Join/Give

Buy an Acre! Permanently protecting land usually comes down to just buying it (or the development rights). On average, here's about how much it costs to protect an acre in our region:

1 acre of farmland: $10,000
1 acre of forest: $5,000
1 acre of backland (no frontage): $1,000
1 acre of wetland: $500

To help Kestrel protect an acre or more, please donate to our annual fund. Thank you!

Annual Fund: Each year, Kestrel asks residents to make an investment in Kestrel to help us protect the local landscape we all depend on. Every tax-deductible dollar you donate allows Kestrel to leverage local, state and federal funding for land conservation projects and helps run our lean operation. In 2008-2009, Kestrel raised or leveraged more than $4.4 Million in public and private funding to protect 614 acres of forestland, farmland, and wetlands. Thank you for your contribution!

Planned Giving: Planned giving can help you combine your philanthropic goals to help conserve land with sound financial planning to take advantage of tax benefits. There are several time-tested options including: bequests, gifts of retirement assets, life income gifts, donations of real estate, or naming the Trust as a life insurance beneficiary. If you are interested in pursuing one of these options, we can put you in touch with financial planners at The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to make a planned gift that will benefit The Kestrel Trust.

Volunteer: Give the gift of time. Help out by serving on a committee, tabling at public events, or helping with mailings and other periodic projects. Host a gathering of your friends to learn about Kestrel and local land protection. You provide the food, drinks, and atmosphere; we’ll bring the information and slideshow!

Here's Kestrel's New Bumpersticker!