With community support, Lowcountry Land Trust raises over $10 million through the It Can’t Wait Campaign
August 5, 2026
Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to protecting land and water forever and connecting the community to conservation, announced the successful completion of the It Can’t Wait Campaign. Individual donors, foundations, and corporations came together in a remarkable show of support for conservation, surpassing the campaign’s $8 million fundraising goal and raising more than $10.3 million in outright commitments and an additional $3.7 million in planned gift commitments to strengthen the organization’s Opportunity Fund, realize the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, and plan/design the future Angel Oak Preserve.
Supported by more than 600 donors, the campaign marks a historic organizational achievement, enabling Lowcountry Land Trust to protect, enhance, and showcase more of the places that make coastal South Carolina unique. Donors contributed gifts ranging from single digits to seven figures, reflecting broad community support and underscoring a shared belief that conservation strengthens quality of life, builds coastal resilience, and preserves the Lowcountry’s unique sense of place.
“This campaign was never simply about reaching a fundraising goal,” said Matt Williams, president and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust. “It was about ensuring we have the resources to meet this moment of unprecedented regional growth and continue to protect and steward the places that make the Lowcountry special. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community of supporters, we will, in collaboration with our conservation partners, ensure that the Lowcountry remains a place where people want to live, work, and play.”
Fundraising for the It Can’t Wait Campaign began in 2022, and while the impact of these investments will continue to unfold for years to come, the It Can’t Wait Campaign has already positioned Lowcountry Land Trust to increase its land protection capacity and make conservation more accessible. The campaign supported the Opportunity Fund, a unique asset that sets Lowcountry Land Trust apart from many land trusts nationwide, which allows the organization to move quickly when high-priority properties that define the Lowcountry become available before they are lost to development. The campaign also created the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, a hub for collaboration and thought leadership across the conservation community, and enabled the design and planning of the future Angel Oak Preserve, an initiative in partnership with the City of Charleston that will create a 44-acre public park and living museum for the entire community,
Lowcountry Land Trust extends its heartfelt gratitude to every donor, partner, volunteer, and advocate who made the It Can’t Wait Campaign possible. Together, their generosity has strengthened the future of conservation across coastal South Carolina and demonstrated what can be accomplished when a community rallies around a shared vision to protect the places it loves.
ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST
Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the region’s overall resilience and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 167,000 acres since 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful land trusts in the state and across the country. Its work includes the stewardship of privately owned land and iconic public places, such as the future Angel Oak Preserve—a 44-acre immersive park and living museum in partnership with the City of Charleston. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org
