MLTN Infoline – January 15, 2026
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Preparing for 2026 Maine Legislative Session
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Maine’s 132nd Legislature returned to Augusta on January 7th. Policymakers will be taking up a few hundred bills carried over from their session that ended in June and at least another hundred new bills that will be printed in the weeks ahead. There are a handful of issues that impact the work of land conservation organizations that the legislature will address in 2026. Public Policy Director Jeff Romano has provided a detailed update on some of those issues on our website, including Land for Maine’s Future funding, housing legislation, and recreational access to private lands. If you’d like to hear from Jeff and his colleague Kaitlyn Nuzzo at The Nature Conservancy about their insights on these and other issues and have the chance to ask questions, join our Preview of the 2026 State Legislative Session Lunch & Learn next Tuesday at noon. Learn more and register here.
Happy New Year!
Angela, Jeff, Megan, Donna, and Katia
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Evaluation Workshop Series with the Data Innovation Project
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Four Thursdays mornings during February and March 2026 via Zoom Co-hosted by Momentum Conservation & Maine Land Trust Network
Cost: FREE but you must register
Curious about how to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of your programs, policies, or organization?
Join the Data Innovation Project for a FREE virtual workshop series designed for land trusts and other conservation organizations. This four-part series will cover program monitoring, evaluation, and data collection—both quantitative and qualitative. Organizations of all sizes will benefit from learning how to integrate evaluation practices into their systems.
The morning sessions (10am-12pm or 10am-12:30pm) will cover topics such as setting the foundation, performance management, survey development, and introduction to qualitative data collection and analysis. While you are encouraged to attend all four webinars, you are welcome to join even if you can’t make them all.
Learn more and register at our website. Huge thanks to Momentum for coordinating this learning opportunity!
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Just Do It: Build the Endowment You Really Need
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Thursday, January 29, 2026 via Zoom 2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members
Have you been told that donors won’t contribute to stewardship? Do you know what your organization needs to thrive, but have trouble convincing your board to take the first step? Join San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust’s executive director Sharon Weaver and assistant director Sarah Parkes, assistant director to learn how determined land trust staff in a “challenging fundraising region” created an operations and maintenance endowment despite a lack of enthusiasm from consultants and board members.
Sharon and Sarah utilized interviews and a challenge from a foundation to kick start an operations and maintenance endowment for their land trust’s properties and trails, which gained the support from those that originally said it couldn’t be done. They also helped create a campaign for a parks sales tax ballot measure in a local community and lobbied for state funding from a supportive elected leader. With persistence, focus and the use of campaign-like fundraising techniques, you can secure the funding that you need, too.
For more on what this webinar will cover and to register, visit LTA’s website.
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Practical Leadership 1.0: Cultivating Thriving Supervisory Relations
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Three 2-hours sessions from Tuesday, February 3 through Thursday, February 5, 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
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. The six-hour virtual training is spread out over three two-hour sessions, February 3, 4, and 5, from 11 AM – 1 PM (EST) each day.
For more information on what will be covered at each session and specific learning objectives, and to get a code and link to register on partner website, visit MANP’s website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Board Roles + Responsibilities
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Wednesday, February 4, 2026 via Zoom
5:30-7:00pm Cost: $45 for MANP members*, $65 for non-members
Discounts for teams! $25 off each additional registration from the same organization. Scholarships available!
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.
This webinar is for individuals already serving on nonprofit boards who are seeking an overview of their roles and responsibilities. Board members who have some board service experience will gain the most from participation. It is strongly suggested that multiple board members from the same organization and the executive director participate as a team for maximum benefit.
Learn more and register here.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Beginning Grantseeking
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Thursday, February 5, 2026 via Zoom 2:00-5:00pm
Cost: $95 for MANP members*, $135 for non-members
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Where does the grantseeking process start? How do you find funders interested in your organization and your programs? There are proven tactics for finding funders that are a good fit for your organization–and plentiful resources online–many of them free.
In this three-hour live online training, we’ll discuss the best ways to begin grantseeking (which is closer than you think!), explore four good places to start looking, work through a proven process for finding funder information, discover how to “dig deeper” into a foundation’s interests, and determine the best way for you to start capturing what you are learning about your organization and its potential funders. This training is specifically designed to help you gain important grantseeking competencies and skills related to researching, identifying, and matching funding resources to meet specific needs.
For more information on specific learning objectives and to get a code and link to register on partner website, visit MANP’s website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Leading with Care: Trauma-Informed Leadership for Nonprofit Professionals
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026 via Zoom 10:00am-12:00pm
Cost: $50 for MANP members*, $70 for non-members
This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
In times of uncertainty and stress, leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about creating stability, trust, and a culture where people can do their best work. Trauma-informed leadership is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for navigating today’s workplace, where systemic challenges and emotional strain impact performance, morale, and retention. This interactive workshop will give you practical tools to understand, address and mitigate trauma’s impact – helping you to create a culture where both you and your team can thrive. It will cover how to recognize the impact of trauma in the workplace; how to apply trauma-informed leadership principles; and will help you enhance your communication and conflict resolution skills.
Learn more about the workshop and get code and link to register on partner website at MANP’s website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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K-12 Education Evaluation Toolkit Guide
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026 via Zoom 2:00-3:30pm
Cost: FREE
The Land Trust K-12 Education Evaluation Toolkit was created by Catalyst Consulting Group in partnership with the Land Trust K-12 Community of Practice to help land trusts who have dedicated K-12 and youth outdoor education programming. In this webinar, you will learn how to evaluate the success of your programs. The toolkit has seven practical, field-tested tools with step-by-step guidance and real-world examples.
Learn more and register at LTA’s website.
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Maine Invasive Species Network Meeting
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Wednesday, April 1, 2026
8:00am-5:00pm
Wells Conference Center, University of Maine, Orono Cost: $25 includes lunch and refreshments
Please register by March 1, 2026
Anybody interested in invasive species management and research is welcome to attend. The meeting will include State of the State updates, research updates from the University of Maine, regulatory and policy updates from the Federal Government, panel discussions on community engagement and on integrated pest management, and an open discussion on planning the future of invasive species research and management in Maine. Final meeting program is to follow shortly.
Register here by March 1st.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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It’s the time of year when our jobs page swells! New additions listed here or the full list on our website. Marketing Manager – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Summer Program Steward (Seasonal) – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Summit Steward – Friends of Acadia
Lead Summit Steward – Friends of Acadia
Seasonal Land Steward – Falmouth Land Trust
Restoration Field Technicians – Schoodic Institute
Ecology Field Technicians – Schoodic Institute
Summer Stewardship Internship – Kennebec Land Trust
Multiple Entry-Level and Lead Positions – Maine Conservation Corps
Development Director – Island Heritage Trust
Seasonal Stewardship and Grounds Assistant – Maine Audubon
Summer Tidal Wetland Restoration Steward – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Land Management Intern – Greater Lovell Land Trust
Invasive Plant Technician – Maine Natural Areas Program
Habitat Restoration Manager – Downeast Salmon Federation
Seasonal LakeSmart Program Assistant – Maine Lakes
Field Ecology Assistant – Maine Natural Areas Program
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