Phone: (610) Fax: (610) Website: wctrust.org Year Incorporated: 1996

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1 I. CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY SHEET One page only. This page will be shared electronically with Grant Committee Members & Fund Advisors. Note: If DVG Common Grant Application is used, the CCCF s Summary Sheet MUST accompany application. To obtain an electronic version of this application, visit Date: 08/05/2014 Contact Information: Organization Name: Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) Address: 925 Providence Road Newtown Square, PA Phone: (610) Fax: (610) Website: wctrust.org Year Incorporated: 1996 Rev. 06/2013 Contact Name: Jeanne B. Van Alen Contact Title: Executive Director Contact bva@wctrust.org Has your nonprofit ever applied to the Community Foundation? Yes _X_ No Not Sure Has your nonprofit ever received funding from the Community Foundation? Yes _X_ No Not Sure X_Donor Advised Fund(s) Fund for Chester County Don t know/not sure Field/s of Interest: Arts, Culture & Humanities _X Environment/Animal Welfare _X Education Health Human Services Religion Organization Information: Geographic Area Served (If not all of Chester County, specify primary Chester County regions served): Willistown Conservation Trust s (WCT s) program area, located 20 miles west of Philadelphia, covers over 24,000 acres and is comprised of all of Willistown Township and portions of Malvern Borough, Easttown Township and East Goshen Township. It also includes a small portion of Delaware County. The program area incorporates the headwaters of the Ridley, Crum and Darby Creeks, which are tributaries of the Delaware River and an important water supply to suburban Philadelphia. Describe Population Served and Annual Number of People Served: WCT works with state, county and local governments and citizens to preserve open space throughout the region. To date, WCT has accepted the donation of conservation easements on 66 properties within its program area. In addition, it owns and operates four preserves that are open to the public for hiking, birding and equestrian activities. In 2008, WCT established Rushton Community Farm, which provides fresh, sustainably grown produce to over 100 CSA member families and several local food cupboards that serve low-income families/individuals in Chester County. WCT also provides internships and educational programs for hundreds of students from public and private schools across the region. In 2013, over 3,000 people participated in WCT s bird conservation and community farm programs at Rushton and 3,600 volunteer hours were donated as well. Mission: The mission of the Willistown Conservation Trust is to preserve and manage the open land, rural character, scenic, recreational, historic, agricultural and natural resources of the Willistown area and nearby communities, and to share these unique resources with people of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, educate and develop a lifelong commitment to the land and natural world. Proposal Summary:

2 WCT seeks operating support that will enable it to continue its efforts to preserve open space in Chester County by working with community members to place conservation easements on their properties and by purchasing critical parcels that would otherwise be sold for development. Additional funding will also support WCT s burgeoning programs in sustainable agriculture, bird conservation, and habitat restoration. The following represent ways in which WCT s programs will continue to benefit the community: - Provide healthy, nutritious food to local families and food cupboards; - Contribute to global research on migratory and resident bird populations; - Increase our understanding of sustainable farming and its impact on biodiversity; - Educate the next generation of conservationists through field trips, internships and service learning opportunities; - Provide field sites for university classes and research; - Demonstrate and promote ecologically beneficial land management practices and provide support to local landowners wanting to improve habitat on their own properties. If Capacity Building Proposal: Mission, Vision & Strategy Governance & Leadership Strategic Relationships Fundraising & Development Operations Other: Annual Budget $ 1,290, # of Full-Time Equivalent Paid Staff 70 % of budget for program expenses 21 # of Board Volunteers 10 % of budget for administrative expenses 290 # of Active Non-Board Volunteers 20 % of budget for fundraising expenses _4700 # of Volunteer Hours 100 % total Top 3-5 funding sources: In the past year, WCT s largest sources of funding have been gifts from individual donors, grants from Chester County (for land acquisition), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (for land acquisition) and The Reinvestment Fund (for programming), as well as income from special events. Grant Amount Requested from CCCF: $ 2,000 to $8,000

