Project Outline for Tax Credit Connection, Inc.

Forever Open

Project Purpose

The purpose of this project is to implement the Forever Open program of Tax Credit Connection, Inc. by obtaining businesses to participate. The Forever Open program promotes businesses to invest in land conservation and receive a financial benefit for their participation.

History

Tax Credit Connection, Inc. works with landowners who agree to permanently conserve their land with conservation easements in Colorado and New Mexico. In turn, they receive state income tax credits which can be transferred to other taxpayers. Tax Credit Connection, Inc. helps the landowners to sell their credits, at a discount, to taxpayers with large state tax liabilities. The process of making a conservation easement donation is very expensive – between $25-50,000. Some landowners can’t afford to do this. Many businesses are trying to find ways to “green” their business and show that they are supportive of sustainable initiatives. We see these two facts as an opportunity to help both the landowner and the business that wants to improve their image. The preceding LEEDs Business group developed the campaign of Forever Open for Tax Credit Connection, Inc. and created key marketing materials for the campaign. Tax Credit Connection, Inc. will select a landowner that will directly benefit from the students’ Forever Open efforts.

Project Objectives

  • Learn about conservation easements, the tax credit program, and marketing strategies from the Staff of Tax Credit Connection, Inc.
  • Meet the selected landowner (possible site visit to the conserved property)
  • Research at least 15 companies operating in Colorado that are supportive of sustainable initiatives (can utilize the research gleamed from preceding LEEDs Business group)
  • Develop a marketing strategy to target at least four companies in Colorado
  • Create the marketing materials that reward the four targeted businesses for sponsoring the selected landowner to preserve their land
  • Pitch the campaign to at least four companies operating in Colorado using marketing materials
  • If possible, find one business to agree to the sponsorship (this is a lofty objective)
  • Have fun and save a little piece of Colorado forever

Project Scope

  • Attend meetings with Staff of Tax Credit Connection, Inc.
  • Review the work and findings of the preceding LEEDs Business group
  • Interview the selected landowner (possible site visit to the conserved property)
  • Research at least 15 companies operating in Colorado that are supportive of sustainable initiatives (can utilize the research gleamed from preceding LEEDs Business group)
  • Develop a marketing strategy to target at least four companies in Colorado
  • Create the marketing materials that reward the four targeted businesses for sponsoring the selected landowner to preserve their land
  • Pitch the campaign to at least four companies operating in Colorado using the above marketing materials
  • If possible, find one business to agree to the sponsorship (this is a lofty objective)

Deliverables

  • A list of businesses and contact people at the businesses that would be a good fit for Forever Open (at least 15 qualified prospects)
  • Marketing strategy to meet with four businesses in Colorado
  • Sample of marketing materials that the four businesses could receive for sponsoring the landowner (materials for their website, copy and graphics for a magazine ad, materials for their annual report, etc.). These materials should be tailored to each specific business.
  • Written report of findings

Project Approach

  • Review work and findings of preceding LEEDs Business School students
  • Draft interview script for selected landowner
  • Identify at least fifteen businesses that may be interested in participating in Forever Open
  • Secure meetings with at least four businesses
  • Draft interview script for the four businesses
  • Create sample marketing materials for the four businesses to use to showcase their sponsorship
  • Meet with at least four businesses
  • Develop written report with findings

Critical Milestones and Event Dates

Tax Credit Connection is willing to work with the students to establish reasonable deadlines for completing the above objectives and tasks.

Roles & Responsibilities

Company’s roles and responsibilities:

  • Introduce students to the selected landowner for interview
  • Meet with students to discuss existing ideas from the last Leeds Business Group and the define the next step of the project
  • Be available to participate in all meetings with businesses and the selected landowner as an additional resource
  • Answer questions and review marketing materials
  • Ariel Steele, President or one of the Land Protection Specialists will be available for meetings with companies and landowner

Students’ roles and responsibilities:

  • Be respectful
  • Timely for all meetings and deadlines
  • Give weekly status reports to Tax Credit Connection, Inc.
  • Research companies and contact people at businesses
  • Create interview outlines for businesses
  • Schedule meetings with businesses
  • Conduct meetings with businesses (with TCC staff along as resources)
  • Create sample marketing materials for businesses to receive if they participate in sponsorship with selected landowner referenced

Quality Considerations

The Tax Credit Connection team will review and approve of sponsorship materials before they are used. Any landowner included in marketing materials will approve the materials before they are pitched to business sponsors. We anticipate using all materials that are created by the students.

Assumptions

We are assuming that the project we outlined will be able to be completed within a semester, but we understand that we may be underestimating the amount of time it will take to complete this project. We are open to reducing the scope in the beginning based on the best judgment of the students and their advisor.

University of Colorado – LeedsSchool of Business

Project Outline Document

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