Land & Easement Acquisition Program

The Land & Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP), administered by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), offers strategic financial support to land trusts in Connecticut for acquiring critical conservation lands. Launched in 2025 as a rebranding of the former Land Capital Grants initiative, LEAP builds upon CLCC's extensive portfolio of conservation-oriented funding programs, including the Transaction Assistance Grant Program and the Climate Smart Land Stewardship Program. The LEAP initiative is made possible through the generous backing of the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation. LEAP was designed to bridge funding gaps that might otherwise delay or prevent the timely acquisition of high-priority conservation properties. The program specifically supports fee simple acquisitions, pass-through arrangements with qualified conservation entities such as state agencies or tribes, and permanent conservation easements. Grants must be used solely for acquisition costs, while transaction-related expenses are expected to be addressed through other CLCC offerings. A unique feature of LEAP is its strict timeline: projects must close within 12 months of receiving a funding decision. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a clear conservation mission operating within Connecticut. Applicants must also be current members of CLCC. While multi-state projects may be considered, at least 50% of the land area must lie within Connecticut. Applications are by invitation only, and all potential applicants must consult with Yaw Darko, Director of Grants & Programs at CLCC, to determine project eligibility. The grant awards range from $50,000 to $500,000, or up to 30% of the appraised property value—whichever is lower. Application deadlines occur bimonthly on the first of March, May, July, September, and November, with review periods lasting approximately two months. Funding announcements are issued at the end of each review cycle. Projects selected for funding must reach closing within one year of the award date. Evaluation of proposals is guided by a set of ecological and accessibility metrics. These include recognized biodiversity value, proximity to other conserved lands, climate resilience based on geophysical assessments, contributions to local water quality, and public access features—particularly universal accessibility. These criteria are drawn from authoritative datasets such as The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient Land Mapping Tool and the CT ECO Map Viewer. To begin the application process, interested organizations must initiate contact with CLCC. The full schedule and evaluation metrics are publicly available through CLCC’s website, where additional resources such as informational videos and interactive story maps highlight successful LEAP-supported projects. With its rigorous structure and strategic priorities, LEAP continues to play a pivotal role in advancing land conservation in Connecticut.

Projects must align with conservation goals, demonstrate urgency, leverage existing funds, and close within 12 months