Nantucket Land Bank

What Nantucket Land Bank does

The Nantucket Islands Land Bank (operating as "Nantucket Land Bank") is a Massachusetts governmental land conservation organization established by a 1983 special act of the state legislature and approved by a 466-to-1 Nantucket Town Meeting vote. It is governed by a five-member publicly-elected Commission and operates as the first land bank of its kind in the United States. The organization acquires, holds, and manages open-space properties for conservation, recreation, and agriculture, serving the general public (residents and visitors) of Nantucket Island as well as a smaller vertical segment of local farmers and agricultural producers who lease or are licensed to work Land Bank farmland.

The Land Bank's product set is anchored on a physical property portfolio (over 60 properties, 40+ miles of trails, nearly 6 miles of shoreline, and two public golf courses — the 18-hole Miacomet and the 9-hole Sconset), augmented by digital services such as an interactive online property map and a multilingual WordPress website. Active projects include the Mill Hill Park Revitalization (a transferred 19.25-acre site), the 41 Jefferson Avenue Beach restoration, and a new Agricultural Processing Center / Venison Processing Center acquired in October 2025. Operations are supported by roughly 11-50 employees coordinated through roles spanning executive leadership (Executive Director Rachael Freeman; Director of Finance & Administration Susan C. Campese), field ecology, property stewardship, agricultural specialization, permitting, and communications.

The revenue model is a statutory 2% fee levied on most real estate transfers on Nantucket Island, paid by purchasers at closing. Pricing is centrally administered by the Land Bank Act (with categories of exemptions including an updated first-time homebuyer exemption capped at $1,400,000 as of January 2026, alongside affordable housing and other categories), with statutory 14% per annum interest and recorded liens used to recover exempted fees from non-compliant resales. Fee revenue funds ongoing acquisitions, capital improvements, and stewardship; the organization has no traditional equity ownership, parent company, or subsidiaries and reports no specific revenue figure in the public source material reviewed.

Name

Nantucket Land Bank

Legal name

Nantucket Islands Land Bank

Website

https://nantucketlandbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nantucket Land Bank is a Massachusetts governmental land conservation organization, established in 1983 as the first U.S. land bank, that acquires and manages open-space properties — including 40+ miles of trails, ~6 miles of shoreline, and two public golf courses — for the residents and visitors of Nantucket Island, funded by a statutory 2% fee on most real estate transfers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Real Estate Property Managers (53131)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Open space management
• Public recreation facilities
• Agricultural land leasing
• Real estate transfer fees

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantucket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Transfer Fee: The Land Bank's primary revenue is derived from a two percent (2%) fee levied against most real estate transfers on Nantucket Island. This funding is used to acquire and manage land for open space, agriculture, and recreational uses. The fee is paid by purchasers at the time of property transfer, calculated as 2% of the purchase price as defined in Section 1 of the Act.
2. First-Time Homebuyer Exemption Recovery: When first-time home buyers receive an exemption from the Land Bank fee and later fail to meet the five-year ownership and domicile requirements, the exempted fee becomes due and payable to the Land Bank together with accrued interest (14% per annum, set by statute) and penalties. A lien is recorded against properties to ensure compliance.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Nantucket Land Bank is a governmental land conservation agency that acquires, holds, and manages open spaces on Nantucket Island for public use and enjoyment. It maintains over 40 miles of trails, nearly 6 miles of shoreline, two public golf courses, parks, and farmland, while funding operations through a 2% real estate transfer fee on island property transactions. The organization also supports local agriculture through farmland leasing and adaptive management of ecologically sensitive ecosystems.

