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Sustainable Financing for Land Trusts Presented by Jennifer Cotting Environmental Finance Center National Center for Smart Growth University of Maryland. May 19, 2009. What is finance?. Funding vs. Financing Funding: acquiring financial resources
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Sustainable Financing for Land TrustsPresented by Jennifer CottingEnvironmental Finance CenterNational Center for Smart Growth University of Maryland May 19, 2009
What is finance? Funding vs. Financing • Funding: acquiring financial resources • Financing: an allocation process that includes acquiring, investing, and managing fiscal resources Goal: increase return on investment
Sustainable Financing Effective financing strategies: • Community-based • Integrated • Mirror the resource Courtesy of www.baltimorecountymd.gov
Sustainable Financing Significance for Land Trusts • Unique responsibility • Organizational capacity • Implementation capacity
Components of a Financing Strategy Revenue Generators • Grants, loans, technical assistance programs • Sustainable, dedicated revenue streams Cost Reducers • Effective, enforced regulations • Market-based programs • Coordination with other community programs and priorities
Components of a Financing Strategy • Organizational Capacity • Cost Reducers • Strategic planning • Board development • Volunteer efforts • Revenue Generators • Fundraising • Endowment
Components of a Financing Strategy • Implementation Capacity • Cost Reducers • Regulations • Regulatory and voluntary markets • Coordination with community priorities • Revenue Generators • State, federal, private funds • Taxes, fees, surcharges
Components of a Financing Strategy Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust • Easement Language • USDA and EPA grants • Highway mitigation dollars • Donor campaigns • Voluntary programs • Partnership Courtesy of Nancy Ailes
Financing Strategy Examples Portland Trails • Donations, appeals, membership • Activity fees • Strategic partnerships • Corporate sponsorships • Contracted services • Grants
Financing Strategy Examples Tecumseh Land Trust • Easement language • Landowner donations support monitoring and stewardship funds • Clean Ohio Ag Easement Purchase Program From Clean Ohio • Fee-for-service consulting program in development • Voluntary donation program in place with local businesses
Financing Strategy Examples Greenbelt Land Trust • Donations and memberships • Stewardship endowment • Partnerships • Traditional Easements and land donations • Bargain Sale of Land • Tradeland Program
Financing Strategy Examples Franklin Land Trust • Traditional sources of operational income • Consulting fees • Partnerships • Creative financing for land acquisition • Loomis Farm example From FLT Vision 20/20
Land Trust Resources • Land TrustAlliance • www.landtrustalliance.org/resources • Trust for Public Land’s LandVote • www.landvote.org • River Network • www.rivernetwork.org/rn/fundraisingguide • Burlington Associates • www.burlingtonassociates.org/resources • Conservation Fund • www.greeninfrastructure.net • Environmental Finance Center • www.efc.umd.edu/links.html & /publications.html
Successful Financing Strategies Summary • Community based – incorporating all stakeholders • Diverse – integrating multiple sources, mechanisms and institutions • Mirror the resources – considering multiple landowners, land uses, and land types
For Further Information Jennifer CottingEnvironmental Finance CenterUniversity of MarylandNational Center for Smart Growth1104 Preinkert Field HouseCollege Park, MDjcotting@umd.edu301-754-0058