations, plus an additional 376 organizations from New Hampshire and Vermont. Wage details are included for 31 job categories common to many organizations. 

You can download a free snapshot or order the full report at Maine Association of Nonprofits website. The report is free to MANP members who participated in the survey; $125 to non-member organizations who participated in the survey as well as MANP members who did not participate in the survey; and $250 for non-member organizations who did not participate in the survey. 

IRS Establishes Office of Conservation Easements  

On Aug. 19, the IRS announced the establishment of the Office of Conservation Easements. According to the press release, the office will “centralize technical expertise and coordinate policy, enforcement, and case-resolution strategy across the IRS and with the Office of Chief Counsel. It will support engagement with taxpayers, practitioners, conservation and historic preservation organizations, and other stakeholders. The Office will also work with Treasury to evaluate administrative and legislative options that advance Congress’s conservation and historic preservation objectives, promote consistent tax administration, and strengthen valuation integrity.”  

In the same press release, the IRS announced the termination of the latest uniform settlement initiative. Going forward, the office will continue to offer settlements but not on a uniform basis. The Alliance will share information about the operations of this office as it becomes available. See IRS shifts approach to conservation easement disputes and IRS to Open Office of Conservation Easements for media coverage. \

Saying Hard Things: Adopting a Coaching Mindset 

Three Wednesdays, November 4, 11, and 18, 2026 via Zoom 
12:00 – 1:30pm 
Cost: $75 for MANP members*, $95 for non-members 
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and North Carolina Center for Nonprofits 

Supervising people has never been simple, and today’s workplace brings even more complexity. The most effective supervisors don’t have all the answers—they know how to ask thoughtful questions, offer honest feedback, and help employees grow while staying accountable. 

In this practical, highly interactive three-part series, participants will learn how adopting a coaching mindset can transform difficult conversations into opportunities for greater clarity, ownership, and development. We’ll explore what gets in the way of effective coaching, practice tools for navigating challenging performance conversations, and build the confidence to lead with both honesty and compassion. 

Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get code and link to register on partner website. 

*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.   

Practical Leadership 2.0: Building Engaged Teams 

Three Thursdays, November 5, 12, and 19, 2026 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. Topics covered will include: 

• Engaged team characteristics 
• Co-creating effective team agreements 
• Cultivating trust among team members 
• Navigating conflict in teams 
• Supervisor role in fostering engaged teams 

Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get code and link to register at partner website. 

*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.  

Crisis Communications 

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 
2:00 PM – 2:30 
Cost: FREE 

When a crisis hits, it helps to be prepared. Learn how to develop a strong crisis communications strategy before you need it—and get tips for how to adapt it when risky situations unfold quickly.  

Learn more and register on MANP’s website. 

Building Community Through Bike Repair and Placemaking 

Thursday, November 12, 2026 via Zoom 
1:00-2:00pm 
Cost: FREE to attend live and viewable for 24 hours after 

Discover the B2C Bike Kitchen, a partnership effort transforming a vacant parcel along the Northern Strand Trail into a vibrant community hub. This session highlights how creative reuse—featuring repurposed shipping containers and discarded bicycles—and a robust multi-agency partnership (including State and municipal agencies, business sponsors, foundations, and volunteers) cultivates local resilience. Learn how free access to tools and instruction empowers trail users while activating public space to advance an inclusive, community-building active recreation ecosystem. Learn more about the Bike Kitchen and their operation and participant demographics.  

Learn more and register at American Trails’ website.

Understanding Rights of Way for Land Conservation Practitioners 

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 via Zoom 
2:00-3:30pm 
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members 

Land trusts and landowners aren’t the only ones interested in having rights to conservation properties. Individuals, businesses and public entities like power companies can hold rights of way, which are easements that grant access and more without ownership. During acquisition, title work should dig up any existing rights of way, but it can be tricky to understand what these documents mean and what decisions to make. Stewardship gets even trickier once rights of way holders want to start using or accessing the property.   

Conservation attorneys Eilleen Chauvet and Shari Geller Diamant with Conservation Partners LLP will share their expertise and examples of legal language during this webinar. They will cover:  

• The due diligence process and understanding existing rights of way.  
• Common examples of legal language and how to parse them.  
• Analyzing and mitigating risks related to existing rights of way during prior to acquisition.  
• Dealing with requests for expansion once the property is protected.  
• What to do about unauthorized rights-of-way expansion. 

Visit LTA’s website for more information and to register. 

New Guidance for Digital Recordkeeping 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 via Zoom 
2:00-3:30pm 
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members 

Land trusts are increasingly managing conservation records in digital environments, but doing so responsibly requires more than simply scanning documents or storing files in the cloud. Just like paper recordkeeping systems, digital systems must ensure that conservation records are complete, secure, protected and accessible for long-term efficiency. 

