Financial situation
In recent weeks, announcements have been made regarding severe financial challenges that TLC is facing, and significant changes that are underway. There is not enough revenue coming in to sustain our current operations. Part of the problem has been the economic turmoil that has depressed funding opportunities– from foundations, corporations and individual donors – and that has greatly reduced our ability to be able to make ends meet. Another factor is the collapse in provincial and federal government grants and programs. We also accept responsibility for carrying operational costs that led to an unacceptable backlog in our short-term commitments and payables, which we will address as quickly as possible. This has impacted the public’s trust in us and we need to rebuild that trust. What happens to TLC also affects other land trusts and our partners, which broadens the necessity to find solutions from everyone who is affected.

Since it was founded 15 years ago, TLC found ways to do what was needed to save places that were threatened, but these approaches are no longer possible or appropriate. As we’ve heard from many of our members and supporters, we need to shift our focus from growth (and the associated risk that comes with it), towards ensuring long-term sustainability. We have always prided ourselves on being about ‘sustainability’ so the time has come to apply these principles to our own organization. How do we continue to manage existing properties, let alone save new ones, when many traditional funding sources have dried up?

Our response
We are putting this question out to our members, donors, lenders and supporters. The first priority has been a draft plan that will address the various elements:

  • As quickly as possible, we need to reduce our monthly costs to bring them into balance with the current reduced revenue levels. And we will continue to balance our activities with these anticipated cost levels. Most of our operating costs are in staffing. A year ago we made significant cuts of about 30% in our staffing costs, mostly through attrition – this plan envisions a further cut of about 50%.
  • We need to reorganize and restructure our operations so that we can continue to operate at a reduced level. This will require establishing priorities about what we can and cannot do, and then focusing energies and resources on the areas where we can be most effective.
  • We need to cap our debt and then work to establish a sinking fund to eliminate the backlog. Where possible this will include working with our financial partners to restructure the debt to allow us the time to deal with them fully and appropriately.
  • We need to continue to have the ability to raise funds for the work we do. With reduced operations and reduced staffing, our fundraising capability is also reduced – so we need your help to reach out and find members to give us the solid footing to continue.
  • We need to engage our members, supporters and partners even more – by providing feedback and advice on this plan, or by becoming directly involved with our work through volunteering, or by helping with fundraising and membership growth.

These are major changes and the transition will be very difficult for our hard working staff members, and it also means we won’t be doing all the things we have in the past. While the details of this are still being worked through, many of our activities must be put on hold for now, and we may need to close, or restrict public access to some of our sites.

Transition time
There is opportunity in change. We have all been recognizing, for some months, that TLC is at a time in its life when it is in need of renewal and rejuvenation. Our financial circumstances have brought this into even more focus. Bill Turner, TLC’s founder, driving force and long-time Executive Director, agrees that this is an opportune time for renewal, and he has brought forward his retirement from the position of Executive Director. We have been working on succession planning and getting ready for this transition for the past year, and we are now ready and able to pass the leadership mantle to a new generation. Kathleen Sheppard (TLC’s Director of Operations) has been appointed as the new Acting Executive Director. Although reduced in numbers, Kathleen will have a strong and experienced team of professional staff working with her.

As everyone associated with TLC knows, much of our success as an organization is directly attributable to Bill’s leadership. From humble beginnings in Bill’s basement, TLC has grown to be one of BC’s leading land trusts and conservation organizations, having protected over 300 individual properties, covering more than125,000 acres, attracting over 8,000 members and volunteers and engaging tens of thousands more in directly supporting its activities. As TLC Board Chair Alastair Craighead says “in my view, everyone in BC owes Bill Turner a huge debt of gratitude for the years of dedicated service he has put in on behalf of TLC, our communities and our environment.”

As he has for most of the past fifteen years – including the past two years, Bill will be continuing to serve TLC in a volunteer capacity to help us with fundraising and other projects. He will also be continuing his work to build the National Trust movement around the world, through his involvement with INTO (the International National Trusts Organization), of which he is the Vice-Chairman.

In the coming weeks we will be providing opportunities for all of us to express our thanks to Bill more directly.

What Can You Do to Help?

There are many ways you can help, but the most urgent are:

  • Provide your feedback and your suggestions as to how TLC should be restructuring particularly, where you feel our priorities should lie.
  • Become a member today.
  • Sign up other members. encourage your family, friends and co-workers to join as well.
  • Upgrade your membership.
  • Donate now. No matter what the amount, every bit will help TLC move forward. You can make your fully tax-receiptable donation online, or by telephone, email or mail.
  • Support TLC publicly. In addition to financial support, the best way to support TLC at this time is to let everyone know that you support us, and why. Tell your friends and neighbours that you care about the work we are doing and that we need their support. Use your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and email accounts to help spread the word. We encourage you to like us on Facebook, and follow (and retweet!) us on Twitter (@TLC4BC). Direct communication from person to person is the most powerful and effective way of getting people to take action – and with your help we will surely succeed.

In the coming days we will be encouraging British Columbians to show their support for TLC and the work we do. We will be wearing our (green) hearts on our sleeves, and encourage you to do the same. We will be asking everyone to show their support by signing up a member or making a contribution to show that their heart is also green. Watch for our “Green Heart” appeal.

We know that you and so many other people in British Columbia care deeply about the work that TLC does, and want that work to continue. If we all pull together, and each of us does what we can to help, then we will succeed.