April 1st 2022 – March 31st 2023
The Year’s Recap and Reflections
In March 2020, when we were just about to celebrate our 20th anniversary of incorporation, the Pandemic arrived, and the organization – like most of the rest of the world – came to a halt. For two years we put our signature events on pause.
With new perspectives and an eagerness to re-engage with our communities and stakeholders, we resumed hosting the Wholesome Foods Breakfast fundraiser in 2022. We also picked up where we left off in the process of launching the next development phase for constructing our multipurpose building in the Emerson Brook Forest.
In May 2022, Malcolm Katz, Shawn Bowman, George Gilman and Kyle and Gray Skinner –key partners in the land development and building construction process joined Valerie for a fresh and pragmatic look at what was possible and realistic for the project. An alternative to the originally planned site, closer to the Center’s physical entrance and with less environmental impact, was chosen, reducing both unnecessary expenses and the need for environmental remediation. During the Fall of 2022, materials started to be delivered to the site, additional land was cleared, and a raised foundational platform of crushed stone was installed in anticipation of beginning the construction in Spring 2023.
A successful grant application to the Putnam Foundation yielded an initial grant of $5,000 toward construction of the building. The Putnam Foundation also offered a matching grant of $5,000 – contingent upon The Sustainability Project raising an additional $5,000 in matching funds from public/community donations. To date, The Sustainability Project, through fundraising events and targeted campaigns, is pleased to report that the required match has been met, totaling $15,000 for the project.
Valerie also received some very exciting and important personal news that directly impacts the future of the Center, its partnerships and community connections. A letter from Chief, Elder and Tribal Genealogist, Paul “Gwilawato” Bunnell of the Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation certified Valerie’s ancestral lineage with multiple indigenous tribes. Based on this personal history, Valerie chose to become a registered member of the Ko’asek Abenaki tribe. This is especially significant for The Sustainability Project as stewards of traditional Abenaki land. A strong collaboration between the two organizations continues to grow.
During 2022-23, The Sustainability Project has more than 30 volunteers to thank for their efforts both in the Emerson Brook Forest and at outreach and fundraising events.
For the third consecutive year, The Clay Heads Exhibit, a collection of museum quality sculptures by the late Susan O’Hara, attracted art lovers interested in making the connection between art and nature. We’re grateful to the Monadnock Food Coop for sponsoring a workshop on the subject of curating art in nature. Going forward, the Clay Heads will find a permanent home in The Sustainability Project’s multipurpose building.
We look forward with excitement to a year of construction and continued programming in 2023-24, and the realization of many dreams held dear, coming to light.
Help From Our Friends
Our Volunteers: Beth & Josh, Habib & Maha, Jeremiah, Kevin, Elena Acosta, Jean Balamuth, Brian Bishoff & Betsy Marshall, Heidi Bukoski, Chief Paul Bunnell, Kamala Burden, Jeeni Criscenzo & Juan del Rio, Diana Damato, Nancy DuBosque, Ben Kramer, Dan Law, Celeste Longacre, David Nepveu, Valerie Piedmont, Bodhi Piedmont-Fleischmann, Brian Prescott, Jack Rixey, Dee Robbins, Judy Rubin, Emily Schwerin-Whyte, Jennifer Sizoo, Dave Wichland, Hilliare Wilder & Karin, Anna Willard, Ron Witzke
Sincere thanks to our donors
Individuals: Elena Acosta, Ann Allen-Ryan, James Belt, The Bialek family, Dr. Arthur Cohen, Diana & Frank Damato, Timothy Dziedzic, Eloise Glover, Betsy Jane, Skot Jervis, Meg Kidd, Lenoir Law, Celeste Longacre, John Luther, Sadie MacDougall, Daniella Malin, Betsy Marshall & Brian Bishoff, Marcus McCarroll, Ariel Piedmont, Valerie Piedmont, Bodhi Piedmont-Fleischmann, Iris Piedmont-Fleischmann, Erika Radich, Simone Rezzonico, Dee Robbins, Judy Rubin, Peter Simoneaux, Barbara Skuly, Joyce Solomon, Kate Traeger, Hilliare Wilder, Bob and Anna Willard
