Levels of Support
We greatly appreciate every level of support. Please let us know if you would like to keep your gift anonymous.
President’s Circle: $1,000+
With your gift of $1,000 or more, you will be invited to our Annual President’s Circle event, gain early access to event reservations and be recognized in our newsletter, A Sense of Place.
Preservationist: $500-$999
Protector: $250-$499
Conservationist: $100-$249
Family Membership: $50
Individual Membership: $30
Business Membership: $100
Planned Giving
Orchard Society
By including the Westerly Land Trust in your estate plans, you will become part of the Orchard Society, a group of forward-thinking individuals committed to protecting the natural beauty, environmental health, and urban character of Westerly for future generations.
For those who make a planned gift of $10,000 or more, we will plant a native Rhode Island tree in a Westerly Land Trust preserve garnished with a plaque acknowledging your legacy.
In whatever manner you choose to give, and in whatever amount, we are grateful for your investment in Westerly Land Trust’s future. Your planning today helps ensure the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Westerly tomorrow. Future generations will benefit form your foresight. You will truly give a gift that lasts forever.
Planned Giving Opportunities
Bequests through a will or trust
The most common and simplest way to make a planned gift is through your will or trust. You can provide a specific dollar amount, a percentage, a residual amount, real estate, or tangible property to the Westerly Land Trust. This provision can be made through a new will or trust or added as a codicil or amendment. The following sample language can be used to add a codicil to your will:
I give to the Westerly Land Trust, with its principal business office at P.O. Box 601, Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 (insert written amount of gift, percentage of the estate or residuary of estate, or description of property) for its land conservation work.
A simple codicil as this may be attached to your will at no cost. It need only be signed and dated by you and forwarded to your attorney.
IRA Rollover and Pension Fund Gifts
Often the largest part of one’s estate, these funds are some of the best ways to make a charitable gift because of the ease of initiation, particularly under recent legislation. Donating these assets to the Westerly Land Trust avoids potential double taxation under both income and estate tax provisions. The Westerly Land Trust can be named as a partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement or pension plan.
Gifts of Life Insurance
Several options are available for making a charitable gift of insurance policies. With a relatively small outlay for premiums, you can make a substantial gift while obtaining tax benefits. The Westerly Land Trust can be named as the sole, partial, or contingent beneficiary of a new or existing policy. Also, a paid up policy can be donated to the Land Trust as the owner and sole beneficiary.
Charitable Gift Annuity
There are many ways to fund a Gift Annuity, but cash or appreciated stock are the most common. When transferring securities to the Westerly Land Trust, you can obtain an immediate charitable income tax deduction and avoid a portion of potential capital gains tax as well. In addition, your income can frequently be increased in the form of a lifetime annuity payment based upon your age.
The Next Step
If you would like assistance planning and directing your gift to the Westerly Land Trust, please contact Jennifer Fusco jfusco@westerlylandtrust.org or 401-315-2610.
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@birdability is a national nonprofit dedicated to making birding accessible, inclusive, and welcoming for people with disabilities and other health concerns, is proud to announce the 6th annual Birdability Week, taking place October 20–26, 2025.
In addition to a full schedule of virtual events open to participants nationwide, for the first time Birdability in Rhode Island has partnered with Rhode Island Audubon, Ocean State Bird Club, South Kingstown Land Trust, and Westerly Land Trust in to offer accessible local programs across the state. Registration for all events is now open; details can be found here.
This year’s event theme “You Belong Here” affirms that birding is for everybody and every body. Birdability Week highlights the joy, sense of belonging, and community ties that result from ensuring all people can share in the beauty of birds and the outdoors.
Join Westerly Land Trust on Saturday, October 25 from 2-4pm at Avondale Farm for Forest Bathing and Birding! This is a FREE event. Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to sign up!
#birding #birdability #nature #explore #outdoors #fall #accessibility
Mushrooms led the way at our Fungal Foray🍄
Jess from @dpnaturectr brought the fungi facts as we explored WLT’s Flora Whitely and Cottrell Preserves! 🍂🍄🟫
Did you miss out on the Fungi Fun? Check out DPNC’s Wild Mushroom Festival this weekend!
#mushrooms #fungus #fungi #forage #mushroom
Thinking back on a beautiful night at the return of Farm Dinner at Barlow Nature Preserve. 💐🥗
✨The evening was full of connection - through food, conversation, and the land around us.
Grateful to everyone who helped make it happen, and to Paul Bloomfield of @metalcamera.events for capturing the essence of Farm Dinner so perfectly. 💚🌳
#farmdinner #farmtoplate #eatlocal #flowers #farm #fresh
Monday was such a beautiful night under October’s Full Hunter’s Moon at Champlin Farm Preserve 🌕✨
The Hunter’s Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, once a guide for gathering and preparation before the cold sets in (we definitely felt that this morning!). Thanks to all who joined and made this hike so special! 🍂
#huntersmoon #fullmoon #moon #hike #cows #farm #nature
Join @dpnaturectr and WLT to learn about local mushroom foraging. We will begin with an introduction to mushroom foraging, followed by a hike to identify local mushrooms on the trail. You’ll have the opportunity to explore both the Flora Whitely Preserve and the Cottrell Family Preserve during this program.
Wednesday, October 15th, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
This is a free event open to all ages!
Follow the link in our bio for more information and to sign up for the event! We hope to see you there!🍄
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #conneticut #mushrooms
Thanks to @jollygreensri for another great Microgreen Experience! From seed to plate, we got hands on with planting, learned how to grow year round, and tasted fresh, flavorful greens in a live recipe demo! 🌱🍽️
#microgreen #fresh #nutrition #recipe #growing
Fall is a great time to explore our local woods. It’s still warm now, but soon, the temperatures will dip, and you’ll hear that familiar sound of leaves crunching beneath your boots.🍂🍁
📓Nature Journaling Workshop 2
Saturday, October 4, 9:30-11:30am
Wahaneeta Preserve
🌱The Microgreen Experience
Sunday, October 5, 10am-12pm
Barlow Nature Preserve
🍄Fungal Foray w/ DPNC
Wednesday, October 15, 4:30-6pm
Flora Whiteley Preserve
🥾Thursday Hikes
If you are interested in becoming a hike leader, please contact Sally Hanson at sallyhanson242@gmail.com.
🧭Trail Blazing for Girl Scouts
Juniors, Daisies and Brownies
Sunday, October 19, 10am-12pm
Wahaneeta Preserve
🏃♀️WTAC Grills Trail Race 10M & 10K
Saturday, October 25, 9am
Grills Preserve
🌸Echo Rock Flower’s Dahlia Workshop
Saturday, October 25, 1-3pm
Barlow Nature Preserve
🎃It’s the time of year for our favorite color: orange! Pumpkins, leaves, CCC caps, and Rhode Island’s orange requirements: 200 inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange (500 square inches during shotgun deer season).
To learn more information and to register for each event, follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events!
Spent a beautiful day on the trails with a great group of Girl Scouts at Grills Preserve🥾🧭
They learned how to identify animal tracks, tell native from invasive plants, pack a first aid kit, stay safe on the trails, read maps and trail signs, and use a compass - then put it all into practice on a hike to the overlook. 🐿️🐝
The best part? They earned badges for all their hard work and new skills! 🍀
So proud of how much they learned and how confident they were out on the trails!