Developing and implementing a sustainable growth model for the Livingston Land Conservancy, a non-profit, all volunteer land conservancy (2015)

Contact full name: 
Brian Hartmann and Meredith Bohdan
Project Status: 
Current Project Idea
Client Organization: 
Livingston Land Conservancy
Client Website: 
Livingston Land Conservancy
City: 
Howell
Contact Phone: 
3134210520/2484440154
State or Country: 
MI
Contact e-mail: 
brian.c.hartmann@gmail.com
Contact information: 
I am an SNRE alum
Other
If Other: 
Additional primary contact, SNRE Alum, Meredith Bohdan email: meredith.bohdan@gmail.com
Job title: 
Board Members - Livingston Land Conservancy
Project Location : 
Howell, MI
Summary of Project Idea: 

The Livingston Land Conservancy is a non-profit, all volunteer organization with 610 acres currently under its protection (both fee simple lands and conservation easements). The major components of the project are the following:

  • Develop a comprehensive strategic plan to transition to an accredited professional organization over a 3-5 year period; including organizational structure, best practices, personnel requirements, and cost 
  • Identify and prioritize properties for protection through GIS mapping and on-site biodiversity screening with emphasis on the Huron River watershed system. 
  • Evaluate and establish capabilities for integrating GPS data and digital imagery into an electronic database as it applies to land stewardship on protected lands. 
  • Create and execute a marketing plan to expand membership and new revenue sources as well as developing outreach and educational materials for local communities

See the Expected Outcomes/Deliverables for step-by-step project scope

Skills/Expertise Needed: 

The below skills are needed but can be built during the course of the project:
Critical thinking, management planning, primary and secondary research, marketing, fundraising, leadership, community engagement and outreach, land acquisition, stewardship and protection

SNRE Program Areas: 
Environmental Policy and Planning
Behavior, Education, and Communication
Sustainable Systems
Landscape Architecture
Professional Career Development Benefits: 
  • Knowledge: working knowledge of a wide variety of activities relating to land conservancy efforts in SE MI
  • Contacts: The Livingston Land Conservancy works with other land trusts and conservancies through-out MI in concert with Heart of the Lakes (HOL; MI focus) and the Land Trust Alliance (LTA; national focus). Regionally, there is an ongoing collaborative effort with 9 other conservancies as part of the SE MI Conservancies Collaboration/SEMIWILD. Additional regional contacts include the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) and the Crossroads Group of the Sierra Club. 
  • Skills: proposal covers a range of activities; skills learned will vary with focus and responsibilities

Contacts:
Brian Hartmann – Associate, McKinsey and Company
Meredith Bohdan – Enforcement Analyst, State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Roy Schwarz, PhD – Board President, Livingston Land Conservancy

Funding Sources: 

TBD

Identify expected products/deliverables: 

The scope of the proposal will include steps that will deliver the expected outcome:

Determine what organizational structure(s) and changes will allow for transition over a 3-5 year period

  • Research best practices and determine potential organizational structure
  • Prepare timeline and steps to achieve goals

Complete and refine Strategic Conservation Plan which seeks to identify and prioritize land parcels in the greater Livingston County area for future protection (easements, purchase, or partnership)

  • Expand and update GIS mapping efforts
  • Complete on-site visits to highest priority lands to verify ranking and initiate screening of biodiversity
  • Work with other SE MI conservancies on land aggregation efforts currently being initiated that will focus on the Huron River watershed system

Stewardship of existing/future properties

  • Determine equipment and software requirements for enhanced electronic record keeping; purchase necessary equipment (dependent upon costs and availability of funds)
  • Establish GPS database for each existing property; link to photo records

Expand general membership and increase number of active volunteers

  • Create new templates for web-based activities and social media
  • Develop survey for organization members and determine interests and skills of members

Create a sustainable fundraising, revenue generation, and growth model

  • Create marketing plan for local fundraising efforts
  • Identify appropriate skills needed to work on soliciting grants to support property acquisition, special programs, and operations
  • Create grant templates

Update community outreach campaign

  • Develop creative ideas for outreach
  • Update marketing materials
  • Create plan for outreach to local schools/libraries

Build implementation plans that will turn ideas into actions