The Conservation Fund

What The Conservation Fund does

The Conservation Fund is a U.S. national nonprofit land conservation organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that acquires and protects ecologically and culturally significant land on behalf of federal and state agencies, landowners, and corporate partners. Over four decades the organization has protected more than 9 million acres across all 50 states, including 2 million-plus acres of at-risk forestland, and operates accredited programs spanning at-risk land acquisition, wildlife habitat protection, outdoor recreation access, working-farmland preservation, Arctic and grassland conservation, Appalachian Trail corridor protection, and urban green-infrastructure (Greenseams). The organization is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

The Conservation Fund's business model is a hybrid nonprofit financing structure rather than a product or service sale. Revenue is sourced from individual and foundation donations, corporate partnerships (notably Apple's Restore Fund for 14,000 acres of California coastal redwood restoration and Enbridge's funding of the Sodalis Nature Preserve), impact-investing vehicles, and federal grants — most prominently the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) channeled through the U.S. Department of Agriculture ($25M received October 2024). Its core operational mechanism is to act as an interim buyer and bridge financier, holding title to land and then conveying it to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or state parks agencies for permanent protection, with documented transactions including a $6.9 million 4,012-acre Escalante Ranch acquisition in Colorado, the 1,446-acre Talladega National Forest boundary protection, and the establishment of the 569th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System for the Wyoming toad.

The organization is led by President Larry Selzer and supports additional program lines including Conservation Solutions for Business, Impact Investing, and a New Hampshire forestry workforce credential launched in partnership with UNH Extension in 2025. Distribution occurs exclusively through direct institutional partnerships rather than commercial channels, and customer concentration is structurally diversified across government, corporate, philanthropic, and impact-investor sources, with the federal government as the single largest funding category by implication.

Name

The Conservation Fund

Legal name

The Conservation Fund

Website

https://conservationfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Conservation Fund is a U.S. national nonprofit, founded 1985 in Arlington, Virginia, that acquires and permanently protects land for federal and state agencies, landowners, and corporate partners, with 9 million-plus acres conserved across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Conservation easements
• Farmland preservation
• Land trust management

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization receives donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support conservation work. Hampton Water wine partnership demonstrates a portion of proceeds model where a percentage of product sales supports the fund.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Impact Investing: Partnerships with corporations like Apple's Restore Fund enable large-scale conservation projects. The organization also offers impact investing opportunities for investors seeking conservation-aligned returns.
3. Land and Water Conservation Fund: Government funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is used to acquire and protect land, which is then conveyed to federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for long-term management.
4. Conservation Easements and Land Transfers: The organization acquires land strategically, then transfers or conveys it to government agencies and conservation partners for permanent protection, often facilitated through innovative financing structures.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Conservation Fund is a U.S. national nonprofit land trust that acquires and permanently protects ecologically significant land, then conveys it to federal and state agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state parks departments for long-term management. It runs multiple conservation programs (Securing At-Risk Lands, Protecting Wildlife Habitat, Conserving Outdoor Access, Balancing People and Nature) and specialized initiatives (Arctic, Farmlands, Appalachian Trail, Grasslands, Legacy Places, Greenseams). It also offers Conservation Solutions for Business and Impact Investing services for corporate partners and investors.

