Finances and Outreach
Presented By Nikki Schlie, Assistant Director
1. Internal Systems Setup with Little Green Light
Last year, a significant amount of my time was dedicated to setting up a new internal management system for our donors and volunteers: Little Green Light. I also took courses in nonprofit financial management and learned new ways of using QuickBooks online to allow for better reporting capabilities.
Streamlining Internal Processes: It’s helping us manage our annual appeals, acknowledgment letters, and volunteer coordination much more efficiently.
Integration & Automation: It seamlessly integrates with our accounting software, QuickBooks. This connection allows us to manage everything from forms to financial tracking without the need for additional manual data entry.
Better Insight & Reporting: One of the most exciting features is the advanced reporting capabilities, which were previously done manually. We now have better insights into donor trends, and we can categorize volunteers by their specific interests.
Growth in Donor Engagement: In 2024, we processed over 1,000 gifts from individuals, foundations, and local community organizations.
2. Donor Contributions & Financial Overview
Let’s take a moment to look at where our funding came from in 2024.
Membership & Donations: Memberships and donations made up just about 50% of our total income. Together we can do great things!
Investment Portfolio: The dividends and interest from our investment portfolio made up 22% of our total income.
In-Kind Donations: We also received in-kind donations of stock, which contributed 12% of our overall income.
Grants: We received four grants from local organizations who are proud to support our mission
Webhannet Charitable Foundation - Funds allocated for the Emmons Barn Restoration project, administered by the KHS Alternative Education Program.
Maine Lighthouse Trust - Funds will be used to install a perimeter around the Goat Island Lighthouse, for safety purposes and for exceptional viewing of the harbor.
LL Bean - Funds will be used to revitalize the Storybook Trail, including new stands to display the story and a sensory garden. This project will also be completed in partnership with the KHS Alternative Education Program.
Tommy McNamara Foundation - Funds will be used to create a “Youth Trail Challenge” that will encourage the local youth to get out and have fun on the trails. This program is in partnership with the Arundel Conservation Trust and the Kennebunk Land Trust.
Additional Revenue Streams: Other sources of income include renting our beautiful headquarters building for weddings, showers, celebrations of life, and so many more special events. The Trust also receives sponsorships for our annual Trail Fest and magazine publication, and sales from our KCT merchandise and books.
3. How We Allocate Our Budget
Now, let’s turn to how we allocate the funds we’ve received. Here’s a breakdown of our spending in 2024:
Salaries: 30% of our budget is spent on salaries for our administrative staff who support the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Restoration Projects: 30% of our expenses were put towards restoration projects. This includes but is not limited to:
The completion of the Emmons House restoration by the Alt Ed program.
Re-powering Goat Island with solar energy, which was funded by donations received in prior years.
Dune grass restoration at Goose Rocks Beach.
Program Expenses: Our program costs, which include the Trust in Education Program and the Cape Porpoise Archaeology Program, account for about 13% of the budget.
Stewardship: 12% includes landscaping, repairs and maintenance, and utilities across all of our holdings.
Other Expenses: The remaining 15% of our budget covers essential costs such as office supplies/upkeep, utilities, processing fees, insurance, and various outreach efforts.
In summary, 2024 was a year of growth and efficiency. We’ve made great strides in improving how we manage our systems and finances, and we are seeing the impact of those improvements in both our donor engagement and program effectiveness.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to achieving even more together in the year ahead.
Annual Revenue
Annual Expenses