1,200 ACRES
The amount of farmland Lancaster County loses each year.
120,000 RESIDENTS
The estimated county population increase over the next 20 years.
4,000 ACRES
The acreage that will be preserved with your support.
50 FARMS
The number of farms waiting to be preserved.
In the 30 years since Lancaster Farmland Trust was founded, it has permanently preserved more than 30,000 acres of land and has become a national leader in the preservation of farmland and conservation of natural resources. While this is an exceptional accomplishment, the growth of Lancaster County continues to stress our resources and increase the pressure to develop our farmland.
Our Mission
To preserve and steward the beautiful, productive farmland of Lancaster County that reflects our heritage, supports our economy, protects our environment, nourishes our health, and enhances our quality of life.
We’ve made a promise to the 50 farm families on our waiting list that we will help them preserve their land, and it is important that we fulfill that promise.
It is critical that we take advantage of this window of opportunity to preserve these farms and protect our natural resources forever.
“Honoring the Promise” Campaign video
We need your help
Development is consuming the land we love – they say it’s the price of progress. At the same time, interest in preservation has never been stronger.
Help us honor the promise we’ve made to the 50 farm families waiting to preserve their farms. Your commitment will protect an additional 4,000 acres of beautiful, productive Lancaster County farmland.
Help us honor the promise we’ve made to the farmers who have already preserved their farms – and to our community – that the land will remain protected forever. Your commitment will help sustain the organization and steward the easements that have been entrusted to us.
From the Campaign Leadership
Lancaster County is blessed with the most productive farmland in the country. Our rich agricultural heritage has shaped our community and enhanced our quality of life. Today, our farms support our economy, improve our environment, and provide our families with fresh, local foods. It is important that we preserve our farmland so that future generations can continue to enjoy the many benefits our farms provide.
We are pleased to serve as the Honorary Co-Chairs of Lancaster Farmland Trust’s “Honoring the Promise” campaign. As long-time supporters of the Trust, we are committed to its mission to preserve and steward our precious farmland, and we understand the importance and urgency of preserving our farmland now – before it is too late.
The “Honoring the Promise” campaign will make it possible for the Trust to preserve an additional 4,000 acres of farmland and will provide long-term financial security to sustain the organization and ensure that the farms that have been preserved remain protected forever.
Your support of this campaign is important to the future of our community. We hope you will join us in “Honoring the Promise.”
Beverly Steinman
Barry Shaw
Join us in “Honoring the Promise”
Gifts of all sizes are needed to make this campaign successful.
| Gift amount | % of total | Gifts | Total |
| $1,500,000 | 20% | 1 | $1,500,000 |
| $1,000,000 | 13% | 2 | $2,000,000 |
| $500,000 | 20% | 2 | $1,000,000 |
| $250,000 | 10% | 3 | $750,000 |
| $100,000 | 11% | 7 | $700,000 |
| $50,000 | 11% | 12 | $600,000 |
| $25,000 | 10% | 25 | $625,000 |
| Less than $25,000 | 5% | Many | $325,000 |
$7.5 million
More information
Honorary Co-Chairs
Beverly “Peggy” Steinman
Barry Shaw
Steering Committee
Ted Bowers
Dave Breniser
John Cox
Carol Falk
Dennis Grimm
Don Hess
Bob Krasne
Caroline Morton
Larry Shirk
Bob Shoemaker
Bill and Phyllis Whitesell
Jeff Kirk
Executive Director
Karen Martynick
What is the goal of the “Honoring the Promise” campaign?
The goal of the campaign is $7.5 million. The funds raised will preserve the 50 farms on the Trust’s waiting list – protecting an additional 4,000 acres – and provide for the long-term stewardship of the farms already preserved.
Why is the campaign important for our community?
The preservation of our beautiful, productive farmland supports our economy and enhances our quality of life. Each year, 1,200 acres of farmland are lost to development. With more than 120,000 new residents expected in the county over the next 20 years, the pressure on our farmland will increase dramatically. We have the opportunity to shape what our community will look like in the future and to leave a legacy for future generations, but we must act now before it’s too late.
When will you begin to preserve farms?
As soon as we receive your gift. Once we have your commitment, we will be able to let the farm families on our waiting list that we can move forward with the preservation of their farm. The process takes approximately six months to complete.
How long do I have to fulfill a pledge?
Donors may make their gift all at once or divide their gift over a maximum of five years. Donors to the campaign will be asked to sign a “Letter of Commitment” that outlines their intentions.
Are gifts to the campaign tax-deductible?
Yes. The IRS recognizes Lancaster Farmland Trust as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Gifts made to the Trust are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Please contact your financial advisor for information about how your contribution can provide you with the maximum tax benefit.
Will you accept a planned gift as part of my pledge?
As outlined in the Ways to Give insert, planned giving is an important component of the Honoring the Promise campaign. Donors may choose to expand the impact of their current gift by adding the Trust to their estate plans or increasing an existing planned gift. New or increased estate gifts will be acknowledged as part of the campaign. New planned giving donors will be welcomed as a member of the Trust’s Amos Funk Legacy Society.
I have other questions, who may I contact?
If you have questions about the campaign or would like additional information, please contact Amanda Hickle, Director of Development and Communications at Lancaster Farmland Trust. Amanda can be reached at 717-687-8484 or ahickle@lancasterfarmlandtrust.org.
The Honoring the Promise Campaign will provide the philanthropic support necessary to protect and steward 3,200 acres of rich, productive farmland. Lancaster Farmland Trust will accept outright gifts of cash, deferred gifts and blended gifts (a combination of both outright and deferred). Because Lancaster Farmland Trust is a 501 (c)(3) organization, your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Outright gifts of cash, securities and/or real estate
Your contribution of an outright gift of cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and/or real estate can help Lancaster Farmland Trust in ‘Honoring the Promise’ to protect our farmland from development. You can choose to make a one-time gift or make a pledge to be fulfilled in the manner you designate up to three years. Gifts can also be made by qualifying donors from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and recommendations for campaign support can be made from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) on an annual basis.
Estate (or Planned) Gifts
In addition to outright gifts, you may also choose to leave a legacy of protected land through an estate gift to Lancaster Farmland Trust. There are a number of options for creating a gift through your estate including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, outright bequests and gifts of life insurance.
In this campaign, new or increased estate gifts created by donors who are age 75 or older (or will be by the end of this campaign – estimated to be 12/31/21 – will be counted at face value toward both the campaign goal and for recognition purposes. For donors under the age of 75, credit will be given for the present value of the gift. For revocable planned gifts such as new bequests or beneficiary designations, donors will be asked to sign a binding campaign commitment form and provide copies of the applicable section of their will/beneficiary form.
Any donor that commits to an estate gift through this campaign will be welcomed into the Amos Funk Legacy Society, a committed group of individuals who are leaving their legacy by designating Lancaster Farmland Trust as the beneficiary – in part or whole – of their estate.
Blended Gifts
You may find that a blended gift offers you the opportunity to increase the impact of your contribution to Lancaster Farmland Trust’s Honoring the Promise Campaign. A combination of outright and planned giving can offer you the flexibility to increase the impact of your contribution.
See Lancaster Farmland Trust’s Gift Acceptance Policy for additional information regarding gift acceptance terms and administration.