MLTN Infoline – June 18, 2026
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Sustained Collaborations and Merger Assistance Fund
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Is your organization considering its strategic direction and capacity? Are you curious about what collaborating with others might make possible? Consider seeking an Exploration and Feasibility grant from the Sustained Collaborations and Merger Assistance Fund. In addition to supporting groups interested in exploring a sustained collaboration, this fund also provides implementation and operating support to groups that have committed to merge. The guidelines for the Sustained Collaboration and Merger Assistance Fund were recently revised and the process for applying has been updated. Our website has much more information available now, to help you think about whether and how the Fund might be able to support your organization. The Fund includes three categories of grants, aligning with different phases of sustained collaboration and merger processes:
Grants in each category generally do not exceed $25,000 with a total maximum of $100,000 per sustained collaborative effort. Visit the MLTN website for project criteria, application information, and more.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions on any of our programs,
Angela, Megan, Katia, Donna, and Jeff
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Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference
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September 16-19, 2026 Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel, Denver, Colorado
Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference is a unique opportunity to connect with peers, explore new ideas, strengthen leadership and conservation skills, and get energized for the work ahead. Rally offers learning sessions focused on land conservation topics, networking events, exhibits, plenary sessions and an awards presentation celebrating conservation leadership.
Representatives from the Maine Land Trust Network will be attending this year, and we hope you’ll consider making the trip as well. They have lots of great programs, workshops, and round tables you can participate in. Check out the Schedule at a Glance and event descriptions.
Get all the details on the Land Trust Alliance Resource Center website. Maybe we’ll see you there!
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Survey to Better Understand Riparian Restoration Work across New England
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LegacyWorks Group is conducting a survey on behalf of regional funders to better understand riparian restoration work in New England. The goal is to help funders more effectively support the organizations and projects advancing this work. The survey asks about:
Your responses will be kept confidential. Survey data will be reported in summary form, and individual responses or quotes will not be attributed to respondents or organizations.
The survey should take about 20 and should be completed by Monday, July 13 if possible. Click here to take the survey.
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1-Day Training on How to Conduct Wildfire Risk Assessments
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Saturday, June 27, 2026 9:00am-5:00pm
Rangeley Public Safety, 15 School St, Rangeley
Hosted by Rangeley Fire Rescue
The Maine Forest Service and Rangeley Fire and Rescue are holding a one day training on how to conduct wildfire risk assessments. The course was put together by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and is helpful for land managers and volunteers in communities that are working on Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP’s). Once completed, participants are certified to be able to conduct wildfire risk assessments and can help provide data for CWPP’s and understand how embers from wildfires and nearby structure fires can ignite structures.
The 8-hour course allows time for short discussions, and your perspectives as land managers and home owners on vegetation management would be appreciated. Participants will enjoy a catered lunch and then head out into the field to practice doing home risk assessments in the afternoon.
Learn more and register here.
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Climate Resilient Forest Management Tour at the Kezar River Forest Conservation Lands
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Tuesday, July 7, 2026 10:00am – 2:00pm (optional BYO lunch)
Kezar Corridor Lands & Kezar River Forest, Lovell
Please register by June 30
Join this field tour of sites at Greater Lovell Land Trust’s Kezar Corridor Lands and Kezar River Forest where the land trust is proactively addressing forest health and enhancing forest resilience in the face of changing climate conditions and expanding invasive forest pests. GLLT staff Erika Rowland and Ben Borgmann-Winter, their consulting forester Jesse Duplin (Northwest Forest Management), Tony D’Amato (UVM), and project partner Dan Hohl (New England Forestry Foundation) will lead a tour of ongoing management and research implemented over the past two years.
This work is in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, University of Vermont, and Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. There will be opportunities to discuss current and potential future management actions at the various stops. The program is approved for 3.0 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credits.
Learn more and register here.
