Real Property Acquisition Strategy (Land & Facilities)

We’re seeking a volunteer to advise on strategies and best practices for acquiring real property (acreage and/or structures) to support The Upper New's mission in ecological stewardship education; bioregional teaching, planning, and building; sustainable education; land conservation; and general operations.

Topics we’d like to cover in this one-hour session include:
- Approaches to land acquisition (outright donations preferred), and readiness to accept building donations.
- When and how to consider bargain sales, including high-level fundraising implications.
- Bequests and retained life estate options that could support future expansion and land conservancy goals.
- High-level considerations when acquiring properties across state lines, especially within the Upper New River basin (NC/VA), given our North Carolina nonprofit status and headquarters in Sparta, NC.

We’ll come prepared with background on our mission, current governance and fundraising capacity, and priority use cases for land and facilities. We’re looking for advice and a roadmap, not legal counsel or transaction execution.