Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

What Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation does

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Camp Hill, PA. It serves as the official nonprofit partner of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), supporting all 125 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forest land through a portfolio of programmatic offerings rather than a single technology product. Core offerings include the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport and See Them All Challenge (a tracking/achievement system with the Passport Hall of Fame), the annual photo contest, Wilderness Wheels Transportation Scholarships (up to $600 awards to Title I schools, youth programs, and senior centers), the Think Outside Podcast, accessibility programming (Outdoors for Everyone; the new EnChroma color-contrast goggles program), and the 46+ Friends Group chapters with chapter-specific donation pages.

Operationally, PPFF coordinates a large volunteer ecosystem — chapters have contributed more than 433,000 tracked volunteer hours since 2007 and approximately 75,000 hours annually — supplemented by named programs such as Stewards of Penn's Woods and Graffiti Busters. The foundation runs the annual awards banquet and the Celebrate 250 Years initiative, and pursues state-level advocacy through the Protect Our Parks and Forests initiative, which is built on a 2019 Richard King Mellon Foundation–funded report identifying over $1 billion in unmet state-park infrastructure needs.

PPFF's revenue model is diversified across membership dues ($20 student/senior to $25,000 Conservation Legacy Society), general donations, corporate partnerships (e.g., Domtar, REI, KCI, Seneca Resources, PA American Water, New Trail Brewing Company), time-limited special funding initiatives (Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Fund, Camping Enhancements, Natural Play Areas, Playgrounds For All), planned giving and Conservation Legacy Society estate gifts, merchandise sales including the Passport, and grants from organizations such as AARP and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Distribution is digital-first via the paparksandforests.org website, NeonCRM-backed donate/membership flows, the Z2 Systems online store, and direct event participation across state parks.

Name

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Legal name

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Website

https://paparksandforests.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that serves as the official partner of Pennsylvania's 125 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land, coordinating 46+ Friends Groups, funding capital projects, and delivering accessibility, education, and conservation programs statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Nonprofit and Public Lands Stewardship

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Conservation nonprofit services
• State park stewardship
• Volunteer program coordination
• Public lands advocacy
• Outdoor recreation programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Camp Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Individual memberships ranging from $20 (Student/Senior level) to $25,000 (Conservation Legacy Society). Membership provides daily reminder of importance of PA state parks and forests.
2. Donations and Contributions: General donations and contributions to support foundation work across stewardship, education, recreation, and volunteerism initiatives.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Business and nonprofit partnerships supporting parks and forests within reach of all major communities in Pennsylvania, supporting employee health and happiness initiatives.
4. Special Funding Initiatives: Time-limited fundraising campaigns for specific projects similar to Kickstarter or GoFundMe, including Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Fund, Outdoors For Everyone, camping enhancements, natural play areas, and playgrounds for all.
5. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Estate and planned gifts allowing donors to leave a legacy supporting public lands through the Conservation Legacy Society.
6. Merchandise Sales: Online store offering merchandise including Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport and other items.
7. Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from organizations like AARP for accessibility programs, and Richard King Mellon Foundation for infrastructure and maintenance reports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the official partner of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, operating the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport achievement program, coordinating 46+ Friends Group volunteer chapters, and delivering fundraising, advocacy, and educational programs that supplement state park staffing and fund infrastructure projects.

