Get involved

Help Us Buy the Land!

We want everyone to feel ownership for this iconic landscape by contributing at whatever level they can. This campaign has always been about the community coming together to protect what it loves. That is why we have succeeded so far!

We were able to secure a no-interest loan from a grant-making Foundation that shares our goal of preserving the land. Our fiscal sponsor, Blue Hill Community Development has signed the loan agreements and has entered into a contract to purchase the property with the developer. We need to repay the loan in 18 months. We need your help to do it!

All donations are tax-deductable through BHCD. You can donate via PayPal, Or via check electronic transfer, and appreciated securities. Visit our project page at BHCD.org.

If you are considering making a major gift or would like to volunteer, email us at saltpondfield@gmail.com.

Thank you

Whatever you're able to do to help, thank you. Thank you for helping to protect this important and irreplaceable piece of land.

A note about risk from our Fiscal Sponsor

Please be advised that no real estate transaction or fundraising campaign is 100% risk-free. There is a possibility that the sale will not close, and that SSPBB will be unable to raise the funds necessary to pay off the loan, in which case the foundation lender could retain donations transferred from BHCD and assume ownership of the property. Be aware that SSPBB and BHCD have worked hard to mitigate the risk wherever possible. BHCD asks that donors sign a Risk Disclosure Form before submitting donations of $5,000 and up.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach the SSPBB team at saltpondfield@gmail.com.

What we have done to mitigate risk

SSPBB has worked closely with BHCD to minimize these risks to donors and the community:

• Secured an interest-free loan with a charitable grantmaking Foundation to provide up to the full purchase price. The Foundation has local ties and shares the community’s goal of preserving the land.
• Identified donors willing to provide deposit monies to meet sale requirements.
• Established a process to refund donations provided to complete the purchase if the sale were to fall through.
• Secured pledges in excess of $1M before the start of an official fundraising campaign.
• Negotiated an 18-month loan repayment schedule with a possible 6-month extension if more time is needed (total of 2 years). Note: 6% interest will be applied to extension balance if used.
• Engaged a team of legal advisors expert in commercial real estate, non-profit tax law, and land conservation deals. All loan contracts and purchase agreements have been carefully reviewed by all partners: BHCD, SSPBB, Blue Hill Heritage Trust (BHHT) and the lending Foundation.
• BHCD has confirmed in writing that BHHT will accept a transfer of the property and is committed to stewardship and conservation of the land.