Become a Member
CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) is a membership organization founded on the principles of membership involvement. Members are the backbone, heart and soul of the organization. They elect the Board of Directors, vote on by-law changes, serve as Board and/or Committee Members and review the Annual Reports. Equally as important, members sustain the long term goals of the organization through volunteering and contributions.
To learn more about opportunities to become a new member, contact us directly or donate now and unleash the power of community!
Public and private funding grants to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) always want us to demonstrate local backing through membership and membership contributions. The more comprehensive our membership, the more likely we are to be funded.
All members are welcome to apply to join a committee. You are entitled to vote at our annual membership meetings, nominate board members, receive annual reports, periodic newsletters and updates, and receive invitations to meetings and special events.
CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation with an open membership and a democratically-elected board of directors.
Donate Land
“My purpose has been, not only to protect land from development and provide affordable housing, but to challenge the system of private property that is based upon the mistaken notion that human beings can own pieces of the Earth. Ultimately, I would like to help change the premises of the market economy.“
– from the donor of the Cooper Road Project
YES.
If you own real estate and are inspired by the idea of putting land back into the Public Trust, and providing affordable housing for future generations, consider donating part or all of your property to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT).
Yes, there are many options you may consider.
Each option has advantages depending on your needs, goals, and financial situation. There are tax advantages to each possibility, and we recommend you consult with your tax accountant or attorney to decide which best matches your situation. CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) is open to being creative with possibilities — as we are all in this together. By contributing your property to CSCLT, you will experience the satisfaction of contributing to a growing movement changing the way our society views private property and how we live together.
As you think about the different ways to give, and how you can use your property, or other assets to help ease the affordable housing crisis – don’t forget to consider these points:
Impact on your family:
In addition to speaking with an attorney and a tax preparer, owners considering these gifts should also talk to their children or heirs so that the family will be on board with the ultimate disposition of that asset as a donated property or below market rate sale.
Legal & tax consequences:
Once you’ve made a decision what you want to do with your home – talk to your attorney and tax preparer. It is vital that you talk to independent counsel who can help you make the best decision for you and your family.
What your mortgage allows:
If there is a mortgage on your property, you will need to contact the mortgage lender before you transfer the property ownership. If you have debt on the property, we need to help figure out how to best resolve that.
Owner donates a home, building, or vacant parcel (or sells at below-market price) to CommonSpace Community Land Trust, which can then be used for affordable housing.
When you donate a piece of property outright to the Land Trust there are real benefits aside from knowing that you are making the amazing gift of preserved affordable housing to the community. Owners who donate their property outright (or some of the equity from their home) are typically entitled to an income tax deduction based on the property’s fair market value. In addition, donors avoid paying capital gains tax owed if they were to sell the property.
Owner leaves property to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) in Will, Living Trust, or Beneficiary Designation.
Many owners consider their estate plan the best place to set up a gift to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) so that their property can be used for affordable housing after they pass. Donating assets through your Will or Living Trust or by designating the Community Land Trust as beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance allows you and/or your heirs to avoid paying estate and/or income taxes on those assets. While the impact is less immediate, this kind of planning for the future is essential to the Land Trust’s long-term goal of removing as many properties as possible from the private, speculative market.
Owner sells the property to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) at a below market rate price, either now or in the future and gets a charitable deduction from their income tax for the difference between market rate and the sales price.
If you don’t want to contribute to the speculative real estate market but need to get some return on your property and could use an income tax deduction, selling your home or the remaining interest in your home to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) at below market may make sense for you.
This is called the Retained Life Estate (RLE) option. Owner sells the “remainder interest” to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT), but continues to own the “retained life estate” and continues to live there for an agreed upon period of time, which could be for the rest of the owner’s life. CSCLT pays the owner the value of the remainder interest, determined by an appraisal of the “fair market value” and an IRS formula for the value of the RLE. If you agree to transfer the property at a price below fair market value, you can get a tax deduction for the difference.
RLE is a good option for homeowners who want to continue to live in their house for either the short- or long-term, and need some cash in the meantime. This option can be better than a “reverse mortgage” — which is laden with fees and can result in transfer of your home to a bank or mortgage lender rather than CSCLT.
Legacy Gifts
If you have questions or are interested in discussing how giving through your Will or Trust might work for you, please contact us at: [email protected]
Or write to us at:
CommonSpace CLT
1809 Cooper Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) STRONGLY encourages you to work with an attorney anytime you are creating or making changes to your estate plan. Should you decide to craft your own or are curious what the gifting language might look like, here is an example:
“I, _____________ (your name) , give the real property commonly known as and located at _________________ (property address), described on the deed as ___________ (exact description of the property as it reads on the deed), to CommonSpace Community Land Trust for the benefit of CommonSpace Community Land Trust, to further the purposes and objectives of the Land Trust in providing affordable housing to low-income Sonoma County residents.”
Corporate Gifts
Do you want to contribute to providing affordable housing for Sonoma County’s workforce?
Matching charitable contributions by employers and donations from business entities will help make affordable housing a reality for the workers who support our economy.
CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) continues to look for corporate donors who can contribute grants, materials and items to help build, furnish and landscape new affordable homes.
Give Cash and Securities
Donate cash or securities to CommonSpace Community Land Trust (CSCLT) to fund future acquisitions of real property.
Donations of cash or securities (i.e., stock or mutual fund shares) are a powerful way to help the Land Trust fulfill our mission. With this gift the Land Trust will be in a better position to purchase properties that become available, thereby removing those properties from the speculative real estate market.