Product overview

The Conservation Fund operates as a non-profit land trust offering a portfolio of conservation programs and services rather than a traditional product platform. The organization provides land acquisition and protection services through programs including Securing At-Risk Lands, Protecting Wildlife Habitat, Conserving Outdoor Access, and Balancing People and Nature. Specialized initiatives target specific ecosystems and landscapes such as the Arctic, America's Farmlands, the Appalachian Trail, Grasslands, and Legacy Places. Business-oriented services include Conservation Solutions for Business (corporate partnerships) and Impact Investing for investors. The organization also operates the Greenseams urban flood protection program. These programs work together to protect America's natural landscapes, wildlife habitats, and recreational spaces through strategic land acquisition, conservation easements, and partnership-based conservation solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Securing At-Risk Lands Conservation program that moves quickly to acquire and permanently protect U.S. landscapes facing imminent threat of being lost to development or fragmentation. Serves government partners, landowners, and donors.
• Protecting Wildlife Habitat Program that preserves critical ecosystems and species habitat, including partnerships for endangered species recovery such as the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area. For federal agencies, conservation partners, and donors.
• Conserving Outdoor Access Program that safeguards public lands and trails where people hike, explore, fish, and connect with the outdoors, including efforts tied to the Appalachian Trail corridor. For state parks agencies, recreation users, and donors.
• Balancing People and Nature Community-focused initiative working alongside local communities to integrate conservation with economic vitality, including urban greening programs such as Greenseams. For municipal partners, community organizations, and donors.
• Conservation Solutions for Business Service for corporate partners that structures land-conservation partnerships, impact investing, and cause marketing to help companies meet ESG, carbon-neutrality, and sustainability goals (e.g., Apple Restore Fund).
• Impact Investing Financial service that channels impact-investor capital into conservation projects to produce financial returns alongside measurable environmental outcomes. For impact-investing funds, family offices, and institutional investors.
• Protecting the Arctic's Most Vital Places Initiative protecting one of Earth's last intact ecosystems in the Arctic to safeguard wildlife, support Indigenous communities, and stabilize the climate. For federal partners, Indigenous communities, and conservation donors.
• Protecting America's Farmlands Program that works with farmers on the edges of growing cities to permanently protect agricultural land from development-driven loss. For farmers, agricultural landowners, and state agricultural partners.
• Legacy Places Initiative preserving historically and culturally significant sites where struggle, creativity, and community have taken root, documenting America's story. For cultural-heritage partners, public agencies, and donors.
• Protecting America's Grasslands Conservation effort targeting America's grasslands, an ecosystem covering nearly one-third of the country. For federal land-management agencies, ranchers, and conservation donors.
• Greenseams Urban green-infrastructure program that uses natural systems to protect Milwaukee-area communities from flooding. For municipal partners, Milwaukee communities, and conservation donors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected over 9 million acres of America's natural landscapes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservation Fund acquires land along national forest boundaries using Land and Water Conservation Fund resources and conveys it to the U.S. Forest Service for permanent management. Recent partnership protected 1,446 acres along Talladega National Forest boundary, securing ecologically significant forestland near the Pinhoti Trail and improving wildlife habitat.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservation Fund facilitates land acquisitions by BLM, purchasing properties and then transferring them for permanent conservation. Facilitated the $6.9 million acquisition of 4,012-acre Escalante Ranch adjacent to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado, one of BLM's largest acquisitions in the state.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year conservation partnership leading to establishment of the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area as the 569th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The partnership protected over 3,000 acres of critical wetland habitat in Albany County, Wyoming, with water infrastructure improvements to restore Sand Creek flows.
• Apple Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple's Restore Fund partnership with The Conservation Fund to restore 14,000 acres of California's coastal redwood forests in Mendocino County. The project aims to remove carbon, support local ecosystems, and is part of Apple's broader commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The Gualala River Forest is sustainably managed through this partnership.
• Hampton Water WineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHampton Water, the premium rosé brand founded by Jon Bon Jovi, Jesse Bongiovi, and Gérard Bertrand, supports The Conservation Fund through a portion of proceeds from their limited-edition Artist Series organic rosé blend 'Red Roses.' The partnership raises awareness and funds for conservation while supporting land protection efforts.
• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in multi-year conservation efforts for Wyoming Toad habitat restoration, working alongside The Conservation Fund and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect critical wetland habitat in Wyoming.
• WyoTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWyoTech participated in the Wyoming Toad Conservation effort, contributing to water infrastructure improvements including culvert replacements and ditch cleaning to restore Sand Creek flows essential for the endangered Wyoming toad's breeding and recovery.
• UNH ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to develop a new industry-recognized credential program for forestry careers launching in Fall 2025 in New Hampshire. The program addresses workforce shortages in an industry generating $1.6 billion annually and employing more than 7,200 people in the state.
• New Hampshire Timber Owners AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing forestry workforce credential program in New Hampshire, combining online modules with field learning to create entry-level pathways into forestry careers.
• City of Hannibal, MissouriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnership in creating the Sodalis Nature Preserve, a former limestone mine converted into bat habitat and public recreation area, serving as a community resource balancing species preservation, recreation, and environmental education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is the largest US land conservation nonprofit with a comparable model of land acquisition, easements, federal agency partnerships, and corporate ESG deals, making it the most direct competitor for donor and government capital.
• Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land operates an almost identical land acquisition + federal/state agency conveyance model, competing head-to-head for LWCF dollars and conservation real estate transactions.
• American Farmland Trust: American Farmland Trust focuses on protecting US agricultural land from development, directly overlapping with TCF's Protecting America's Farmlands program and competing for similar foundation and USDA funding.
• Ducks Unlimited: Ducks Unlimited is a habitat-focused land conservation nonprofit that competes for wetland and grassland conservation dollars and is already an active co-partner of TCF on projects like the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area.

Broad incumbents

• Land Trust Alliance: Land Trust Alliance is the national trade association that accredits TCF; it sets standards, aggregates capacity, and channels capacity-building funding that shapes the competitive landscape TCF operates in.
• National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is a broad environmental nonprofit combining habitat conservation, policy advocacy, and education; it competes for conservation donor dollars and corporate ESG partnerships.
• Conservation International: Conservation International operates a global conservation portfolio with a US footprint, competing for corporate biodiversity and carbon-financing partnerships at the upper end of the deal-size spectrum.
• Sierra Club: Sierra Club is one of the largest US environmental nonprofits, combining advocacy, land stewardship, and outdoor recreation; it competes for donor mindshare and outdoor-access funding.
• Natural Resources Defense Council: NRDC is an advocacy-led environmental nonprofit with overlapping corporate sustainability and federal policy influence; it shapes funding flows and policy frameworks that affect TCF's mission.

Regional players

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Appalachian Mountain Club is a regional conservation and outdoor recreation nonprofit focused on the Northeast; it is a peer for outdoor-access and trail-corridor programs overlapping with TCF's Appalachian Trail initiative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ConservationFnd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheConservationFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/theconservationfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-conservation-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/theconservationfund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 The Conservation Fund