Information Resources
The documents are samples actually in use by land trusts around the state and country, and have been tailored to their own specific needs. These documents are not intended as legal, accounting, or other professional advice, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust cannot attest to the legal, financial, or tax consequences of their use. As each land trust's organizational and project goals are unique, Maine Coast Heritage Trust recommends that all land trusts engage experienced professionals to assist them in evaluating and understanding how to use the information provided here.
MCHT/MLTN Publications
The files below require either the free Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word.
- Healing & Repairing: Re-imagining Conservation From Where Ours Lives Intersect, by Peter Forbes (PDF, 2.4mb)
- 2015 Maine Land Trust Census (PDF, 3.9mb)
- Conservation Easements: An Introduction for Maine Landowners (PDF, 916kb)
- Conservation Options: A Guide for Maine Landowners (PDF)
- The Public Benefits of Conserved Lands (PDF, 872kb)
- Property Taxation of Conserved Lands (PDF, 2MB)
- Land Trust Property Tax Exemption (PDF, 1.15MB)
- Enhanced Federal Tax Incentive for Easement Donations (PDF, 914kb)
- Qualification of Easement Donation for IRS Tax Deduction (PDF, 875kb)
To receive printed copies of these please contact info@mcht.org.
Sample Documents
The files below require the free Adobe Reader.
Board Policies
Fundraising
- Capacity Fund Policy (PDF, 16kb)
- Development Committee (PDF, 8kb)
- Sample 1-Year Project Proposal Budget (Excel)
- Sample 2-Year Project Proposal Budget (Excel)
- Sample Capacity Building Proposal Budget (Excel)
- Sample Final Financial Report (Excel)
- Sample Land Acquisition Proposal Budget (Excel)
- Sample Organizational Operating Budget (Excel)
Land Protection
- MCHT Master Checklist
- Project Summary for Board, Conservation Easement Donation (Word, 37kb)
- Project Summary for Board, Conservation Easement Purchase (Word, 33kb)
- Project Summary for Board, Fee Donation (Word, 37kb)
- Project Summary for Board, Fee Purchase (Word, 37kb)
- Purchase Option Agreement, Conservation Easement (Word, 86kb)
- Purchase Option Agreement, Fee (Word, 57kb)
- Purchase and Sale Document (for Fee) (Word, 66kb)
- MCHT Guiding Principles and LP Criteria (Word, 63kb)
- Annotated Conservation Plan (Word, 66kb)
- Conservation Easement Template (Word, 180kb)
- Hazardous Waste Disclaimer (Word, 37kb)
- Hazardous Waste Environmental Due Diligence Procedures (Word, 33kb)
- Hazardous Waste Transaction Screen for Potential Environmental Concerns (PDF, 643kb)
- Closing Statement Example (Excel, 29kb)
- Thank You Letter with IRS Language (Word, 33kb)
- 8283 Attachment (template) (Word, 29kb)
- MLCAN Model Boilerplate CE
Stewardship
- MCHT Stewardship Policies and Practices (Word)
- Appendix A - MCHT CE Monitoring Procedures (Word)
- Appendix B - MCHT CE Monitoring Report (Word)
- Appendix C - MCHT 1st Yr Management Plan (Word)
- Appendix E - MCHT Process for Evaluating Carrying Capacity (Word)
- Appendix F - MCHT Preserve Budget Template (Word)
- Appendix G - MCHT CE Budget Template (Word)
Coalition Building
- Memo of Understanding (PDF, 60kb)
- Mergers & Other Partnership Structures for Environmental Nonprofits (PDF, 226 kb)
- Models of Collaboration Among Land Trusts (PDF, 3.18mb)
- Organizational Protocol (PDF, 24kb)
Articles of Interest
- Amici Brief for Superior Court by Karin Marchetti Ponte and Robert H. Levin
- Property Tax Procedural Choices by Robert H. Levin
- Access Issues for Land Trusts by Sarah A. McDaniel, Maine Land Law LLC, PA
- Conservation Easement Reform: As Maine Goes Should The Nation Follow? by Jeff Pidot
- In Support of Property Tax Exemption for Land Trust Preserves by Karin Marchetti Ponte
- Changes to Maine Tree Growth and Open Space Tax Laws by Robert H. Levin
Other Resources
Here are more online resources available to help you learn more about land conservation, land trusts, nonprofit management, and more.
- Land Trust Standards and Practices
- Land Trust Alliance
- Forever Farms
- Maine Association of NonProfits: MLTN member trusts receive a complimentary membership to MANP.
- Lift360
- Board Source: Building Effective Non-Profit Boards
- GrowSmart Maine
- Land Trust Accreditation Commission
- The Learning Center
- Beginning with Habitat Toolbox
- IRS Exempt Employers Toolkit
- Maine Philanthropy Center
- Conservation Tools from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
- Forest Works! - resources for woodland owners, towns, students, recreators & more