Starting a CLT

Key Activities

• Establishing a core working group (Working Group Skills Matrix; Network Mapping Exercise)
• Defining a purpose, vision, and guiding values (Vision Development Worksheet)
• Community (housing) needs assessment (Housing Needs Assessment Worksheet)
• Gap analysis (what already exists vs. what is needed)
• Summarizing organizational scope and priorities (in response to needs assessment and gap analysis)
• Choosing organizational form (independent non-profit or subsidiary, etc.)
• Creating a start-up budget (Startup Budget Template)
• Initial business planning
• Accessing startup funding (CLT Funding Sources)

Developing Guiding Principles for Community Land Trusts (recording and slides)

Community Research for Early-Stage CLTs (recording and slides)

Organizational Form for Early-Stage CLTs (recording and slides)

Gathering Resources and Business Planning (recording and slides)

Community Organizing for Early Stage CLTs (recording and slides)

Key Activities

• Determining membership and governance structure, organizational geography
• Creating organizational by-laws (see Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, Kensington Market Community Land Trust)
• Incorporation
• Considering charitable status or other alternatives (see charitable status legal guide)

CLT Board & Membership Structures (webinar and slides)

CLTs and Charitable Status (webinar and slides)

CLT Incorporation and Bylaws (webinar and slides)

Key Activities

• Recruiting and training board of directors
• Recruiting and engaging membership
• Developing a strategic plan and budget
• Seeking funding to hire staff (CLT Funding Sources)

More Resources

Example RFPs

• Build an Investment Strategy
• Business Plan Development

Example Job Ads

• Property Asset Manager
• CLT Coordinator
• CLT Project Manager

Strategic Planning for Early-Stage CLTs (webinar and slides)

Board and Membership Development (webinar and slides)

Key Activities

• Determining priorities for acquiring or developing
• Creating relevant policies and processes to guide your capital projects
• Conducting financial modelling to understand costs and source funding
• Carrying out acquisition or development project – see below for further steps

More Resources

• Property Acquisitions Tool from HART – learn about funding programs supporting acquisition of existing residential properties
• Social Purpose Real Estate resource library from the Infrastructure Institute – lots of resources that help with development and acquisition of housing and other land-based assets

Acquisition for CLTs: Key Considerations (webinar and slides)

Acquisition for CLTs: Ask an Expert panel (webinar and slides)

Key Activities

• Deciding on an appropriate operating model for CLT-owned land
• Creating relevant policies and processes to guide capital repair works
• Creating a capital plan to identify and fund future capital renewal projects
• Building capacity among your board and membership to ensure your stewardship practices are in line with your CLT’s values and reflective of community needs

More resources to come mid/late-2025

Key Activities

• Creating a plan for sustainable operating revenues
• Leveraging existing assets to expand your CLT’s impact
• Identifying further acquisition, development, and funding opportunities to grow your CLT’s portfolio
• Using your CLT’s success to support Indigenous sovereignty and Land Back
• Strategically advocating for policies that will enable further CLT growth

More resources to come 2026