Like most land trusts, Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust has limited funding to purchase land.

A "bargain sale" can be appropriate when a landowner needs some compensation for their property, and can afford to sell to a land trust at a price below what they could receive on the open market in order to create a preserve. The difference between the "fair market value" determined by an appraiser and the actual sale price is considered a donation to the land trust, and therefore potentially tax deductible.

Many land trusts in Wisconsin use the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, a state fund for land acquisition by the Department of Natural Resources, local governments and non-profit conservation groups. When land trusts work with the Stewardship Fund, there are several requirements they must meet, including the development of a property management plan and making the land open to the public whenever possible.