The Farmers Land Trust is a national nonprofit working to protect farmland and secure long-term, equitable access and tenure for farmers. Through its innovative 501(c)(25) Farmland Commons model, the organization accepts farm and land donations and works with local communities to move farmland into nonprofit ownership to then convey 99-year lease tenure. These community-centered structures help preserve working farms while providing next-generation farmers with secure, affordable, and equitable access to the land they steward.
The Challenge
The Farmers Land Trust began as a project of a fiscal sponsor, which managed its accounting, payroll, and financial operations for the first 2 years of operations. As the organization prepared to become an independent 501(c)(3), its leaders wanted to build strong financial systems from the start. With rapid growth and increasingly complex activity, including donated real estate and reserve endowments for each, multiple entities, and long-term agreements, they needed experienced and knowledgeable nonprofit accounting support without the cost or learning curve of building an internal finance department.
The Solution
The Farmers Land Trust partnered with Jitasa to transition from fiscal sponsorship and establish the financial infrastructure needed to operate independently, compliantly and transparently. Jitasa helped set up the organization’s accounting systems, reporting, and processes while providing the nonprofit-specific knowledge necessary to support its unique model.
That expertise became increasingly important as The Farmers Land Trust grew. Gifts of farmland can involve complex valuations and retained ownership rights, while multi-year contracts and the financial activity of individual Farmland Commons require careful tracking and reporting. Jitasa’s team helped the organization navigate these complexities while continuing to refine its reporting as the organization evolved.
The Result
The Farmers Land Trust has more than doubled its revenue each year during its first three years. In its first partial year operating independently, the organization brought in more than $1 million in revenue and land donations.
The strength of its financial foundation was also demonstrated through its first independent audit. Despite the complexity of its land gifts, contracts, and growing operations, The Farmers Land Trust completed the process successfully and received a clean audit. With reliable financial systems and expertise behind the organization, its team can stay focused on expanding the Farmland Commons movement and creating greater access to farmland across the country.
Why Jitasa?
When selecting an accounting partner, The Farmers Land Trust wanted deep nonprofit expertise, a team-based approach, and a service model that could grow alongside a remote organization working nationwide. Jitasa’s exclusive focus on nonprofits and distributed team made it a natural fit.
The Farmers Land Trust especially values Jitasa’s team-based approach. A dedicated point of contact provides consistency, responsiveness, and a deep understanding of the organization, while the broader Jitasa team offers additional accounting and tax expertise when needed. That combination gives The Farmers Land Trust the personal support of a trusted team member with the knowledge and resources of an entire firm behind them. The partnership has worked so well that the organization has also recommended Jitasa to other nonprofits looking to build strong financial systems of their own.
Jitasa gives us the best of both worlds. We have a dedicated point person who really understands our organization, but we also have the knowledge and expertise of an entire team behind them. They’re incredibly responsive, they understand nonprofits, and we truly feel like they’re part of our team.”
Ian McSweeney
Co-Executive Director & Co-Founder
The Farmers Land Trust