Trails for Tomorrow: Every Step Forward Protects the Future

Across Benton and Franklin counties, trails and open spaces provide more than recreation—they create opportunities for connection, reflection, and shared experience across generations. These landscapes are part of what defines our community. This April, 3 Rivers Community Foundation invites you to take part in Trails for Tomorrow, a community conservation campaign focused on sustaining and protecting the places we rely on every day.

The campaign is powered by the Richard Smith & Elaine Chapman Conservation Fund, which supports land conservation and non-motorized trail use throughout the region. Inspired by the success of last year’s community matching initiative, this year’s campaign expands the opportunity for impact through a unique matching structure. During the month of April, your donation to the Richard Smith & Elaine Chapman Conservation Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000, creating ongoing funding in the form of grants for local conservation efforts, including trail maintenance and land stewardship. To further extend the impact, your gift will be matched again, dollar-for-dollar, towards 3 Rivers Community Foundation’s annual grantmaking.

Each contribution strengthens both local trail stewardship efforts and the long-term sustainability of charitable giving in our community. Through this effort, Trails for Tomorrow unlocks up to $150,000 in total community impact—including community donations, a dedicated fund match, and additional support for 3RCF’s annual grantmaking. These resources help strengthen the work of local partners who maintain trails, preserve natural spaces, and ensure these environments remain accessible for current and future generations.

This campaign is also an invitation to participate. In partnership with organizations such as Tapteal Greenway and Friends of Badger Mountain, Trails for Tomorrow highlights the role of community stewardship in conservation. Whether through volunteering, sharing the campaign, or contributing financially, each action helps support the long-term care of our shared spaces.

By supporting Trails for Tomorrow, you are helping protect the landscapes that connect our community and ensuring they remain part of our region’s future. Every step forward—no matter how small—contributes to something lasting.

Volunteer Here:
https://friendsofbadger.org/volunteer/
https://tapteal.org/ways-to-help/volunteer/
Donate here:
https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=205

Scan to contribute:

FAQs:

How does the donation match work? During April, donations to the Richard Smith & Elaine Chapman Conservation Fund are matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000. Your gift will be matched again, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000 to 3RCF’s annual grant fund, creating up to $150,000 in total impact. 
What does my donation support? Your gift supports ongoing annual grants to support local conservation efforts, including trail maintenance and land stewardship. In addition, your gift will also strengthen 3RCF’s annual grantmaking this year, to support nonprofits across Benton and Franklin counties.
Why is there an additional grant fund match? The additional match ensures that each donation not only supports conservation directly, but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of charitable funding across the broader nonprofit community.