Support a Project

In 2016, a couple from California established a WOF capital revolving fund for the acquisition of private inholdings. An initial $100,000 investment was directed at the purchase of two parcels (480 acres) in the Santa Lucia and Garcia Wilderness Areas in California. Upon transfer of these parcels in 2019, the fund was reinvested and has now turned over several times, enabling acquisition of 8 additional properties in the Chuck River Wilderness (AK), Wild Sky Wilderness (WA)and Henry M. Jackson Wilderness (WA).

With active projects in nearly every western state, you will likely find a place we are working to protect near or within a wild place you and your family love. Help us protect these special places with a gift or loan to our land acquisition fund, the Wilderness Opportunity Fund (WOF).

The WOF provides a source of ready capital that permits the Trust to move quickly on opportunities with willing sellers. Financial resources available via the WOF gives us the capacity to take on all viable projects, utilizing our professional knowledge to work through complex ownership or environmental issues efficiently. Once a landowner is ready to sell, the Trust can often move that process along much faster than if the landowner chooses to work directly with the federal land management agency.

A gift to the WOF can be managed in several ways, as directed by the donor, to best fit your interests and financial planning needs.

A tax-deductible donation can be used to acquire a specific parcel, multiple parcels in a specific region or state, or as needed across our entire lands portfolio.

• Upon sale of the property and transfer to public land, the value of the donation can be reinvested as a named revolving fund and will be used to acquire more land.
• Upon sale of the property and transfer to public land, the value of the donation can be released from its original intent and used to cover operating expenses incurred during the land acquisition process.
• Donations to the Fund are charitable donations to support the mission of the Trust and made without expectation of financial return.

A low or no interest loan can be used to acquire a specific parcel, multiple projects in a specific region or state, or as needed across our entire lands portfolio.

• Upon sale of the property and transfer to public ownership, the loan principal can be reinvested in the WOF as a named revolving fund used to acquire more land.
• Upon sale of the property and transfer to public land, forgiving a portion or the entirety of your loan as a tax-deductible donation allows funds to be used to cover operating expenses incurred during the land acquisition process.
• The charitable value of the use of loaned funds is limited to imputed interest at the recognized federal rate until the final disposition of lent funds is determined.
• The lender may choose to donate the value of annual interest to The Trust.

To learn more, call Brad Borst 206-397-5240, or inquire by email