Sources of Funds

Member dues and other donations can be made with or without designation of how the donation will be used.  Our membership dues are intentionally very low so that membership is available to all.  After we account for our expenses to operate the BLPS (e.g. insurance, web hosting fees, other recurring expenses), there will be some funds for project work, but not enough to keep a meaningful pace toward our goals.  Members will be able to designate additional donations either to specific projects or to be allocated to BLPS needs as decided by the BLPS Directors with input from members and committees.
 
As projects are shaped and approved by the BLPS Directors with input from members and committees, reserved fund accounts will be setup for project fundraising.  Each project will be launched when sufficient funds have been raised. 
 
Funds are raised in one or more of the following ways: 

1. Membership dues collected during a year should be in excess of the cost to “run the business”.   BLPS Directors will allocate this excess amount to projects at least annually with input from members and committees. 
2. Members may make donations throughout the year to specific projects in which they have a strong interest.  They may do this at the BLPS website “Membership” page, or by mailing a check with a valid project name (project names are listed on the “Membership” page or in the “Program” section of our website) written on the check. 
3. Grants will be sought to supplement BLPS funding for projects.

Plans for Uses of Funds

In addition to our recurring expenses for operating the BLPS, we have the following funding needs for our programs:

• Harmful Algae Blooms - education and outreach products with assistance from the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
  
• Water Quality Monitoring - procurement of measurement instruments, lab fees to analyze water samples, services to plan monitoring activities and interpret results, contributions toward an updated Watershed Management Plan.
• Simmer's Itch - lab testing of water samples to determine impact of prior year's merganser relocation on the prevalence of the parasite.  Ongoing trapping and relocation of common merganser broods.
• Invasive Species - informational signage, tools to clean, drain, dry boats, annual eradication services for phragmites and purple loosestrife​

Current Funding Priorities

The activities listed below are the current, underfunded priorities of the Black Lake Preservation Society.    Use the button below to  contribute money toward our project funding goals, or go to the BLPS Membership. 

• Trapping and relocation of Common Mergansers in the Swimmers Itch Program
• Location and eradication of Invasive Species
• Collecting, labwork, and analysis of water quality samples from the lake and tributaries

 
The BLPS Directors and members appreciate the time that you all invest in learning about the needs of our lake and their financial contributions toward those needs.

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Help Fund ​These Projects