| MORGANTON, N.C. — On August 18, 2022, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina received its national accreditation renewal from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for the third consecutive term since the organization was first accredited in 2010. Thanks to this renewal, Foothills Conservancy remains in the network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, committed to the highest level of professional excellence and maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
“We are so proud to have earned national accreditation renewal status and we are honored to be included in this group of distinguished land trusts at the top of their practice,” said Andrew Kota, executive director of Foothills Conservancy of N.C. “This is a signal to the public, our partners, supporters, donors and stakeholders that we conduct our business, from accounting and finance, to fundraising, governance, transactions, land stewardship and community outreach, at the highest standards.”
Foothills Conservancy of N.C. provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Foothills Conservancy’s lands will be protected forever.
To date, Foothills Conservancy has protected over 65,000 acres, approximately 102 square miles, across Western North Carolina. Nationally, accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres – that’s the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
“It is exciting to recognize Foothills Conservancy of N.C.’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance and lasting stewardship.”
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 65,000 acres in its eight county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.
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