Standards and Practices
Welcome
Revisions
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Standard 1: Ethics, Mission and Community Engagement
Standard 1: Ethics, Mission and Community Engagement
A. Ethics
B. Mission, Planning and Evaluation
C. Community Engagement
Standard 2: Compliance with Laws
Standard 2: Compliance with Laws
A. Compliance with Laws
B. Not-for-profit Incorporation and Bylaws
C. Tax Status
Standard 3: Board Accountability
Standard 3: Board Accountability
A. Board Responsibility
B. Board Composition and Structure
C. Board Governance
D. Board Approval of Transactions
Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest
Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest
A. Dealing with Conflicts of Interest
B. Payments to Board Members
C. Land and Conservation Agreement Transactions with Insiders
Standard 5: Fundraising
Standard 5: Fundraising
A. Legal and Ethical Practices
B. Accountability to Donors
C. Fundraising Plan
D. Non-conservation Real Property for Resale
Standard 6: Financial Oversight
Standard 6: Financial Oversight
A. Fiscal Health
B. Financial Records
C. Independent Financial Evaluation
D. Written Internal Controls
E. Risk Management and Insurance
Standard 7: Human Resources
Standard 7: Human Resources
A. Capacity
B. Volunteers
C. Consultants or Contractors
D. Transition Planning
E. Staff
F. Occupational Health and Safety
Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects
Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects
A. Strategic Conservation Planning
B. Project Selection Criteria
C. Project Evaluation
D. Project Planning
E. Partnership Documentation
Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions
Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions
A. Legal Review and Technical Expertise
B. Legal and Financial Advice
C. Environmental Due Diligence
D. Determining Property Boundaries
E. Conservation Agreement Drafting
F. Title Investigation and Registration
G. Recordkeeping
H. Purchasing Land or Conservation Agreements
I. Selling or Transferring Land or Conservation Agreements
Standard 10: Tax Benefits and Appraisals
Standard 10: Tax Benefits and Appraisals
A. Landowner Notification
B. Legal Requirements: Land Trust Responsibilities
C. Avoiding Fraudulent or Abusive Transactions
Standard 11: Conservation Agreement Stewardship
Standard 11: Conservation Agreement Stewardship
A. Funding Conservation Agreement Stewardship
B. Baseline Documentation Report
C. Conservation Agreement Compliance Monitoring
D. Landowner Relationships
E. Conservation Agreement Enforcement
F. Approvals and Permitted Rights
G. Contingency Strategy
H. Amendments
I. Expropriation
J. Partial or Full Extinguishment
Standard 12: Land Stewardship
Standard 12: Land Stewardship
A. Funding Land Stewardship
B. Land Management and Stewardship
C. Inspecting Land Trust Properties
D. Contingency Strategy
E. Expropriation
Glossary
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A. Capacity
Regularly evaluate whether the land trust has sufficient volunteers, staff and/or consultants/contractors to achieve its strategic goals and carry out its programs, and then add capacity as needed
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