How We Purchase Land for Conservation at the Arc of Appalachia

At the Arc of Appalachia, our mission is to protect and preserve Southern Ohio’s most ecologically significant lands. Many of our supporters ask how we go about acquiring land—and we want to shed light on that process, as well as the vital role that donors and grants play in our work.

Leveraging Grants and Donor Support

The Clean Ohio Fund is our largest and most powerful grant resource. To secure these grants for land acquisition, we must provide matching funds—typically about 25% of each project—thanks to the generosity of our donors. This means that for every $1 given by our supporters, we are able to leverage $4 in total funding for most of our projects. Because grant awards are never guaranteed, we’re highly selective in the properties we pursue, focusing on those with the highest conservation value.

The Revolving Land Fund—Our Secret Weapon

In our early days, we relied on traditional bank loans to purchase land—often using valuable donor dollars to pay interest. Over time, we realized we could do better, and slowly built up our own cash reserves specifically for this purpose. Today, we call this our Revolving Land Fund—though among our team, it’s affectionately known as “the Bucket.”

When we encounter an outstanding property—especially one with a seller who can’t wait for months while we secure grants—we draw from the Bucket to make the purchase, often partnering with like-minded nonprofits who can hold the land for us. This gives us critical time to secure grants and donations. Once new funds arrive, we replenish the Bucket, readying it for the next opportunity.

Some properties, especially those under 10 acres or those with houses, aren’t eligible for grants. When we want to secure these pieces to complete our preserves, we must buy them outright with cash from the Bucket, then rely on our annual fundraising campaign to restore our reserves. Though more costly, these acquisitions are crucial for creating large, contiguous natural areas that can be effectively protected long-term.

The Challenge of Rising Land Prices

Like much of the country, rural southern Ohio saw real estate prices soar during the COVID years. Land that once cost $2,500 an acre now often sells for $4,000, and in premier areas like the Hocking Hills, the jump is even more dramatic. Sellers, aware of the increased demand, are often unwilling to wait for buyers working through the lengthy process of securing grants. As a result, we’ve had to rely on our Revolving Land Fund more than ever.

Other Grant Programs and Future Needs

We also access other sources of grant funding, such as the Ohio EPA’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP). Through WRRSP, a municipality can sponsor our conservation project in exchange for reduced interest rates on their EPA loans. We successfully used this program in 2021 to protect the 618-acre Tremper Mound Preserve. However, WRRSP funding can take up to two years to materialize—far longer than most sellers are willing to wait—making a robust Revolving Land Fund even more essential.

In the past, our Bucket has ranged from empty to $500,000. Given today’s higher land prices and increasing opportunities for conservation, we could effectively use a fund four times that size or more. Refilling the Bucket has always been central to our work and our annual land campaign—it’s just that now, the need is even greater.

MAKE A DONATION TO THE ARC OF APPALACHIA TODAY!