Alliance Grant Programs

The Land Trust Alliance has a number of grant opportunities throughout the year for land trust members.

• Please check the Land Trust Alliance Grants page regularly.
• Notices of grant programs are often mailed and/or e-mailed to members, make sure your contact information is up to date.

2008 Southeast Matching Grant Program

On anticipation of receiving additional financial resources, the Alliance Southeastern regional program extends its offer of matching grants-in-aid to more land trusts for 2008. We expect to be able to fund matching grants to 10-15 land trusts. Read program guidelines and download application.

Guidelines
Application (Word, 47KB)

New York State Conservation Partnership Program

Applications for a sixth round of New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) grant awards totaling $800,000 have been received. Thank you to all that applied! We hope to announce the awards at a press conference to be held in early March. Please check back for more details.

The Land Trust Alliance in partnership with New York’s land trust community and the State of New York, has developed the New York State Conservation Partnership Program to secure annual appropriations from the Environmental Protection Fund to build land trust capacity and accelerate the pace of strategic land conservation across the state. To date, New York State has invested $1.5 million in the Program. The program is administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

National Grant Programs

Oregon Conservation Grants Announced by Elk Foundation
Missoula, MT—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, an international conservation organization with a focus on habitat protection and enhancement, has announced its 2008 project grants for Oregon. Grants will affect Baker, Benton, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties. An additional project has statewide interest.

Grants Announced for Minnesota Conservation Projects
Missoula, MT —The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, an international conservation organization with a focus on habitat protection and enhancement, has announced its 2008 project grants for Minnesota. Grants will affect Beltrami, Kittson and Marshall counties.

Grants Announced for Idaho Conservation Projects
Missoula, MT.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, an international conservation organization with a focus on habitat protection and enhancement, has announced its 2008 project grants for Idaho. Grants will affect Blaine, Boise, Bonneville, Camas, Clearwater, Caribou, Custer, Idaho, Lemhi, Teton and Valley counties. An additional project has statewide interest.

National Association of Counties Invites Applications for Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative
Deadline: March 24, 2008

The National Association of Counties, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Community-Based Restoration Program, has announced the second year of funding for the Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative. The initiative provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to innovative, high-quality county-led or -supported projects. In 2008, CCRI will provide a total of $500,000 in grants to improve stream, river, estuarine, and other important marine habitats.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wal-Mart and Invite Applications for Acres for America
Deadline: April 1, 2008

Acres for America is a partnership between Wal-Mart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that provides funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property. The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart's domestic facilities on at least an acre-by-acre basis through these acquisitions. The program provides funding for projects that conserve large, landscape-level areas that are important habitat for fish, wild- life, and plants. Approximately $2.5 million in total funding will be available annually through 2014 for conservation investments. All grant awards require a minimum 1:1 match of cash or contributed goods and services.

No-Interest Loan Fund for Land Protection
Deadline: Always open

In an effort to facilitate the land conservation work of grassroots organizations across the country, The Norcross Wildlife Foundation is offering a rare source of financial support. Loans of up to $250,000 are available for the purpose of acquiring interests in land that contains priority wildlife habitat.

Living Lands Pilot Projects

The Living Lands project provides funding for pilot projects that encourage local land trusts to increase their capacity to engage in biodiversity conservation. Pilot projects include funding and technical assistance to help land trusts advance specific projects with significant biodiversity values. Land trusts may apply for up to $10,000.

Regional Grant Programs

Marine Habitat Program to Support Gulf Coast Conservation Projects
Deadline: March 28, 2008

The Shell Marine Habitat Program, a partnership between the Shell Oil Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, provides grants for conservation projects that benefit marine and coastal habitats in and around the Gulf of Mexico. he program's Project Area includes the gulf coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and the gulf coast of Florida from Tampa north and west through the panhandle.
Grant amounts will range between $50,000 to $200,000 each.

Pioneers in Conservation: Grants to Secure the Future of Farming and Salmon
Deadline: March 28, 2008

The Pioneers in Conservation grants program was created to support salmon recovery projects that help fulfill this vision: Landowners, environmentalists, and governments working together so actions on private farms and forest lands to improve and protect salmon habitat are conducted in a way that also enhance the economic future of the agricultural or forestry business.  Salmon and other wildlife will benefit through improved conservation stewardship on these lands and through avoidance of fragmented, unmanageable, and increasingly developed watersheds. Download the Pioneers In Conservation Brochure (PDF)

Piedmont Environmental Council Fellowship Program
Deadline: March 28, 2008

The Fellowship Program is a six week program offering students a fully immersive, hands-on experience in PEC's nationally recognized, highly successful regional movement for land conservation and land use planning. While interest in environmental stewardship or growth and community planning is advised and will enhance the Fellow's experience, we welcome applicants from a variety of academic fields.

