Land Donation, Land Trust, & Conservation Easements - Land Trust

Benefits of Land Donation and Conservation Easements Land Donation

A gift of cash, services, or goods for the purpose of benefitting a cause is a donation. The characteristic of a donation is that it is made without taking any consideration in return. Donation can also be for extending medical care like donation of one's organs, or for humanitarian purposes like relief during emergency or calamities. Donations can be made by physical persons or by legal entities.

Generally, donations are made for charitable purposes. Charitable donation entitles you to tax benefits. Some people are also interested in donation of land to a land trust. Land donations are done for various purposes like ensuring that there is long term conservation of a natural resource on that land, and also to reduce or eliminate tax burden. Land donation can be outright donation or donation by will.

Another method of land conservancy is donating a conservation easement or open space. By donating an easement, you can limit another person's future right to develop the land and you still continue to be the owner. The open space or easement is donated to an organization that monitors it and makes sure there is compliance with the terms agreed to. This kind of donation also entitles you to tax benefits.

Sometimes, the government might have to acquire your entire property or a portion of it for developmental purposes like construction of a highway. The government is bound to give you just compensation in return. However, you also have the option of donating a right of way on your property. This will help utilize public funds (funds that the government was supposed to pay you for the right of way) for other purposes like construction of a public utility building. People prefer to donate a right of way when an upcoming project next to the property (like a highway construction) will considerably increase the value of the remaining property.

If you are an animal lover, you can think of joining a wildlife preservation campaign by making a one time donation or joining a monthly donation program.