MLTN Infoline – May 22, 2025

May 31, 2025|Infoline

June 7th is National Trails Day

On June 5, 1993, the American Hiking Society launched its first-ever National Trails Day®. A day dedicated to celebrating the shared love for the outdoors and inspiring people to give back to the trails that connect us all. This year, National Trails Day will take place on Saturday, June 7th. Whether you lead a trail cleanup, host a hike, or create a unique event that reflects your community, there’s no wrong way to celebrate. National Trails Day is a flexible, supportive platform that can amplify the great work you’re already doing.

Here in Maine, we’ve expanded this idea to celebrate trails for the entire month of June! Love Maine Trails Month (LMTM) returns this year for its fourth annual celebration from June 1st to June 30th, 2025. To participate, volunteer at one of the many hosted events or – even better – host a LMTM event yourself!

And if you’re more of a solo act, you can still help. Commit to taking a trash bag with you whenever you hike or walk. Collect trash on a local trail, along your neighborhood sidewalk, or in a natural space near you. It’s easy to pitch in!

As the tagline for National Trails Day says, “Any trail, anywhere – leave it better,”

Angela, Jeff, Donna, and Katia

Land Trusts Work for Maine Updated

Back in 2019, Maine Coast Heritage Trust put together a publication called Land Trusts Work for Maine. The purpose of the short, full-color document was to have a printed piece we could use in our public policy work; something we could hand to Maine legislators and others who might not know a lot about the good work of land trusts, or who might have some misconceptions we hoped to clear up. It’s also a great publication that local land trusts can use when approaching potential business partners, town managers, and select boards.

We are now excited to announce that the publication has been updated with data and highlights pulled from the recently completed 2024 Maine Land Trust Census. For now, this is only available as a PDF on our website but we will be ordering print copies and making them available to land trusts and the general public free of charge. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Giving Tuesday 101: Getting the Most Out of Your Campaign

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 via Zoom

12:00-1:00pm

Cost: FREE

Presenters: Ceci Danforth, Ceci Danforth Events, and Wendy Clark, Wendy Clark Design

Are you getting all you can out of your Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign on social media? This workshop will cover content development, graphics, communications support, and plenty of tips and tricks for land trusts and organizations powered by small staffs who don’t know where to start or for those who feel that your campaign is under-performing and not meeting your goals. Plenty of time for Q&A too!

Click here to register.

Scenario and Action Planning in Times of Crisis

Thursday, June 5, 2025 via Zoom

1:00-2:30pm

Cost: $36 for MANP members*, $40 for non-members

This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Common Good Vermont

Nonprofits are slowly learning how the current administration’s actions will impact their services, funding, and ability to achieve their mission. Navigating this uncertainty can be challenging, but utilizing scenario planning allows organizations to build resilience by identifying potential responses and adapting strategically as federal policies evolve. In this training, participants will learn basic steps in scenario planning and will explore how to use the planning process in a hands-on activity.

The first 30 minutes of this 90-minute training will go through:

How to explore external factors impacts on programming, operations, and funding.
How to prioritize factors contributing to the most likely and worst-case impacts.
And how to determine actions you can take to reduce negative impacts and risks.

In the remaining time, participants will have the opportunity to work in pairs to use these tools for their own organization. The session will end with Q&A.

Learn more and get a link to register at partner website at MANP’s website.

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

Evaluation for Grantseekers: From Proposal to Reporting

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 via Zoom

2:00-4:00pm

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

Many grantseekers know that an evaluation can be a powerful tool, both for creating compelling grant proposals and providing sound reporting. This interactive session will provide participants with a framework for thinking about and including evaluation “at the front end” of the proposal process and using it for reporting at the end of the grant period. Participants will explore interpreting funder requirements, touch on the components of an evaluation plan, and discover the needs of the various stakeholders once you are implementing your grant.

Learn more and get the link to register at partner website at MANP’s website.

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

Big Money for Small Groups ~ Nonprofit Fundraising Workshop

Monday, June 16, 2025

10:00am-2:00pm

First Baptist Church of Belfast, 95 High Street, Belfast

Cost: sliding scale $60 – $120, choose an amount based on your annual budget, number of participants from your org, and the value of the expected impact on your future fundraising efforts

Belfast Flying Shoes is thrilled to host a fundraising workshop for nonprofit organizations facilitated by Andy Robinson. Nonprofit staff and board members from other nonprofit organizations in our region to join us for what promises to be an engaging and productive session, as part of the rising tide that will lift all boats!

75% of charitable funds come from individual donors, not foundations or corporations. Learn to build a fundraising program that honors your mission, engages potential donors, and raises more money. Andy will cover:

What’s your pitch? Making the case for your organization
Redefining fundraising: It’s not just asking for money
Where’s the money? Building a diverse, resilient revenue mix
Identifying potential donors
Mobilizing board members and volunteers to help with fundraising
The Ask: Raising money face to face

Learn more at Belfast Flying Shoe’s website.

Strategies for Conflict Management and De-Escalation in the Field

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 via Zoom

2:00-4:00pm

Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members

Are you prepared to handle difficult conversations and de-escalate conflicts in the field? Join this interactive conflict management and de-escalation training tailored specifically for land trust stewardship staff and volunteers. This engaging session will equip you with essential strategies to navigate disputes with landowners, neighbors and the public while ensuring personal safety and effective resolution.

Through real-world scenarios experienced by land trust practitioners, practical de-escalation techniques and actionable conflict management planning, you’ll gain the skills to tackle challenging situations with professionalism and increased confidence. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your skills and enhance your impact.

Learn more at LTA’s website.

Learning to Listen

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 via Zoom

1:00-3:00pm

Cost: Pay What You Can – $45, $55, or $65

This session will be recorded and made publicly available for all registered participants for 30 days. However, this session is interactive and will be utilizing breakout rooms, so live attendance is highly encouraged.

During these times of chaotic busyness, distraction and division, one practice has the potential to effect enormous change. Listening.

In this session, presenters will talk about sparking systems change through the simple act of listening in a new way – to ourselves and to each other. They will discuss the central importance of the quality of your awareness in designing genuinely inclusive solutions to the systemic challenges we face. Participants will:

Practice a few different modes of speaking and listening with a partner
Identify how different approaches feel somatically and emotionally
Gain tools to begin noticing the quality of their presence and listening in their everyday lives
Reflect on how it feels to be heard.

Learn more and register at MANP’s website.

Jobs in the Conservation Sector

We’ve got two exciting new job opportunities for you here this week! View the full list anytime at www.mltn.org/jobs.

Community Engagement Manager – Kennebec Estuary Land Trust

Interim Executive Director – Quahog Bay Conservancy

Update on Status of the Climate Resiliency Conservation Fund

Last year, the State of Maine was awarded a $69 million climate resilience grant from NOAA to protect Maine’s communities, environment, and working waterfronts from extreme storms, flooding, and rising sea levels. As part of these efforts, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and the Maine Land Trust Network will administer a new Climate Resiliency Conservation Fund (CRCF) to address ecological gaps on protected lands, alleviate conservation funding gaps, and leverage significant gains in protecting resilient and biodiverse landscapes. The fund will award $4.15 million over three years, with the first call for proposals expected to be in the fall of 2025.

We have engaged Jennifer Melville as the fund manager and over the coming weeks and months, we will be working closely with our state and federal partners to establish funding criteria, award guidelines, timelines, and processes.

We are excited to help create a new funding opportunity for land acquisition that will help protect susceptible lands that are critical to keeping Maine safe, healthy, and resilient. MLTN will keep you in the loop as details and developments unfold.