The Land Trust Accreditation Commission has awarded Tall Timbers a third renewal of accreditation for an extended seven-year term (2025-2032). This third renewal is a milestone for the organization, signifying 15 years of accredited status. Earning and maintaining accreditation means that Tall Timbers continues to adhere to Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices, and that it operates at a high level of excellence within the land trust community with core values of sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.
Each renewal process is a thorough review of Tall Timbers’ performance during the current accreditation term. The Commission evaluates Tall Timbers’ compliance by requiring documentation from a sampling of indicator elements curated from four groups: Governance, Finance, Transactions, and Stewardship.
The year-long accreditation application process is a voluntary endeavor, and Tall Timbers began their most recent round with a registration for renewal in May 2024, followed by submission of a pre-application in July 2024.
The Tall Timbers accreditation renewal team, made up of Land Conservancy and Finance department staff, collaborated to submit the substantial main application in November 2024, with a final response in May this year to round out the application process.
A panel of Land Trust Accreditation Commissioners looking for demonstrated compliance with Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices took a deep dive into Tall Timbers’ operations. Within the application, the Commission requested detailed examples of documentation including conservation easement transactions and particular accounts of stewardship, as well as a selection of Board governance items, record-keeping data, and details of financial audits and reporting.
After a significant waiting period during review of the application, a personal phone call from one of the Commissioners came through at the end of July this year, congratulating Tall Timbers on an award of renewed accreditation and a job well done.
The accreditation process is an opportunity for reflection, growth, and improvement within the Land Conservancy and across the organization, and earning the Land Trust Accreditation seal is a coveted mark of distinction.
According to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, there are currently 478 accredited land trusts within the U.S. states and territories, and accredited land trusts protect 84% of land and easements held by all land trusts.
Taking a place among these accredited land trusts strengthens the land trust community, and Tall Timbers is proud to display the Land Trust Accreditation Commission seal for an extended term of renewed accreditation through 2032.
