Open‑Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund

The Open-Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund (PTF) is a grant program established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1997 and administered by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), a state agency dedicated to land conservation across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The PTF is designed to permanently protect open-space lands throughout Virginia, using mechanisms such as easements, acquisitions, and conveyances of interests in real estate. Its core mission is to preserve land for farming, forestry, outdoor recreation, public access, wildlife habitat, and water quality enhancement. The PTF operates under the framework of the Virginia Open-Space Land Act, ensuring that any supported projects lead to lasting conservation outcomes by requiring a real estate interest to be conveyed either to VOF or to a local government. PTF grants fund both the acquisition of open space and the associated due diligence required to complete the conveyance process. Grants may be used to cover expenses such as legal, survey, and appraisal costs, and other documentation needed to legally convey the rights of real estate in alignment with the conservation goals. Notably, these funds are not disbursed until the legal conveyance has been completed, ensuring that the public benefit is secured before any payments are made. Properties already protected by deed restrictions like existing open-space easements are not eligible for funding, nor are properties where easements are offered as part of a development proposal or proffer. A key feature of the PTF is its Easement Assistance subprogram, which is income-based and provides cost-share assistance to landowners who voluntarily convey an open-space easement. This support is tiered according to income level. For example, landowners with annual incomes up to $95,000 can receive up to 100% reimbursement for all due diligence costs, with a cap of $20,000. Those earning between $96,000 and $125,000 are eligible for partial assistance, with reimbursements and caps that decrease as income increases. Landowners with incomes above $200,000 are not eligible for easement assistance. VOF staff may determine additional survey work as necessary for the stewardship and protection of a conservation project, which may qualify for partial assistance within eligible income ranges. The application process for the Spring FY2026 grant round is currently open, with a submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 18, 2026. Applications must be submitted via VOF’s Grant Application Portal. Easement Assistance grants, in contrast to the general PTF program, are available on a rolling basis, allowing qualified applicants to apply at any time. VOF hosted a webinar on January 29, 2026, to provide guidance on application procedures, project criteria, and navigation of the online portal. This recorded session is available to prospective applicants seeking to better understand the submission process. Applicants are encouraged to review additional documentation available through VOF, including the FY2026 Spring Grant Timeline, fact sheets, sample applications, and project requirement guidelines. While no formal pre-application such as an LOI is required, interested applicants with eligibility questions or technical inquiries are advised to contact [email protected]. The program does not include information about selection criteria or award notification timelines on the public page. Though the program is recurring annually, no explicit language about future cycles or notification dates is listed. However, based on the recurring nature of the spring round, it is reasonable to anticipate the next cycle to open around March 2027. VOF encourages landowners and localities across Virginia to apply, provided that the proposed land meets all criteria for open-space protection and is not already subject to prior easement restrictions.