1002 - Preservation Trust Fund - Easement Assistance - (PTF-EA)
Funding Opportunity Details

Preservation Trust Fund - Easement Assistance

Final Application Deadline:

Description

• Preservation Trust Fund- Easement Assistance Grants

   

  Overview

  Established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1997 and administered by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), the Open-Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund (PTF) provides grants for acquisitions, easements, rights of way, and other methods of protecting open space for farming, forestry, recreation, wildlife, water quality, and more.

   

  Current Opportunity

  A portion of the Preservation Trust Fund is dedicated to providing income-based cost-share assistance for landowners donating an easement to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. These grants are intended to offset landowner expenses associated with donating an easement. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the fiscal year with a rolling application process.

   

  Eligibility

  Any landowner conveying an easement to VOF with an average annual income of less than $200,000 over the course of two years may be eligible for PTF-Easement Assistance Funding. Contact VOF for an eligibility determination.

  
  Costs associated with the donation of an easement may be eligible for reimbursement. This may include an appraisal, survey*, mortgage review, title work, baseline documentation reports (BDRs) and well as legal and accounting fees. 

   

  Reimbursement Rates

  Landowners will be reimbursed on an income-based cost-share assistance rate, with per easement awards not to exceed the easement assistance limit listed below. VOF will determine eligibility based on submitted financial documentation. Exceptions may be granted for extenuating circumstances.

  Landowner Annual Income	Reimbursement Rate	Eligible Due Diligence	Easement Assistance Limit
  Up to $95,000	100%	All Due Diligence	$20,000
  $96,000 – $110,000	75%	All Due Diligence	$15,000
  $111,000 – $125,000	50%	All Due Diligence	$10,000
  $125,000-$200,000	Up to 50%	Survey Work*	$10,000
  Over $200,000	Not Eligible	N/A	Not Eligible

  *If determined by VOF staff to be necessary for the protection and stewardship of the conservation project

  Exceptions may be granted for extenuating circumstances.

  Application Process

  While working with VOF staff on developing a VOF easement, landowners or their representatives may submit an application for easement assistance through the VOF grant portal at https://vaoutdoors.webgrantscloud.com/index.do. Tax information and a landowner signature are required components of the application. Awards up to $20,000 are approved administratively on a rolling basis. Contact grants@vof.org with questions about the application process or project eligibility.

Resource Material

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