Land Trust Loan Program

In the Connecticut River Valley, a lifelong farmer hopes to protect his land as a legacy for future generations. Along Maryland’s Coastal Bays, a rural community tries to conserve its scenic vistas from development. On Colorado’s Front Range, a ranching family seeks to safeguard a working landscape and popular migratory corridor. Each story is unique, but in every case a local land trust was contacted first for help.

Summary

Today, more than 1,500 local and regional land trusts are working to protect open space and the quality of life in their communities. These organizations are enduring civic institutions that are helping to conserve the best of America’s lands and waters.

Challenge

Although these local groups have strong fund-raising capabilities, they often cannot raise the necessary funding fast enough to meet the needs of willing landowners. As a result, open space that could have been protected is lost.

Solution

With the lead support of the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Conservation Fund launched the nation’s only land trust loan program—creating a powerful partnership between a national conservation nonprofit and the many local organizations with a similar purpose.

Results

Each year, the Fund provides 15 percent of its conservation capital base to land trusts as bridge financing, enabling the groups to acquire properties immediately, but raise funds over time. To date, the Fund has helped land trusts protect nearly 20,000 acres valued at more than $65 million.