Drawing on real-world examples, the Land Trust Alliance has developed a guidance document to support a practical approach to designing and maintaining a digital-forward recordkeeping system that protects permanent transaction and stewardship records. Sarah Naperala (Naperala Consulting LLC, moderator of Ask an Expert), Connie Manes (Manes Consulting and executive director of Kent Land Trust) and Matt Eshleman (chief technology officer at Community IT) combined their operational, legal and technological expertise on the guidance document and this webinar. Here’s a look at what we will cover: 

• Digital storage architecture. 
• File structures and record naming conventions. 
• Document review processes to permanent formats of digital records. 
• A legal lens on digital recordkeeping. 
• Data integrity and access safeguards, including backup systems. 
• Organizational responsibility for completing and maintaining recordkeeping systems. 

During the session, we will review a digital approach to recordkeeping by following the path of a working draft document as it moves through the system, from its early draft stage to final permanent record storage. 

Participants will gain practical ideas and examples that can be adapted for organizations of any size. 

Visit LTA’s website to learn more and register. 

From Equity to Action: Building the Skills to Recognize and Change Inequity 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 via Zoom 
3:00-5:30pm 
Cost: $75 for MANP members*, $95 for non-members 
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and North Carolina Center for Nonprofits 

Many organizations have spent years building shared language around diversity, equity, and inclusion. But understanding equity and knowing what to do about inequity are different skills. This interactive workshop moves beyond definitions and awareness to build the practical skills to recognize and respond to inequity, address its root causes, and cultivate and sustain more equitable conditions. Drawing from Equity Literacy principles alongside a systems-change approach, we’ll explore how individual experiences of inequity connect to organizational policies, practices, culture, and decision-making, and how changing those systems can move equity from an organizational value into everyday practice. 

Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get code and link to register at partner website.  

*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.  

Terrafirma Tips 2026 

Thursday, November 19, 2026 via Zoom 
3:00-4:30pm 
Cost: FREE 

Bring your questions and suggestions about the Terrafirma Risk Retention Group, conservation challenges or anything else regarding lasting conservation for your preserves, trails and conservation easements. Leslie Ratley-Beach, conservation defense director at the Land Trust Alliance and vice president of Alliance Risk Management Services (manager of Terrafirma), will review trends from over 4,200 claims submitted over the past 14 years and respond to your comments. This is an opportunity for discussion about ways to enhance our collective response to challenges. 

This event is part of the Land Trust Alliance and Terrafirma’s annual risk management webinar series. If your organization is a Terrafirma member and anyone on your staff or board attends this webinar, your organization will receive the Terrafirma risk management discount for the 2027 policy year.​ 

Learn more and register at Land Trust Alliance’s website. 

Latest Postings on Our Jobs Page

These exciting positions in conservation and the environment have been added in just the past week! View the full list anytime on our website. 

• Development and Administrative Associate – Forest Society of Maine
• Senior Planner (Landowner Outreach Forester) – Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Forest Service (MFS)
• Director of Conservation – Midcoast Conservancy
• Office & Outreach Manager – Kittery Land Trust
• Field Team Leader – Maine Conservation Corps
• Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement – Chewonki Foundation

The Betterment Fund February 2027 Grants

• LOI Due: November 15th, 2026
• Full Application Due: December 15th, 2026
• All submissions due by 5 pm ET on the specified date

The Betterment Fund (“The Fund”) is a grantmaking foundation that invests primarily in small Western Maine communities. The Fund supports efforts focused on community, conservation, education, and health, along with economic development efforts. The Betterment Fund seeks to enhance the quality of life for Maine residents in an equitable manner for individuals, families and communities. The Trustees who serve on The Betterment Fund Board are committed to upholding Mr. Bingham’s vision of a thriving, equitable, and sustainable Maine. 

Please review their Grant Priorities for particulars of what the Trustees are currently seeking to fund in these areas and other areas of focus.

Concerning their conservation grantmaking, perpetuating a balanced, dynamic relationship between the natural and built environments in the three-million-acre corridor between the White Mountain National Forest and the Moosehead Lake region is of particular interest. Occasionally, the Trustees may fund projects of land trusts and environmental organizations located in the other rim counties, but focuses primarily on the western Maine counties. The Trustees are not likely to fund coastal, ocean island, or fishing-related proposals.

The Betterment Fund is introducing a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) phase as part of their grants process. This is a new step, and they look forward to learning whether it helps applicants save time and helps them gain clearer insight into whether they are a potential fit with our funding priorities. The LOI takes the form of a brief questionnaire designed to gather basic information about your organization and/or proposed project. Please note that they may revise this process in the future and could discontinue the LOI phase at any time.

Get all the information about apply, and a link to the online form at The Betterment Fund’s website.