Land Trust Accreditation: A Primer for Land Trusts

1. Land Trust Accreditation:A Primer for Land Trusts

2. Outline • Accreditation Background & Overview • The Commission • Requirements & Process Overview • Benefits & Results • Getting Ready • Resources to Help You Prepare • Next Steps

3. Welcome! • Thank you for taking the first step and having this important conversation.

4. What is Accreditation? • Independent verification process • Based on Land Trust Standards and Practices • Sample of 26 practices • Voluntary

5. What Accreditation Is Not • Mentoring or training program • Way to identify areas for improvement • Something to just jump into

6. History & Milestones • Talked about since 1989 • 2004-2005 – Land Trust Alliance-convened Steering Committee • 3 phases of public comment • April 2006 – Commission established

7. History & Milestones • 2 rounds of pilots in 2007 • Inaugural awards in September 2008 • Today – more than 100 accredited

8. Looking Ahead • Renewal of accreditation

9. Goals of the Program • Build and recognize strong land trusts • Foster public trust • Help ensure permanent land protection

10. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission • Independent program of the Land Trust Alliance • 15 diverse volunteer commissioners • 5 staff • Based in Saratoga Springs, NY

11. The Accreditation Process

12. Who is Eligible to Apply? • 501(c)(3) or quasi-governmental organization • Mission focused on land conservation • Incorporated at least 2 years • Completed at least 2 projects • Adopted Land Trust Standards and Practices • Self-assessment within last 3 years

13. Registration • First step in the accreditation application process • Complete online form • Pay nontransferable, nonrefundable fee of $750 • Check www.landtrustaccreditation.org for current list of available rounds, slots and application due dates

14. Pre-Application • Pre-application questionnaire • Attachments, including • Land Conservation Project Lists • Statement of Dedicated and Restricted Funds

15. Pre-Application Pre-Application Review The Commission will review each pre-application to determine: • Is the organization eligible? • Are the documents provided complete? • Does the organization document compliance with pre-application requirements?

16. Pre-Application Project Selection The Commission will also use the pre-application to select projects: • 2-6 projects selected • Project documentation checklist • Newer projects, current practice • Older projects, stewardship focus

17. Pre-Application Notification of Acceptance • Within 5 weeks of application due date • Electronic notification • Includes list of projects selected If requirements not met, pre-application may not be accepted. • Fees are non refundable, non transferable. • Applicant may reapply anytime when it can show compliance.

18. Application • Application Questionnaire • Attachments • Statements • Practice documentation • Project documentation • Public notice • Pay fee, based on land trust budget size

19. Now What?

20. Review Process • Confirm receipt • Initial review for completeness • Opportunity to submit documents inadvertently left out of application

21. Review Process Review team (staff and one or more commissioners) evaluates compliance with indicator practices by considering: • Pre-application and application responses • Attached documents • Project documentation • Public comments • Research • Site visit reports (if applicable) • Conversations with applicant representatives

22. Review Process Conference Call • Purpose: clarification, additional information • Agenda sent several days in advance • Involves land trust board members and staff • Lasts about 2 hours • Applicants can ask questions, too!

23. Review Process Site Visit • In lieu of conference call • Cross check on process • Review team visits for 1.5 – 2 days • Interviews with board and/or staff members • Reviews files • Visits protected lands

24. Review Process Additional Information Request • Follow-up letter with questions and/or document requests • Applicant given limited opportunity to provide additional information and take corrective action • Specific timefame for action

25. Review Process Report and Recommendation • Review team presents overview of application history for full Commission • Must find compliance with each indicator practice to recommend accreditation

26. Review Process • Compliance with all Indicator Practices • Evidence of how your organization implements each one • Review is of current practice • Recognizes variation between older and newer projects • Accreditation is not conditional on promises to implement practices in the future • Review is flexible - Recognizes land trust diversity - Appreciates range of approaches • Review is practical - Considers realities and fosters continuous improvement

27. Review Process Decision by Full Commission • Accredit • Expectations for improvement • Commendations • Five-year period • Table • Deny *Note that the Commission may require withdrawal at any time.

28. Review Process How Long Does it Take? Generally: • Application complete within 1 month of submission • Call within 3 months • Follow-up letter within a few weeks • Final decision in 6-8 months

29. Review Process How Much Does it Cost? • Accreditation fee based on budget • Other costs • time commitment • copying, supplies and shipping (and late-night pizza parties!) • Fee schedule online

30. Review Process Withdrawal Can be • Voluntary by the land trust • Required by the Commission • See p. 40 of Applicant Handbook and stand-alone fact sheet

31. Review Process What is Public? • Registered or current applicant • Accredited land trust • Denied accreditation (five years) • Application withdrawn (one year)

32. Is it Working? You Bet!

33. The Difference it Makes • Accredited land trusts: • Are more prepared to defend conservation land • Have better systems for making and documenting decisions • Have proven they meet national quality standards

34. The Difference it Makes • Accredited land trusts: • Are seeing increase in donor support • Greater land protection • More engaged board • Organizational and community pride • See Profiles in Excellence for more

35. Getting Ready Stage 3: Final Review Stage 2: Evaluate Readiness Stage 1: Assessment

36. Getting Ready Stage 1: Assessment • Complete assessment against full Land Trust Standards and Practices • Identify areas for improvement • Work on high priority areas (indicator practices and others) • Develop and adopt necessary policies and procedures

37. Getting Ready Stage 2: Evaluate Readiness • Read the application, Applicant Handbook and Guidance Documents • Read the requirements • Work through the Master Attachment Checklist • Do we have the documents? • Do they meet the practices? • Create an accreditation plan

38. Getting Ready Stage 3: Final Review • Assemble our accreditation team • Gather and review documents, policies and procedures • Edit final documents • Register to apply!

39. Resources to Help You Prepare Land Trust Accreditation Commission • Applicant Handbook • Guidance Documents • Fact sheets • Free webinars • Monthly eNewsletter • Accreditation staff: 518-587-3143 • Website has it all: www.landtrustaccreditation.org

40. Resources Guidance Documents • 6D. Financial Review or Audit • 9G. Recordkeeping • 9J. Independent Appraisals • 10B. Appraisals • 11A. and 12A. Stewardship Funding • 11B. Baseline Documentation • 11C. Easement Monitoring • 12C. Land Management • Required Policies for Accreditation

41. Resources Land Trust Alliance • Pathways to Accreditation • Standards and Practices Guidebook • Standards and Practices Curriculum Courses • Training, conferences, online learning and webinars • The Learning Center: http://learningcenter.lta.org • Joint Seminars

42. Next Steps • Assign an accreditation coordinator and a team • Create an accreditation workplan • Sign up for Pathways • Download and read all materials • Sign up for webinars for more in-depth on process • Call Alliance for training and Commission with accreditation questions

43. Questions? Contact the Commission: Call 518-587-3143, E-mail info@landtrustaccreditation.org, Or visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org Thank you for your interest in land trust accreditation!

44. This presentation was created December 2010.