Terrafirma is a unique, member-owned insurance program designed to help land trusts defend their conserved lands against legal challenges. Established by the Land Trust Alliance, it provides coverage for the legal costs associated with upholding conservation easements and fee-owned lands. With over 550 participating land trusts across the U.S., Terrafirma offers not only financial protection but also resources and guidance to proactively manage risks and uphold lasting conservation. Ideal for land trusts seeking a reliable safety net to ensure the permanence of their conservation efforts.
Looking for actionable fundraising advice tailored to land trusts? First Thing Tuesday, a blog by fundraising expert David Allen, offers weekly insights on donor engagement, board involvement, membership growth, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or just getting started, this blog provides practical tips, thought-provoking strategies, and real-world examples to help land trusts build stronger, more sustainable fundraising programs.
Strong policies are the foundation of a well-run land trust. CLCC’s Sample Policy Library provides a collection of ready-to-use templates covering governance, land stewardship, financial management, and more. Whether your land trust is refining existing policies or drafting new ones, these samples offer a valuable starting point to ensure best practices and compliance with Land Trust Standards & Practices. Use this resource to streamline policy development and strengthen your organization’s operations.
CLCC’s Land Trust Board Member Boot Camp is a five-part series that covers the essential roles, functions, and responsibilities of land trust board members. Originally produced in 2021, the content remains relevant and useful for those who are new to land trusts or board service, or for those in need of a refresher.
A collaboration of the Land Trust Alliance and Connecticut Land Conservation Council, the Connecticut Risk Management Initiative was created help land trusts ensure the permanency of their work by understanding and identifying risk, and assessing current risk management strategies through a series of online training sessions. Risk management is all about helping land trusts cope with uncertainty, and includes examining areas of potential risk within the organization including governance, financial practices, land transactions, stewardship, and programming.
This resource illustrates the importance of crafting donor-centered content that aligns with the values and motivations of your audience. It highlights strategies to evoke emotion and establish meaningful connections with donors through your communication. Land trusts can use this guide to enhance their appeals, newsletters, and other outreach materials, ensuring messages resonate deeply and inspire action.
Managing restricted gifts is an essential but complex part of land trust operations. These resources, originally presented through a CLCC workshop in Spring 2021, explores best practices for negotiating, documenting, and tracking restricted gifts. Learn from three accredited land trusts as they break down key accounting principles, donor restrictions, financial reporting, and accreditation requirements. Whether your land trust is developing gift policies or refining its tracking systems, these resources offers practical insights to help you stay compliant and financially sound.
Below, you will find a recording of the webinar, as well as a PDF of the slideshow.