Contributing Organizations and Businesses: Achille Agway, Aloha Healthy Living, Archway Farm, B&L Sugar House, Beeze Tees, Brewbakers, Brewtopia, Bull Moose, By Jeeni, The Caterpillar Lab, CC&D’s, Cheshire Children’s Museum, Colonial Theatre, Country Life Vegetarian Restaurant, Dog Days Farm, Fire Dog Breads, Green Energy Options, Flying Cloud Dairy, Hannah Grimes Center, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Hannaford, Horse and Buggy Feeds, Jack’s Crackers, Keene Community Kitchen, Ko’asek Abenaki, Local Burger, MoCo Arts, Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock Grows Together, Mudita, Nature’s Green Grocer, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Prime Roast, Savings Bank Of Walpole, Seven Stars Farm, Stonewall Farm, Stuart & John’s Sugar House, Tres Hombres, Toadstool, UNFI/Albert’s Organics, W.S. Badger, Walpole Valley Farms, Wichland Woods, Woodard’s Sugar House, Works Bakery Café, Vera Flora Farm
| 2022-23 Budget | 2022-23 Actual | 2023-24 Budget | ||||
| Ordinary Income/Expense | ||||||
| Income | ||||||
| Capital Campaign | $50,000.00 | $9,400.00 | $15,000.00 | |||
| Loan Income | $30,000.00 | $100,000.00 | ||||
| Rental Income | $200.00 | $500.00 | ||||
| Donations (general) | $2,000.00 | $505.48 | $200.00 | |||
| Fundraising | ||||||
| Wholesome Foods Breakfast | $2,000.00 | $2,388.94 | $2,400.00 | |||
| Total Fundraising | $2,000.00 | $2,388.94 | $2,400.00 | |||
| Misc InKind | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||
| Seed Celebration | $5,500.00 | $0.00 | ||||
| Wholesome Foods Breakfast | $1,200.00 | $0.00 | ||||
| Building | $15,000.00 | $0.00 | ||||
| Total InKind Donations | $21,700.00 | $0.00 | ||||
| Interest | $8.44 | |||||
| Program Revenue | ||||||
| EBF Art in the Forest | $2,000.00 | $675.00 | $1,500.00 | |||
| Seed Celebration/Preorder | $4,000.00 | $2,623.64 | $3,000.00 | |||
| other Program Revenue | $200.00 | $500.00 | ||||
| Total Program Revenue | $6,000.00 | $3,498.64 | $5,000.00 | |||
| Total Income | $111,900.00 | $15,801.50 | $123,100.00 | |||
| Expense | ||||||
| Intern Program | $500.00 | $1,000.00 | ||||
| Emerson Brook Forest | ||||||
| Building | $120,000.00 | $15,843.79 | $105,000.00 | |||
| Onsite Development | $3,000.00 | $5,000.00 | ||||
| Other | ||||||
| Total Emerson Brook Forest | $123,000.00 | $15,843.79 | $110,000.00 | |||
| Fundraising Expense | ||||||
| Wholesome Foods Breakfast | $2,000.00 | $357.35 | $400.00 | |||
| Total Fundraising Expense | $2,000.00 | $357.35 | $400.00 | |||
| Org. Admin | ||||||
| Fundraising | $1,500.00 | $216.75 | $1,500.00 | |||
| Dues | $30.00 | $45.00 | $45.00 | |||
| Board Meetings | $50.00 | $50.00 | ||||
| Annual Report | $75.00 | $75.00 | $75.00 | |||
| Bkkp/Taxes | $600.00 | $634.75 | $1,200.00 | |||
| Discretionary | $500.00 | $100.00 | $500.00 | |||
| Insurance | $880.00 | $872.50 | $1,500.00 | |||
| Legal | $0.00 | |||||
| Marketing | $400.00 | $3,000.00 | ||||
| Office (supplies) | $60.00 | $0.00 | $90.00 | |||
| Paypal fees | $48.00 | $35.74 | $75.00 | |||
| Payroll | ||||||
| Postage expense | $232.00 | $138.56 | $240.00 | |||
| Telephone | $400.00 | $0.00 | $400.00 | |||
| Webhosting | $20.00 | $21.99 | $25.00 | |||
| Total Org. Admin | $4,395.00 | $2,540.29 | $8,700.00 | |||
| Professional Development | ||||||
| Program Expenses | ||||||
| Program Exp | $1,000.00 | $523.02 | $1,000.00 | |||
| EBF Art in the Forest | $1,000.00 | $761.38 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Seed Celebration | $2,500.00 | $555.73 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Total Program Expenses | $4,500.00 | $1,840.13 | $3,000.00 | |||
| Total Expense | $134,395.00 | $20,581.56 | $123,100.00 | |||
| Net Ordinary Income | -$22,495.00* | -$4,780.06 | $0.00 | |||
Approximate in-kind donation value of products for the Wholesome Foods Breakfast – $1854