Dear Friends,
As the St. Simons Land Trust has renewed its commitment to a mission of land conservation in its 20th Anniversary Year, the organization has learned that its accreditation with the national Land Trust Alliance has also been renewed.
To receive re-accreditation, the Land Trust went through a multi-phased comprehensive third-party evaluation, providing thorough and extensive documentation over a nearly two-year period. The
accreditation was awarded by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent arm of the Alliance that was created in 2006 to recognize the work of strong land trusts and to foster public engagement in long-term land protection.
“It is exciting to recognize the St. Simons Land Trust’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission.
“Donors and partners can trust [that] the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance,
and lasting stewardship.”
In response to receiving this important designation, SSLT Board Chair Susan Shipman said, “The St. Simons Land Trust is extremely pleased to be re-accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for another five-year cycle. Accreditation conveys that we meet national standards of excellence in our operations and in land conservation. We were first accredited in 2015, and this latest accreditation cycle was even more arduous due to the growth of our conservation portfolio.”
“Applying for re-accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance is an onerous process that requires countless hours of staff and volunteer time,” says St. Simons Land Trust Executive Director Emily Ellison. “Receiving this distinction in any year would be meaningful, but it’s especially gratifying in a challenging year such as this one.
"Going through such a rigorous accreditation renewal made us carefully evaluate goals, resources, and lasting community impact. It makes us a stronger-than-ever organization,
one that is committed to protecting this extraordinarily beautiful barrier island and making certain that its
rare historic and environmental features remain protected
for future generations.”
Many people provided input and expertise during the accreditation process, and we’re grateful to them all. But special acknowledgments are due to our Board Chair Susan Shipman, who provided invaluable knowledge on everything from land management plans to conservation easements, and to Sue Tuttle, the Land Trust’s Finance and Stewardship Director, who worked tirelessly month upon month in spearheading the information-gathering process and seeing us to the finish line.
"Being an accredited land trust means holding ourselves and the organization to highest standards," said Sue Tuttle.
"The processes in place help to ensure we adhere to
the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices
in our conservation efforts on St. Simons Island.”
Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres across the nation. According to the Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census, the St. Simons Land Trust is one of 1,363 land trusts in the United States, of which less than one third have received accreditation from the Alliance.
