Dear BFREE Friends and Supporters,

This marks our twenty-eighth year since the establishment of BFREE. Many of you have followed along since those early days so you know that BFREE began with a dream. I wanted to help preserve a tropical rainforest, to ensure the lush forests and diverse wildlife of the Maya Mountains would escape the threats and pressures of development, and to prevent another rainforest from being cut down and harvested for its natural resources.

Now, in 2023, the BFREE Board of Directors and I are working together to create a long-term strategic plan for the next level of research and sustainable development at BFREE. Currently, we employ 24 staff members in Belize and our cacao and turtle projects are expanding along with our university research partnerships. We are even building a new multi-purpose building to allow us to continue to be off-the-grid and sustain our growth with a minimal footprint in the rainforest. The Board and I are discussing how BFREE is poised to have an even greater impact on developing long-term sustainable conservation management programs in the region. In our discussions, it has become very evident that we can’t do this by ourselves.

Presently, Heather Barrett and I are still the two main administrators for the organization, and that has to change if we are to continue our path of growth in conjunction with our long-term plan. We are moving into a new phase for the organization and need to hire three new positions: Science Director, Office Administrator, and Communications Coordinator.

To support these new leadership roles, we need to raise $140,000 between now and the end of the year. This investment in our future is critical. Please help us to expand our staff so we can meet our needs and further achieve our mission.

Your donations in the past have helped us sustain our operations and support our existing staff. On this Day of Giving, we are asking you to donate to help us hire our first critical position of Office Administrator.

All donations up to $70,000 made before the year's end will be matched by our Board of Directors. This will allow us to fill the roles needed before the 2024 Field Season begins!

I believe 2024 will be another transformational year with chocolate at the center stage. We need your help to ensure that we have the staff we need to meet the demands that this change requires.

Our greatest strength is the committed staff of BFREE, and we are so excited to bring new leadership positions to take BFREE to the next level. Donations can be made online here or with a check made out to “US for BFREE,” which can be mailed to 3520 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606.

By making a gift today, you will help us continue the vital work of conserving the wildlands and wildlife of Belize for generations to come.

In conservation and stewardship,

Jacob A. Marlin, Executive Director

Year-end Giving 2023

Help BFREE's Administrative Staff Expand in 2024!