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What are Endowment Lands?
On July 3, 1890, Idaho became the forty-third state of the Union. At that time, the federal government granted a total of 3,650,763 acres to the new State of Idaho. The acres were distributed to nine endowment trusts. Endowment Land Status as of June 30, 2006 stands at 2,460,261 total acres. (Idaho Department of Lands 2006 Annual Report, page 33.)
Endowment trust beneficiaries include:
- Public Schools
- Agricultural College Fund (University of Idaho)
- Charitable Institutions Fund (Idaho State University, Industrial Training School, State Hospital North, Idaho Veterans Homes and the School for the Deaf and Blind)
- Normal School Fund (Idaho State University Department of Education, Lewis-Clark State College)
- Penitentiary Fund
- School of Science Fund (University of Idaho)
- State Hospital South Fund
- University Fund (University of Idaho)
- Capitol Commission
State Trust Lands - Asset Management
Endowment assets of the State of Idaho consist of both lands and funds. All endowment assets are held in trust by the State in nine endowment trusts. The State initially received grants of over 3.65 million acres of land in trust from the federal government in the Idaho Admissions Bill and through other federal acts. Over time, properties were sold or exchanged, with proceeds from the sales and certain other income deposited in the endowment funds.
The Idaho Constitution establishes the State Board of Land Commissioners as the trustee over the assets of the nine endowments. As trust manager, the Land Board is obligated to manage the assets of each trust with undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries of the trusts. Idaho Code 58-101 created the Endowment Fund Investment Board, which formulates policy for, and manages the investment of, the financial assets.
To learn more about the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners State Trust Lands Asset Management Plan (December 20, 2007), click here.
For Parcel Nomination Process forms (WORD and PDF versions), click here.
State Board of Land Commissioners
In order to effectively manage the endowment lands and funds, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution established the State Board of Land Commissioners, consisting of Idaho's Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The State Auditor (now called State Controller) was added in 1910. The Land Commissioners, acting in the capacity of trustees on behalf of the beneficiary schools and other institutions, were given the responsibility under Article IX, Section 8 of the Constitution (as amended) to manage endowment lands "... in such manner as will secure the maximum long term financial return to the institution to which granted..." In addition to this charge, the Constitution also established a permanent endowment fund, the principal of which "...shall forever remain inviolate and intact...," and the interest from which must be used for the maintenance of the public beneficiaries of the State.
...learn more about the State Board of Land Commissioners
Department of Lands
The Department of Lands was created in 1895 to perform the constitutional functions given the State Board of Land Commissioners concerning the management of grant lands. The Director of the Idaho Department of Lands is appointed by the Land Board and serves as Secretary to the Land Board. Currently more than 225 dedicated natural resource specialists and support staff functioning in 14 Supervisory Areas throughout the State work to implement the management directives as handed down by the Idaho Constitution and the State Board of Land Commissioners. Of the 3.65 million acres originally received, endowment lands currently total nearly 2.5 million acres, including 780,000 acres of commercial timberland and about three million acres of minerals. In addition, the Department of Lands, having been assigned additional duties over the years by the State Legislature, now serves as the host agency to the Idaho Board of Scaling Practices, the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association and the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association ... learn more about the Idaho Department of Lands
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