What Kittery Land Trust does

Kittery Land Trust (KLT) is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization founded in 1987 in Kittery, Maine. As of 2024 it has protected more than 1,000 acres of conservation land across Kittery through ownership and conservation easements across roughly 20 named properties, including Andrews Preserve, Brave Boat Headwaters, Norton Preserve, Remick Preserve, Seapoint, and Rustlewood Farm. The operational centerpiece is Nooney Farm, a 30-acre former dairy farm acquired in December 2020 through a bargain sale from Jacquelyn Nooney, which houses the Giving Garden (donating over 25,000 pounds of produce to local food pantries since acquisition), more than 100 varieties of organically grown flowers, an event venue, and the education programming infrastructure. In September 2025 KLT expanded Nooney Farm and secured its first permanent headquarters, the Morgan House at 18 Stevenson Road, financed in part by a $300,000 gift from Vance Morgan.

The organization's product surface spans three pillars: (1) conservation and stewardship — land acquisition, conservation easements, trail maintenance, volunteer stewardship workdays, and an Adopt-a-Trail program; (2) outdoor education — a comprehensive Kittery School District partnership (Farm to School, service learning, StoryMaps) serving 700+ students through 84 programs in 2024-2025, supplemented by Farm Camp ($375/week), the free Muddy Boots Club for preschoolers, and adult workshops; and (3) farm-based programming — Flower CSA shares (16-week seasonal subscription), pick-your-own flowers ($1/stem), floral workshops ($65-$75), the Under the Oak Music Series, the Seacoast Environmental Film Festival, and the annual Harvest Dinner fundraiser. The Giving Garden functions as a community food-security platform distributing produce to seven partner organizations.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across member contributions (with voting rights at the September Annual Meeting), major donations and grants (the Edward Crocker Green Endowment, projected to generate ~$160,000 annually from a $5.5 million principal, was established in 2025), bargain-sale land transactions, planned giving (bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities), program fees (camp, CSA, workshops), and event-driven fundraising. The organization operates with a lean team of four full-time staff (Executive Director, Education Coordinator, Stewardship Manager, Farm Manager) supported by approximately 100 annual volunteers, and is governed by an 11+ member volunteer Board of Directors. There is no proprietary technology stack beyond standard web forms (LGL Forms, Google Forms), Constant Contact email, and a WordPress website.

Name

Kittery Land Trust

Legal name

Kittery Land Trust

Website

https://kitterylandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kittery Land Trust is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that protects over 1,000 acres of conservation land in Kittery, Maine, and operates Nooney Farm to deliver outdoor education, fresh-produce donations to food pantries, and community events for local residents and K-8 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easement management
• Outdoor environmental education
• Community land stewardship
• Nonprofit agricultural programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kittery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Annual member contributions where members support KLT and are eligible to vote at annual meetings
2. Program Revenue: Fees from farm camp ($375/week), flower CSA shares, floral workshops ($65-$75), pick-your-own flowers ($1/stem), and other farm programs
3. Food Donations: Donates fresh produce grown at Nooney Farm's Giving Garden to local food pantries - not revenue generating but a key community service
4. Land Transactions: Bargain sale land transactions where sellers accept below market value, and conservation easement arrangements
5. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts, bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and gift annuities through estate planning
6. Donations and Grants: Major donations such as the $300,000 from Vance Morgan and foundation/government grants for conservation projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kittery Land Trust permanently protects and stewards more than 1,000 acres of conservation land in Kittery, Maine through ownership and conservation easements. It operates Nooney Farm, a 30-acre agricultural and education hub offering produce donations, a flower CSA, pick-your-own flowers, floral workshops, and event programming, and delivers outdoor education programs in partnership with the Kittery School District serving 700+ K-8 students annually. The organization funds its work through memberships, donations, planned giving, grants, and program fees.

Product overview

Kittery Land Trust is a member-supported nonprofit land conservation organization (founded 1987) offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services centered on land protection, outdoor recreation, and community engagement. Core offerings include managing over 1,000 acres of conservation preserves across Kittery, Maine, with public trail access. The centerpiece is Nooney Farm, a 30-acre agricultural hub providing locally grown produce through the Giving Garden (7,500+ lbs donated annually), flower cultivation with CSA and pick-your-own programs, and event venue space. Educational programs serve Kittery students through the Kittery School District partnership (Farm to School, outdoor classrooms), summer Farm Camp, and Muddy Boots Club for preschoolers. Community events include the Under the Oak Music Series, Harvest Dinner, and Seacoast Environmental Film Festival. The organization funds its work through memberships, donations, planned giving, and annual fundraisers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nooney Farm: 30-acre former dairy farm now serving as hub for local agriculture, education, and outdoor recreation. Features Giving Garden, flower fields, and educational programs.
• Under the Oak Music Series
• Muddy Boots Club
• Farm Camp

