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of economic and enviranmental goals. Since its inception in 1985, the Fund <br />and its partners have protected over 2.2 million acres of land across the <br />country, including over 500,000 acres in 1999 alone. <br />The Fund has regional offices in Boulder Colorado and Chicago which could <br />service the land entity needs in Nebraska. Traditionally, the Fund has <br />operated primarily as a negotiator and deal maker to bring private land into <br />public ownership. It has not been the long term owner or manager af land_ It <br />is willing to consider performing land entity functions and would negotiate a <br />management agreement or contract to perforrn an agreed upan set of services. <br />Most likely this praject would initially be staffed out of the regional o#fices <br />where there are excellent land transaction people. Both Sydney Macy in <br />Colorada and Peg Kohring in Chicaga have excellent transaction skills and <br />ability to work wzth diverse landowners to achieve canservation objectives. <br />The Conservatian Fund has been growing rapidly and is supparted by a <br />variety af sources in addition to income earned from projects. Grants frorn <br />charitable foundatiQns for operations and projects totaled over $10 million in <br />1999. In addition, individuals contributed $4 million and over 200 <br />corporations made grants totaling in excess of $50 million. In 1999, The <br />Conservation Fund was included in the Philanthropy 400 list of leading <br />nonprflfit organizations in the United States. <br />Advantages <br />1. The CQnservation Fund has broad experience in nego#iation and <br />transactions to acquire real estate interests which cauld be very useful <br />for the acquisition portion of the land entity functions. <br />2. The Fund is a large natianal arganization with great skills and capacity <br />and has contracted with govexnmental entities to perform real estate <br />functions for years. <br />3. Regional persannel are skilled in real estate transactions. <br />4. The Conservation Fund has substantial fundraising capabilities which <br />could enhance Program funds. <br />5. No federal legislation is required to use a pre-existing entity such as <br />The Conservation Fund. <br />Disadvantages <br />1. The Conservation Fund is a large national organization which is <br />primarily geared towards acquisition of land for publir entities rather <br />than holding land indefinitely. While they are very creative and <br />flexible, it is not clear that there is a clear organizational objective to <br />expand into lang term land holding. <br />2. Overhead for estabiishing a regional presence may be higher than for a <br />currently operating, lacal organization. <br />Conservution Partners, Inc. P. 8