Organization
OSALT is two organizations - Downstream Effects/Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (The Trust), and Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust, Inc. (The Corporation).
The Trust was formed in 1995 by farmers and educators Will Newman II and Susan W. Clark. Responsibility for activities of The Trust rests with the Trustees. (Downstream Effects/Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust - Federal ID #93-6301526, Oregon BIN 00977638-9, Oregon Registration #22450)
The Corporation was formed in 1998, also by Will Newman II and Susan W. Clark. Responsibility for activities of The Corporation rests with the Directors. (Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust, Inc. - Federal ID #31-1724040, Oregon Corporation Registry 656665-89, Oregon Registration #26949)
The Trust and The Corporation are collectively referred to as OSALT.
The Corporation was formed when the Trustees found out that property tax exemption was not available to The Trust, as the state enabling law only allowed for tax exemption for charitable corporations, not charitable trusts which were not incorporated.
Keeping in mind that OSALT does not sell land, but keeps it in production (or habitat or riparian areas - all essential to sustainable agriculture), property tax exemption is important to OSALT's continued protection of the land. Without exemption, increasing property taxes over time, and particularly as urbanization overtakes lands in OSALT that are currently rural, could force OSALT to sell the land. Exemption eliminates this threat to the permanent protection of the land.
Beginning in 2005, lands in The Trust were transferred to The Corporation. Lands received in 2005 and after are placed in The Corporation.
To make policy development and administration less burdensome, The Trust and The Corporation created the Joint Board in 2000, and authorized it to act for them both in ordinary operations. Joint Board Members are appointed jointly by the Trustees and the Directors.
The Trustees, The Directors and the Joint Board hold a joint annual meeting on the second Saturday of January each year. The Trust, The Directors and the Joint Board hold additional meetings during the year as needed. (See the Calendar for more information.)
Each property in trust with OSALT has a Liaison. The Liaisons (sometimes referred to as Site Managers) are the link between the Joint Board and the land. Liaisons are appointed jointly by the Trustees and the Directors.
OSALT meetings are open to the public, and all interested persons are invited. See the Events Calendar for more information.