3 II. CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT PROPOSAL NARRATIVE Provide clear, concise information. 3 pages maximum. 1. Organization s history, goals, key achievements and distinctiveness Land conservation has been underway in the Willistown area of Chester County for nearly 30 years. WCT s predecessor, the Willistown Area Conservation Program, was formed in 1979 as a satellite of the Brandywine Conservancy. In 1996, WCT became an independent, community-based land trust and in 2008 was one of the first to receive formal accreditation from the national Land Trust Alliance. Jeanne B. Van Alen, a founding member of the Willistown Conservation Trust, has been President and Executive Director since its inception. In the face of intense development pressure, WCT s board members and staff have worked with the community and local landowners to protect vulnerable farms and other ecologically important lands. To date, over 7,200 acres have been preserved in the Willistown area. In 2008, WCT established Rushton Community Farm within its 80-acre Rushton Woods Preserve to model a cost-effective approach to sustainable farming that benefits surrounding ecosystems and promotes community involvement in land protection. Part of a globally recognized Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) one of only two such IBA s in Chester County Rushton is also home to the region s only federallylicensed bird banding station, which collects and shares scientific data on resident and migratory bird populations. With its unique combination of cultivated and wild spaces, Rushton has become a model for others in the land trust, conservation and sustainable agriculture communities demonstrating the untapped potential of preserved land for sustainable food production and community engagement. It has also become a dynamic outdoor classroom for schools throughout the region and a site for university research projects and field courses. Through its educational programs for school children, college internships, landowner workshops, and a variety of volunteer opportunities WCT has nurtured a strong conservation ethic within the community. The following represent several of WCT s major accomplishments in 2013: *Protected an additional 200 acres under new easements; *Educated and engaged over 3,000 people with its bird conservation and sustainable farm programs; *Produced 30,000 pounds of sustainably farmed produce through its Rushton Farm CSA; *Donated 4,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to local food banks; *Received 3,600 hours of volunteer time from community members and an additional 1,100 hours of community service from students and interns; *Banded 1,400 birds at Rushton Banding Station; *Provided field research sites for graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova and Temple Universities. WCT s goals are as follows: (1) to preserve an additional 4,000 acres of undeveloped land; (2) to restore and manage critical wildlife habitat; (3) to educate the public about conservation and the benefits of local, sustainable food production; and (4) to promote environmentally responsible stewardship of private properties. 2. Funding request:

4 A. Description of key initiatives WCT requests operating support that will help sustain its innovative programs that preserve open space, connect people to the land and demonstrate the benefits of preserving our natural resources. The following represent WCT s key conservation initiatives: Land Preservation: Although 7,200 acres in the Willistown area have been preserved over the past 33 years, 4,000 critical acres remain vulnerable to development. Under existing zoning, more than 2,500 new homes could be built on these acres, eliminating open space and critical wildlife habitat that exists today. WCT s land protection staff identifies strategic properties, works with landowners, prepares proposals and negotiates agreements to protect those lands (easements). Once the land is protected by a conservation easement, WCT is legally bound to monitor and enforce compliance with the agreement, in perpetuity. Sustainable Farming Guided by Agroecology: Rushton Farm demonstrates how preserved land can produce healthy, nutritious food for the community while maintaining and enhancing its ecological value. Modeled on the principles of agroecology, Rushton Farm is designed to minimize negative environmental impacts and maximize habitat (e.g., by providing a source of food and shelter for migratory birds and beneficial pollinators). Specific practices employed at Rushton include crop diversification, composting, limited mowing, wildflower plantings, farming with the contours of the land, and utilizing surrounding woodlands to prevent erosion. The farm also presents an ideal location for testing and modeling innovative methods of deer and pest control. WCT hosts annual field days at Rushton to educate land trusts, conservation organizations, farmers and landowners about the wise use of preserved land for food production, research and community engagement. Local Food Production and Donation: Last year, WCT s 6-acre Rushton Farm produced 30,000 pounds of sustainably farmed produce for its CSA members and an additional 4,000 pounds for donation to local food banks. In addition to growing food, staff from Rushton work with community and school groups from throughout the region to teach basic agricultural and environmental science and to promote good nutrition. Bird and Wildlife Conservation and Research: Originally established to monitor the impact of smallscale agriculture on biodiversity within the Preserve, WCT s Bird Conservation Program has grown rapidly. As part of an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) one of only two in Chester County Rushton is an ideal site for avian research. Since 2009, WCT s licensed bird banders have collected data that is shared through the USGS s North American Bird Banding Lab, the Institute for Bird Populations, and Project Owlnet. It has also become a highly effective and widely popular program for educating students and visitors about the impact of protecting open space on birds and other wildlife. Habitat Restoration and Land Management: Land management at Rushton is predicated on maximizing biodiversity, improving environmental outcomes and promoting learning. Rushton's diverse habitats, which include grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural fields, make it an ideal location to explore and model best practices. Increasingly Rushton is attracting researchers interested in studying the unique interaction between natural and cultivated lands and the impact of sustainable farming. Their findings inform conservation science and help build empirical support for practices modeled at Rushton. 5) Environmental Education: WCT welcomes hundreds of students each year to experience science in action at Rushton. Educational programs provide students in grades K-12 with standards-based

