A year of milestones
Your continued support of Alliance programs over the years ensures conservation can stand the test of time.
For every dollar raised from individual supporters for our annual fund, we leveraged an additional $5.80 toward empowering land trusts to save more land in their communities and across the country.
It’s an incredible return on your investment in land conservation that lasts forever.
Alliance grant programs
In 2023, the Alliance awarded $5.5 million in grants to 241 land trusts spanning multiple conservation priorities. Together, we’re strengthening communities across the country.
Since 2010, Alliance grant programs have empowered the land trust community with $27.6 million to support conservation work, leadership, training and resources.
“We received an Alliance Land and Climate grant, making it possible to create a strategic conservation plan to help identify critical areas, habitats and conservation values that urgently need protection. We’re still inspired by that plan and what we can do. We are still implementing that plan years later.”
Advancing Conservation Excellence
A $10 million, 10-year project in Oregon with the Yarg Foundation and partners demonstrated that strategically investing in land trust capacity and effectiveness can have a multiplier effect — conserving three times more land so far, uniting land trusts and fostering the next generation of leaders.
“The leadership training creates a vibe of support and help among my cohort. I think it’s something that is professionally unique, and I’m grateful. The Alliance has created the expectation that this is how we all do better work together.”
Field services provide national assistance at the local level.
When land trusts are empowered, conservation is stronger.
The Land Trust Alliance field staff are located strategically across the country to provide region-specific support and training. Regardless of where they work, they play the role of coach and capacity-builder, developing networks, empowering change and growing conservation impact in every corner of the country.
“Real change is made by people, not projects. A community of conservation leaders, united by a shared vision and supported with the right resources, will go much further together than any single organization alone.”
Creating a Culture of Shared Knowledge
Tom Kay, Executive Director, Alachua Land Trust, Florida“When I was first getting going, hearing stories of organizational growth and innovation from more experienced executive directors and Alliance staff motivated and inspired me and gave me goals to aim for. Today, I still get those same benefits from my peers through the Southeast Conference, Rally, Leadership Council, the state association meetings and our Southeast executive director peer-group calls. It is good to help play a small part in the cycle of knowledge and growth for the sake of conservation.”
Investing in People Pays Off
Jessica McDonald, Executive Director, Greenbelt Land Trust, Oregon“We know what $10 million did. What will $100 million do? We want to replicate this. We want to see this in every state in the U.S. More than ever, the urgency is palpable. And more than ever, we need bigger and longer investments made in service of conservation.”
Land Trusts Are Stronger Together
Karen Barger, Board Member, Canton Land Conservation Trust, Connecticut“Being able to connect with neighboring land trusts, share our experiences and support one another wouldn’t have happened without the Land Trust Alliance. I have confidence now [that] my land trust can plan for the future, and our conservation work will be better for it.”
On-demand Learning
In 2023, we offered 40+ webinars on topics ranging from board governance and stewardship to water issues. Conservationists can always access thousands of resources on our Resource Center, including 70 ‘Practical Pointers,’ technical guidance documents that cover land conservation law, easements, tax law and stewardship practices.
We released the Farm Bill Advocacy Toolkit to assist land trusts in successfully advocating for passage of the next Farm Bill, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework and Resources for Change toolkit to help land trusts grow critical diversity, equity and inclusion competencies.
Rally 2023
Biggest and best EVER! Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference, held last year in Portland, Oregon, broke records with more than 2,220 attendees from all 50 states and four countries, including Australia, Chile, Canada and Spain.
Rally provided more than 50 hours of peer networking, 113 workshops and 15 seminars for 363 land trusts along with 389 other nonprofits, agencies, corporations and partners attended. We thank you for making Rally the best, ever!
Safeguarding Conservation
Every year there are unanticipated challenges and potential precedent-setting legal cases. We are actively monitoring 450 court cases, providing updates to the land trust community and issuing guidance.
In 2023, we spent over 1,400 hours speaking one-on-one with land trust staff and board members. We also released the Defending Voluntary Private Land Conservation toolkit, all to help land trusts fulfill their missions and stay on solid legal and financial ground.
Thank you for saving the places people need and love.
We are especially grateful for the Guardians of the Land — our $1,000+ leadership giving society. Your generous support truly made these accomplishments possible!
If you are not already a Guardian but would like to learn more about becoming one, please call Zoë Abrahm at (202) 800-2220 or email ZAbrahm@lta.org.