Executive Director

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Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) has spent nearly five decades serving as Monmouth County’s comprehensive land trust, advancing conservation transactions and stewardship work that require legal precision, disciplined governance, and long-horizon accountability. MCF serves as a vital facilitator and partner among public and private entities to preserve open space, farmland, and critical natural habitats. Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, MCF has orchestrated major conservation initiatives—from the 1,200-acre Flemer Entities preservation to creating parks in underserved neighborhoods like Springwood Avenue Park in Asbury Park—demonstrating both ambitious scale and intentional commitment to environmental justice and equitable access to green space in a state where open space is dwindling rapidly.

Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s purpose is to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability.

To lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come.

This work takes place in Monmouth County, New Jersey – a region where natural beauty and quality of life are closely linked. Stretching along 40 miles of Atlantic coastline, Monmouth County encompasses diverse landscapes from beaches and barrier islands to working farmland and forests. Home to vibrant communities, acclaimed schools, thriving downtowns, and rich cultural amenities, the county offers residents and visitors alike access to both natural spaces and urban conveniences.

With its proximity to major metropolitan areas yet distinct coastal character, Monmouth County represents a place where conservation work directly shapes community wellbeing. As a champion and advocate for the county, MCF works to ensure that land conservation and stewardship remain central to Monmouth County’s identity and future.

After a long history of conservation leadership, MCF now stands at a transformative inflection point—one that deepens and expands the organization’s core mission while pioneering new approaches to land stewardship and community engagement.

As development pressures continue to mount on the remaining 20,000 acres of undeveloped land in Monmouth County, MCF is executing an ambitious three-year strategic plan focused on three core priorities:

• Core Mission-Driven Work: work assertively to preserve remaining, eligible undeveloped land in Monmouth County and effectively steward both existing and future easements.
• Educational Outreach: establish a hands-on education and outreach plan to reach Monmouth County residents of all ages focused on environmental sustainability and quality of life related to MCF’s mission.
• Fundraising & Communications: strengthen MCF’s image and identity, and build capacity through communications, marketing, engagement, and fundraising.

In April 2024, MCF achieved a historic milestone by becoming a landowner for the first time through the acquisition of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown Township. This nature sanctuary, which began as a wildlife haven when the Scudder Family donated conservation easements in 1983, represents bold expansion of MCF’s capacity to fulfill its mission. Thanks to a $1 million anonymous donation and a $500,000 five-year commitment from New Jersey Resources, the Preserve is being transformed into a living laboratory for education, research, and conservation.

The Scudder Preserve anchors MCF’s educational vision, providing a space where educators, students, and conservationists can engage directly with the natural world while advancing the Foundation’s mission of land conservation and its commitment to protection of open space.

MCF intends for the Scudder Preserve to function not only as a conserved landscape, but as a strategic engine for the organization. As MCF’s first owned…