Mass Audubon Announces New $25.5M Gift from MathWorks During Celebration of Acquiring 858 Acres in Becket

Mass Audubon, the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England, celebrated the purchase of 858 acres of land in Becket today while also announcing a monumental $25.5 million gift from Natick-based MathWorks—which has now pledged a total of more than $50.5 million to Mass Audubon in just three years. MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software for designing engineered systems, employs more than 3,500 people in Massachusetts.

Officials from Mass Audubon, the Commonwealth, and MathWorks were in Becket on July 21, joining State Rep. Leigh Davis and State Sen. Paul Mark, to recognize Mass Audubon’s completion of the land acquisition and announcing the new $25.5 million gift from MathWorks. The technology company’s first gift of $25 million in 2023 led to the creation of Mass Audubon’s 30x30 Catalyst Fund—the largest land conservation initiative in the region—which has leveraged public and private capital to build the most robust land conservation pipeline in state history.

“This is truly a landmark day, not just for Mass Audubon, but for everyone who benefits from the remarkable generosity of MathWorks and having access to more than 850 acres of biodiverse and carbon-rich land,” said Mass Audubon President & CEO David O’Neill. “I’d like to thank MathWorks for this level of support—especially in the face of ever-dwindling federal funding for climate and the environment—because it is a game-changer for the high-impact land protection and restoration projects the Commonwealth needs to meet its 30x30 goals.”

To date, the Catalyst Fund has been used in more than 40 projects to help protect and/or restore nearly 14,000 acres of land across the state. In 2026 alone, there is $41 million pledged to 21 projects currently under contract or negotiation, with an additional 50+ projects expected to close in 2027. Combined, these projects represent a total of almost 18,000 acres that will store more than 130,000 metric tons of carbon.

Other completed Catalyst Fund projects include the creation of a new 465-acre Wildlife Management Area at Stone Mountain in Heath and Colrain, the purchase of forest reserve conservation easements on over 500 acres of woodland in the Farmington River watershed, and assisting the state in acquiring more than 1,300 acres in Winchendon and Ashburnham that was at risk of being clearcut by a solar developer. The fund is especially focused on protecting large forest tracts in Central and Western Massachusetts and land along the coast that can maintain our air and water quality, provide crucial wildlife habitat, and help foster climate resilience across the Commonwealth.

"MathWorks invests in organizations that deliver meaningful, long-term impact," said Jeanne O'Keefe, SVP and CFO of MathWorks and a director of The MathWorks Foundation. "Mass Audubon has created a powerful model for advancing conservation by bringing together philanthropic, public, and private resources. The results achieved through the 30x30 Catalyst Fund demonstrate the value of that approach, and we are proud to support efforts that will continue benefiting communities across Massachusetts."

In Becket, all involved celebrated the years-long effort to protect a key parcel of land that provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species, enhances climate resiliency, and will eventually be a wildlife sanctuary fully open to the public (the Berkshire Fishing Club was private). The property is part of a regionally-significant conservation corridor anchored by the neighboring 16,500-acre October Mountain State Forest.

After years of discussions with the landowners, who had owned the property since the 1960s,  they agreed to sell the property to Mass Audubon in 2025. In addition to leveraging support from MathWorks and the Catalyst Fund, Mass Audubon received Landscape Partnership Program state grant and a commitment from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, as well as private donations from hundreds of individual donors. These contributions enabled Mass Audubon to purchase the property and begin plans for opening it to the public.  

“Protecting Palmer Brook is a great example of what’s possible when we come together around a shared vision for conservation. Through our partnership with Mass Audubon and our state partners, we are protecting this incredible landscape, advancing biodiversity, and strengthening climate resilience for generations to come. This project reflects the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to protecting our natural resources and conserving the special places that make the Berkshires such a unique part of Massachusetts,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle.

“We are proud to help protect this 858-acre parcel because conservation is an investment in the vitality of our communities and our environment. Conserving this land protects wildlife habitat, strengthens climate resilience by storing carbon and reducing flood impacts, and creates more opportunities for people to connect with nature,” said Stephanie Cooper, Undersecretary for Environment at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  “We’re grateful to partner with Mass Audubon on a project that advances our shared conservation goals.”  

Palmer Brook Wildlife Sanctuary won’t be open to the public for some time, but when it does, it will become one of Mass Audubon’s largest wildlife sanctuaries in the Berkshires. The small lodge near the 125-acre lake could serve as a nature center, and there’s potential for a broad range of educational and recreational nature activities, as well as other programs that would benefit the residents of Becket and neighboring communities.

"Palmer Brook is a tremendous investment in the Berkshires. Protecting this remarkable landscape while opening it to the public through new trails, programming, and outdoor recreation will benefit our communities for years to come. I'm grateful to Mass Audubon, our state partners, and everyone who helped make this vision a reality," said State Sen. Paul Mark.

State Rep. Leigh Davis agreed, saying "One of the things that makes the Berkshires so special is the incredible landscape that surrounds us. Protecting this land forever preserves not only critical wildlife habitat, but also the character of our region and the outdoor spaces that residents and visitors treasure. I’m proud to celebrate everyone who helped make this possible."

This acquisition was made possible with the help of conservation partners including the Becket Land Trust, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and thanks to the generosity of MathWorks and many individual donors.

You can learn more about the 30x30 Catalyst Fund at massaudubon.org/catalystfund