What Jackson Hole Land Trust does

Jackson Hole Land Trust (JHLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1980 and headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming. It protects and stewards open spaces, wildlife habitat, working agricultural lands, and community places across Northwest Wyoming through voluntary, perpetual conservation easements negotiated with private landowners, supplemented by publicly accessible community open spaces (R Park, Greenspace on the Block, Karns Meadow, Emily's Pond, Flat Creek Corridor, High School Butte). The organization operates four regional programs covering Jackson Hole, the Green River Valley (Sublette County, launched 2016), the Wind River Valley (Fremont County, launched 2006), and Park County Open Lands (established 2023 as an accredited community-led program), collectively protecting more than 66,000 acres.

JHLT's underlying technology is the conservation easement instrument itself — a legally recorded perpetual agreement held by the trust while private ownership is retained — combined with land stewardship practices executed by in-house ecologists and biologists. It partners with federal agencies (USDA NRCS, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service), state agencies (Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust), tribal entities (Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative), and national nonprofits (The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited) to co-fund transactions and bring scientific data to bear on landscape-scale conservation, including wildlife corridors connecting Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

The business model is a donation-and-grant-funded nonprofit: revenue comes from individual donations across a tiered giving structure ($50 Friend to $50,000 Guardian), planned giving and Legacy Society bequests, tax-smart gifts (appreciated stock, donor-advised funds, cryptocurrency), and government grants. In October 2024, JHLT secured a $21,250,000 USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program award to protect up to 20,000 additional acres over five years. Land Trust Alliance accreditation provides external validation of operating standards. The organization does not sell products or services in a commercial sense; its "customers" are private landowners who execute easements, donors who fund operations, and community members who access open spaces and attend events.

Name

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Legal name

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Website

https://jhlandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jackson Hole Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that protects open spaces, wildlife habitat, and working lands across Northwest Wyoming through perpetual conservation easements and community open spaces, serving private landowners, donors, and regional communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation and Open Space Stewardship

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Working lands preservation
• Community open spaces

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Philanthropic contributions from individuals, including one-time gifts, recurring donations, and major donor cultivation. Donors can give online, by mail, or wire transfer.
2. Planned Giving / Legacy Society: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and other estate planning vehicles that provide long-term funding support. Members include Lyndelle Fairlie and others who have included JHLT in their estate plans.
3. Tax-Smart Gifts: Acceptance of appreciated stock, donor-advised funds, and cryptocurrency through partners like Crypto for Charity.
4. Government Grants: Funding from USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program ($21,250,000 secured), Forest Legacy Program, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust, and other federal and state sources.
5. Volunteer Support: In-kind contributions from volunteers who assist with events, land stewardship, and community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jackson Hole Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that protects and stewards Northwest Wyoming landscapes through conservation easements held in perpetuity on private lands, community open spaces open to the public, and four regional conservation programs (Jackson Hole, Wind River, Green River Valley, Park County Open Lands). It supports ranchers and private landowners with stewardship services, partners with federal, state, and tribal agencies on landscape-scale projects, and funds its work through donations, planned giving, and grants.

