American Friends of Canadian Conservation accomplishes its land and water preservation mission through innovative partnerships and its ability to access valuable bi-national financial incentives. Qualified Canadian conservation entities identify properties what are high priorities for protection and owned by US taxpayers.

Conservation-oriented landowners from the US donate their important natural lands, or a conservation easement, to American Friends of Canadian Conservation in order to accomplish their preservation, estate planning and financial goals. This is known as cross-border conservation, and is how American Friends of Canadian Conservation protects Canada’s natural heritage. Our Canadian partners steward those properties after they have been protected and can request transfers of ownership from American Friends so that title is repatriated to Canadian entities.

American Friends’ preferred tax status in both the US and Canada makes these donations financially attractive for generous US taxpayers. It is a US publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization so all types of charitable gifts are tax deductible in the US. In addition, gifts of land and conservation easements are effectively not subject to Canadian capital gains tax because American Friends of Canadian Conservation is a prescribed donee. For an in-depth explanation of the tax benefits that incentivize cross-border conservation refer to Save Some Green: a handbook for US taxpayers who own land in Canada.

American Friends of Canadian Conservation has two programs to accomplish its mission, utilize its innovative bi-national tax status and assist its partners, including landowners.