All documents are Adobe PDF documents unless otherwise noted.

Application Materials

• Applicant Handbook Revised January 2010
• Pre-Application Information
• Working with Adobe PDF Forms (MS Word)
• Application for Land Trust Accreditation (PDF form) Revised January 2010
• Master Attachment Checklist (PDF form) Revised January 2010
• Project Documentation Checklist (PDF form) Revised January 2010
• Accreditation Registration System (PDF)
• Accreditation Fees (MS Word)
• Application Addenda for Organizations with Multiple Corporations (also see related fact sheet) NEW!
  • Basic Level
  • Intermediate Level
  • Complete Level

NEW (10/10): To help better prepare applicants for the process, the Commission released three new sample documents you might expect to receive during the accreditation process. The first is a sample agenda for the applicant’s call with the Commission review team; the second is a sample follow-up letter requesting additional information (this letter is typically sent within a few weeks after the call); and the third is a sample award letter to a newly accredited land trust, including expectations for improvement. These documents are not intended to reflect the length of actual call agendas, follow-up letters or award letters, but are intended to show questions, requests and expectations that have appeared in actual documents. View the sample documents (PDF):

• Sample Agenda for Applicant Call with Commission Review Team
• Sample Follow-up Letter
• Sample Accreditation Award Letter

Guidance Documents

• Required Policies for Accreditation: Related to Indicator Practices 4A, 9G, 11E, 11I, and 3F*
• 6D. Financial Review or Audit
• Independent Appraisals - Pursuant to Indicator Practice 9J. Purchasing Land*
• 9G. Recordkeeping**
• 10B. Appraisals*
• 11A. Funding Easement Stewardship and 12A. Funding Land Stewardship**
• 11B. Baseline Documentation Report**
• 11C. Easement Monitoring**
• 12C. Land Management

*Updated in March 2010 to reflect the changes to the accreditation indicator practices.

**Revised March 2010.

Fact Sheets

• About the Commission
• Accredited Land Trusts
• Accreditation Registration System
• Frequently Asked Questions about Accreditation and Accepting Fee Land or Conservation Easement Projects from Another Land Trust and the Corporate Combination of Land Trusts
• Getting Started: Beginning your land trust's journey to accreditation
• Multiple Corporations and Accreditation NEW!
• Renewal of Accreditation NEW!
• The Accreditation Seal: HTML | PDF
• Top 5 Tips for Preparing Your Application
• Withdrawal of an Application for Accreditation NEW!

Other Publications

• Land Trust Accreditation: A Primer for Land Trusts: Download a PowerPoint presentation (3MB) and companion script to walk your staff and/or board members through the accreditation process.
• Accredited Land Trust Postcard, Rally 2009
  • Information on photo credits
• Land Trust Accreditation: Excellence, Trust, Permanence, September 2008
• Accredited Land Trust Postcard, Rally 2008
• The Land Trust Accreditation Program, October 2007