essential philanthropy . |
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A successful conservation outcome |
project ’ s cost ,” said Jack Stefferud . “ It |
cover staff time . Over the last 14 years |
|
relies on many factors : landowners |
can take years for a land transaction |
we have leveraged the Foundation ’ s |
|
willing to sell or ease their property , |
to go from early conversations to the |
generous , multi-year grants to protect |
|
a supportive community , a qualified |
final paperwork . The grants we get |
40 properties totaling 3,871 acres with |
|
buyer , and — last but certainly not |
from the state , county , and municipal- |
a combined value of more than $ 55 |
|
Mae Axelrod ( both ) |
least — money to make it all happen .
“ Unfortunately , 50 percent from the state and 50 percent from the county doesn ’ t equal 100 percent of a
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ities don ’ t always cover staff time or unforeseen expenses .”
What is needed is a source of committed , flexible funding that can serve as either the first dollars pledged to a
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million . In my books , that ’ s a ‘ wow .’”
Peter Williamson relies on funding from the Foundation to invest time working through transactions in Delaware County , which hasn ’ t had the
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project or as the last mile of funding |
dedicated funding of other counties in |
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used to fill the gaps in what is avail- |
our region until very recently . |
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able through public grants . |
“ There isn ’ t a whole lot of open |
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Enter Virginia Cretella Mars Foun- |
space left in Delaware County ,” Peter |
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dation , a charitable organization that , |
offers . “ We don ’ t often get a phone |
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since 2006 , has played exactly that |
call from someone saying , ‘ I have 100 |
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role in our land protection successes . |
acres I want to give you to conserve .’ |
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“ Simply put , we could not do our work |
Instead it can take months — but more |
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without the Foundation ,” said Jack . |
usually years — to seek out relation- |
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“ Unlike most land protection funders , |
ships , broker conversations , and |
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Pyle Farm , Warwick Township , Chester County |
they extend to us the flexibility we |
build prospective deals on those very |
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need to fill gaps , close deals , and |
valuable remaining open parcels . Time |