The Land Stewardship Project became a membership organization in 1994, 12 years after we were founded. The people leading the grassroots work knew that to realize the positive transformation of the farm and food system, LSP had to be organizing people, ideas, and money.

Becoming a member by making a financial contribution has always been about both:

• taking action on shared values, and
• providing flexible income that LSP can direct as needed to emerging work.

July 1 marked the beginning of a new budget year for the Land Stewardship Project, and it also marked another first in LSP’s history: raising the suggested amounts we ask people to contribute toward their membership.

In early 2025, LSP’s Membership Team convened a group of LSP members to discuss and develop recommendations to grow and deepen our Membership Program. One recommendation that emerged from that group was to reflect the value of membership by increasing our payment levels. This decision came after 30 years of setting the basic membership payment level at $35.

It has always been and will continue to be LSP’s practice to consider a contribution of any amount as enough to make someone an LSP member. We know that everyone has a different capacity to give. What’s important is that people are taking action on their shared values by contributing from the resources they have.

Why ask for specific amounts, then?

Well, our basic membership payment level reflects some of the costs that go into administering a membership, like printing and mailing the Land Stewardship Letter and maintaining our systems for membership outreach around events and action alerts. We don’t offer “tiered” levels that reflect different benefits, because we believe that the person who gives $10 out of their fixed income should receive the same benefits as the person who can distribute $1,000 out of their retirement account.

There’s a lot of research to support the power of suggestion when it comes to fundraising, so we give people several specific options when deciding what works best for them. Members who can pay double or triple the basic ask make it possible for us to offer membership to those who need to give below the basic ask.

Am I divulging some of the “secret sauce” when it comes to fundraising? Well, maybe.

But that’s because LSP members aren’t just donors; they are the ones directing and inspiring our work, testifying at the Legislature, hosting soil health workshops, and volunteering their time. They are members because they believe in our vision of vibrant rural communities being places of belonging and opportunity for everyone.

Our members take action on their values because they know that clean water, healthy soil, and more farmers on the land are vital to sustaining our communities and our planet. At a time of rising costs, it’s LSP’s responsibility to be realistic with our members about what we need to get the work done.

Starting this week, you will be seeing different amounts on our website donation form and mailers: $45, $75, $150, and $300. Check out our new membership web page to find out why membership matters and to get inspired by the stories of LSP members taking action.

One more thing: the number one reason people become dues-paying members of LSP is because they were asked. In this spirit, I am asking you to ask one other person in your life to become a member of LSP, giving them an opportunity to invest in a farm and food system that works for everyone.

Together, we can continue to build a stronger, deeper, and more diverse network of members who are committed to the grassroots transformation of agriculture and land stewardship.

Scott Elkins is LSP’s executive director.