Product overview

Jackson Hole Land Trust operates as a land conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and programs. The core offerings include Conservation Easements (voluntary perpetual land protection agreements) and Community Open Spaces (publicly accessible properties including R Park, Greenspace on the Block, Karns Meadow, Emily's Pond, Flat Creek Corridor, and High School Butte). Regional programs (Jackson Hole, Wind River, Green River Valley, Park County Open Lands) provide geographic-specific conservation services. Supporting services include a Landowner Resource Hub providing county-specific stewardship guidance. The organization has protected more than 66,000 acres across Northwest Wyoming through these integrated conservation strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Voluntary perpetual legal agreements between willing private landowners and the land trust that protect a property's wildlife habitat, agricultural production, cultural, and water resources, while the landowner retains private ownership and the easement passes with the title to successive owners.
• Jackson Hole Program Regional conservation program protecting 20,313 acres in the Jackson Hole area focused on wildlife habitat (elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, sage-grouse), working lands, and community open spaces.
• Wind River Program Regional conservation program protecting 3,066 acres in Fremont County, rich in wildlife habitat (elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mule deer), cultural resources, and working agricultural lands.
• Green River Valley Program Regional conservation program protecting 42,048 acres in Sublette County's Green River Valley, supporting strong agricultural heritage and wildlife habitat for sage-grouse, pronghorn, mule deer, and migratory species.
• Park County Open Lands Locally-led regional program protecting 898 acres focused on working lands and wildlife habitat in Park County, Wyoming.
• R Park A 40-acre nonprofit-run community park in Teton County, formerly a gravel pit, designed to engage all ages with nature through open space interaction, fishing, bird watching, and trails.
• Greenspace on the Block An open space in downtown Jackson at 155 E Broadway, featuring towering cottonwoods and hosting community events including free summer yoga classes.
• Karns Meadow A 41-acre community open space featuring important wetlands fed by Flat Creek, open dawn to dusk, frequented by wildlife including moose, mule deer, bald eagles, and osprey.
• Landowner Resource Hub County-specific information hub providing resources about partners and programs to assist landowners in stewardship of their conservation properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66,000+ acres protected across Northwest Wyoming
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in $21,250,000 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding initiative. NRCS provides federal funding matched by partner investments to protect up to 20,000 acres of private lands over five years, including wildlife corridors, cultural resources, and working farms and ranches.
• Grand Teton National Park (GTNP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RCPP initiative. GTNP leads ecosystem restoration efforts on key parcels and contributes to landscape-scale conservation connecting private lands with national park.
• Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RCPP initiative. Emphasizes Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices in conservation. WRTBI leads restoration and rematriation of buffalo populations on Tribal lands and installs wildlife-friendly infrastructure.
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RCPP initiative. WGFD improves habitat by enhancing fencing, controlling invasive species, managing wildlife populations, and serves as holder of conservation easements.
• Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RCPP initiative. WSGLT secures conservation easements helping landowners maintain agricultural operations and working lands.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner on multiple projects including Munger Mountain and Chimney Draw Corridor easements. Led efforts to secure federal funding from USDA Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program through Land and Water Conservation Fund.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing funding through Forest Legacy Program (LWCF) for conservation easements on private forestlands. Works with state partners and landowners to protect environmentally valuable forest areas.
• Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner contributing critical additional funds for conservation easement projects including Munger Mountain and Chimney Draw Corridor.
• U.S. Forest Service (Bridger-Teton National Forest)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in Loomis Park Ranch transfer. Acquired 240-acre ranch for inclusion in Bridger-Teton National Forest, preserving agricultural use and wildlife habitat.
• Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing funding for Cantlin Place conservation easement, enabling permanent protection of 145-acre Manning family ranch.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner providing funding for Cantlin Place conservation easement protecting agricultural land and wildlife habitat.
• Wyoming Game and Fish DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner providing habitat biologist expertise, wildlife management guidance, and holding conservation easements.
• Teton County Weed and Pest DistrictminorOthersLocal partner providing invasive plant control cost-share, species identification and management consultation for landowner resource hub.
• Teton Conservation DistrictminorOthersLocal partner providing wildfire risk reduction programs, invasive species guidance, and Partners in Conservation grants.
• Wyoming State ForestryminorOthersState partner providing private lands assistance on fuel reduction, wildfire mitigation grants, and Forest Stewardship Plans.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorOthersFederal partner providing Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, mechanical vegetation treatments and reseeding on private lands.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational conservation organization partner in Wyoming, with migration program director Abby Scott serving on Park County Open Lands advisory council.
• Community Foundation of Jackson HoleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner organization with executive investment and nominating committee member Jon Dawson serving on Green River Valley advisory council.
• Western Landowners AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner working to protect wildlife and working lands. Park County Open Lands Director Alex Few previously established the Working Wild Challenge program at WLA.
• Heart of the Rockies InitiativeminorOthersRegional conservation partnership organization supporting land protection efforts across the Rockies.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust: Wyoming-based agricultural land trust explicitly partnering with JHLT on the RCPP initiative. Holds conservation easements on ranching properties across Wyoming using a near-identical voluntary easement model on working lands, making it the most direct operational peer.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit partner on Munger Mountain and Chimney Draw Corridor easements and the Loomis Park Ranch transfer. Uses the same transactional conservation finance toolkit—bridge acquisitions, federal funding facilitation—as JHLT on overlapping Wyoming landscape conservation.
• Heart of the Rockies Initiative: Regional partnership supporting land protection efforts across the Rockies. Operates a similar multi-state, easement-and-acquisition-based conservation model targeting working lands and wildlife corridors across the same geography as JHLT.
• Western Landowners Alliance: Working-lands conservation organization whose alumni (e.g., PCOL Director Alex Few) and member ranchers overlap JHLT's network. Focuses on private lands conservation at landscape scale through landowner engagement analogous to JHLT's easement strategy.
• Vermont Land Trust: One of the largest state-level accredited land trusts in the U.S., operating a conservation easement and farmland protection model closely parallel to JHLT. Notable because JHLT's new Advancement Officer Julie Ball joined from the Adirondack Chapter of TNC/Adirondack Land Trust, evidencing direct personnel crossover in the regional land trust community.
• Greater Yellowstone Coalition: Regional conservation nonprofit operating across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—the same landscape as JHLT. Engages on wildlife migration corridors, public lands policy, and habitat protection, overlapping directly with JHLT's sage-grouse, pronghorn, and elk corridor work.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Accredited regional land trust operating a mixed portfolio of conservation easements, fee-owned preserves, and community open spaces very similar to JHLT's product mix (R Park, Greenspace on the Block, Karns Meadow). Same accredited trust business model in a different geography, useful as a structural comparable.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Wyoming Chapter): Global nonprofit conservation organization operating a Wyoming field office and explicitly collaborating with JHLT. Pursues easement and acquisition strategies across Northwest Wyoming alongside JHLT but operates as a much larger multi-state incumbent rather than a regionally specialized trust.

Regional players

• Ducks Unlimited: National wetlands and waterfowl nonprofit providing funding for JHLT projects including the Cantlin Place conservation easement. Overlaps on habitat-focused easement acquisition but focuses on wetlands/waterfowl rather than broader Wyoming landscape conservation.
• Teton Conservation District: Special-purpose local government entity that is an explicit JHLT resource partner providing wildfire risk reduction, invasive-species guidance, and conservation grants. Competes for some of the same landowner engagement in Teton County but with a regulatory/resource conservation mandate rather than an easement-and-acquisition model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jhlandtrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/5572152882
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jackson-hole-land-trust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 Jackson Hole Land Trust