Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Awards
$40,000 to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation of Chicago recently awarded $40,000 to the Land Conservancy of McHenry County to support a comprehensive capacity-building program aimed at enlarging the organization's membership base, and strengthening the organization's long-term sustainability. The grant funds will be used between June 2003 and May 2005 to help triple the membership base, to complete a strategic plan, and to strengthen local support for private Land Conservancy in McHenry County.

The Land Conservancy holds thirteen conservation easements across McHenry County, and has set a 5-year goal of protecting an additional 1,000 acres through easements on private land. Since conservation easements are permanent agreements, it is very important for the organization to ensure that it is able to honor its commitments at those sites in perpetuity. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation support will help strengthen the Land Conservancy for the future.