What does my contribution do?
No matter the size of your gift, please know that you are supporting our mission to build, maintain and protect the corridor known as the Benton MacKaye Trail!
Each year we spend thousands of dollars on the purchase of tools, protective gear and materials as well as for training and many other trail related projects.
*Consider what your gift can do.
- $ 50 purchases loppers, swing blade or spool of weed cutter line.
- $ 90 will provide a hard hat with face and ear protectors,
- $150 equips one of our trail maintainers with a McLeod rake or fire rake.
- $300 provides our certified chainsaw operators with a 16” chainsaw.
- $650 purchases a heavy-duty brush cutter.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donations are deductible to the degree permitted by law. Our EIN Number is 58-1428009.
Thank you for your generous donation!
*The items listed are for illustration purposes only. Your gift is not restricted to the above-mentioned items. It may be combined with other gifts to fund the purchase of tools, personal safety devices, materials and training. Funds received in excess of BMTA’s annual budget in this area may be used for larger projects such as bridge building, parking lot construction, building trail head kiosks, etc.
Projects Past and Present
Here are some of our completed projects as well as some that need funding now. All projects are intended to protect and preserve the trail and to provide increased enjoyment for hikers.
If you are interested in funding part or all of any of these projects, please contact President, Benton MacKaye Trail Association.
| Project | Cost | |
| Completed Projects | ||
| Bridge Replacement at Mill Creek (Section 10a) | $ 2,000 | |
| Kimsey Highway Steps | $ 500 | |
| Maintenance Supplies | $ 2,000 | |
| Rhodes Mountain Reroute | $ 500 | |
| Tools and Equipment | $ 1,500 | |
| Trail Signs | $ 1,200 | |
| Volunteer Training | $ 3,000 | |
| $ 10,700 | ||
| 2025 Projects | ||
| BMT ADA Handicap Trail Segment | $ 1,000 | |
| Bushy Head Gap Steps | $ 500 | |
| Proposed Kiosks at BMT Trailheads | $ 2,000 | |
| Little Skeenah Creek Bridge | $ 1,500 | |
| Loss Creek Bridge | $ 1,500 | |
| Signage | $ 1,200 | |
| Tools and Equipment | $ 1,500 | |
| Unicoi Reroute | $ 5,000 | |
| Volunteer Training | $ 3,000 | |
| Wilderness Maintenance Summer Crew | $ 10,000 | |
| $26,000 |
Land Acquisition Fund
In the early 70s, Founding Father of the BMT Dave Sherman’s life-long passion for hiking and the AT was set ablaze when he attended a presentation of AT thru hiker, Billy Taylor. Once Taylor had answered Sherman’s innumerable questions, a hike of the entire AT was at the top of Sherman’s “to do” list.
But Taylor had one last piece of advice, “Well, if you’re going to do it, you had better do it before it is too late.”
Taylor went on to explain that development pressures along the AT were forcing the trail off private land and onto public roads. “There may not be a continuous trail much longer,” Taylor concluded.
Those statements were made almost 50 years ago, but they apply to all trails in existence today. Developers are snapping up most any property that comes on the market. What once was a secluded, forested plot of land becomes a subdivision or a strip mall. Trail organizations must ‘be prepared’ to act as soon as land needed for the trail corridor hits the market. Even before a property is for sale, trail organizations need to take the initiative to open negotiations with and/or make offers to near-by property owners whose land would be a valuable addition for the trail corridor. In taking that initiative, hopefully land owners and trail organizations can work together for the benefit of both.
Ninety-five per cent of the Benton MacKaye is on either Forest Service or National Park Service property. BMTA needs to move as quickly as possible to secure permanent routes that eliminate the remaining 15 miles or so of road walk and “non-permanent” trail that crosses private land.
BMTA is getting prepared — the Board has established a Land Acquisition Fund (LAF). But we need your help to fund these endeavors. Tax deductible donations can be made online on the Land Acquisition Fund Donate Page. Or mail a check with the notation “Land Acquisition Fund” in the memo field to BMTA, PO Box 6, Cherry Log, GA 30522.
Donate by Check
To make a gift by check, complete a donation form and mail to:
Benton MacKaye Trail Association
PO Box 6
Cherry Log, GA 30522
Please put “Donation” in the memo line of the check.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donations are deductible to the degree permitted by law. Our EIN Number is 58-1428009.
Gift by Stock Donation
Making a gift of stock is an easy and meaningful way to help protect the Benton MacKaye Trail.
If you are interested in donating stock to the BMTA:
- Please contact your securities broker.
- Request to transfer shares as a gift. Some brokers require forms to be completed.
- Be sure to include BMTA’s:
Vanguard Account Number: 71904070 AND Vanguard’s DTC#: 0062!
Notify us! If you make a gift of stock, please email our treasurer at bmtatreasurer@bmta.org with your name, contact information, type of stock & number of shares, and transfer date. This will allow us to confirm the transfer and thank you appropriately for your generosity!
Employee Match Programs
Employee match programs are a benefit many companies offer to encourage their employees to support charities. Think of this as free money you are empowered to employ on behalf of your community. Most companies will match an employee’s gift to a charity on a one-to-one basis. Others match gifts two-to-one … some even match donations three-to-one! This means that your gift to the Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) can be worth two to four times as much as you donate!
Employee match programs don’t take much time to set up, but your efforts will pay off for the BMTA. Following are the general steps you will need to take to set up an employee match program.
- Some companies have a preferred list of charities. Others match gifts to any charity an employee may choose to support — check to see if the Benton MacKaye Trail Association is on your employer’s list. The match may have an annual limit. If you’re not familiar with how to participate in your company’s match program, contact your Human Resources Department today! Be sure to ask if they allow employees to volunteer their time as well — some companies offer paid time off to employees when they volunteer with an organization in their community.
- Make your donation. Be sure to keep proof of your gift or volunteer time, which may require providing contact information for a receipt!
- Dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Most companies only need a receipt as proof of contribution and a single form requesting that they match the donation. Provide these (and any other required materials) promptly to the appropriate department, likely the Human Resources Department or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team.
- Confirm that the match was made.
Please don’t leave money that can help BMTA on the table!
Take advantage of your employee match program this year and every year.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donations are deductible to the degree permitted by law. Our EIN Number is 58-1428009.