PEC recognizes that our mission of building better communities is best achieved through collaborative community action. Our partnerships with local allies concerned about public health, affordable housing, economic development, historic resources, agricultural production, efficient transportation, and environmental stewardship provide Fellows with a multi-dimensional framework for community action..

Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council Seeks Proposals for California Youth Investment Programs
Deadline: Various

In 2008 the Stewardship Council will grant between a total of $2 million and $2.5 million in funding to improve the lives of underserved youth in northern and central California by providing greater access to outdoor experiences -- from urban parks in the city to watersheds in the wilderness. In 2008, there are four different grant rounds -- three rounds focused on outdoor and environmental education programs and one on building parks and playgrounds.

Northeast Utilities Offers Grants for Grassroots
Environmental Projects
Deadline: October 15 and April 15

Provides grants through its Environmental Community Grant Program to fund local commun- ity and grassroots environmental projects that are frequently overlooked by large grant programs. The program provides grants of between $250 and $1,000 each to projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Open Space Institute
Deadline: always open

The Open Space Institute (OSI) protects scenic, recreational, historical and working landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats, and sustain community character. OSI’s New York Land Protection Program provides grants for land acquisition in the State of New York while OSI’s Conservation Finance Program offers low-cost bridge loans and grants for land protection in selected landscapes across the East Coast. OSI’s Conservation Institute works in partnership with conservation practitioners, funders and policy-makers to conduct, synthesize and disseminate research on important land conservation issues.

More than $6 Million Available in Great Lakes
Deadline: Always open

Land trusts and public agencies in the eight-state Great Lakes basin can apply to The Conservation Fund for interim funding to purchase land or conservation easements to protect coastal and freshwater sites of high ecological significance. Application forms are available from Michael Kelly, Great Lakes Office, The Conservation Fund, PO Box 734, Bay City, MI 48707, 989-892-9171, fax: 989-892-9172, kellym@conservationfund.org.

Our Resources

Exchange, The National Journal of Land Conservation
In honor of our 25th anniversary, this special issue is full of thought-provoking essays by prominent authors such as Bill McKibben, Terry Tempest Williams, Charles Jordan, Bill Cronon and Richard Louv. Read The Future of Land Conservation in America online.

While supplies last, you can have free copies sent directly to your board members. Send their names, addresses and the name of the land trust to lta@lta.org and put "Special Exchange" in the subject line.

Published quarterly, Exchange is the nation's leading periodical written by and for land conservationists. Available for free when you join the Land Trust Alliance, the 40-page quarterly magazine offers up-to-date stories on the latest issues, innovations and trends in land conservation. Read sample articles and learn how you can receive it.

Land Trust Standards and Practices Implementation Resources
Over 450 pages of new materials to help you learn and implement the revised Land Trust Standards and Practices are now on LTAnet, the digital library for LTA members and partners. Visit LTAnet today, or learn more about it.

National Land Trust Census 2005 Outreach Toolkit

For several decades, the Land Trust Alliance has been tracking national trends in private land conservation, with each five-year report showing dramatically more land protected than ever before. The 2005 National Land Trust Census breaks all previous records.

Our toolkit is designed to help land trusts share the good news with your supporters, your government representatives and the media.

The Toolkit includes:

• 2005 Census Final Report
• State by State Census Factsheets
• National Press Release
• Template State Press Release
• Sample State Press Release
• Template Letter to your Congressperson
• 8 Ways to Use Census
• Talking Points

Start Using the Toolkit Now!

Datebook
A calendar of events for land trusts. The calendar includes all Land Trust Alliance sponsored events and other events that are relevant to a significant number of land trusts. View the datebook.

Training and Conferences
Learn about the many LTA-sponsored training events throughout the nation. View the Training and Conference homepage.

Land Trust Alliance eNews Brief Sign up today! Once a month we’ll send you the latest news and resources to assist you in your land conservation work. We’ll give you brief highlights on public policy, training, new funding opportunities and much more.

Land Trust ADVOCATES Land Trust ADVOCATES is a national network of land trust staff, board members, volunteers, and donors who work together to support public policies that further the conservation work of land trusts. Members of ADVOCATES are crucial links in educating lawmakers about the issues that concern land trusts. Learn more.

Conserve-A-Nation® Insurance Program
Land Trust Alliance Members qualify for the Conserve-A-Nation® Insurance Program with coverage options including a basic program that consists of general liability insurance, non-owned and hired auto liability, and property coverage. Offered by Franey, Muha Alliant, Inc., the program is ideally suited to land trusts and is available at very competitive prices to Alliance Members. Learn more about the insurance.

