Case Study: Lowcountry Open Land Trust protects the Angel Oak and 34-acre forest with Blackbaud

Lowcountry Open Land Trust - Customer Case Study

Lowcountry Open Land Trust, a 25-year-old conservation nonprofit that has protected more than 88,000 acres in the South Carolina Lowcountry, launched the Preserve Angel Oak campaign to save the historic Angel Oak—a live oak on John’s Island estimated at 500–1,400 years old—after proposed residential development threatened the tree and its surrounding forest. The trust set a $1.2 million goal to acquire 34 acres around the tree and protect the site for future generations, prompting a time-sensitive community fundraising effort.

Blackbaud stepped in with a challenge grant and employee service to spur local businesses and accelerate giving, joining more than 10,000 individual contributors in support of the campaign. Their backing helped drive momentum toward the land trust’s goal to secure the 34-acre buffer and establish a park to preserve the Angel Oak and its surrounding habitat.

Lowcountry Open Land Trust

Adrian Cain

Director of Development