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Connecticut Land Trust Policy Sample Library

This template library contains sample of policies specific to Connecticut land trusts. The samples presented here are actual policies currently in use by land trusts in Connecticut, and CLCC generally believes these represent good practices.

These policies should be viewed only as examples. They are not comprehensive, and this is one resource among many that are available to you. Your land trust’s board should exercise its best judgment in adopting or amending your own policies, and consult an attorney as needed.  The policies and the information contained herein are intended to be informational, and are not a substitute for seeking legal advice.

Not all policies will be necessary or even desirable for all land trusts. The policies you choose to adopt—and how you modify them to suit your needs—will be specific to your own organization. We hope that this library provides a starting point with some high quality sample policies.

Last updated on July 27, 2021

Category
Governance Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interest Policy Conflict of Interest Policy Conflict of Interest Policy Conflict of Interest Policy
— Conflict of Interest & Confidentiality Policies Conflict of Interest Policy —
Whistleblower policy Whistleblower policy Whistleblower policy Whistleblower policy Whistleblower policy
Recordkeeping Policy Recordkeeping policy Record Management & Retention Policy Recordkeeping policy A Recordkeeping policy
— — Recordkeeping policy B —
Ethics — Statement of Ethics — Ethics Policy
Confidentiality Confidentiality Policy — — —
Employee Data Privacy Policy — Employee Data Privacy Policy — —
Equal Employment — Equal Employment Opportunity Statement — —
Opportunity Statement — — — —
Board of Directors Governance Evaluation of and by the Board — — —
Board Self Evaluation — — —
Executive Director Evaluation Form — — —
Operations — — — Operations Policy
Finance Financial Management & Controls Restricted & Dedicated Funds — Financial Controls & Management Policy Financial Management Policy
Board Review of Form 990 — Internal Financial Controls —
Five Internal Controls for the Very Small Nonprofit — — —
Fundraising & Donor Accountability — — — Fundraising & Donor Accountability Policy
— — — Donor Bill of Rights (external site)
Investment & Management of Financial Assets Investment Policy Investment Policy — Investment Policy
Land Transactions
Land Acquisition Policies Acquisition Policy Title Investigation & Subordination Policy Land Acquisition Policy Land Preservation Criteria
Acquisition Checklist Acquisition Checklist Land Acquisition Methods Project Selection, Criteria, Evaluation, & Planning
Land Protection Guidelines — Selection Criteria Checklist Conservation Tools Policy
Property Info & Site Visit Report — Site Assessment Checklist —
Project Planning Checklist — — —
Landowner Appraisals & Federal / State Reporting Tax Code & Appraisals for Fee Land Donations Landowner Appraisals & Forms 8283 — Federal & State Reporting Requirements
Tax Code & Appraisals for Easement Donation — — —
Landowner Appraisals and Forms 8283 — — —
Qualified Appraisal Checklist — — —
Procedure for Filing Form 8282 — — —
Executing & Documenting Transactions — — — Executing & Documenting Transactions
Funding Stewardship of Properties — — — Stewardship Funding Policy
Stewardship Execution of Intent & Responsibilities — — — Execution of Intent & Responsibilities
Easement Enforcement Policy Easement Enforcement Policy Easement Enforcement Policy Easement Enforcement Policy A Easement Enforcement Policy
— — Easement Enforcement Policy B —
Easement Amendment Policy Easement Amendment Policy — Easement Amendment Policy A Easement Amendment Policy
— — Easement Amendment Policy B —
Easement Monitoring Easement Monitoring Report — — Easement Monitoring Report
Preserve Monitoring Report — — —
Contingency & Back-up Plans — — — Contingency Policy
Reserved or Permitted Rights Approval of Reserved/Permitted Rights Approval of Reserved Rights, Discretionary Consent, & Requests for Use — Reserved or Permitted Rights Policy
Record of Approval of Reserved/Permitted Rights — — —
Baseline Documentation — — — Baseline Documentation Policy
Landowner Relationships — — — Landowner Relationships Policy
Community Outreach — — — Community Outreach Policy
Stewardship Principles Stewardship Policy for Fee Land Management — — Stewardship Principles: Fee Properties

NOTE:  It is not sufficient for an organization simply to adopt this library of policies. There are many assets that are essential to the smooth running of a non-profit organization such as budget templates, strategic plans, risk assessments, and more, which are not included here at this time. It is every land trust’s responsibility to think not only of the adoption of good policies, but the implementation of those policies as well.

Special thanks to:

  • Lauren Ashbrook and Brad Ward, graduate students at the Yale School of the Environment
  • Amanda Branson, Sharon Feeley, and Connie Manes, co-chairs of the CLCC Accredited Land Trust working group
  • Each of the Connecticut land trusts who provided us with template policies for inclusion in the library.