Current Standards

Standard 1: Mission
The land trust has a clear mission that serves a public interest, and all programs support that mission.
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Standard 2: Compliance with Laws
The land trust fulfills its legal requirements as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization and complies with all laws.
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Standard 3: Board Accountability
The land trust board acts ethically in conducting the affairs of the organization and carries out the board's legal and financial responsibilities as required by law.
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Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest
The land trust has policies and procedures to avoid or manage real or perceived conflicts of interest.
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Standard 5: Fundraising
The land trust conducts fundraising activities in an ethical and responsible manner.
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Standard 6: Financial and Asset Management
The land trust manages its finances and assets in a responsible and accountable way.
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Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants
The land trust has volunteers, staff and/or consultants with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its programs.
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Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects
The land trust carefully evaluates and selects its conservation projects.
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Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions
The land trust works diligently to see that every land and easement transaction is legally, ethically and technically sound.
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Standard 10: Tax Benefits
The land trust works diligently to see that every charitable gift of land or easements meets federal and state tax law requirements.
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Standard 11: Conservation Easement Stewardship
The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for its easements.
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Standard 12: Fee Land Stewardship
The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for the land it holds in fee for conservation purposes.
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