Overarching Themes for Proposals
The issues and opportunities land trusts are faced with are often complex and require a more comprehensive approach. As we look to the future and consider the long-term resilience and relevance of our land (and water) conservation efforts, what lessons can we share that will help us increase our impact?
For 2020, the host committee in Portland is thinking about two cross-cutting themes. These themes can stand alone but in many instances they are related. As land trusts, how might we think about how to plan, engage, adapt, mitigate and respond to address these themes?
Inclusion: A culture that fosters diversity, equity, support and respect within every facet of organizational services.
Climate Change: Multi-faceted implications of and strategies for a changing climate that range, for example, from science-based conservation planning to hazard mitigation to recovery from natural disasters to plain English communication strategies.
Areas of Focus:
The descriptions are for guidance only and are not meant to limit great ideas or suggestions for workshops. Please consider the primary audience and content to determine the most appropriate area of focus.
Building Support through Fundraising and Membership: Building sustainable organizations through diversified fundraising strategies; developing an effective case for support; managing membership, annual giving, major donor programs; grant seeking and writing; capital campaigns; relationship science and philanthropy. Advanced topics encouraged.
Community Conservation: Using your mission of land conservation to engage and support non-traditional stakeholders to create solutions for community issues. This can include education, public health, clean water, local food, veterans or other community needs. Ideal proposals will include strategic and authentic community engagement. Preference will be given to proposals that feature community partners as presenters. Rural, suburban and/or urban examples are encouraged.
Communicating Effectively: Improving your identity/brand to build broader and deeper support; using your website, newsletters and other communications tools effectively; incorporating social networking strategies; communications planning.
Doing Deals and Ensuring Permanence: Transaction due diligence; drafting conservation easements; baseline documentation; appraisals; legal and tax issues; stewardship; landowner relationships; monitoring and recordkeeping; dealing with condemnation, amendments, trespass and violations.
Financing for Conservation: Where and how to get money for deals including innovative fundraising; effectively borrowing money; leveraging public and philanthropic money with other sources such as private investment capital; engaging wealth managers.
Managing Land and Water Resources: Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems; land and water management; water rights; climate adaptation and mitigation; restoration; conservation of working landscapes including farms and ranches; partnering with young farmers; forest management; managing for public access and educational opportunities.
Organizational Impact: Effective governance, decision-making and risk management; addressing conflict of interests; organizational development; board recruitment and orientation; staff management; financial management; strategic planning; transition and succession planning.
Public Policy: New and emerging policy issues facing land conservation; Strategies to advance policy priorities at the federal, state and local level; Building relationships with public officials; Mobilizing your board and supporters; Advocacy communications.
Strategic Conservation Vision: Long-term conservation planning and acquisition priorities; watershed and coastal planning; using partnerships effectively; landscape-scale conservation; land use planning and addressing community development needs; planning for climate change impacts such as sea level rise, species loss and habitat changes.
Technology Tools: New and emerging technologies that provide new ways to manage, program and advocate for land conservation; IT Security; using GIS effectively; using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones); developing a mobile App; selecting a database management system to meet your needs; website and database security.