Expert Link: An Online Directory of Professional Partners
The Land Trust Alliance thanks all of those organizations who have joined us as Professional Partners. As a membership benefit, we provide an online directory with their information. The Land Trust Alliance does not endorse the products or services of our Professional Partners.
View Expert Link.

LTAnet
LTAnet (www.LTAnet.org) is an online service that puts comprehensive information about land conservation and organizational management at your fingertips. This searchable library contains Land Trust Alliance publications, sample documents, presentations from our annual Rally, and other technical materials, which land trust professionals need to keep current in their profession. The service, along with other membership benefits, is available free to all land trust members and Partners. Learn more.

Land Trust Alliance, The Nature Conservancy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration created this online resource to help foster networking among organizations working to advance coastal conservation.

Find funding, training, networking and tools specifically designed for coastal conservation. Visit today!

RallyNet
A special portion of LTAnet, RallyNet contains session information for the 100+ sessions held at the National Land Conservation Conference: Rally. It includes information about presenters, session handouts (if provided to us electronically), additional reference materials, plenary speeches and more. Found at www.LTAnet.org, this resource is available year-round to Members and Partners. It is made available to conference participants and the public for approximately 3 months after the conference.

Link to Us
We get many requests to link to our website and we welcome the links. We've put together a new section to make it easier. We've even created logos to highlight your membership status with the Land Trust Alliance. There is also a request form for you to fill out if you want a higher resolution version of our logo to use in print publications. (updated 9/29/06) More

Erler’s LandStewardTM: Software to Track Stewardship Data Designed to help land conservation organizations store and access project and stewardship data for protected properties, Erler’s LandSteward will be used by those land trusts interested in making their stewardship documentation systems stronger. More

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs 
Interested in working for a land trust?  Use the navigation bar to the left to get to listings of Jobs at Land Trusts or Jobs with the Alliance. We do not charge to run job announcements on the web listing for member land trusts and some Partners. The Alliance also accepts job announcements from others, with charges of $75 or $100.

Other Resources

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: Extensive research on the use of conservation easements, land conservation management and planning. Cambridge, Mass.

Books

Be sure to visit our Publications Catalog
There you'll find books not only published by the Alliance, but also those published by other respected authors on topics from easement stewardship to conservation finance and from starting a land trust to the history of land trusts in America.

As featured in our quarterly journal, Exchange, The Art of Hiring Leaders: A Guide for Nonprofit Organizations is Barbara J. Gilvar's second book on the search process. The book encourages strategic thinking as the foundation for a search and includes suggestions for board development to support the organization as it begins this important transition. It also provides guidance on outreach, networking, interviewing and references. To order, call 1-800-343-5540 or visit: www.theartofhiringleaders.net. The price is $34.95 plus shipping.

Rescuing Wetlands Close to Home: Ten Stories of New England Landowners Read this new book by Anne Schwartz that celebrates the role of private property owners in preserving natural landscapes and how their efforts connect people to the land and to each other. Published by The Trust for Public Land, a member of the Land Trust Alliance

Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities
Published in 2006, this book provides both the history of greenways and green space networks, and practical advice on how to design and implement them. From the individual parcel to the multi-state region, Green Infrastructure helps us look at the landscape in relation to the many uses it could serve, for nature and people, and determine which use achieves the most benefit for both. Available for purchase at Island Press.

From Walden to Wall Street: Frontiers of Conservation Finance
This book published in 2005 by Island Press considers how the conservation community could dramatically increase the amount of capital available for conservation in coming decades. Available for purchase at Island Press.

Scenic America Action Guide
The recently published Scenic Easements: A Tool to Conserve America the Beautiful promotes the protection of visual resources in conservation easements.

Events and Training

Be sure to visit our Training and Conferences pages and our Datebook of events for land trust professionals.

National Conservation Leadership Institute
Do you think you could be one of the "next generation" of leaders in the land trust community? This program is designed to provide top flight leadership development training, and give insight into qualities of leadership needed in the conservation field. Nominations will be selected through April 2007. Learn more (posted 2/22/07)

Online Trainings on Software Selection for Nonprofits
Idealware has partnered with NTEN to offer a series of online trainings to help nonprofits make effective software choices, e.g. donor databases, blogging software. These seminars will include all the candid advice and product comparisons of the reports and articles on which they are based, as well as plenty of extra guidance and insights straight from the authors. See upcoming trainings. (posted 9/29/06)