Product overview

The Nantucket Land Bank is a land conservation agency established in 1983 that acquires, holds, and manages important open spaces for public use and enjoyment. The organization operates as a unified platform of conservation, recreation, and agriculture services rather than a modular product architecture. Core offerings include property conservation and land management, recreational facilities (two public golf courses - Miacomet Golf Course and Sconset Golf Course), an interactive property map, and agricultural programs supporting local farmers. The Land Bank maintains over 40 miles of trails, nearly 6 miles of shoreline, and manages various parks, preserves, and community facilities including accessible properties, playgrounds, and a dog park. Recent projects include the Mill Hill Park Revitalization, 41 Jefferson Beach Project, and Venison Processing Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miacomet Golf Course An 18-hole public golf course located at 12 W Miacomet Road, owned by the Nantucket Land Bank and one of its earliest acquisitions. Provides active outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
• Sconset Golf Course A historic 9-hole public golf course located at 260 Milestone Road, acquired by the Land Bank in 2012 with a small clubhouse. One of Nantucket's only public golf courses.
• Conservation Land Management Conservation of ecologically diverse landscapes including beaches, ponds, salt marshes, forests, and grasslands. Protects rare and endangered species through adaptive management of early successional ecosystems such as sandplain grasslands, coastal heathlands, and pitch pine barrens.
• Agricultural Programs Partnership programs supporting local farmers and food production including leases to Moors End Farm, My Grandfather's Farm, and Sustainable Nantucket's Mentor Farmers Program with farms such as Fog Town Farm, Washashore Farm, and Eat Fire Farm.
• Recreational Trails and Public Properties Over 40 miles of trails suitable for hiking, cycling, running, dog walking, and horseback riding, along with nearly 6 miles of shoreline for swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating at various beach and pond properties.
• Interactive Property Map Interactive online map allowing users to explore Land Bank properties, trails, beaches, and water access points across Nantucket Island with terrain and satellite view options.
• Mill Hill Park A 19.25-acre public park transferred to the Land Bank in 2024, with a revitalization project that includes invasive plant removal, parking improvements, new trails, fitness equipment, and a foraging trail.
• Venison Processing Center Agricultural Processing Center located at 19 Boynton Lane that allows hunters to donate whole field dressed deer to MassWildlife's Hunters Share the Harvest program, with venison going to the Nantucket Food Pantry and Nourish Nantucket.
• 41 Jefferson Avenue Beach Project A beach restoration project to relocate existing structures at 41 Jefferson Avenue to restore public beach access and expand parking, including accessible parking spaces and Mobimats for beach access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly half of Nantucket Island is permanently protected as open space
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Nourish Nantucket / Nantucket Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration for the Agricultural Processing Center at 19 Boynton Lane. Venison from hunting program donated to food pantry to serve the community. The Land Bank was interested in the property for meat processing and partnered with Nourish Nantucket.
• Nantucket Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Collaborative conservation partner jointly owning properties including Head of the Plains (1,000+ acres) and Stump Pond. Works together on land acquisition, habitat management, and protection of open spaces. Both organizations work to preserve nearly half of Nantucket Island as permanently protected open space.
• Sustainable NantucketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support local farmers and food production. Sustainable Nantucket's Mentor Farmers Program provides educational opportunities and resources for aspiring farmers. The acreage at Sustainable Nantucket hosts Fog Town Farm, Washashore Farm, and Eat Fire Farm on Land Bank land.
• Fog Town FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm operating on Sustainable Nantucket acreage. Aidan and Natasha Feeney operate the farm which also has the agricultural property at Eat Fire Spring licensed to them.
• Moors End FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm leasing farmland from the Land Bank, contributing to Nantucket's community character and economic vitality.
• My Grandfather's FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm leasing farmland from the Land Bank, contributing to Nantucket's community character and economic vitality.
• Washashore FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm operating on Sustainable Nantucket acreage managed by the Land Bank, contributing to sustainable agricultural food production on the island.
• Eat Fire FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm operating on Sustainable Nantucket acreage. Part of the agricultural property at Eat Fire Spring licensed to Aidan and Natasha Feeney of Fog Town Farm.
• Massachusetts Audubon SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide conservation organization collaborating on Nantucket conservation efforts. Millbrook Woods bookends Massachusetts Audubon's Lost Farm property.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational conservation organization working alongside the Land Bank and other organizations to protect Nantucket's fragile island habitat.
