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The Nature Conservancy Capital Campaign Raises $100 Million in Land and Dollars

From Cumberland to Conasauga, Every Georgian to Benefit from Groundbreaking Gifts

Atlanta, Georgia—March 27, 2003—Officials of the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy announced today they have closed out a three-year Capital Campaign, having garnered public and private donations of dollars and land valued at an unprecedented $100 million. The Capital Campaign raised $21 million in private dollars, $48 million from public support and an additional $30 million in land value. A leading international non-profit organization, The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to conservation and has been active in Georgia since the early 1960s.

"We are truly amazed at what our board and Capital Campaign committee have accomplished to meet our mission here in Georgia, since we set out to begin this campaign with a $40 million goal in May of 1999," said Tavia McCuean, Vice President and State Director of The Nature Conservancy. "The opportunities that have come our way have exceeded our wildest dreams for this time period, and we’re proud that Georgians will benefit for generations to come."

As a result of the dollars raised and land acquisitions made during its Capital Campaign, The Nature Conservancy reports that

• the largest remaining privately held tract of land on Cumberland Island, the Greyfield Tract, will be permanently saved from future development.
• along the Altamaha River, the 4,000-acre Moody Forest Natural Area, which includes stands of old-growth longleaf pine, will be protected for future generations.
• more than 20,000 acres of freshwater wetlands at Chickasawhatchee Swamp, a primary recharge system of the Floridian Aquifer, have been protected.
• the Whitney family of New York has awarded management of its 5,200-acre Greenwood Plantation near Thomasville, a prime example of old-growth longleaf pine forest, to the Conservancy to be preserved.

In addition, the Capital Campaign, which the organization dubbed "From Cumberland to Conasauga: The Road Leads Back to You," helped make significant progress toward replenishing the Conservancy’s Land Preservation Fund. This revolving fund enables the organization to take quick conservation action on behalf of Georgia’s endangered species.

"The Nature Conservancy has never really raised these kinds of gifts before in its history," said G. Douglass Alexander, CFRE, President of Alexander, Haas, Martin & Partners, the fundraising firm that helped create and implement the campaign. "This Capital Campaign realized unprecedented gifts of land and property, and the organization exceeded its private fundraising goal by more than 50 percent. I attribute this to a combination of factors, including the strong case that they made to potential donors, the strength of their volunteers and their state director here in Georgia."

In addition, the Conservancy engaged in a strategic partnerships with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the federal government, which provided a two-to-one match of a portion of the private funds raised. In addition, an anonymous local foundation challenged The Nature Conservancy to raise the last remaining $1 million by granting a one-to-one match once the campaign was completed.

The efforts of the Georgia Chapter were part of a $1.25 billion initiative undertaken by the international headquarters of The Nature Conservancy. Pete Correll, Chairman and CEO of Georgia-Pacific and Tricia Allen were recruited as co-chairs for the organization’s Southeastern Campaign. They in turn recruited Bill Dahlberg, Chairman of Mirant, as the Georgia representative to the national campaign. Because of Ms. Allen’s involvement in the national campaign, she spearheaded Capital Campaign efforts for the Georgia Chapter. 

"The great thing about working with The Nature Conservancy on this campaign was the wonderful volunteers who are deeply committed to conservation in Georgia," said Dahlberg. "Volunteer leaders like Tricia Allen make a campaign like this a real joy to work on, and they and the staff should get the bulk of the credit for the tremendous results achieved here."

Despite the incredible results of its Capital Campaign, Doug Alexander says that the organization had to continue to balance its regular operating fundraising needs with raising funds to meet its Capital Campaign goals. 

"The economic times we're in are tougher than they've ever been for most non-profits, and The Nature Conservancy, while extremely successful with the Capital Campaign, has naturally felt the impact of the economy in regards to its operating revenue," he said. "Maintaining their vital programs statewide and managing the land under their care requires dollars that are totally separate from those raised in this campaign. They continue to fundraise for those critical operating dollars that support the land preservation and conservation initiatives underway on the ground across the state of Georgia."

"The Capital Campaign was successful in addressing the most immediate, tangible needs in Georgia—protecting the state’s rivers and wildlife, saving Cumberland Island, building an endowment for the future and preserving the last remaining longleaf pine," said Ms. McCuean. "We are deeply indebted to all those who led this campaign and to all those who gave gifts, both large and small, to help preserve Georgia’s native species, pristine waters and majestic forests for generations to come."

For more information about The Nature Conservancy visit nature.org or call (404) 873-6946.