NatureServe Calendar of Events
Dates and locations for all NatureServe conferences, training events, and other activities as listed in the site description, e.g. scheduled coordinator conference calls, etc. See: www.natureserve.org/visitLocal/calendar.jsp

Guides

Water Rights Handbook for Colorado Conservation Professionals
The Water Rights Handbook for Colorado Conservation Professionals is available for purchase now through Bradford Publishing. Prepared and reviewed by accomplished Colorado water and conservation attorneys, engineers, and appraisers, this book presents essential information that will allow Colorado's land conservation professionals to sensibly evaluate, pursue, and protect the water resources necessary to preserve conservation values year after year. The retail price is $45 and it can be purchased online at www.bradfordpublishing.com or by calling their customer service line at 800-446-2831. Those in the Denver area can also purchase it at our retail store located at 1743 Wazee Street in downtown Denver. (posted 3/17/06)

Partnership Guide
This Partnership Guide, produced by the Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation, is a tool to help Forest Service employees, experienced partners, and first-time or potential partners work together more effectively and efficiently. The guide answers common questions about the agency's policies and procedures, helps partnerships anticipate potential hurdles, and provides contacts and other resources to help users find more specific guidance. Finally, the guide highlights creative approaches taking place across the country that promote sustainable and vibrant forests, grasslands, and communities. (posted 2/24/06)

Stewardship Handbook for Family Forest Ownerships
A Handbook for Planning, Managing and Protecting Your Woods, Your Investment and Your Environment
This Fall 2005 publication from the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service helps family forest owners balance investment values and conservation values. Download it from the National Association of State Foresters website in either Notebook format (1.5MB) or in brochure format (290KB) (posted 1/13/06)

Appraisal Guide Available Online from the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts
The Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts has produced a 38-page guide (PDF; 338KB) to appraisals of conservation easements, designed for landowners and for appraisers unfamiliar with easement appraisals. It also includes a section outlining the most common errors seen in conservation easement appraisals -- which makes this piece a must-read for land trust leaders. (posted 11/12/04)

Conservation Funding Guides from The Wilderness Society
Two reports released by The Wilderness Society detail sources of funding for open space protection. These guides identify resources available to protect forestlands, with a particular focus on the eastern United States, and are applicable to the work of any organization that preserves land.

Conservation Funding in Colorado: A Guide to Federal and State Programs
The Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts has produced a unique guide examining the history, funding limits and eligibility requirements for more than 45 state and federal conservation programs. View or download the guide at www.cclt.org. (posted 3/28/05)

Saving Special Places: Community Funding for Land Conservation
This guidebook is published by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) and the Center for Land Conservation Assistance, hosted by the Society. Printed copies of the guidebook are available by sending a check for $15.00 payable to SPNHF to: Kristine Graeme , SPNHF, 54 Portsmouth St., Concord, NH 03301. The guidebook is also available for download in Adobe Acrobat format at: http://www.forestsociety.org/pdf/savingplaces.pdf

Conservation Bank Guidance from Interior Department
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued the first comprehensive federal guidelines designed to promote the establishment of Conservation Banks, which ensure perpetual protection for endangered species that are adversely affected elsewhere. Read the Department of the Interior press release.

Reports

Are Agricultural Easement Programs Working?
The American Farmland Trust and the Agricultural Issues Center of The University of California, Davis have conducted a comprehensive analysis of agricultural easement programs in the U.S. and have just released the 2nd and 3rd reports in a 4 part series. The reports identify conclusive lessons about how program methods and strategies affect the accomplishments. Visit the American Farmland Trust's website for more information and to download the reports.

Report 1 - Profiles and Maps (released 2003)
Report 2 - How Programs Select Farmland to Fund
Report 3 - Easements and Local Planning
Report 4 - Measuring Success in Protecting Farmland with Easements (coming November 2006)

eNonprofit Benchmarks Study
The eNonprofit Benchmarks Study is the first of its kind look at the effectiveness of major American nonprofit organizations using the Internet to raise money and influence public policy. The study is a tool that nonprofits can use to measure and compare their online performance to other organizations' online programs.

Videos

Video on Conservation Easements
An episode of the University of Florida’s Living Green project features farmers who have partnered with the Conservation Trust for Florida and the Red Hills Conservation Program to establish conservation easements. Dr. Mark Hostetler visits several farmers who are establishing conservation easements on their property to discuss how conservation easements work and how a farmer/landowner can establish them on his or her property. Watch the video or buy the DVD on Living Green's website. 

