Does the National Trust hold easements? Is it actively accepting easement donations?

The National Trust holds approximately 100 easements on historic properties across the country. These easements have been gradually acquired over three decades; some were granted to the National Trust as donations, others were acquired by the National Trust as a condition to preservation grants or other financial assistance, and still others were created to protect properties that the National Trust has acquired and then transferred to others.

For property owners who are interested in donating an easement to the National Trust, the National Trust’s easement policy is to encourage easement donors to look first to qualified local, statewide, or regional preservation organizations. Only when those organizations are unable or unwilling to accept a proposed easement donation (or if the prospective donor is unwilling to consider such a donation), and only if the property is of special historic, architectural, or archaeological significance – will the National Trust consider taking on such an easement.

Our strongest recommendation to property owners interested in donating an easement is to work with the National Trust’s Regional Office to identify an appropriate organization – preferably at the state or local level – to serve as an easement-holding organization for their property.