First-Time Accreditation 101: What and How

October 28, 2017

• Valerie Roof, Land Trust Accreditation Commission

• Deborah Nett, Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust

Introductions & Background

Land Trust Accreditation Commission

• Independent program of the Land Trust Alliance• 19 diverse volunteer commissioners• 7 staff

Land Trust Accreditation

• Sample of Land Trust Standards and Practices • Independent verification of indicator practices • Voluntary program• Five-year term

Accredited Land Trusts

• 388 accredited organizations

• 60 or so in process• Accredited land trusts hold more than 78% of conservation land held by land trusts

Getting Ready

Applicant Submits

Application& Fee

Applicant Submits Pre-Application

Applicant Receives Project Selection and Fee

Applicant Registers through Lottery

Registration

Applicant Receives

Commission Decision

Applicant Has Call

with Review Team

Applicant Submits

Follow-up Information

Timeline for First-Time Accreditation

Commission reviews the application materials

Commission reviews additional

documentation and makes final decision

Early Summer - Year Preceding Application ~1.5 mos.

prior to app due

~1-4 mos. after app due; call agenda sent

one week prior

~3 mos. prior to app due

On or before app due date

~Due 3 mos. after follow-up letter received

Total time to decision: 10 months after application is submitted

~10 mos. after application submitted

Timing depends on position on review

schedule

Timing depends on when Commission

meets next

Applicant Receives

Follow-up Letter

~2-4 weeks after call with review team

Pre-Application

• Questionnaire• Attachments

– Land Conservation Project Lists

– Statement of Dedicated and Restricted Funds

– Other

Applicant Submits

Application& Fee

Applicant Submits Pre-Application

Applicant Receives Project Selection and Fee

Applicant Registers through Lottery

Registration

Applicant Receives

Commission Decision

Applicant Has Call

with Review Team

Applicant Submits

Follow-up Information

Timeline for First-Time Accreditation

Commission reviews the application materials

Commission reviews additional

documentation and makes final decision

Early Summer - Year Preceding Application ~1.5 mos.

prior to app due

~1-4 mos. after app due; call agenda sent

one week prior

~3 mos. prior to app due

On or before app due date

~Due 3 mos. after follow-up letter received

Total time to decision: 10 months after application is submitted

~10 mos. after application submitted

Timing depends on position on review

schedule

Timing depends on when Commission

meets next

Applicant Receives

Follow-up Letter

~2-4 weeks after call with review team

Application Package

• Application questionnaire• Attachments

– Statements– Practice documentation– Project documentation– Public notice

Applicant Submits

Application& Fee

Applicant Submits Pre-Application

Applicant Receives Project Selection and Fee

Applicant Registers through Lottery

Registration

Applicant Receives

Commission Decision

Applicant Has Call

with Review Team

Applicant Submits

Follow-up Information

Timeline for First-Time Accreditation

Commission reviews the application materials

Commission reviews additional

documentation and makes final decision

Early Summer - Year Preceding Application ~1.5 mos.

prior to app due

~1-4 mos. after app due; call agenda sent

one week prior

~3 mos. prior to app due

On or before app due date

~Due 3 mos. after follow-up letter received

Total time to decision: 10 months after application is submitted

~10 mos. after application submitted

Timing depends on position on review

schedule

Timing depends on when Commission

meets next

Applicant Receives

Follow-up Letter

~2-4 weeks after call with review team

Application Review

• Review team (staff and commissioners) evaluates compliance with indicator practices by considering:

– Application– Supporting documents– Project documentation– Public comments– Research

Applicant Conference Call• Detailed agenda one-two weeks in advance• Additional information• Clarification• Lasts about 2 hours

Applicant Submits

Application& Fee

Applicant Submits Pre-Application

Applicant Receives Project Selection and Fee

Applicant Registers through Lottery

Registration

Applicant Receives

Commission Decision

Applicant Has Call

with Review Team

Applicant Submits

Follow-up Information

Timeline for First-Time Accreditation

Commission reviews the application materials

Commission reviews additional

documentation and makes final decision

Early Summer - Year Preceding Application ~1.5 mos.

prior to app due

~1-4 mos. after app due; call agenda sent

one week prior

~3 mos. prior to app due

On or before app due date

~Due 3 mos. after follow-up letter received

Total time to decision: 10 months after application is submitted

~10 mos. after application submitted

Timing depends on position on review

schedule

Timing depends on when Commission

meets next

Applicant Receives

Follow-up Letter

~2-4 weeks after call with review team

Additional Information Request

• Follow-up letter with document requests or corrective action

They Want Us to Do What?

“Oh, That’ll be Fun!”

Applicant Submits

Application& Fee

Applicant Submits Pre-Application

Applicant Receives Project Selection and Fee

Applicant Registers through Lottery

Registration

Applicant Receives

Commission Decision

Applicant Has Call

with Review Team

Applicant Submits

Follow-up Information

Timeline for First-Time Accreditation

Commission reviews the application materials

Commission reviews additional

documentation and makes final decision

Early Summer - Year Preceding Application ~1.5 mos.

prior to app due

~1-4 mos. after app due; call agenda sent

one week prior

~3 mos. prior to app due

On or before app due date

~Due 3 mos. after follow-up letter received

Total time to decision: 10 months after application is submitted

~10 mos. after application submitted

Timing depends on position on review

schedule

Timing depends on when Commission

meets next

Applicant Receives

Follow-up Letter

~2-4 weeks after call with review team

Decision by Full Commission• Accredit

– Awarded for 5-year term– Expectations for

Improvement– Commendations

• Table• Not Accredit

Questions on the Application Process?

23

Benefits & Lessons Learned

Accreditation Tools

• Applicant Handbook• Requirements Manual

Other Tools

Alliance• The Learning Center• Standards and Practices

Curriculum• Commended Documents• Training, conferences,

online learning and webinars

• Staff

Commission• Factsheets/Policies• Application Materials• Webinars• Tutorials• Sample Statements• Commended

Documents• Template Policies and

Accreditation Tips• Staff

Current Status

2018 draft Requirements Manual available for download www.landtrustaccreditation.org/2018rm

2018 transition applications available for download• First-time: still a paper-based

process with a “light touch” on new 2018 requirements

• Renewal: still online, with a “light touch” on new 2018 requirements

Final Questions and Thank you!