Local LandscapeCollateral Fund

A Local Socially-ResponsibleInvestment Opportunity

About Mount GraceSince 1986, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trusthas been protecting significant natural, agricultural,and scenic areas and encouraging land stewardshipin North Central and Western Massachusetts forthe benefit of the environment, the economy and

future generations.

In 24 years Mount Grace has facilitated theprotection of 24,000 acres of forests, farmland,and other natural resources, which represent13% of the protected land in our region.

Mount Grace is a nonprofit,501(c)(3) charitable organization.

ContactLeigh Youngblood, Executive Director

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust1461 Old Keene Road, Athol, MA 01331

(978) 248-2043 ext. 20

For more information visitwww.mountgrace.org

For current certificate of deposit termsGreenfield Savings Bank

400 Main Street, P.O. Box 1537Greenfield, MA 01302-1537

(413) 774-3191 • www.greenfieldsavings.comOffices in Greenfield, Amherst, Conway, Shelburne

Falls, South Deerfield and Turners Falls

Greenfield Savings Bank—member FDIC, member DIF

Mount Grace has been a customer ofGreenfield Savings Bank since 2000.

Local LandscapeCollateral Fund

A Local Socially-ResponsibleInvestment Opportunity

Put your savings to work—help

conserve green fields and forests

across North Central and

Western Massachusetts.

“All you have to do is park the principal in the Local

Landscape Collateral Fund to conserve land while earning

interest. For me, this is a painless way of doing something

substantial for the environment.”

—Lila Teich Gold, New York Cityparticipating LLCF investor

Invest in the local landscapeHelp Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust save land by buying a

certificate of deposit (CD) and pledging it to the Local Landscape Collateral

Fund (LLCF) at Greenfield Savings Bank.

Your CD will be used as collateral when Mount Grace finances a purchase of

land for conservation through Greenfield Savings Bank.

Why this is a good ideaFlexibilityThis option allows you to support land

conservation without making a gift of cash.

Mount Grace can use the available combined

collateral funds for any board-approved

conservation projects.

RedemptionCDs that are not dedicated to a specific

conservation project loan can be redeemed by

the owner according to the terms of the CD.

Interest earnedThe interest and principal remain the property

of the CD purchaser.

Giving opportunityCD purchasers can elect to make tax-deductible

donations of all or a portion of their interest

earned or principal deposited in the Local

Landscape Collateral Fund.

Whose money is it?While pledged to the Local Landscape Collateral

Fund, CDs and the interest earned remain the

property of the CD purchaser.

The CD purchaser has the ability to opt in or out

of collateralizing individual projects.

What happens to your money• The CD purchaser agrees to keep the CD in

the Local Landscape Collateral Fund until the

project it is pledged to is completed.

• Land conservation projects typically take from

six months to three years to complete.

• The Local Landscape Collateral Fund is only

used for projects approved by the Mount Grace

Board of Directors and the Loan Department

of Greenfield Savings Bank.

Certificates of depositCertificates of deposit are purchased at

Greenfield Savings Bank under normally available

terms and rates, and special promotional terms,

when available.

Pledge agreementIndividuals sign a pledge agreement when

pledging their CD to the Local Landscape

Collateral Fund. The agreement dedicates your

CD to this sole purpose and outlines the risks

associated with the investment.

How it worksGreenfield Savings Bank is the custodian for

the Local Landscape Collateral Fund. The Fund

is used as collateral for loans to Mount Grace

Land Conservation Trust to purchase land for

conservation.

How it helps• In 24 years, Mount Grace has helped conserve

24,000 acres of forests, farms, and natural

areas in Franklin and Worcester Counties.

• Access to capital to purchase land makes

conservation possible.

• Because land trusts often must buy land at full

development value, and bank loans are generally

made for only 70% of the purchase price,

additional collateral is often needed when

acquiring land for conservation.

• Several revolving loan funds dedicated to

conservation projects in Western Massachusetts

have been funded with donated capital. These

include revolving loan funds at Mount Grace, the

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts,

the Norcross Foundation, and the Open Space

Institute. Frequently, these sources are fully

utilized and unavailable for local projects.

• The Local Landscape Collateral Fund relies on

local collateral and a local lending institution

to conserve the local landscape.

w w w . m o u n t g r a c e . o r g

“The Local Landscape Collateral

Fund is an easy way to invest

in our farms and forests and

still earn a return.”

—William Ames, Northfieldparticipating LLCF investor

First Collateral Fund ProjectWest Hill Project, New Salem

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust

purchased this 137-acre parcel of land

and house by borrowing funds.

Community members dedicated CDs in

a collateral fund to help secure the loan.

Mount Grace repaid the loan with

proceeds from selling a conservation

restriction to the Commonwealth and

selling the protected land and the

house to a conservation buyer.