Notice of Membership Changes
Your Land Trust’s Membership with CLCC
WHY IS MEMBERSHIP WORTH IT? CLCC assists land trusts by providing a wide range of resources, services, and funding programs, outlined on the back of this notice. Membership also means your land trust is part of a state-wide community that strengthens and elevates land conservation across CT.
WHAT IS CHANGING? Beginning in 2024, annual dues for land trusts will be based on operating expenses. Additionally, CLCC is better defining both the services and resources it provides to land trusts, as well as those services and resources which will be exclusive to member land trusts.
WHY THE CHANGE? CLCC’s revised membership program is intended to create a more fair and equitable dues structure, while also clarifying the benefits of land trust membership. These changes will help all land trusts take full advantage of CLCC’s many services, programs, and resources while also helping them to determine the appropriate membership level for their organization.
HOW LONG DOES MEMBERSHIP LAST? Land trust membership runs for the duration of a calendar year. Renewal notices will be sent out annually in January, and contributing land trusts are considered members through the end of the calendar year. CLCC will not pro-rate or extend memberships for contributions made later in the year, so land trusts are encouraged to renew their membership in January.
CAN OUR LAND TRUST STILL SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE? “Plus Member” land trusts will receive similar recognition and benefits as has previously been afforded to conference sponsors. CLCC will no longer send a separate solicitation for conference sponsorship - this is your opportunity to become a sponsor. Conference benefits and recognition are intended to be affordable for land trusts of all sizes, creating a more equitable program.
HAVE QUESTIONS? Please contact us. We love hearing from land trusts and are happy to answer any questions you may have. As CLCC continues to expand its services, we hope you will reach out to us about the types of services and programs that your land trust would find most useful.
Quick Access
2024 Membership Dues Structure
| Under $25,000 | $100 | $250 |
| $25,001 - $50,000 | $250 | $500 |
| $50,001 - $100,000 | $500 | $750 |
| $100,001 - $250,000 | $750 | $1,000 |
| $250,001 - $500,000 | $1,000 | $1,250 |
| $500,001 - $750,000 | $1,250 | $1,500 |
| $750,001 - $1,000,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
| $1,000,001 - $2,000,000 | $2,000 | $3,500 |
| $2,000,000 and over | $3,500 | $5,000 |
*Annual operating expenses are defined as the annual expenses that support the general, year-over-year function of your land trust. These expenses may include salaries, rent, postage, printing, programming and fundraising expenses, insurance, routine purchases of equipment and materials, accounting/bookkeeping fees, software licenses, etc.
You should NOT factor in expenses such as land purchases, capital projects, regrants, or other significant one-time expenditures.
Membership Tiers & Associated Benefits
| All Land Trusts | Base Membership | Plus Membership | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Resources | |||
| Grant Opportunities Database | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Conservation Service Provider Directory | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CT Conservation Job Board | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Workshop Recordings, such as Board Member Boot Camp | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Resource Library containing: model easements; template documents; sample policies; and many more useful resources. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inclusion on CLCC “Find a Land Trust” interactive web-map | ✔ | ✔ & Member Icon | ✔ & Member Icon |
| CT Land Trust ListServ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CLCC-Administered Grant Program Eligibility | |||
| Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant Program | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Connecticut Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Transaction Assistance Grant Program (TAG) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Future grant programs | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CLCC Capacity Building Programs Eligibility | |||
| Peer Networking Programs (Presidents’/Treasurers’ summits, etc.) | ✔ | ✔ & No Registration Fee* | ✔ & No Registration Fee* |
| Regional Roundtables | ✔ | ✔ & No Registration Fee* | ✔ & No Registration Fee* |
| Statewide Summits | ✔ | ✔ & No Registration Fee* | ✔ & No Registration Fee* |
| Community Conservation Programs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bird and Hike Program | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Advanced Collaboration and Merger Assistance Program | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Conference-Related Benefits | |||
| Access to the largest conservation gathering in Connecticut | ✔ | ✔ & Reduced Registration Fee* | ✔ & Reduced Registration Fee* |
| Recognition as a Conference Sponsor/Supporter (Note: CLCC will no longer send a separate solicitation for conference sponsorship) | ✔ | ||
| Table, poster, or other exhibition space | ✔ | ||
| Advocacy | |||
| Timely updates on important legislation and conservation issues, both at the State and Federal level | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| A voice at the State Capitol through a dedicated lobbyist, who advocates for statewide conservation objectives | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Other CLCC Resources | |||
| General assistance from CLCC staff, including staff Office Hours | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| In-depth assistance from CLCC staff | ✔ | ✔ | |
| In-depth program or workshop tailored for your land trust (strategic visioning session, board retreat, etc.) | ✔ | ||
| Priority placement in #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Free printed copies of CLCC publications “What is a Land Trust” and “Protecting the Land You Love”, by request | ✔ 15 Copies/Year | ✔ 25 Copies/Year | |
*Reduced or waived registration fees apply to current board members and employees
