Donate Your Land
Help us preserve the beauty of Sonoma County by making a gift of real estate.
Help us protect extraordinary open spaces
When you give land to Sonoma Land Trust, you are creating a permanent legacy and helping ensure a healthy future for Sonoma County. Sonoma Land Trust can accept donations of land and conservation easements—gifts that protect our forests, rivers, marshes, mountaintops, and farms for future generations.
We also accept gifts of other real estate—such as homes or investment properties—that are intended to be sold by Sonoma Land Trust to support our land protection mission. With the donor’s permission to sell the property, the Land Trust can convert the value of that real estate into strategic purchases of more conservation land in Sonoma County.
Benefits of Land Donation
Donate your land to Sonoma Land Trust and play an invaluable role in furthering our conservation goals.
Permanent Land Protection
Financial & Tax Advantages
Customize to Meet
Your Goals
FAQ’s
A land trust is a nonprofit organization that is established under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to conserve land by acquiring ownership or conservation easements and permanently stewarding and managing these lands for ecological health, climate change resilience, habitat protection, agriculture, or other conservation values. Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) was formed in 1976 with a purpose of acquiring, holding, and transferring land in and around Sonoma County to retain open space for the benefit of Sonoma County communities, including land that furthers agricultural, historical, recreational, scenic and other environmental values.
If you own land with significant or unique resources, donating the property or a conservation easement can protect clean air and water, agriculture, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty for your community. Conservation donations can ease the demands of owning property, and realize long-term conservation goals for your family or business. A land or easement donation can also provide significant income, estate, and capital gains tax benefits if it meets the requirements of tax laws. The best donation option will depend on your personal circumstances and your land.
Sonoma Land Trust works with property owners to accept a variety of real estate donations. Depending on your conservation and charitable goals, you can donate residential, commercial, agricultural, or undeveloped properties. Protecting your property, large or small, can make a positive impact on the health and climate resilience of Sonoma County. Sonoma Land Trust staff are available to discuss options with you and will evaluate each donation offer. In special situations, and with a donors’ agreement, Sonoma Land Trust may sell non-conservation lands to generate funds for critical programs or projects.
The donation process starts with a conversation! If you are considering a property donation, please let us know by filling out our online form or contact our staff for an email or hard copy version. We will work with you to find the best conservation or charitable outcome for your property and create a gift agreement between you and SLT. We will also undertake a due diligence process to ensure there are no legal, title, or environmental concerns..
How to Donate Your Land
Gift of fee title
Making a gift of ownership of land (called “fee title”) may allow you to receive the maximum charitable income tax deduction and avoid capital gains taxes.
Remainder interest
Giving Sonoma Land Trust a remainder interest in your property may allow you to receive a tax deduction at the time of the gift and continue enjoying the property during your lifetime.
Charitable remainder trust
Establishing a charitable remainder trust with real estate may allow you to avoid capital gains taxes, obtain a tax deduction at the time of the gift and receive income for the rest of your life.
“Working with Sonoma Land Trust on a charitable donation allowed us to extend a legacy honoring six generations of family whose love of McCormick Ranch helped preserve a remarkable property in the Mayacamas Mountains.
We are moved that this land, owned by one family for 175 years, will be protected forever and its beauty can be shared and benefit everyone as a public park.
This donation was a win-win, allowing our family to meet inter-generational financial needs, while also placing it in the hands of the Sonoma Regional Parks, who will serve as the caretakers for future generations.”
Have questions about protecting your land with Sonoma Land Trust? Contact our lead John McCaull in the Land Acquisitions Department at landinquiries@sonomalandtrust.org