5 curriculum enrichment designed to cultivate interest in science, ecology and conservation. Recognizing the value of these opportunities for students from under-resourced communities, WCT has forged partnerships with schools and programs in West Chester, Chester and Philadelphia. Our goal is to establish an early and lasting connection between young people and nature. 6) Specialized Training in Agroecology: Rushton s 2-year apprenticeship program prepares aspiring farmers for a future in agroecology or related field and equips them to farm sustainably on preserved land. B. Specific needs and issues to be addressed Since 2008, when WCT first established its community farm at Rushton, all of the programs listed above have burgeoned, growing both in reach and impact. In order to address that growth and ensure adequate funding, WCT has embarked on a capital campaign. Steady progress is being made toward the goal, but in the interim WCT must secure the additional operating support required to sustain its staff and programs. C. Organizational impact if initiative is undertaken With ongoing support, WCT will continue its land protection efforts in Chester County. It will also continue to offer its innovative programming in sustainable agriculture, bird conservation and habitat restoration and engage and educate more members of the community about the importance of preserving land and natural resources. D. Activities to implement the initiative. Please include a description of the expected activities; timeline and costs to implement the initiative. If external consulting services are required, include the anticipated costs and expertise of the consultants to be hired WCT will continue to pursue excellence in its programming (as outlined above), reaching out to other land trusts, conservation organizations and members of the community to increase public support for and engagement in land and resource protection. E. Why it is important to fund this now WCT s programming has grown significantly over the last six years to meet public demand and to establish a strong foundation of community support for land and resource conservation. Much of this expansion has been undertaken with existing staff and financial resources. In order to address the need for increased revenue to support the growth in its programs and requisite increases in staff capacity, WCT has undertaken a capital campaign. Until that process is complete, additional annual operating support will allow WCT to sustain its operations. WCT does not charge for its educational programming and relies on grants, corporate sponsorships and individual donations to support that work. 2. How impact and results will be demonstrated WCT will continue to gauge its impact by tracking key indicators, including the following: - number of acres preserved through easement or purchase; - number of people reached with educational programming, - number of pounds of fresh, sustainably grown food produced for the Rushton CSA and donated to local food banks; - research generated and shared with the scientific and academic communities that helps increase understanding of the relationship between land preservation, sustainable farming and natural systems.

6 III. ATTACHMENTS this support information: 1. Copy of 501 (c) (3) federal tax-exempt letter 2. List of Board of Directors, with their affiliations 3. Most recent annual report and financial statement, audited if available 4. Itemized organizational operating budget with actual results for prior fiscal year and current fiscal year to date 5. If capacity building initiative, itemized budget (including external consultant s proposal if applicable) 6. Current strategic plan. If your nonprofit does not have a current strategic plan, explain why. Note: DVG Common Grant Application may be submitted with CCCF Summary Sheet. Visit for an electronic version of this application. applications are strongly encouraged. completed proposals to grants@chescocf.org Attn: Beth Harper Briglia, Vice President of Donor Services & Grantmaking Chester County Community Foundation Connecting people who care with causes that matter, so their legacies make a difference.