Services

American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust (AFT) helps land trusts and landowners raise awareness about the economic, environmental, cultural and other benefits farms and ranches provide to individuals and communities. Raising awareness is a critical step in gaining support for initiatives to protect farms and ranches, strengthen the agricultural economy and ensure the use of healthy farming practices. AFT also helps communities create, implement and evaluate plans for agriculture that can include land use techniques, economic development tools and conservation practices. Learn more about AFT's full suite of consulting services. Other consulting services on the Farmland website: Planning for Agriculture and Projects and Clients.

Expert Link: An Online Directory of Professional Partners
The Land Trust Alliance thanks all of those organizations who have joined us as Professional Partners. As a membership benefit, we provide an online directory with their information. The Land Trust Alliance does not endorse the products or services of our Professional Parnters.
View Expert Link.

Computers and Technology

Consistent Computer Bargains
A leading authorized reseller of name brand computer technology to nonprofit and charitable organizations. www.ccbnonprofits.com

Idealware
Idealware (www.idealware.org) is a new website providing candid Consumer-Reports-style reviews and articles about software of interest to nonprofits, centralized into a website. Through product comparisons, recommendations, case studies, and software news, Idealware aims to allow nonprofits to make the software decisions that will help them be more effective. Online training on these topics is now available. (posted 2/24/06)

NTEN
NTEN is a professional community that connects people involved in nonprofit technology and strives to help them effectively use technology in their work. They offer trainings, conferences, listservs and more. Visit www.NTEN.org. (posted 9/29/06)

IT Disaster Recovery
This resource was developed by CompuMentor’s Healthy & Secure Computing campaign and was created in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. It provides advice on getting technology systems working again in small- and medium-sized nonprofits where business continuity plans were not sufficient or did not exist. (posted 9/23/05) More

New York Area Technology Resources
There are a number of internet sites that provide useful information for New York area (and beyond) nonprofits interested in technology issues. These were compiled by Alder Consulting, who also have an interesting newsletter about doing technology on a shoestring. (posted 6/4/04) More

TechSoup
TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support. TechSoup provides instructional articles and worksheets for nonprofit staff members who utilize information technologies, as well as technology planning information for executives and other decision makers. www.TechSoup.org

TechSoup Stock
Nonprofits can access donated and discounted technology products, generously provided by corporate and nonprofit technology partners. Exceptional discounts on software and technology services. Always check here before buying software. www.techsoup.org/stock/

Websites & Listservs

Private Landowner Network
Private Landowner Network (PLN) provides a simple and effective means for landowners to connect with qualified, often local, professionals to navigate the complex ins and outs of real estate transactions, tax and estate planning, and regional land conservation activities. More  (posted 10/9/07)

Land Trust GIS Website
The Land Trust GIS website contains a wealth of information about how land trusts can apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to their work. It is a joint project of GreenInfo Network in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance, and with the assistance of CommEn Space. (posted 6/30/06)

Partnership Resource Center
A partnership developed through the shared vision of the National Forest Foundation and the USDA - Forest Service. The purpose of the website is to provide our partnering organizations and Forest Service staff with the information and access they need for enhanced working relationships. Includes resources, funding, links to partners, and more. Visit www.partnershipresourcecenter.org. (posted 2/24/06)

Urban Land Trust List Serve
Join this list serve to discuss the issues facing urban land trusts. Join today!

The Program on Conservation Innovation
www.ConservationInnovation.net is a website out of Havard University that focuses on efforts to forge remarkable advances in the fields of conservation science, education, advocacy and policy, resource protection, and stewardship.

Website for Financial Advisors
The Open Space Protection Collaborative serving the Carolinas has a website which aims to provide financial advisors with the necessary resources and know-how to advise conservation-minded clients about conservation planning. The website has information helpful to land trusts throughout the Carolina and beyond. Found on the Web at: www.openspaceprotection.org. (posted 2/25/05)

LandTrust Listserv
The LANDTRUST Listserv is an electronic mailing list of individuals interested in land trust issues. The Land Trust Alliance thanks Tom Zeller at Indiana University, who started and has continued to maintain the landtrust list server. Learn more.

Online Database of Conservation Ballot Measures
Developed by the Trust For Public Land, a national conservation organization, the LandVote Database serves as the premier source of information about conservation ballot measures. The database, accessed online at www.landvote.org, brings together a comprehensive history for all conservation-related ballot measures that have been voted on since 1999.

Farmland Information Center Website
The Farmland Information Center website is available at www.farmlandinfo.org. You’ll find a collection of statistics, laws, literature and technical resources related to farm and ranch land protection and stewardship. The Farmland Information Center is a service of the American Farmland Trust in partnership with NRCS.
2006 Update: Based on feedback from visitors, the site has new state pages that bundle key contacts, statistics, literature, laws, sample documents and legislative briefs to provide a snapshot of farmland protection activity.