Supporting BTLT Through Clynk To Give

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By BTLT summer intern, Hannah Leitzell

As a full-time college student, it’s not often feasible for me to give financial support to organizations like BTLT, despite how much I may want to. Between tuition, rent, books, and groceries on a part-time job wage, there’s not a ton of room for donation. What I do seem to have capacity for, however, is filling Clynk bags with returnables. In fact, over the course of the last few months, I have developed a modest collection of bottles and cans in my garage that I have been reluctant to deal with for one reason or another. By modest, I mean a giant pile of returnables that I have dubbed “Mt. Bottles and Cans”. When I found out that BTLT has a Clynk To Give account, it was just the lightbulb I needed to support a cause I love and attack the aforementioned Mt. Bottles and Cans – and the best part is you can do this, too! 

There are two ways to support BTLT using the Clynk To Give program. The first you may be familiar with – using a BTLT Clynk bag to collect your returnables. You can swing by the BTLT office at 179 Neptune Drive or visit the BTLT booth at the Saturday Farmers’ Market at Crystal Spring Farm to get a Clynk bag with a BTLT account sticker. Once you’ve filled it up you can take it to a Clynk drop-off area at a local Hannaford. Click here for all Clynk drop-off sites in Maine. There you can scan the bag tag, open the chute, and drop off the bag. BTLT will receive the proceeds of your returnables and your garage will be free of Mt. Bottles and Cans.   

If you don’t have time or inclination to get a pre-stickered BTLT Clynk bag, have no fear – you can also donate to BTLT via the Clynk To Give option. Clynk To Give allows community members to donate some or all of their Clynk account balance to important causes like BTLT. 

The first step in donating from your Clynk account balance is to create a Clynk account. If you have an account number already but haven’t yet visited the Clynk site, you can do so with your account number and your pin. If you don’t yet have a Clynk account, you can create one here.

Once you have your Clynk online access squared away, follow these easy steps: 

  1. Log in to Clynk account in the top right corner of the website. 
  2. Click the donate button on the lefthand side of the screen. 
  3. Select Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, either by scrolling to it or by typing it into the search bar. 
  4. Select the amount you wish to give. 
  5. Click ‘Confirm’ and you’re done! 

You can also visit the Clynk kiosk at your local Hannaford, access your account, select ‘Donate,’ and give some or all of your balance to BTLT – no fuss, no muss! 

See how easy it is to financially support your favorite local non-profit by barely lifting a finger? I have found this method of giving to be really accessible and a great way to donate without breaking my own bank. If you too have a Mt. Bottles and Cans in your garage, shed, or basement, stop in to the BTLT office to grab a free Clynk bag or give via your Clynk account. Thank you! 

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

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Most of you have supported the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust for years and years and years. Over 50% of you made your first gift to BTLT 10 years ago or earlier. Last year, 80% of you renewed your membership support of our work, far outpacing the national nonprofit annual retention average of 40 to 45%. The steadfastness of your membership fills us with awe and gratitude.

And what a difference your support has made! Your annual fund gifts and donations to land projects have protected more than 3,220 acres of land in Brunswick, Topsham, and Bowdoin. You have protected wildlife habitat, salt marshes, and farmland. You’ve conserved miles of river frontage, critically imperiled sand plain grasslands, and quiet forests, home to deer and foxes and skunks and so many other local critters. You have made all of our land conservation work possible and have given our community places to explore, exercise, and experience all that our incredible natural areas have to offer. You have made it possible for the Land Trust to make the forever commitments that underlie land conservation. We — and future generations — thank you for your generosity.
You can actually continue your preservation efforts far after your lifetime with a gift through your estate. Leaving a gift to BTLT is a profound way to ensure that we keep our conservation and stewardship promises, while also positioning us to answer the “what ifs” that arise as we strive to meet the expanding needs of our communities. As August is “Make-a-Will Month,” please consider creating or updating your will to leave a percentage of your estate to the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. You can do this by talking to your attorney or using an online estate planning tool. We have some resources on our website, including sample language to make a bequest and information about other gift planning options, such as designating BTLT as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or investment account. If you have already included BTLT in your estate plans, we would love to know, both to be sure we understand your intentions and to thank you. Thank you in advance for considering making a planned gift to BTLT, enabling you to continue what you’ve already begun and ensure a solid future for land preservation in our midcoast area.
If you have any questions or need additional information about legacy giving options, please do not hesitate to call Kristi Hatrick, Director of Development, at (207) 729-7694 or email her at kristi@btlt.org.

A Note to Our Members and Partners

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Your steadfast support of our work is absolutely remarkable and we are grateful that you continue to support our conservation, stewardship, education, and community engagement work as generously as you do. Thank you. On June 30th we wrapped up Fiscal Year 2023, and though we are still calculating the final results, early indications show:

  • Nearly 80% of our Members and Partners renewed their support;
  • Over 1,150 people donated over $415,000 in support of our operating budget, a new program high; and
  • We welcomed 260 new supporters.

Your financial support puts us on a strong financial footing as we now formally join together with the Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA) into one organization. We are excited to continue our critical work of protecting valued local landscapes and resources and are thrilled to now add CREA’s school programs and summer camp to our joint offerings. Your dollars make all of this possible. Thank you.

 

The Woodward Point Accessible Trail Project

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The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust and Maine Coast Heritage Trust and are fundraising to create a level, half-mile trail at Brunswick’s popular Woodward Point Preserve. Join the effort and make a gift today—every dollar supports making this beautiful preserve more accessible to everyone in our community! 

