Founders Circle Details
Q: What is the Founders Circle?
A: The Founders Circle is a dedicated and passionate group of individuals who provide critical annual support to The Trustees. It is a leadership giving society and fellowship of people who believe that places of scenic, recreational, cultural, and historic value should be made available to everyone, and be protected forever.
Q: What are the different giving levels and what do they mean?
A:1891 Society($1,000 – $2,499): Named in honor of the year The Trustees was founded, 1891.
Charles Eliot Society ($2,500 – $4,999): Named after Trustees founder Charles Eliot, who believed that places of historical interest or remarkable beauty should be preserved from harm and opened to the public.
Commonwealth Society ($5,000 – $9,999): Named to highlight the far-reaching level of support Founders Circle donors have, reaching all 120+ Trustees properties across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Olmsted Society ($10,000 – $24,999): Named in honor of Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture and mentor to Charles Eliot.
President’s Circle ($25,000 – $49,999): Named to honor the leader of our organization, from 1891 to the current day.
Tudor & Chase Society ($50,000+): Named for the first two leadership donors to The Trustees, Miss Ellen Chase who in 1892 gave The Trustees a gift of $1,000, and Mrs. Fanny Foster Tudor, who donated a significant amount of land that same year.
Q: What does my donation support? Why is unrestricted giving important?
A: Founders Circle members support all our work at our 120+ special places in Massachusetts. The unrestricted gifts made by our Founders Circle members are critical to the success of our mission. Gifts without restriction to a particular program or property are provided to where they are needed most—making the largest and most immediate impact.
Q: Is it possible to focus my gift to support properties on Martha’s Vineyard, in the Berkshires, on the North Shore, etc.?
A: While unrestricted giving has the widest impact, it is possible to focus your Founders Circle gift. After choosing your level of giving on our Founders Circle donation page, there will be a drop-down menu under the section titled “I’m interested in supporting the following area” that will allow you to choose to designate your support to where it’s needed most or to support one of several geographic areas.
Q: What is the Contemporary Art Circle?
A: The Contemporary Art Circle is a group of contemporary art enthusiasts who support art programs and exhibitions at The Trustees and receive invitations to exhibition openings, museum trips, and other special events.
Membership in the Contemporary Art Circle is a free benefit with your Founders Circle membership. If you are interested in learning more about the Contemporary Art Circle, contact Trustees Managing Director of Individual Giving Denise Trapani at dtrapani@thetrustees.org.
Q: What is the Great Point Circle?
A: The Great Point Circle (GPC) is our leadership giving society that specifically supports our work stewarding Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket. GPC members receive up to two Over Sand Vehicle permits, invitations to special events, and more. To learn more about the GPC and how to join, visit our GPC webpage here.
Membership Benefits and Information
Q: How do I access my Crane Beach benefits?
A: Founders Circle members get free access to Crane Beach—not timed ticket or reservation necessary!
All you need to do is show up to the Crane Beach entrance and show your membership card at the gate.
We recognize that the support of our Founders Circle members is vital to our ability to steward the most exceptional places in Massachusetts. To learn more about why we made these changes to our Crane Beach parking program, visit our web page here. You can also visit our Crane Beach FAQs page here, which includes more information topics regarding visiting Crane Beach.
Q: Can I access my membership cards digitally?
A: Currently there are no digital versions of your Founders Circle membership cards, however, if you don’t have your membership cards on you, you can use our membership look up tool to locate them and take a screenshot on your phone so you’ll always have them with you!
Q: How do I get a personalized property tour?
A: If you have a favorite property you would like to tour with a Trustees staff member, please reach out to our Development Team either by phone at 978-870-1299 or by email at development@thetrustees.org.
Q: How do I update my membership information?
A: The best way to update your member information is to email development@thetrustees.org or to call our Development Office at 978-870-1299. If you send us an email, please list your subject line as “Update Membership Information” and then list what should be changed for our records. We try to stay as up to date as possible with all our members.
Donation Details
Q: Is my donation to The Trustees tax-deductible?
A: Yes, The Trustees is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We’ll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.
Q: How do I designate my gift as a tribute, in honor, or in memory of someone?
A: To learn how to make a memorial gift, you can visit our Memorial Gifts page here.
Q: Can I make a gift through my Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?
A: Yes, you can make a gift through a donor-advised fund by following the instructions on our Ways to Contribute sheet here.
Q: Can I make a gift of stock or land?
A: Yes, you can find information on ways to donate land to The Trustees on our land conservation page here and you can find instructions on how to make stock gifts on our Ways to Contribute sheet here.
Q: When will I receive my Trustees membership cards and acknowledgement letter?
A: You should receive your membership cards and acknowledgement letter within two weeks of us receiving your gift.
Q: Can The Trustees accept a matching gift contribution from my company?
A: Yes, if your company has this program. Please alert us of this by emailing development@thetrustees.org and including any pertinent information about this match and if you need receipt of your initial gift.
Q: How can I leave a legacy gift to The Trustees?
A: You can learn more at the Planned Giving section of our website. If we are already in your plans, please email our Director of Planned Giving Julie Lazarus at jlazarus@thetrustees.org or fill out a bequest form.
Q: What is the address to send donations to The Trustees?
A: If you would like to send a check or other correspondence to The Trustees, you can mail it to: The Trustees, 200 High St., 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.
Q: What if I have a question about my donation or membership that isn’t answered here?
A: If you have any questions about your Founders Circle membership not answered on this page, please reach out to our Development Office at 978-870-1299 or email development@thetrustees.org.
General Trustees FAQs
If you have a general question about the organization that isn’t answered here, check out our Trustees FAQ page with information about our organization’s history, areas of work, and much more.