York Town News
York Land Trust receives $40,000 grant from NH Charitable Foundation
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Piscataqua Region announced last week that the York Land Trust has been named as the only Maine recipient to share more than $280,000 in grants to area community groups.The $283,414 in grants were awarded through the foundation's most recent competitive application grant program and will benefit a total of 17 nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire and the local York Land Trust.
The York Land Trust has received an award for $40,000 to provide partial support to hire a new development and communications coordinator.
York Land Trust Executive Director Doreen MacGillis said the award comes as welcome news to the trust and will be added to funding support provided by the Margaret Burnham Charitable Trust and a number of individual donors toward the new position.
"Over the years, we have been funded at all levels by NHCF and we are very grateful for the foundation's continued support and faith in our vision," MacGillis said Monday.
The NHCF received nearly $600,000 in grant proposals from 60 nonprofit organizations for the competitive process this fall, noted Celina Adams, senior program officer at the Piscataqua Region of the Charitable Foundation, in her announcement of the awards.
"We continue on a deliberate course launched early in 2006 to offer both multi-year and operating grants to support the sector's important work in our communities," she said, adding she is pleased that the "York Land Trust will receive support for two years as they work on strategic initiatives. This development is important because it reflects a national trend in philanthropy and it signals our intention to remain responsive to the nonprofit sector's unique needs."
MacGillis said the York Land Trust will now begin its search for the new development and communications director.
"The right candidate will bring to YLT additional expertise in fundraising, communications, marketing and community outreach and will help build the capacity of the YLT to meet organizational goals and assure adequate resources to fully support our land conservation work," she explained. "The position is currently open and we are seeking a qualified candidate."
Anyone interested in applying for the position may send a resume, cover letter and three references to YLT, P.O. Box 1241, York Harbor, ME 03911 or call the trust at 363-7400 for more information and a job description.
The next grant application deadline for the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is March 1. Grant guidelines are available at www.nhcf.org.
