Because you care about your property and your property value. You, as well as any future buyer, will want the easement held by a reputable organization, one well-rooted in Washington where easement administration is in the hands of local, responsive people familiar with your community's needs and sensibilities. An easement held by an organization which doesn't respond to requests for changes is truly a cloud on your title and may impede resale. Washington, D.C. has been the most active city in the country for Conservation Easement programs and is served by two principal easement organizations which have both operated in the city for more than thirty years:

• The L'Enfant Trust. The L'Enfant Trust is the larger of the two, holding easements on properties citywide; and
• The Foundation for the Preservation of Historic Georgetown. The Foundation protects many fine Georgetown properties.

Following an expose in the Washington Post in late 2004, Congress held hearings and proposed reform measures to curb promotional excesses and certain relationships and practices between non-profit easement holding organizations and for-profit groups. We recommend you read the Post series which is linked under our 2008 Latest News tab.

In August, 2006 Congress passed legislation that curtails improper practices and places new burdens on easement donors to know and certify that the easement holding organization receiving their donation has sound management practices, resources and the commitment to enforce the terms of the easement. It is the donor of the easement who, if seeking to qualify for a tax deduction, must carefully choose an easement holding organization that will meet all the federal requirements.

The L'Enfant Trust recommends donors select their easement holding organization - not the other way around.