Conservancy Clearinghouse

The Conservancy Clearinghouse is a place to find helpful documents, articles, models, sample policies, rulings, and other materials to help conservancies working in Michigan. It is meant to supplement the Land Trust Alliance’s Learning Center with Michigan-based information, including practices from conservancies across the state. It is also just a sampling of the larger Clearinghouse at Heart of the Lakes--contact us if you don't see what you're looking for or to suggest Clearinghouse additions.

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Note:Policies and practices posted here are examples only. Inclusion in this Clearinghouse does not imply that these documents meet all the requirements of Land Trust Standards and Practices or the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Conservancies are strongly advised to refer to those sources when developing their own policies and practices.

Land Protection

Conservation Easement

• Attorney General Opinion No. 7233 (June 16 2009): Whether the post-mortem creation of a conservation easement exempts property burdened by the easement from uncapping for real property tax purposes otherwise occasioned by the death of the owner
• Conservation Easement Enabling Legislation (Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, PA 451 of 1994, Subpart 11)
• Indian Garden Group v. Resort Township, Opinion and Judgment, Michigan Tax Tribunal (February 1998). Precedent setting decision from the Michigan Tax Tribunal regarding conservation easement lands and lowered property taxes
• Public Act 446 of 2006. Elimination of "pop-up" tax on lands with qualified conservation easements--press release and fact sheet
• State Tax Commission (March 26, 2006): Guidance letter to assessors, equalization directors on proper assessment practice for lands under conservation easement.
• Michigan Model Conservation Easement (2010 Update)
• Michigan Model Conservation Easement (2015 Update)

Value of Conservancies/Land Protection

• Economic Benefits of Land Conservation (The Trust for Public Land, 2007)
• Protecting the Source: Land Conservation and the Future of America's Drinking Water (The Trust for Public Land and the American Water Works Association, 2001)
• 2009 Protected Acres (by Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Members)
• 2010 Protected Acres (by Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Members)
• 2014 Protected Lands (by Heart of the Lakes Members)
• The Role of Land Conservancies in Great Lakes Restoration (G.T. Mehan, 2009)
• Comprehensive Study on Economic Valuation, Economic Impact Assessment, and State Conservation Funding of Green Infrastructure Assets in Michigan (Land Policy Institute, 2008)

Farmland Protection

• Owen and Ellen Love Family Farmland Protection Fund, a revolving loan fund established by the American Farmland Trust: Background, Press Release, and Application
• Conserving Habitat Through the Federal Farm Bill: A Guide for Land Trusts and Landowners

Fee Lands

• General Property Tax Act (excerpt PA 206 of 1983), Sec. 211.7o. Nonprofit charitable institutition; exemption; definitions. Provides property tax exemption.

Land Protection Practices

• Conservation Planning Data Sheet (Land Trust Standards and Practices 2004)
• Determining Public Benefit Template (Land Trust Standards and Practices 2004)

Land Use Resources

• Wind Turbine Interactions with Birds, Bats, and their Habitats: A Summary of Research Results and Priority Questions Released by NWCC, a fact sheet outlining what is known about bird and bat interactions with land-based wind power in North America

IRS/Legal/Lobbying 

IRS Cases/990

• Glass v. Commissioner, 471 F.3d 698 (6th Cir., 20060, affirming 124 T.C. No. 16 (U.S.T.C., 2005)
• New Form 990 at a Glance (K&L/Gates, June 2008)
• Courts to IRS: Ease Up on Conservation Easement Valuations, McClure, Hollingworth, and Brown (Tax Notes, 8/10/09)

Legal

• Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities (Internal Revenue Service)
• Staying Legal for Michigan Nonprofits

Lobbying

• Lobbying Do's and Don'ts for Land Trusts (W. Abberger, E. Cook, Trust for Public Land, 2008)
• Policy on Lobbying and Political Activity (N. Lee, General Counsel, The Trust for Public Land, 2002)

Models of Collaboration

• Continuum of Collaboration (graphic from Land Trust Alliance)
• Models of Collaboration Among Land Trusts (S. Bates, 2005)
• Climate Change in the Great Lakes: Advancing the Regional Discussion (2010)
• Creating an Environment for Success: Mergers and Other Partnership Structures for Environmental Nonprofits (2010)

Organizational Development

Board of Directors/Governance

• Building an Effective Board of Directors (M. Smiley, 2003)
• Fidicuiary Responsibilities and Conflicts of Interest(Minnesota Land Trust, 2009)
• Dealing with Conflicts of Interest (Land Trust Standards and Practices, 2004)
• Principles & Practices Guide for Nonprofit Excellence in Michigan (Michigan Nonprofit Association, 2008)
• The Principles Workbook: Steering Your Board Toward Good Governance and Ethical Practice (Independent Sector/ BoarSource, 2009)
• Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Nonprofits and Philanthropic Organizations(Independent Sector/Land Trust Alliance, 2004)
• Transactions with Insiders (Land Trust Standards and Practices, 2004)
• Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice A Guide for Charities and Foundations (Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, convened by Independent Sector, 2007)
• Ten Basic Board Responsibilities (Various Sources)

Fundraising

• Countdown to Fundraising: 20 Steps to Fundraising Success (M.J. Montgomery, 2005)
• Fundraising in the New Economic Reality (D. Fletcher, 2009)
• How to Create a Fundraising Plan (M. Smiley, 2005)
• 20 Ways to be Donor-Cenric (Jeff Brooks, 2011)

Staff

• Heart of the Lakes Benefits Survey Results (2008)
• Salaries and Benefits for Land Trusts' Staffs Rise, Keep Pace with Inflation: Land Trust Salaries and Benefits Survey Summary, Fifth Edition (Land Trust Alliance 2007)
• Compensation and Benefits Survey (2010)