• Trustees of ReservationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide conservation organization preserving and protecting Massachusetts natural areas, working alongside Land Bank on Nantucket conservation.
• Nantucket Land & Water CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation organization (6 Ash Lane, PO Box 502, Nantucket, MA 02554) that purchases land, protects it, and raises public awareness about Nantucket's fragile island habitat.
• The 'Sconset TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal land trust protecting properties in Siasconset area of Nantucket, working alongside the Land Bank to maintain open spaces.
• Linda Loring Nature FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation foundation (110 Eel Point Rd, Nantucket, MA 02554) focused on preserving and protecting Nantucket's natural areas.
• Maria Mitchell AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization (2 Vestal Street, Nantucket, MA 02554) dedicated to science and education, collaborating on conservation awareness.
• Town of NantucketmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government entity. Joint projects include Washington Street Resilience Framework Plan, shared property ownership (Trott's Hills), and beach vehicle permits. Department of Natural Resources coordinates on conservation matters.
• Madaket Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal land trust working to preserve land in the Madaket area of Nantucket.
• Martha's Vineyard Land Bank CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand bank inspired by the Nantucket Islands Land Bank model. Located at 167 Main Street, PO Box 2057, Edgartown, MA 02539. First regional land bank established following Nantucket's model.
• San Juan County Citizens Conservation Land Bank CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand bank in Washington state inspired by Nantucket model. Located at 350 Court Street #6, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.
• Block Island Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand trust on Block Island, Rhode Island, inspired by Nantucket's land bank model.
• Peconic Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand trust in New York (Southampton) inspired by Nantucket land bank model.
• Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural conservancy trust in Rhode Island inspired by Nantucket's model.
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture firm that designed Easy Street Park, creating the waterfront park with climate-resilient design elements.
• Horsley Witten GroupmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental consulting firm that developed the Lily Pond Project and Land Bank Rain Garden in collaboration with the Land Bank to improve hydraulic, ecological, and recreational function.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Nature Conservancy: National conservation organization working alongside the Land Bank on Nantucket's fragile island habitat. Comparable mission in acquiring and managing ecologically significant land; provides scalable reference for organizational scope.
• Nantucket Conservation Foundation: Co-owner of 1,000+ acres at Head of the Plains with the Nantucket Land Bank and operates as a parallel land conservation organization on Nantucket. Closely aligned mission and joint stewardship of island open space.
• The Trustees of Reservations: Massachusetts statewide land conservation organization actively collaborating with the Nantucket Land Bank on conservation work. Operates similar preserve management and public access programs across the state.
• Peconic Land Trust: Long Island, New York land trust that explicitly cites the Nantucket land bank model. Acquires and manages conservation easements and protected land with comparable mission and structure.
• Block Island Land Trust: Rhode Island land trust that cites the Nantucket land bank as inspiration. Similar island geography and conservation mission focused on protecting open space and natural habitats.
• Massachusetts Audubon Society: Statewide conservation organization collaborating with the Land Bank on habitat protection (Millbrook Woods connects to MassAudubon's Lost Farm). Comparable conservation mission focused on ecologically significant Massachusetts lands.
• San Juan County Citizens Conservation Land Bank Commission: Washington-state land bank explicitly modeled after the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. Uses a similar real estate transfer fee mechanism to fund conservation acquisitions on San Juan Island.
• Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission: Land bank directly inspired by and modeled after the Nantucket Land Bank; first regional land bank established following Nantucket's example. Operates with a similar transfer fee mechanism to acquire and manage conservation land on Martha's Vineyard.
• Linda Loring Nature Foundation: Local Nantucket conservation foundation focused on preserving and protecting natural areas on the island. Closely aligned peer organization with overlapping geographic footprint and conservation mission.

Emerging players

• Vineyard Conservation Society: Martha's Vineyard-based land conservation nonprofit operating in parallel to the MV Land Bank Commission. Comparable mission of preserving island open space through acquisition and stewardship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NantucketLandBank
• Instagraminstagram.com/nantucketlandbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nantucket-land-bank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nantucket Land Bank