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ChicoryLane Foundation:
The First Year
by John B. Smith
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Overview
This discussion describes events of this past year concerned with establishing ChicoryLane as a Private Operating Foundation. For details from the past 50 fifty years leading up to this, see Prequel. For issues and possible opportunities for the future, see Sequel.
Beginnings
The ChicoryLane Foundation was incorporated as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation on May 29, 2024, through acknowledgment of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. The Foundation was established by co-founders John B. and Catherine F. Smith, who continue to live on and care for the land near Spring Mills where the Foundation operates.
The Foundation’s mission is twofold:
- To preserve, own, and manage an ecologically significant parcel of land and water, and
- To conduct educational, aesthetic, and research activities related to the ecology of that place.
During the Smiths’ (John’s, Catherine’s, Ian’s, and Lauren’s) lifetimes, the land will remain in private ownership to ensure compliance with IRS rules concerning private benefit. It will be transferred to the Foundation at a later time. Until then, the Foundation will focus on ecological stewardship, observation, and public-facing activities that highlight the land’s natural character and ongoing enhancement.
Following legal incorporation, the Foundation held its Organizational Meeting on July 14. The Board of Directors was appointed and Bylaws were adopted. Original Board members and officers were John Smith, Chair; Jim Zubler, Vice Chair; Catherine Smith, Secretary; Doug Bierly, Treasurer; and Directors Loanne Snavely, Suzy Yetter, and Thom Rippon. The Foundation opened banking accounts and received start-up funds for early operations. Final revisions were made to IRS Form 1023, the application for recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt private operating foundation. This application was submitted on August 8, 2024.
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Start-Up Activities
Once submitted, the 1023 application allowed the Foundation to operate as if exempt while awaiting final IRS determination. Donations could be received and tentatively considered tax-deductible, though this status remained uncertain until formal approval. Despite that uncertainty, ChicoryLane continued offering programs. These included:
- Two bird walks focused on species and their preferred habitats
- Two native plant walks, highlighting shrubs especially valuable for wildlife
- A session on ecological enhancement, offering a structured approach to habitat improvement
- A presentation on the architecture and history of four local barns
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A workshop on drawing and sketching in natural settings en plein air
We also took steps to build a stable foundation for future years. Several service relationships were initiated:
- Legal counsel through Smith Anderson, which supported legal considerations and document preparations and remains available as needed
- Bookkeeping through Integrity Accounting for ongoing financial tracking and reporting
- End-of-year tax preparation through Blackman & Sloop, including our first Form 990-PF
- Investment advising and portfolio management through Frazier Financial Consultants
A second Board meeting was held in fall 2024. Two committees — Finance and Activities — were established to support the Foundation’s work and the Board’s oversight.
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IRS Determination and Beyond
On December 31, 2024, the IRS approved our 1023 application, recognizing ChicoryLane Foundation as a tax-exempt private operating foundation. This determination clarified our legal and financial standing and affirmed our eligibility to receive deductible contributions.
In January, 2025, Lauren Smith joined the Foundation to assist with communications and coordination. Her roles include preparing newsletters and activity announcements as well as support for individual activities. In February, Dana Reed joined the Board of Directors.
During winter, 2025, the Smiths submitted an application to the Gregg Township Board of Supervisors seeking Conditional Use approval for indoor as well as outdoor recreational activities. Approval of this request would permit modest changes to the existing agricultural barn to allow small indoor gatherings year-round, several workspaces, and a medium-sized seasonal event area (75–100 people). The application was approved by the township supervisors in April. Planning has begun but not construction, with no set timeline for completion.
More recently, we established a corporate investment account to serve as the Foundation’s endowment. Our intention is to rely on a diversified portfolio, with emphasis on ETFs, to support the Foundation and its programs through an anticipated 5% annual return. Market volatility and uncertainty following tariff news delayed initial funding, but the first increment of resources has now been donated to the endowment.
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The Year Ahead
As our second year begins, we continue to develop and share seasonal workshops and activities. In early spring, we hosted our first bird walk of 2025 with approximately 40 attendees observing some 42 species. Upcoming events include a fall bird walk, two open house days, programs on dyeing yarn and fabric with native plants, writing in and about the natural environment, and our ecological enhancement methodology including identification of beneficial native shrubs in their mature form. Details appear in our February newsletter.
The Foundation's first year has been full and instructive. With one full cycle behind us, we have a better sense of pace, needs, constraints, and possibilities. The terrain ahead is not all downhill—but we now have a map.
For more information about what came before this year, see our Prequel; for a look further into the future, see our Sequel discussion.
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Images, above
Top row, left to right:
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Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricate L.); Wild Sweet William; native
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Scilla (Scilla siberica Andrews L.); Siberian Squill; introduced. Growing with daffodils, introduced; Eastern Aspen trees (Populous tremuloides L); Quaking Aspen; native. Aldo Leopold bench by James Lesher
Middle row, left to right:
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Red Trillium closeup (Trillium erectum L.) or Nodding Wakerobin (Trillium flexipes L.,) possibly hybrid; Red Wakerobin, Stinking Benjamin, Wet Dog Trillium, Purple Wakerobin; native
- Trillium patch – red (same)
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Trillium patch – white (Trillium grandiflorum L. (Michx) Salisb.); Great White Trillium, White Wakerobin; native
Bottom row, left to right:
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Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides L.); native
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(top) Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.); American Mandrake, Indian Apple, Umbrella Leaf, Ground Lemon; native
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Yellow Trillium (Trillium luteum L.); Yellow Wakerobin; introduced
Photo Credits: Susan Haney, James Lesher, Bill Rathfon, ChicoryLane Collection
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2025 Events at a Glance
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Summer Open Day with various guides - June 7
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Writing in Place with Travis Wingard, PSU Extension Educator - July 23
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Ecological Enhancement with John Smith, James Lesher, Sam Stoltzfus - August 9
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Black Walnut Natural Dyeing with Cathryn Pugh, PSU Extension Educator - August 16
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Fall Bird Walk with Joe Gyekis - September 13
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Fall Open Day with various guides - October 18
See detail here, including event times and descriptions
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ChicoryLane is an ecological reserve near Spring Mills protected by a Conservation Easement held by Clearwater Conservancy. Its 68 acres are actively managed for conservation.
The landscape is natural and scenic. It includes wetlands and meadows, streams, remnant and successional forests, and a grassland. This diversity of habitats is especially inviting to birds and butterflies. A system of mowed trails makes most of the property accessible to walkers.
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