The Economy and Triangle Land Conservancy

February 5, 2009

By: Kevin Brice, President & CEO

Dear Friends,

None of us is immune to the effects of the current economic downturn. A friend remarked to me that her 401(k) is now a 201(k). And while gasoline prices thankfully have dropped recently, other everyday expenses remain stubbornly high.

The most troubling part of all this is uncertainty over when things will turn around. I continue to read news reports that our region is in pretty good shape relative to other parts of the country, but this is cold comfort to those in our community who are out of work or are struggling with stagnant salaries.

It might seem inevitable that charitable giving will slow in our uncertain economic times. We all must make do with less, and necessities will take priority over charitable options. My family and I are grappling with this reality as we look at our capacity for year-end giving. Now, with my TLC cap on, let me lay out why your support of Triangle Land Conservancy is important now more than ever.

We have a strong vision

• Clean and abundant drinking water.

• Local farms supplying our farmers’ markets, grocery stores and restaurants with delicious produce.

• Wild places for exploration and environmental education.

These all strengthen our community. It's not an option for us to simply stop doing our urgent work for local conservation. TLC does a stellar job with lean expenses, but we need your contributions to conserve land and water.

We have unique opportunities now
TLC buys land. Land is cheaper right now because of the economic downturn, but it will not stay that way for long. Supporters who prioritize TLC now can help us take advantage of lower land prices. Another advantage to supporting TLC is the financial benefit we provide locally-owned businesses when contracting for their services as we go about conserving land.

We leverage your donations
TLC has created a stunning track record of maximizing the value of your contributions. In 2005, we used $570,000 in member contributions to save $8.7 million worth of land, a 15 to 1 ratio of land value conserved to member dollars contributed. In 2006, that ratio was 21 to 1; in 2007, 14 to 1; and in 2008, 13 to 1. Year-in and year-out, every dollar contributed by members yields more than 13 dollars worth of conservation.

We have momentum
Since 1983, Triangle Land Conservancy has permanently conserved 11,000 acres–9,000 acres since 2001! The groundwork we are presently laying with landowners would nearly double the 11,000-acre total in the next five years. By keeping TLC as a charitable priority, you ensure that we can continue to save the most important lands for water quality, local food production, and connecting people with nature.

These economic conditions are tough on us all, and we all must take care of necessities first. My message is simply this. If you are in a position to make charitable gifts, please consider prioritizing TLC. Your generosity will make the Triangle’s quality of life that much richer.

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