MLTN Infoline – February 20, 2024
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Priority Conservation Tax Legislation Moves Forward
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We have exciting news to share: Governor Mills released her Supplemental Budget last Wednesday. One of the highlights is that she is proposing to extend sales tax exemption to all 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Maine! This is a critical first step and Maine Coast Heritage Trust will continue to work closely with the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) to get this provision across the finish line. Contact MANP’s Mary Alice Scott if you’re interested in adding your organization’s name to a sign on letter to be shared with the Appropriations and Taxation Committees this week.
In other public policy news, MCHT has been working closely with a diverse group of stakeholders over the past several months on an effort to amend the state’s Open Space Current Use Tax Law. We have recently reached consensus on changes to LD 1648 and last week a majority of the Taxation Committee voted in favor of our amendment.
For more information on both of these bills, check out our website.
We hope you’ll join with MCHT and our partners to show support for these exciting policy landmarks!
Angela, Jeff, and Donna
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Espy Land Heritage Award Nomination Reminder
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Nominations due by midnight, Thursday, February 29, 2024 Don’t delay! Nominations for this year’s Espy Land Heritage Award are due in just a little over one week. This is a once-a-year opportunity to recognize someone in your community who deserves to be honored for their dedication and commitment to conserving Maine’s natural heritage and scenic beauty. Visit our website for more information, list of past recipients, and a link to our online nomination form.
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Virtual Grant Workshop for Community Forest Programs
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Wednesday, February 28, 2024
1:00-3:00pm
This workshop is mandatory to apply for funds
The Maine Forest Service is pleased to announce the availability of grants for community forestry projects under the Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program. Through Project Canopy, a program by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Forest Service, a total of $1,000,000 in grants will be offered, comprising $250,000 in Project Canopy Assistance grants and $750,000 in Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry grants. These grants aim to support projects in the following categories: Project Canopy Assistance Planning and Education
Project Canopy Planting and Maintenance
Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry
Participating in the grant workshop is mandatory to apply for the 2024 Project Canopy Assistance or Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry grants. The virtual grant workshop will cover grant writing, project development, sustainable community forest management, and grant administration for both programs. Register for the virtual workshop here.
For complete grant application and workshop information, visit the Project Canopy website. For more details, contact Jan Ames Santerre either by phone: 207-287-4987 or email: .
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America the Beautiful Applicant Webinar
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Thursday, February 29, 2024 2:30–4:30pm Pre-Proposals Due: Thursday, April 4, 2024 by 11:59pm
Full Proposals Due (by invitation only): Tuesday, July 16, 2024 by 11:59pm
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), through anticipated cooperative agreements from the Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is releasing the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP). In year three of the ATBC, approximately $119 million will be awarded in nationwide funding to conserve, connect, and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend.
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Grant Seeking, Grant Writing, and Grant Reporting Guidance from MANP
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Maine Association of Nonprofits and Common Good Vermont are joining forces to offer a trio of webinars to help support your grant work. Tuesday, March 5, 2024 from 10:00am-12:00pm, $35 Friday, March 8, 2024 from 10:00am- 1:00pm, $55
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 from 10:00am-12:00pm, $35
Visit MANP’s website for all the information and a link to register on the partner website.
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Board Roles & Responsibilities
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Wednesday, March 6, 2024 via Zoom 6:00-7:30pm
Cost: $45 MANP members*, $65 for non-members
Discounts for teams! $25 off each additional registration from the same organization
A strong board of directors is built upon clear understanding of basic roles and responsibilities. This session will provide an overview of a board’s primary legal duties, important responsibilities and essential roles in governing the organization and stewarding its mission.
Visit MANP’s website for information and to register.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Capital Campaigns – Are You Really Ready?
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Friday, March 8, 2024 via Zoom 10:00am-2:30pm
Cost: $75 for MANP members*, $150 for non-members
Attend as a team and save! Additional attendees from the same organization save $15 each
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits
A skilled fundraiser with over 35 years in the field, Betsy McNamara will walk participants through the elements of a successful capital campaign as well as traps to avoid. Participants will come away from this workshop with an understanding of how a campaign works, what it means to be campaign-ready, and what steps they may need to take to get their organization to campaign readiness. The session will explore the following questions:
Visit MANP’s website for more information and link to register on the partner website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Easement Violations
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Wednesday, March 13, 2024 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members Violations can result in complex situations with a variety of factors that influence potential solutions. This scenario-based webinar will discuss how to respond to and evaluate conservation easement violation situations and become comfortable with strategizing outcomes. Ellen Kazary of the accredited Great Land Trust, Alice Jones of Open Land Law and Martin King of Worden Thane will share their expertise. Here’s a look at what will be covered:
Learn more and register on the Land Trust Alliance website.
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Staffing Your Land Trust
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Wednesday, March 20, 2024 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members Hiring the right people is hard. You’re looking for people who believe in your land trust’s mission, fit into your organization’s culture and have the skills necessary to succeed. Led by Jodi Segal of Big Change Consulting, this training will provide practical tools to identify the most important skills and experience needed to address staffing gaps, create equitable job postings and examine best practices for staffing your land trust. Here’s a look at what will be covered:
Visit LTA’s website for information and to register.
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2024 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference
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Thursday, March 28, 2023
7:30am-4:00pm
Augusta Civic Center
Cost of Full Day Registration: $65
The Maine Sustainability & Water Conference provides an annual forum where professionals, researchers, consultants, citizens, students, regulators, and planners gather to exchange information and present new findings on sustainability and water resource issues in Maine. Launched in 1994 by UMaine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center with a primary focus on the future of Maine’s water resources, the conference has grown to incorporate topics related to many of the sustainability challenges facing Maine, including issues related to climate change, energy futures, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, and municipal planning. The conference attracts a broad audience of close to 400 participants from across the state.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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We have more job listings than ever before. See what new position might be waiting for you! Some of the newest additions here or view the full list on the website. Grants Officer – Maine Farmland Trust
Development Officer – Maine Farmland Trust
Multiple Positions – Friends of Cobbossee Watershed
Summer Steward Positions – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Director of Engagement – High Peaks Alliance
Summer Camp Assistant – Wells Reserve
Washington County Assistant Steward (Seasonal Full Time) – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Vice President of Finance & Administration and CFO – Friends of Acadia
Southern Maine Assistant Steward (Seasonal Full Time) – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Seasonal Land Steward – Woodie Wheaton Land Trust
Stewardship Interns – Coastal Mountains Land Trust
Mount Desert Island Assistant Steward (Seasonal Full Time) – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Multiple Positions – Maine Audubon
Development Officer – Forest Society of Maine
Executive Director – Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation
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Clif Family Foundation Grants
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Application Deadline: March 1st and August 1st
The foundation invites applications for its Operational Support grants program, which supports daily operating costs and specific projects. The foundation will give priority to proposals that address two or more of its funding priorities at the same time: strengthening the food system, enhancing equitable community health outcomes, and safeguarding the environment and natural resources; applicants that demonstrate strong community ties; and those that operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change. For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Clif Family Foundation website.
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