The Land Conservancy faces tough times financially and has launched an ambitious campaign to raise $10 million over 18 months and increase membership to 30,000 from 8,700 over three years.
Without tangible support from British Columbians for saving wild places and farmland, TLC could "wither away," executive director Bill Turner, told supporters at Abkhazi Gardens.
"I'm asking every one of you to dig deep and support this campaign. It's now or never and, for me, never is unthinkable," said Turner.
The money is needed to reduce mortgage debt and provide working capital.
Last year, TLC was rocked by controversy over its financial situation and the number of mortgaged properties. Three board members resigned because of concerns over finances and management.
In 2009, there was a bitter split between Turner and the board, which was replaced with a pro-Turner slate.
"It's no secret that the last couple of years have been very difficult for us financially. The recession has not been kind to charities anywhere and we have watched several of our partner organizations collapse and fade away," Turner said.
"It has gone on for far too long and I want to be very clear that we can't continue any longer living hand to mouth with systems stretched to the limit just to survive. Enough is enough.
We have to draw a line and we are drawing a line."
An increase to 30,000 members and funding to complete purchases on projects such as the former Western Forest Products land around Jordan River -in partnership with the Capital Regional District -Sansum Point in the Cowichan Valley and Gowlland Point Regional Park on Pender Island, will put TLC on solid financial footing for the next century, Turner said.
So far, $375,000 has been pledged, he said.
The campaign, which will make extensive use of social media, has supporters including artist Arthur Vickers and University of Victoria ethnobotanist Nancy Turner, who have made videos explaining why TLC's work is vital.
In an interview, Turner said he could not give income and expenditure figures as they change monthly with donations.
The organization will be judicious about taking on new projects, but there are no plans to get rid of any properties. There may be layoffs among the 40-plus staff if they cannot be reassigned, Turner said.
"We need to cut costs where we can and make revenue where we can," he said.
That will become easier as Abkhazi Gardens and Sooke Potholes Campground reopen for the summer, bringing in revenue, he said. This year, staff were asked to defer part of their salary and put the money in a company set up by TLC, an arrangement that raised about $30,000, Turner said.
It is a good investment for staff, with an interest rate of five per cent, and some have decided to continue putting part of their salary into the fund, he said.
Financial statements for the year ending April 2010 show that salaries, wages and benefits amounted to $2,003,000.
The organization held mortgages of $3.5 million on 15 properties, plus unsecured loans of $1.7 million and operating costs of between $250,000 and $300,000 a month.
Abkhazi Gardens is one of the most heavily mortgaged properties, with $1.17 million owing.
Without tangible support from British Columbians for saving wild places and farmland, TLC could "wither away," executive director Bill Turner, told supporters at Abkhazi Gardens.
"I'm asking every one of you to dig deep and support this campaign. It's now or never and, for me, never is unthinkable," said Turner.
The money is needed to reduce mortgage debt and provide working capital.
Last year, TLC was rocked by controversy over its financial situation and the number of mortgaged properties. Three board members resigned because of concerns over finances and management.
In 2009, there was a bitter split between Turner and the board, which was replaced with a pro-Turner slate.
"It's no secret that the last couple of years have been very difficult for us financially. The recession has not been kind to charities anywhere and we have watched several of our partner organizations collapse and fade away," Turner said.
"It has gone on for far too long and I want to be very clear that we can't continue any longer living hand to mouth with systems stretched to the limit just to survive. Enough is enough.
We have to draw a line and we are drawing a line."
An increase to 30,000 members and funding to complete purchases on projects such as the former Western Forest Products land around Jordan River -in partnership with the Capital Regional District -Sansum Point in the Cowichan Valley and Gowlland Point Regional Park on Pender Island, will put TLC on solid financial footing for the next century, Turner said.
So far, $375,000 has been pledged, he said.
The campaign, which will make extensive use of social media, has supporters including artist Arthur Vickers and University of Victoria ethnobotanist Nancy Turner, who have made videos explaining why TLC's work is vital.
In an interview, Turner said he could not give income and expenditure figures as they change monthly with donations.
The organization will be judicious about taking on new projects, but there are no plans to get rid of any properties. There may be layoffs among the 40-plus staff if they cannot be reassigned, Turner said.
That will become easier as Abkhazi Gardens and Sooke Potholes Campground reopen for the summer, bringing in revenue, he said. This year, staff were asked to defer part of their salary and put the money in a company set up by TLC, an arrangement that raised about $30,000, Turner said.
It is a good investment for staff, with an interest rate of five per cent, and some have decided to continue putting part of their salary into the fund, he said.
Financial statements for the year ending April 2010 show that salaries, wages and benefits amounted to $2,003,000.
The organization held mortgages of $3.5 million on 15 properties, plus unsecured loans of $1.7 million and operating costs of between $250,000 and $300,000 a month.
Abkhazi Gardens is one of the most heavily mortgaged properties, with $1.17 million owing.
