INDEPENDENT NATIONAL NONPROFIT

Holding states to their sacred duty to public schools.

Advocates for School Trust Lands is the only national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring states fulfill their fiduciary duties as trustees — safeguarding millions of acres and over $100 billion in school trust assets.

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WHAT ARE TRUST LANDS?

UPCOMING EVENT

Register for Conference June 25-26 at Utah State Capitol

ASTL National Conference 2026

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OUR APPROACH

The work of a principled advocate.

READ OUR MISSION →

ASTL Pillars
01

Advocate

We proactively defend the optimization of school trust lands through principled, nonpartisan advocacy. When trustees fall short, we hold them accountable through direct engagement and legal review.

Nonpartisan Advocacy
02

Educate

We provide expert knowledge to policymakers, parents, and the public — empowering stakeholders with the data and analysis needed to understand how school trust lands impact school funding.

Expert Knowledge
03

Collaborate

We unite diverse partners — from government officials to educators — to build broad coalitions that protect and grow school trust lands and their permanent funds across state lines.

National Coalition

PROVEN RESULTS

The impact an Advocate can make.

Real accountability produces real results. Here is what principled advocacy has achieved for public school children.

ASTL Impact
$0.45M
Successfully lobbied for full market value payment of $1.8 million annually for hunting on school trust lands — establishing a lasting precedent for fair valuation.
$5M
Stopped a $5 million trust loss by securing an Attorney General opinion ruling that the Land Board's planned grazing lease refunds to ranchers were illegal.
$1B → $4B
A request for a professionally led independent task force to oversee the Utah School Fund resulted in the fund growing from $1 billion to nearly $4 billion in six years.

FUNDING for PUBLIC SCHOOLS

What are school trust lands, and Why do they Work?

$100B

In Trust Assets

When states entered the union, the federal government granted them land — held in trust — specifically to generate revenue for public education. These are not just lands. They are a constitutional birthright for every public school child.

  • Does your state have school trust lands? Find out how yours are performing.

  • Are the lands and permanent funds managed to their full potential?

  • Who is holding your state accountable? That is what ASTL is here to do.

Download State Reports →

OUR MISSION

We hold states to their fiduciary duty as trustees of school trust lands — securing a robust and sustainable birthright for public school children through nonpartisan advocacy, education, and collaboration.

OUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS

The principles that guide our work.

Advocates for School Trust Lands (ASTL). While we do not manage trust assets directly, our oversight is rooted in the "Sacred Compact"—the moral and constitutional requirements that govern the administration of school trust lands and funds.

We hold the states to these five core fiduciary duties, and we mirror these standards in our mission to empower and equip the advocates who defend the interests of public schools.

ASTL Values
01
Duty of Permanence
Just as school trust lands and funds are held in perpetuity, we are committed to building a sustainable, long-term organization. We ensure that as long as school trust lands and funds exist, there is a persistent watchdog infrastructure to protect the interests of public schools for generations to come.
02
Duty of Undivided Loyalty
Our North Star is the beneficiary. We hold the states to the legally binding and moral obligation of the sacred compact they made, as trustees, upon statehood, ensuring that every decision regarding trust assets is made solely for the benefit of public schools.
03
Duty to Account
We demand transparency and integrity from the states that manage school trust assets. We mirror these expectations in our own operations, serving as a reliable and independent monitor of the sacred compact.
04
Duty of Productivity
By providing expert knowledge and a unified voice, we empower advocates to defend the optimization and productivity of trust assets. We ensure these resources deliver their full potential to the public schools they were created to support.
05
Duty of Impartiality
The trust is a gift from the past to the future. We train advocates to champion management practices that provide for today's public schools without diminishing the opportunities of future students, ensuring the permanent nature of the trust is never compromised.

While our values are rooted in the law, our effectiveness is driven by our approach. To fulfill our mission, we operate with:

  • Strict Non-partisanship: Because the trust is a sacred compact made by the state, its protection must transcend political divides. We work with all leaders, across the political spectrum, who are committed to their role as trustees.

  • Strategic Collaboration: We believe the best results for public schools come from uniting diverse stakeholders around common fiduciary goals.

  • Expert Leadership: We provide the data, insights, and training necessary to turn the complex duty of trust management into clear, actionable policy for the modern era.

MEMBERSHIP

Join the only national voice for school trust beneficiaries.

Your membership fuels nonpartisan advocacy, expert research, and the coalitions that hold states accountable. Choose the tier that fits your organization.

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DONATE
ASTL Membership Tiers
Individuals $25
Local Educational & Nonprofit Organizations $75
State Educational & Nonprofit Organizations $250
State Government Groups $500
Land Production Industry Partners $500
National Organizations $3,000

Annual Membership Rates