Products and services

• Nooney Farm A 30-acre former dairy farm turned community hub for local agriculture, outdoor recreation, and education, featuring open farm fields, woodlands, wetlands, the Giving Garden, flower fields, and event space open to the public.
• Conservation Preserves More than 1,000 acres of permanently protected conservation land across Kittery held through deed restrictions and conservation easements, providing wildlife habitat, water quality protection, and outdoor recreation via public trail access.
• Membership Program Annual membership program enabling community members to support land conservation through recurring contributions and receive voting rights at the Annual Meeting held each September.
• Farm Camp Week-long summer day camp for children grades 1-8 held at Nooney Farm, featuring outdoor activities, farm work, crafts, and games at $375/week with scholarships available on first-come, first-served basis.
• Flower CSA Shares 16-week seasonal flower subscription offering weekly hand-tied bouquets of seasonal blooms from Nooney Farm, with pickup at the farm after 3pm on Thursdays from June 18 through October 1.
• Pick Your Own Flowers Self-serve pick-your-own flower experience at Nooney Farm over 100 varieties at $1/stem, available Wednesdays through Saturdays July through September.
• Floral Workshops Seasonal floral design workshops at Nooney Farm, including Seasonal Ephemera ($75) and Eco Printing ($65), limited to 12 participants.
• Outdoor Education Programs Environmental literacy programs connecting community members to nature through school partnerships, service learning, adult education, and outdoor classrooms, with 84 programs delivered to 700+ Kittery students in 2024-2025.
• Farm to School Program Six-week hands-on agricultural education program at Nooney Farm for Shapleigh School sixth graders and other Kittery schools, teaching all aspects of agriculture while growing produce for the Giving Garden.
• Muddy Boots Club Free preschool nature program for children 5 and under and their caregivers, offering child-led nature exploration at KLT properties.
• Under the Oak Music Series Live outdoor music series held at Nooney Farm featuring local and regional folk, Americana, and bluegrass musicians in a community-focused setting.
• Seacoast Environmental Film Festival Family-friendly environmental film festival featuring screenings, hands-on activities, and environmental education for children, with free admission and suggested donation of $5/person or $20/family of 4+.
• Harvest Dinner Annual fundraising dinner held at Nooney Farm featuring locally sourced cuisine made with produce from the Giving Garden, supported by ticket sales and sponsorships.
• Annual Online Auction Annual online fundraising auction featuring more than 100 items including vacation rentals, experiences, and local goods.
• Trail Maps and Public Access Public trail access across multiple KLT preserves including Nooney Farm, Brave Boat Headwaters, Norton Preserve, Remick Preserve, Seapoint, Fairchild, and Clayton Lane, with downloadable trail maps and dawn-to-dusk access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected over 1,000 acres of conservation land
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• Williams Realty Partners / Keller WilliamsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Real estate brokerage that listed Ted Green's Gerrish Island property for sale after conservation easement was placed.
• Town of KitterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLT works closely with the Town of Kittery to provide citizens with open space that protects water quality, provides wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The town also partnered on the Major Property conservation.
• Kittery School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive partnership providing outdoor education for grades K-8. KLT served 700+ students through 84 programs in 2024-2025 school year. Includes Farm to School program and service learning opportunities.
• Kittery Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership focused on conservation efforts within the Town of Kittery.
• Footprints Food PantrycoreOthersRecipient of fresh produce from Nooney Farm Giving Garden to support food-insecure community members.
• GathercoreOthersNew Hampshire-based food pantry receiving fresh produce donations from KLT's Giving Garden.
• The Seacoast FridgesecondaryOthersCommunity fridge initiative receiving produce donations to combat food insecurity.
• End 68 Hours of HungersecondaryOthersLocal initiative fighting childhood hunger in Kittery, receiving produce donations from KLT.
• Seacoast Community LunchsecondaryOthersCommunity meal program receiving fresh produce support from Nooney Farm.
• Mt Agamenticus to the Sea Coalition (MtA2C)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 10 land conservation organizations working to connect conservation lands from Tatnic region of South Berwick and Wells, over Mount Agamenticus to Gerrish Island. KLT is a proud member.
• Maine Land Trust NetworksecondaryOthersStatewide network of land trusts hosted and supported by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, keeping KLT abreast of issues and best practices.
• Land Trust AlliancesecondaryOthersNational organization providing KLT with latest conservation issues and best practices within the land conservation community.
• York Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring land trust with whom KLT has collaborated on connector trails between Norton Preserve and Fuller Forest preserve, creating contiguous protected area of 500+ acres.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire: Regional land trust serving southeastern NH. Comparable in operating model (conservation easements, public preserves, community events) but operates across the state border; board member Amy Seif Hattan is also a member of SELT.
• Kennebec Land Trust: Regional Maine land trust serving the Kennebec River region. Comparable operating model (volunteer stewardship, public preserves, easement program) with similar geographic scale.
• Great Works Regional Land Trust: Regional land trust based in Berwick, Maine, serving communities across the MtA2C region. Direct coalition partner with KLT through the Mt Agamenticus to the Sea Coalition.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Maine Chapter): Global conservation organization with active Maine operations focused on forest, coastal, and freshwater protection. A broader incumbent that pursues similar easement and acquisition strategies but at much larger scale.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Statewide land trust and host of the Maine Land Trust Network (of which KLT is a member). Operates a portfolio of public preserves and supports smaller Maine land trusts, including KLT, with policy and capacity-building resources.
• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that funds and executes land conservation projects across the U.S. Often partners with or complements community land trusts on conservation real-estate transactions and ballot-funded conservation financing.
• Laudholm Trust (Wells Reserve at Laudholm): Established coastal Maine land trust and National Estuarine Research Reserve. KLT board member Amy Seif Hattan has prior board experience here. Comparable mix of land protection, education, and public access.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization that supports land trusts including KLT with policy, standards, and accreditation. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner that shapes the operating environment for community land trusts.

Direct peers

• Kennebunkport Conservation Trust: Southern Maine land trust where KLT's Executive Director Lisa Linehan previously served as Associate Director for nine years. Comparable mission scope (land protection, stewardship, community programs) and similar coastal-Maine geography and scale.
• York Land Trust: Neighboring Maine land trust that KLT has directly collaborated with to build connector trails between Norton Preserve and Fuller Forest, creating a 500+ acre contiguous protected area. Operates a similar land-conservation-plus-community-engagement model in an adjacent town.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kitterylandtrust
• Xx.com/KitteryLand
• Facebookfacebook.com/kitterylandtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kittery-land-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kittery Land Trust