Accreditation

In February 2014, the Ice Age Trail Alliance was awarded accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

What is accreditation?The accreditation seal of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

As stated on the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website, “Accreditation provides public recognition of land trusts that are engaged in the long-term protection of the land in the public interest. It increases public awareness of, and confidence in, land trusts and land conservation.”

Why is accreditation important?

Accreditation ensures that the work we do to permanently protect the Ice Age Trail will truly last forever. It shows that we are conducting proper land transactions and that we have the resources in place to maintain and protect our properties.

“Accredited organizations have improved systems for ensuring that their conservation work is permanent.”
-Tammara Van Ryn, Executive Director, Land Trust Accreditation Commission

This assurance extends to other areas of our organization as well. The review process examined the policies, procedures and decision-making processes of our Board of Directors, strengthening the Alliance as a whole.

Accreditation also provides a valuable third-party validation that our organizational operations are sound. It’s easy to assume or trust that our best efforts are as responsible as possible, both ethically and fiscally. Having the Land Trust Accreditation Commission of the Land Trust Alliance, a trusted entity in land conservation, affirm that truth and offer suggestions for improvement is a worthwhile investment. This gives our organization a new level of credibility with landowners and potential funders as well.

The Accreditation Process

Becoming an accredited organization was a multi-year investment of time and resources. We submitted extensive documentation, underwent a rigorous review, and made improvements to our organization’s operations based on the recommendations or requirements of the Commission.

If you have any questions about accreditation, please contact Senior Director of Land Conservation Kevin Thusius at kevin@iceagetrail.org or (800) 227-0046.