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An outright donation of land must be one the land
trust recipient is able to accept. A landowner should consult with
the land trust to be sure the land being donated fits the land trust's
interests and resources. Typically, a land trust will request a
financial contribution toward future management costs to be certain
it can fulfill its obligation to protect the land forever. This
stewardship fund is an important part of the land trust's commitment
to the values engendered by the gift.
Many people who donate land have an interest in
how the land trust does its job of protecting precious conservation
values. Landowners often put their wishes in writing with the understanding
that, while the land trust will do their best to comply, it must
retain the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances.
Land trusts sometimes accept donated land with
little or no conservation value. Some properties, like a woodlot,
are best kept in private ownership. A land trust may accept the
donation, place restrictions on it in the form of a conservation
easement and resell it, using the proceeds to support conservation
efforts. If property without any conservation values is donated,
the land trust can sell or trade the property to help fund its conservation
work. In both cases, donors benefit from all allowable deductions.
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