How We Do It

We provide local funding to efforts to preserve historic and natural resources.

First, a property owner contacts an eligible entity.

The property owner typically wants to protect their land or structure with historical, recreational, or natural value. Eligible entities may include Greenville County itself, Cities in the County, Land Trusts, Historical Societies, or others that meet the criteria in the ordinance.

Next, the eligible entity submits an application to the trust for funding consideration.

The Trust will have three application periods per year, with deadlines on April 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year.

Fee Simple Purchase

A transaction where the property is sold at or under appraised value. An authorized appraiser determines the value. The funding helps pay for the interest in land and the associated closing costs. The entity that applies will usually bring other sources of match funding from non-profits or federal, state, and local sources. Property typically has a public access component so it can become a park, trail, historical site, heritage preserve, etc.

Conservation Easement

A voluntary legal agreement where the property owner retains ownership but agrees to restrictions that protect the property’s conservation values. An authorized appraiser determines value. The funding helps pay the landowner for the diminished value that the limits of the easement place on the property and associated closing costs. Property is monitored annually to ensure compliance with easement terms

Finally, the trust evaluates and awards funding to selected projects through the eligible entities that applied for the funds.

Projects are ranked according to several criteria. Based on the criteria, funding is awarded to the projects to maximize the funds available. Not every project receives funding, and projects that do receive funding may not receive the total amount of their request.

Funds are not provided directly to the eligible entity nor the property owner. Rather, Trust funds are submitted to an escrow account maintained by an attorney handling the transaction closing. The entity that receives funding will submit follow-up reports as required per the conditions of their funding from the trust.