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Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire

Grant Range
$10K - $0.0M

Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Revenue: $11.8 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $44.7 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $30,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Rockingham and Strafford counties, southeastern New Hampshire
  • Application Process: No public application process - strategic partnerships only
  • Recognition: Land Trust Accredited; Charity Navigator 4/4 Stars

Contact Details

Main Office: Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire 247 North River Road Epping, NH 03042

Phone: 603-778-6088 Email: info@seltnh.org Website: https://seltnh.org

Key Contacts:

  • Brian Hart, Executive Director
  • Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director - for conservation partnerships
  • Zoe Graves, Outreach and Education Director - for education partnerships
  • Derrick Trent, Events and Outreach Specialist - derrick@seltnh.org or 603-658-9725 for sponsorship/partnership inquiries

Overview

The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) is an accredited land conservation organization founded in 1980 that protects and sustains significant lands in southeastern New Hampshire. Through 2024, SELT has permanently conserved more than 28,000 acres across 52 towns and cities in Rockingham and Strafford counties. With total assets of $44.7 million and annual revenue of $11.8 million (2024), SELT operates with a professional staff of 19 and maintains 41 reservations totaling over 10,834 acres of fee-owned land.

The organization emerged from the merger of three separate conservation organizations: Rockingham Land Trust (established 1980), Strafford Rivers Conservancy (established 1989), and Seacoast Land Trust (established 1999). These organizations merged in 2006 and 2014 to form the modern SELT. In 2022, the organization relocated to the Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms in Epping.

While primarily focused on direct land conservation activities, SELT makes strategic grants to partner organizations that support its conservation, education, and stewardship mission. The organization has received recognition including a 2023 Preservation Achievement Award from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, third-term Land Trust Accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, and a 4/4 Star rating from Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Strategic Partnership Grants

SELT makes grants to support organizations working in alignment with their conservation mission. Based on documented grants from 2022, funding supports:

Nature-Based Education Programs

  • White Pine Programs: $29,786 for nature-based education (2022)
  • Support for organizations providing outdoor education to children and families

Conservation and Stewardship Activities

  • Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests: $18,500 for easement defense and stewardship management (2022)
  • Support for organizations protecting New Hampshire forestlands and conservation easements

Professional Development and Capacity Building

  • University of New Hampshire Foundation: $10,628 for trail assessment training (2022)
  • Support for training programs that build land stewardship capacity

Priority Areas

SELT's grantmaking aligns with their four strategic conservation focus areas:

  1. Clean Drinking Water - Protecting public water supply lands and watersheds
  2. Farmlands for the Future - Supporting productive agricultural lands growing food and fiber
  3. Living Landscapes - Protecting lands critical for wildlife habitat, ecological functioning, and outdoor recreation
  4. Pawtuckaway to Great Bay Greenway - Creating connected conservation corridors

What They Don't Fund

As a land conservation organization making strategic partnership grants rather than operating a formal grantmaking program, SELT does not:

  • Accept unsolicited grant applications from the general public
  • Fund projects outside southeastern New Hampshire (Rockingham and Strafford counties)
  • Make general operating grants to organizations unrelated to their conservation mission
  • Fund projects unrelated to land conservation, outdoor education, or natural resource stewardship

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Brian Hart, Executive Director - Brian joined SELT in 2002 and has led the organization's growth from an all-volunteer organization to a professional staff of 19. He managed two major mergers that created the modern SELT and has overseen the conservation of tens of thousands of acres. A UNH Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Brian has stated, "Renewing our accreditation shows SELT's continued commitment to permanent land conservation, good governance, and sound fiscal management."

Senior Staff

  • Deborah Goard - Stewardship and Land Engagement Director
  • Duane Hyde - Land Conservation Director
  • Rhonda Bernstein - Advancement Director
  • Alina Michelewicz - Finance and Operations Director
  • Zoe Graves - Outreach and Education Director

Program Staff (14 additional staff members)

Including Conservation Project Managers, Easement Stewardship Manager, Forest and Wildlife Habitat Manager, Education Program Manager, Trails and Community Engagement Manager, and support staff.

Board of Directors

SELT is governed by a committed Board of Directors. Specific board member names are available in the organization's Form 990 filings and on their website.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

SELT does not have a public grant application process. The organization makes strategic partnership grants on a discretionary basis to support organizations that directly advance their land conservation, education, and stewardship mission in southeastern New Hampshire.

Grants appear to be made to:

  • Established conservation partners working on shared priorities
  • Educational organizations providing nature-based programming aligned with SELT's mission
  • Organizations providing services that build conservation capacity (easement defense, stewardship training, etc.)

Rather than accepting grant applications, SELT identifies partnership opportunities through their ongoing conservation work and relationships in the land trust community.

Partnership Opportunities

Organizations interested in working with SELT may consider:

Conservation Partnerships: Contact Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director, regarding collaborative conservation projects, easement work, or land protection initiatives.

Education Partnerships: Contact Zoe Graves, Outreach and Education Director (zoe@seltnh.org or 603-658-9723), regarding nature-based education programs and community engagement opportunities.

General Partnership Inquiries: Contact Derrick Trent (derrick@seltnh.org or 603-658-9725) for sponsorship and partnership opportunities, or reach out to info@seltnh.org.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - SELT makes grant decisions on a discretionary basis as partnership opportunities arise rather than following a formal application cycle.

Application Success Factors

Since SELT does not accept unsolicited applications, success in partnering with the organization depends on:

Mission Alignment: Organizations should demonstrate clear alignment with SELT's focus on land conservation, outdoor education, water protection, farmland preservation, or wildlife habitat in southeastern New Hampshire. As Brian Hart has emphasized, SELT is committed to "permanent land conservation, good governance, and sound fiscal management" - partners should share these values.

Geographic Focus: All partnership work must serve the 52 towns and cities of Rockingham and Strafford counties where SELT operates.

Established Track Record: Based on documented grants, SELT partners with established organizations like the Society for the Protection of NH Forests and University of New Hampshire Foundation that have proven expertise in conservation and education.

Direct Mission Support: Funded activities directly support SELT's work - easement defense and stewardship management, nature-based education programs, and professional training that builds conservation capacity.

Strategic Conservation Value: Partnerships should advance SELT's four strategic focus areas: Clean Drinking Water, Farmlands for the Future, Living Landscapes, and the Pawtuckaway to Great Bay Greenway initiative.

Collaborative Approach: Organizations should approach SELT as potential collaborators on shared conservation goals rather than as traditional grant applicants. SELT values working relationships built through the southeastern New Hampshire conservation community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a Traditional Grantmaker: SELT is primarily a land conservation organization that makes strategic partnership grants rather than operating a formal grantmaking program with public applications.

  • Partnership-Based Funding: Grants support collaborative work with established conservation, education, and stewardship organizations in southeastern New Hampshire.

  • Geographic Limitation: All funding is focused on the 52 towns and cities in Rockingham and Strafford counties of southeastern New Hampshire.

  • Mission-Aligned Only: Funding supports organizations working on land conservation, outdoor education, water protection, farmland preservation, wildlife habitat, or conservation capacity building.

  • Relationship-Driven: Building a working relationship with SELT through conservation partnerships is likely more effective than requesting grant funding.

  • Alternative Support Options: Organizations may find more success collaborating with SELT on joint conservation projects, participating in their educational programs, or exploring other forms of partnership beyond direct grant funding.

  • Strong Financial Position: With $44.7 million in assets and $11.8 million in annual revenue, SELT is a well-resourced organization, but grantmaking represents a small portion of their activities compared to direct land conservation work.

References

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