This month, the Americana Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) for its Volunteer Capacity Initiative: Laying the Groundwork for Lasting Impact. Founded in 1996, KLT protects more than 9,500 acres and nearly 10 miles of Lake Superior shoreline in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. The organization works with landowners to create public nature areas and conservation easements, advancing its mission to protect land, water, and quality of life through conservation, stewardship, and nature connections.
The Keweenaw Peninsula is both a stronghold and a frontline in the effort to protect the Great Lakes. It faces pressures from invasive species, shoreline erosion, development, and climate-driven changes in hydrology. KLT’s lands include high-value shoreline, wetlands, and headwaters—ecosystems critical to Lake Superior’s long-term resilience. For decades, KLT has relied on dedicated volunteers to steward these places, but volunteer engagement has remained largely informal. Without centralized systems for recruitment, training, and retention, it has been difficult to convert enthusiasm into sustained, organized stewardship.
This grant will help KLT change that. Earlier this year, the organization created an Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator position to develop a robust, community-powered volunteer program. Over the next year, KLT will design a streamlined intake system integrated with its CRM, create
a volunteer handbook and orientation process, host kickoff and appreciation events, and provide branded gear that fosters identity and belonging. The initiative will also launch a site steward program, train volunteers for ongoing ecological care, and document systems for long-term sustainability.
KLT expects to recruit at least 50 new volunteers in the first year, host two anchor events, and record over 500 hours of service—much of it devoted to shoreline and watershed protection. Ecological outcomes will be tracked over time, with attention to vegetation cover, erosion reduction, and habitat quality.
The project is deeply aligned with our Natural Resources program priorities. It strengthens local capacity for land conservation and stewardship in a region of high ecological value and limited philanthropic investment. By transforming a culture of informal volunteerism into a durable, well-supported network, KLT is building the human infrastructure necessary to protect the Great Lakes for decades to come. For more information about KLT (or to volunteer!), check out KLT’s website.