Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	American Farmland Trust
Address:	1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 800
	Washington, DC 20036
Phone:	202-331-7300 800-886-5170
Web Address:	www.farmland.org

American Farmland Trust (AFT) meets the 20Standards for Charity Accountability.

AFT field staff provide technical information to farmers, land trusts and local governments on protecting farm property through agricultural easements. Collaborating with state departments of agriculture and other farm organizations, AFT helps design and implement the purchase of development rights programs and initiatives that promote land and resource conservation. In addition to assisting with municipal planning and zoning issues related to agriculture, AFT organizes workshops and conferences for farmers and land use professionals. Responding to situations where farmland is under imminent threat of conversion, in certain cases, AFT may purchase the property or its development rights. The organization's Center for Agriculture in the Environment advises farmers on carrying out integrated pest management programs that result in reduced use of chemical pesticides. AFT also hosts tours for government officials to see examples of successful farmland protection, and produces a quarterly magazine, "American Farmland," that it distributes to members, public policymakers, educators and interested professionals in other fields. Some ($696,132 or 9%) of AFT's programs are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, AFT's program expenses were:

State and local programs	3,737,015
Federal policy	1,373,304
Communications and media outreach	918,669
Public education	829,248
Research	675,346
Other programs	210,664
Total Program Expenses:	$7,744,246

Chief Executive : Jon Scholl, President

Compensation*:

$65,958

Chair of the Board: John J. Winthrop, Jr.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Partner, Douglass Winthrop Advisors, LLC

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 54

*July 7, 2008 - September 30, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Prior to Mr. Scholl assuming office, Mr. Ralph Grossi was CEO of AFT and was compensated $245,437 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeal, planned giving, and membership appeals

Fund raising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $7,315,220, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

AFT incurred joint costs of $1,270,953 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $696,132 was allocated to program expenses and $574,821 was allocated to fund raising expenses.

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on AFT's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

Source of Funds
Individual contributions	2,947,835
Foundation grants	1,945,289
Government grants	874,808
Investment return designated for operations	869,069
Bequests	728,769
Other grants and contracts	669,798
Rental income	148,886
Corporate grants	148,721
Other income, gains, and losses	135,179
Total Income	$8,468,354

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 16%  Administrative: 3%

Total income				$8,468,354
	Program expenses			$7,744,246
	Fund raising expenses			1,549,137
	Administrative expenses			306,894
Total expenses				$9,600,277
Expenses in Excess of Income				(1,131,923)
Beginning net assets				23,505,376
Other Changes in Net Assets				(3,296,093)
Ending net assets				19,077,360
Total liabilities				1,236,002
Total assets				$20,313,362

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents investment return in deficit of spending rate (-$3,047,074), split-interest contributions ($6,158), and change in value of split-interest agreement (-$255,177).