Accreditation of Land Trusts: From the Big Picture to Organizational Impact Linda J. Mead, President and CEO for the Environmental Grantmakers Affinity Group October 31, 2013
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was incorporated in April 2006. The accreditation program first became available to land trusts in 2008. 230 of more than 1700 land trusts in America have achieved Accreditation as of October 2013.
Accredited land trusts span the country from Alaska to Florida and Maine to Arizona. Accredited land trusts account for 52% of the 20,645,165 acres currently owned in fee or protected by a conservation easement held by a land trust. Tamara Van Ryn, Director, Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation. It recognizes organizations for meeting national standards for: • Excellence • Upholding the public trust • Ensuring that conservation efforts are permanent
A 2-Year Timeline: Start to Finish • February 4, 2010 –Part-time staff assigned to begin the initial process -- Put off registering for accreditation until after summer 2010 to complete baselines/”as-is” reports and annual monitoring -- • July 2010 – Completed the Assessing Your Organization document • August 13, 2010 – Register & pay registration fee ($750) • September 2, 2010 – Submit pre-application • November 18, 2010 – Submit full application & pay application fee ($7,000) • March 18, 2011 – Receive phone interview agenda • March 25, 2011 – Phone interview • March 29, 2011 – Receive request for additional information • May 31, 2011 – Submit response to request for additional information • July 27, 2011 – Receive notification of tabling of application and request for follow-up material • October 28, 2011 – Submit follow-up material • February 9, 2012 – Accredited
Who Should Be Involved • Initial review : someone who understands the organization • Point person : gathers documents and organizes the application – Detailed; in-house; some history with the organization – Stay on top of deadlines – Assemble many pieces of the application from various sources and people • Staff leadership : Exec. Director, acquisition, stewardship, development, financials and operating procedures • Board : chair, treasurer, attorney, experience with accreditation process, communications skills • Staff Leadership role : oversight, trouble-shooting, ensure adherence to deadlines, assign responsibilities, prepare Board committee for involvement, regular reports to Board, liaison with outside consultants/Accreditation Commission if necessary
Prepare to Begin • Ensure monitoring of all easements within the past 12-13 months with at least two years of history • Complete Assessing Your Organization document • Adopt LTA Standards & Practices • Make sure your financial records are in topnotch shape We also did the following: – Refined land acquisition criteria matrix – Revised bylaws – Adopted three new policies in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Focus on Stewardship Practices • Update all Baselines • Ensure your monitoring is adequate • Make sure you have records of visiting every fee property as well as easements • Make sure your records are complete and current
The Notebook • Standardization – Organization – Fonts and headings – Easier for Commission • Tabs – Purchase major ones and Standard 1-12 tabs – Use colored paper as dividers for the Practices and Attachments
Required Standards to be Addressed Standard 1: Mission Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants The land trust has a clear mission that serves a public The land trust has volunteers, staff and/or consultants with interest, and all programs support that mission. appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its programs. Standard 2: Compliance with Laws The land trust fulfills its legal requirements as a nonprofit Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation tax-exempt organization and complies with all laws. Projects The land trust carefully evaluates and selects its Standard 3: Board Accountability conservation projects. The land trust board acts ethically in conducting the affairs of the organization and carries out the board’s Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions legal and financial responsibilities as required by law. The land trust works diligently to see that every land and easement transaction is legally, ethically and technically Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest sound. The land trust has policies and procedures to avoid or manage real or perceived conflicts of interest. Standard 10: Tax Benefits The land trust works diligently to see that every charitable Standard 5: Fundraising gift of land or easements meets federal and state tax law The land trust conducts fundraising activities in an requirements. ethical and responsible manner. Standard 11: Conservation Easement Stewardship Standard 6: Financial and Asset Management The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for The land trust manages its finances and assets in a its easements. responsible and accountable way. Standard 12: Fee Land Stewardship The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for the land it holds in fee for conservation purposes.
Master Policy Documents • Conflict of Interest Policy • Whistleblower Policy • Gift Acceptance Policy • Delegation of Real Estate Transaction Approval Authority • Investment Policy and Distribution Guideline Statement • Document Destruction Policy • Record Storage and Retention Policy • Conservation Easement Enforcement Policy • Conservation Amendment Policy • Stewardship Funding Policy
Ensuring Adequate Recordkeeping • On-site and off-site storage – Hard copies – Electronic Records Storage • 2002 Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
Cost of Accreditation including all steps in process Projected Expenses Actual Expenses Shortages Excesses Personnel $11,000.00 $55,375.00 $44,375.00 Contract Services $1,000.00 $3,225.00 $2,225.00 Copying $250.00 $440.00 $190.00 Materials and Supplies $250.00 $150.00 $100.00 Mailings 0 $87.00 $87.00 Transportation 0 $320.00 $320.00 Fireproof Cabinet and Keys 0 $1,920.00 $1,920.00 Legal Services 0 $4,704.00 $4,704.00 Accreditation Fees 0 $7,750.00 $7,750.00 TOTAL $12,500.00 $73,971.00 $100.00 $61,571.00
Time Personnel President 175 hours Vice President 30 hours Director of Stewardship 650 hours Director of Land Preservation 75 hours Director of Operations 50 hours Director of Gifts & Grants 30 hours Associate Director of Stewardship 65 hours Outreach and Stewardship Associate 180 hours Conservation Biologist 65 hours Land Preservation Associate 100 hours Staff Attorney 30 hours Administrative Assistant 100 hours Stewardship Interns 80 hours Contract Services – Special Projects 320 hours Trustees on Accreditation Team 40 hours
Ah ha! The Big Surprise • Revised State Easement Template • Revised Donation Easement Template – Walk-through of changes made and accepted by Accreditation Commission
Lessons Learned • Identify funding to assist with costs: ie, foundation grants, private donor, assistance through Land Trust Alliance • Be sure you’re ready before you start • Use this to strengthen your organization • Realize where this fits within the life cycle of your organization • Expect surprises and don’t let them deter you • Keep going: Once you’re invested, you’ll want to finish • Announce and celebrate: Take advantage of using this to gain more support for your organization
A 2010 survey of accredited land trusts noted the following with respect to accreditation: • 96% report the process strengthened their organization • 63% report it being easier to meet agency/funder requirements • 51% of those with staff report the sense of teamwork among staff is stronger
In 2012, D&R Greenway was among the first 10% of land trusts nationwide to be accredited. “Accreditation provides the public with an assurance that D&R Greenway meets high quality standards and that their conservation work is permanent.” Tamara Van Ryn, Director, Land Trust Accreditation Commission
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