The Land Trust Alliance is a left-of-center environmental advocacy organization that represents land trusts — areas protected from development by conservation easements — and advocates policies to increase land conservation. The group supports expansions to federal conservation programs, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund and periodic Farm Bill provisions for agricultural easements. It aligns with environmentalist priorities such as climate change mitigation through land protection and has emphasized equity in conservation efforts. The organization has received support from foundations and administered state-funded grant programs. ^{1 2 3}

Background

The Land Trust Alliance was formed in 1982 as the Land Trust Exchange to coordinate activity and share tax information regarding local land trusts. The group changed its name to the Land Trust Alliance in 1987 and relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1990 to expand its national advocacy activity. It developed accreditation standards in the 2000s to certify land trusts meeting operational criteria, aiming to bolster trust in conservation easements. By the 2020s, the organization represented over 900 land trusts and focused on training, policy advocacy, and grant distribution. ^{4 3}

Activities

The Land Trust Alliance has operated programs, including accreditation for land trusts and training initiatives like leadership labs and executive peer groups. It has hosted Advocacy Days to lobby federal lawmakers on conservation issues and has organized Rally, an annual conference for land trust professionals. The group also provides resources on climate planning, remote monitoring technologies, and fundraising. It has partnered with organizations such as the Open Space Institute to award grants for climate resilience, and has collaborated with state agencies on conservation initiatives. ^{5 6 7 8}

Funding

The Land Trust Alliance has received significant government funding, with $6.2 million of its over $19 million in total 2024 revenue coming from government sources. Federal agencies that have awarded funds to the group include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. ^{9 10}

Grantmaking

The Land Trust Alliance distributed over $40 million in grants to land trusts over four decades. ¹¹ It awarded $243,000 in 2025 through the Land and Climate Grant Program to support climate planning at organizations, like the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. ⁸ The Remote Monitoring Grant Program has provided $435,890 in grants since 2021 to 42 land trusts for technology implementation. ⁷ In partnership with Keep It Colorado, the group granted $206,000 in 2025 for community-centered projects. ¹² The alliance also administered New York’s Conservation Partnership Program, awarding $3.075 million in 2025 to 46 land trusts. ¹³

1. “Land and Water Conservation Fund.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/learn/explore/land-and-water-conservation-fund.
2. “What We Do.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/what-we-do.
3. “Our history.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/about/our-history.
4. “About land trusts.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/why-land-matters/land-conservation/about-land-trusts.
5. “Land Trust Leadership Lab.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/learn/explore/land-trust-leadership-lab-professional-development-for-directors-and-managers.
6. “Advocacy Days.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/advocate/take-action/advocacy-days.
7. “Remote Monitoring Grant Program Awardees.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/learn/topics/stewardship/programs/remote-monitoring-grant-program-awardees.
8. “Open Space Institute and Land Trust Alliance Award $243000 to Accelerate Local …” Open Space Institute. December 11, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/news/land-trust-alliance-and-open-space-institute-award-243-000-to-accelerate-local-climate-planning.
9. “Land Trust Alliance.” USASpending. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=4839bc75ee22434984af9e9963ea7cc7
10. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42751357/202533189349307743/full
11. “Supporting land trusts.” Land Trust Alliance. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/what-we-do/our-programs/supporting-land-trusts.
12. “Colorado conservation organizations awarded grants.” Land Trust Alliance. May 28, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://landtrustalliance.org/newsroom/press-releases/colorado-conservation-organizations-awarded-grants-to-advance-community-centered-conservation-and-organizational-development.
13. “Grant Partnerships With The Land Trust Alliance.” NYSDEC. Accessed March 12, 2026. https://dec.ny.gov/nature/open-space/grant-partnerships-land-trust-alliance.