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Building and Sustaining Strong (and Appropriate) Board Financial Oversight
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Wednesday, July 15, 2026 via Zoom
2:30-4:30pm
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
Join this session to hear and share insights and learn from other leaders on how to effectively engage the Board of Directors in their role as fiscal stewards of the organization. Like it or not, the nonprofit model has the Board, not the Executive Director, as legally responsible for the financial health of the organization – but they often are not clear on their role or able to fulfill their fiduciary duties. In this session, you will hear insights and learn from others in the room, the tips and tricks to educate, inform and support a Board of Directors to live into their financial roles.
Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get link to register on partner website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Private Benefit and Land Trust Work
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Thursday, July 16, 2026 via Zoom 2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members
Have the words “private benefit” come up when preparing for a transaction, finalizing an amendment or approving a new use on an easement or fee property? If so, you know that those words can be some of the scariest a land trust can hear. Join experienced non-profit attorneys as they demystify the concepts of private benefit, private inurement, self-dealing, Unrelated Business Income Tax and commerciality.
Created for land trust board and staff, this webinar will introduce the legal topics and then work through hypotheticals, covering scenarios commonly faced by land trusts.
Learn more about what will be covered and register by visiting the Land Trust Alliance website.
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How CFOs Are Using AI Today… and Tomorrow
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Wednesday, July 22, 2026 via Zoom
11:00am-1:00pm 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
This session will provide examples from finance and technology professionals who can speak to how they are using AI in daily work to improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and better serve their organizational mission. This will be a safe place to ask the “dumb” questions and share ideas. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with one to three actionable steps for immediate adoption of AI within their own organizations. Examples include:
Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get link to register on partner website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Forests for Maine Fish
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Wednesday, July 22, 2026 via Zoom 12:00-1:00pm
Cost: FREE but registration is required
Join MLTN for this summer Lunch & Learn with Sally Stockwell, Director of Conservation at Maine Audubon. Sally will introduce Forests for Maine Fish—an exciting new collaborative program that highlights the vital connections between our forests, fish, and shoreland wildlife.
During this presentation, you’ll learn about the diverse aquatic and terrestrial species that depend on healthy, well-managed forests along streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Sally will also share practical recommendations for how landowners and stewards can ensure these forests provide the habitat features that fish and wildlife need to thrive.
Who should attend?
Whether you’re actively managing land or simply care about protecting Maine’s natural resources, this is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding and make a positive impact. Click here to register.
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Getting Real About Land Trust Financial Management Risks
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Wednesday, July 29, 2026 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members Land trusts invest tremendous time, energy and resources to obtain the funds needed to accomplish their missions. In this training, your organization will learn how to also invest time, energy and resources to prevent mistakes and dishonest acts from draining those resources and damaging your reputation. This practice is often known as having internal controls. If you are an executive director, board member, finance staff member or finance volunteer, your internal controls practice must assess, mitigate and respond to three major risks:
Experts will present a risk-based framework for internal controls. Through discussion of real-life control challenges that land trusts confront as they grow, you’ll learn cost effective strategies to prevent, detect and correct bad things that can threaten your good work.
Visit LTA’s website for more on what will be covered and to register.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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We had a small glitch with our submission system this week, so if you don’t want to miss a single one, check out our jobs page for the full list of open positions, with some expiring soon! Executive Director – Downeast Coastal Conservancy
Communications & Operations Coordinator – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Steward, Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area – Bates College, Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area
Major Gifts Officer – Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
Donor Relations Manager – Maine Audubon
Fundraising + Community Outreach Consultant – Hirundo Wildlife Refuge
Volunteer + Rentals Manager – Hirundo Wildlife Refuge
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Fisher Charitable Foundation
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Requests should be submitted by the 15th of August to be considered at the next meeting. Fisher Charitable Foundation is a private operating foundation established by Dean L. Fisher, late of Rockport, Maine, which became active in 1997. The Mission Statement of the Foundation states that the Fisher Charitable Foundation provides grants to tax-exempt charitable, §501(c)(3) organizations, primarily in Maine.
The Foundation welcomes proposals that offer creative solutions to community problems or take advantage of opportunities that will have a favorable impact on the quality of life for a number of people.
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