GIVE TODAY!

We want community members of all abilities to enjoy the beauty of Woodward Point.

Our goal is to build an accessible trail and parking to facilitate access for all visitors, including people who need a level surface to walk, use a wheelchair, or push a stroller.

To do this we need to raise $132,000.

Trails create active, healthy, and happy communities. Everyone deserves the enjoyment of this special place!

How this place became open to the public

Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust conserved Woodward Point in 2019, realizing the previous landowners’ dream of permanent protection for the property’s open space, scenic beauty, and extensive ecological values.

Woodward Point is a much-loved outdoor resource

Just minutes from downtown Brunswick, Woodward Point is a cherished destination for walking, nature observation, kayaking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails cut across several large fields, through woods, and down to the shore. Stone steps at four locations provide access to the water—including at a hand-carry boat launch site not far from the parking lot.

When you give today you will help:

  • Establish a level, half-mile accessible trail with a stone dust surface;
  • Make Woodward Point safe and accessible to more people;
  • Expand local outdoor opportunities for people of all abilities.

Thank you for considering a gift to help us enhance this community preserve!

For more information, please contact:

Angela Twitchell, BTLT Executive Director: 207-729-7694 angela@btlt.org

OR

Seth Levy, MCHT Donor Engagement Officer: 207-607-4361 slevy@mcht.org

Additional project details:

Woodward Point Preserve was conserved with generous support from many individuals, the Town of Brunswick, the Land for Maine’s Future Program, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Wetlands Program.

Town/County: Brunswick, Cumberland County
Total Project cost: $132,000

A Great Year of Support from Our Members

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What a year — and how grateful we are to you, our members!

As the pandemic unfolded in Maine one year ago, we, like you, were not sure what to expect. We knew our properties and trails would be more important than ever for those seeking solace and fresh air and exercise, but we were not sure what the economic fallout would be. Our members quickly made it clear, however, that if they could continue to support our work, they would.

We now find ourselves closing in on the end of a second fiscal year impacted by Covid-19. We are working hard to meet our Annual Fund goals. To date, we have raised $226,736 towards our goal of $257,753 and we have 927 members with a goal of 1,078 members.

We have $31,017 left to raise and 151 members to add to our ranks by the end of our fiscal year on June 30th. We could use your help!

If our properties, programs, and trails helped to make the past year a little better for you and your family, helped to ease your mind, and maybe made things a little less stressful, we ask you to make a gift to BTLT before the end of our fiscal year on June 30th. Your support makes everything we do possible!

You can make a secure, online donation HERE or feel free to mail a donation to our new office located at 179 Neptune Drive, Suite 200, Brunswick, 04011. Thank you for helping to make our work possible!

Support Local Businesses During These Tough Times

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We encourage you to make a special effort these next few months to enjoy the offerings of our local businesses — businesses that have done so much to support the midcoast area, including the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. This time of year is typically quieter for restaurants and stores, a lull that has been exacerbated by Covid-19. The Brunswick Downtown Association has done a terrific job of keeping the community up-to-date about safely accessing local restaurants, stores, lodging, and services.

 

 

Here’s their link:  https://brunswickdowntown.org/brunswick-business-updates/

Thank You 2020 Business Sponsors

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The end of any year is a time for reflection; the end of 2020 is a time for deep and abiding gratitude. We are particularly grateful for our [FY 2020 Business Supporters] who, despite the significant economic challenges of a global pandemic, continued to support our work. Our 33 Business Partners (donors of $1,000 or more) and our Business Members (donors of up to $999) contributed 21% of our FY 2020 Annual Fund dollars. We are also pleased to welcome in FY 2021 new Business Partner R.W. Media Productions and five new or returning Business Members — Chickenscratch, Skillins Greenhouses, Brunswick Instant Printing, L.L. Bean, and Morning Glory. Please join us in supporting these and other local businesses as they continue to face uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead.

 

Please join us in supporting these and other local businesses as they continue to face uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank You,

BTLT

Fall 2020 Times Record Ad

Giving Tuesday 2020

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‘Tis the Season (and the Year) for Reflection and Gratitude

In a year that unfolded unlike any other, we find ourselves so very grateful to our members for their continued support of our work. Despite the onset of a global pandemic and its accompanying uncertainties, we increased our membership to 1,074 members. This loyalty, coupled with the receipt of a Payroll Protection Program loan, enabled us to meet our FY 2020 budget and serve the needs of our communities by:
  • Stewarding our trails and properties, which have seen a dramatic increase in use since March;
  • Building new trails at Kate Furbish Elementary School, creating Covid-safe outdoor learning spaces for Brunswick’s young learners;
  • Delivering over three thousand pounds of fresh, healthy produce to Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, all grown in the Common Good Garden at the Tom Settlemire Community Garden;
  • Serving farmers and community alike with our Farmers’ Market — and proving its agility with not one but two moves!; and
  • Continuing our programmatic work virtually through podcasts, books, and videos, encouraging our membership to engage with nature safely.

Your membership support helps to make all of our work possible. Thank you!

Now that we are midway through FY 2021, the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic continue to pose funding challenges for us.

If you haven’t yet joined us as a member, we encourage you to do so. If you are already a member but haven’t yet renewed your membership this fiscal year, we encourage you to do so. And if you find yourself in a position to increase your donation or make an additional gift to us this year, we could use your help now, more than ever.

Thank you.