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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The Westerly Land Trust is proud to announce a new partnership with Ocean State Kids (OSK), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving all young, developing children—regardless of ability—through neurodiversity-affirming outdoor experiences. Westerly Wildflowers, an OSK group led by Bianca Paredes, will be meeting every Monday at Wahaneeta Preserve to explore, learn, and play in nature. This partnership, like all of our educational programing, is in line with the following pillar of the WLT Strategic Plan:
Nurture life long love of nature: We have an opportunity and a responsibility to encourage meaningful connections between people and nature. We will engage the community through programs that foster appreciation of nature, spark imagination, expand knowledge and create memories. 🌳✨🔍
Welcome, Westerly Wildflowers!🌼
#outdoorlearning #naturebasedlearning #landstewardship #natureforall
Check out ways you can get out on the land and connect with nature this July!
🚣♀️Head to our website and check out the Hikes, Paddles, and Wellness page to see the full schedule for Thursday Paddles!
🧘♀️Join us for yoga at Winnapaug Farm Preserve this Sunday, July 13 at 9 am led by WLT’s very own Lauren Barber who is also a @barre_coast yoga instructor! WLT members email elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for a reduce price registration of $10!
💐Bring your loved one for a Date Night Picnic at Barlow Nature Preserve hosted by @echo_rock_flowers on Friday, July 25 at 6 pm. Design your own bouquet while enjoying tasty treats and a refreshing drink!
🥕The Barlow Farm Stand, operated by @frontierfarmri and @echo_rock_flowers is opened Thursdays and Fridays 3-6pm, and Saturdays 12-4pm!
What’s better on a hot day than escaping the office for oysters, boats, and beer? 🦪☀️
On Wednesday, WLT hosted 70+ team members from our generous Corporate Sponsor, ParsonsKellogg of Providence, for a special field trip to Winnapaug Farm Preserve. The visit gave them a firsthand look at how their support makes a real difference in Westerly.
To show our appreciation, we arranged boat tours of the Watch Hill Oysters farm, followed by fresh oyster sampling and cold Grey Sail brews.🍻🌊
Huge thanks to Grey Sail Brewing of RI for the refreshing beers, to Watch Hill Oysters for the scenic tours and delicious oysters, and of course, to ParsonsKellogg for championing land conservation in Westerly. 💚
#conservation #oysters #rhodeisland #westerlyri #parsonskellogg #saltmarsh #saltpond #winnapaugpond #watchhill
Congratulations to our favorite brewery around, Grey Sail Brewing of RI, for being Rhode Island’s first brewery recognized by Better Bev for outstanding environmental practices! 🌱🎉
Through their partnership with RIDEM’s Green Breweries Program, Grey Sail is reducing their environmental impact by installing solar panels, investing in carbon capture, donating spent grain to local farms, and more. Sustainability never tasted so good!
Additionally, we are proud to call Grey Sail a longtime partner and friend. They have supported WLT’s work as a Corporate Sponsor since 2018, and have donated many tasty, cold beverages for events like the Farm Dinner, President’s Circle Reception, and Crews and Brews. 🍻
Thanks, Grey Sail, for leading the way in both sustainability and community support! 💚
#sustainability #sustainable #ecofriendly #conservation #community #nature #brewery #greysailbrewing
🌊🌊🌊 CCC by the sea, sea, sea! Today we tipped our caps to our dedicated team of volunteers who have been working since September to steward WLT land. Many thanks to all our volunteers, to Dave Prigmore for hosting by the sea, and to the mowing crew who will be going strong all summer long.
CCSee you next fall!! 👋
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #summer #stewardship #volunteers #community #beach #thankyou
🌳Last Thursday, we hosted our first event at Champlin Farm Preserve. Our President’s Circle reception honored our closest supporters and celebrated this recently-protected 90-acre property. Many thanks to Grey Sail Brewing of RI for donating cold beverages on this warm night. 🥂
🥾Since October 2024, WLT staff and volunteers (the CCC) have been working hard to blaze trails and create a parking area at the entrance of Champlin Farm Preserve. Please check it out! It is quite a special place. (64 Boombridge Road in Westerly)
The Westerly Land Trust would like to sincerely thank all the donors who help conserve and steward more than 1,800 acres of open space in Westerly. 💚
#landconservation #conserve #protect #stewardship #steward #westerlyri #community #rhodeisland #nature
🌞Kick off summer with WLT and @barre_coast today!!
Join us for Summer Solstice Yoga at Winnapaug Farm Preserve at 6pm. 🌳WLT members, email elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for a ✨reduced price✨registration of $10 per class.
Scroll to the next picture to view the full BarreCoast summer series out on the land!🧘♀️
#yoga #outside #nature #meditate #summer #summersolstice
June 15th is Nature Photography Day—a time to celebrate nature through photography and highlight its role in conservation.
! Have you taken any pictures on WLT properties??
‼️Enter the Westerly Land Trust Photo Contest ‼️
We want to see WLT land through your eyes (and lens)! Snap shots of trails, plants, animals and landscapes, and send them to Erika at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org by October 6th for a chance to be featured in our 2026 WLT calendar! 🌳🌸
#rhodeisland #westerlyri #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLovers #NatureGram #EarthFocus #OurPlanetDaily #MotherNature #WildernessCulture