Membership
The Farm & Natural Lands Trust is supported by a broad-based membership of individuals and corporations, grants and income from special events. The costs associated with the Trust include:
- Educating landowners on land preservation and other programs available to them.
- Educating elected officials on the importance of land preservation and the costs of community services.
- Annual site inspection of preserved properties to guarantee land use compliance to the terms of the Conservation Easement.
- Partnering with state agencies, local governments, nearby land trusts and national land preservation organizations to preserve York County’s precious natural resources.
- Collaborating with others to protect and restore valuable water resources such as the Codorus Creek Watershed, York Company Watershed and Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Benefits of membership include:
- Partnering with an organization that is actively preserving farm and natural lands.
- Preservation Quarterly – our quarterly newsletter containing updates on our preservation projects and issues concerning York County.
- Advanced notification and ticket options to our special events.
Download the membership form or to join by phone with a credit card, call the Trust office at 717-843-4411.
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Land Stewardship Endowment Fund
Our Land Stewardship Endowment Fund generates income to fund the ongoing cost of performing annual site inspections of all our preserved lands. The Farm & Natural Lands Trust is required by the IRS to annually monitor/inspect all of its eased properties. Our monitoring program includes a personal site visit, photographs and a report. Funds may also be used on legal council to enforce/uphold our conservation easement, should a violation occur or an amendment needed. Only the interest proceeds generated by the funds in the Land Stewardship Fund are used by the Trust to cover our outlined costs. Donations earmarked for the Land Stewardship fund will be restricted for the above stated purposes.
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Heritage Fund/Endowment Fund
The Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County Endowment Fund of York County Community Foundation was initially created by a gift from Nancy and Paul H. Keiser, a former member of our Board of Directors. The fund supports the Trust’s preservation work, programs and operations.
Individuals, families and businesses have two options in making a contribution to the Endowment Fund: 1) a direct donation of cash or stock may be directly mailed to the York County Community Foundation (YCCF), or 2) a check/credit card gift can be received at the Trust office for us to forward to the YCCF. All donations sent to the Trust office earmarked for the Endowment or Heritage Fund will be restricted for that purposes only.
Another way to contribute to the fund, at a later time, would be for you to include the Trust in your estate planning process.
For information on making a donation of stock, please contact the Trust office for the necessary information.
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Estate Planning
What Does Your Will Say About You?
Your will may say many things about you. It says that you care about your loved ones. You want to make it easier for them by taking care of legal matters relating to the transfer of your estate. You want to limit the burden on those who will be experiencing grief.
In addition, having a will means that you have sought to conserve your estate. You can reduce taxes and probate costs by designating what things will go where and who will be responsible for handling the details. The cost savings resulting from a well thought-out estate plan means that more of your estate can go to family members and other beneficiaries.
Finally, your will provides insight into your lifetime interests and concerns. Bequests for family members tell of your love and concern for their welfare. Bequests to organizations tell others about your values.
For example, when you include the Farm & Natural Lands Trust in your will, you reveal that caring for others is worthwhile and you affirm your belief in the mission of our organization. Such action encourages those you leave behind to consider how they can also help those in need, and continue your legacy of caring for others.
Because it says so much, you are wise to think about your will carefully. We at the Farm & Natural Lands Trust encourage you to take care of this very important matter. We urge you to contact your attorney or financial planner to discuss ways to benefit your family and your favorite charities at the same time, through and estate plan. Contact the Farm & Natural Lands Trust office for more information about the Trust and how you may make a meaningful charitable gift.
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Volunteers
A volunteer is a person who willingly offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking without pay. For a small non-profit like the Farm & Natural Lands Trust to have people in our community willing to volunteer is to have a true asset. Throughout the year we have tasks/events where we require the help of volunteers.
- Bulk mailing preparations
- Serve on a committee
- Special Events
- Education & Marketing
- Land Preservation
- Finance
- Providing administrative skills in our office
- Staffing our booth at Trust events and others such as YorkFest, Mid-Atlantic Flower and Garden Show, etc.
- Helping out during Trust sponsored events
Interested in getting involved through volunteering your time and talents? Contact the Trust office at
717-843-4411 or email to info@farmtrust.org.
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In-kind Donations
From time to time businesses and individuals find themselves with un-wanted or extra office supplies. The Farm & Natural Lands Trust may be able to make use of those items. If you would like to make a donation, please contact the Trust office.
Wish List:
- Office chairs
- Printing/coping services
- US Postage Stamps
- Office supplies
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