Product overview

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) operates as a nonprofit organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offering includes the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport and See Them All Challenge, which together form an achievement and tracking system for park visitors. Supporting programs include the Annual Photo Contest for community engagement, Wilderness Wheels Transportation Scholarships for educational access, and Outdoors for Everyone for accessibility improvements. The organization's volunteer infrastructure includes Friends Groups (over 46 chapter organizations), Stewards of Penn's Woods, and Graffiti Busters. Additional offerings include the Think Outside Podcast, Annual Awards Banquet, Special Funding Initiatives for capital projects, and a Membership Program. The organization also runs advocacy through the Protect Our Parks & Forests initiative and environmental education through the Year of the Trees initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport A physical and digital passport booklet visitors use to record visits to all 125 Pennsylvania state parks and 20 state forest districts, with stamps or dates tracked at park offices.
• See Them All Challenge An achievement program for visitors who complete all 125 state parks and 20 forest districts, offering champion tags, certificates, and recognition through the Passport Hall of Fame.
• Annual Photo Contest Annual photography competition with multiple categories capturing the beauty and experiences of Pennsylvania state parks and forests, open to amateur and professional photographers.
• Wilderness Wheels Transportation Scholarships Transportation scholarship program for K-12 students at Title I schools, youth enrichment programs, and seniors to access state parks and forests for experiential learning, leadership development, and recreation skills, with awards up to $600.
• Think Outside Podcast A podcast series covering topics related to Pennsylvania state parks, forests, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
• Outdoors for Everyone Initiative focused on removing barriers and improving public access to outdoor recreation, including ADA-compliant canoe and kayak launches, universal design principles, and accessibility improvements.
• Annual Awards Banquet Annual recognition event honoring exemplary volunteers, staff, companies, and public servants with awards across 16 categories including Keystone Legacy Award, Park of the Year, Forest of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year.
• Friends Groups Network Network of more than 46 volunteer chapters supporting specific state parks and forests, providing training, technical services, and helping chapters navigate state requirements and nonprofit best practices.
• Special Funding Initiatives Time-limited fundraising campaigns for specific projects including Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Fund, Outdoors For Everyone, Protect Our Parks & Forests, Camping Enhancements, Natural Play Areas, and Playgrounds For All.
• Membership Program Individual membership program ranging from $20 for Student/Senior level to $25,000 for Conservation Legacy Society members, providing a membership card and supporting the foundation's mission.
• Protect Our Parks & Forests Initiative Advocacy initiative addressing the over $1 billion infrastructure funding need for state parks and forests.
• Year of the Trees Initiative Tree planting and conservation initiative launched in 2020 to address the $600,000 need for new trees and establish a volunteer Tree Army.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,000+ volunteer hours donated annually to state parks and forests
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AARPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 December 2025AARP provided support for PPFF's EnChroma color-contrast goggles program at Oil Creek and Black Moshannon State Parks, enhancing accessibility for people with red-green color vision deficiencies. This accessibility initiative makes nature's colors more accessible to visitors with color blindness.
• Ligonier (Gateway Community Pilot)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ligonier serves as PPFF's pilot Gateway Community, partnering with Forbes State Forest, Linn Run State Park, and Laurel Mountain State Park. The initiative assessed connections, created signage, developed walking tours, and built partnerships between the community and public lands.
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPFF serves as the official nonprofit partner of DCNR, working to provide resources (human and capital) to ensure natural, cultural, and aesthetic values of state lands remain for future generations. This partnership dates to PPFF's founding in 1999.
• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor EthicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPFF is a proud partner with Leave No Trace, delivering education on responsible outdoor enjoyment through the Center's principles and research.
• Hispanic Access FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPFF participates in Latino Conservation Week, spearheaded by the Hispanic Access Foundation, which began in 2014 with nine events and showcases Latino community passion for the outdoors.
• Awards Banquet Corporate SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious corporate sponsors support PPFF's annual awards banquet including Domtar (Cliff Jones Legacy Sponsor), Stahl Sheaffer Engineering (Joseph Ibberson Sponsor), KCI (Chair's Award Sponsor), Seneca Resources (Park of Year Sponsor), REI (Volunteer Individual Sponsor), KatesRealFood (Volunteer Group Sponsor), PA American Water (Education Award Sponsor), Marotta Main Architects (Improvement Award Sponsor), Charles/Susan Davidson and George/Kristie Asimos (Young Award Sponsor), PA Media Group (Cliff Jones Legacy Sponsor), and Snyder Appraisal Assoc (President's Award Sponsor).
• New Trail Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Trail Brewing Company made tree planting at Hyner Run and Hyner View a priority through their April 2022 Hazy IPA sales, supporting PPFF's Year of the Trees initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Conservancy that protects and manages the Appalachian Trail through volunteer coordination, fundraising, and partnership with public land agencies. Shares PPFF's model of mobilizing volunteers and donors for a specific trail/forest corridor in the eastern U.S.
• National Parks Conservation Association: National nonprofit advocacy organization for national parks. While PPFF focuses on Pennsylvania state parks and forests, NPCA plays an analogous 'official partner/advocate' role for the National Park Service, making it the closest direct functional peer.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit serving the Northeast U.S. Comparable to PPFF through its focus on trail stewardship, volunteer-led conservation, and outdoor access programs in overlapping geography.

Emerging players

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: National nonprofit focused on outdoor ethics education and stewardship. Already a formal partner of PPFF; comparable in mission around responsible outdoor recreation and conservation education.
• Hispanic Access Foundation: Nonprofit that connects Latinos with nature and conservation opportunities through programs like Latino Conservation Week. Already a PPFF partner; comparable in mission of expanding diverse communities' access to public lands.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on conserving land for public use, including parks and natural areas. Operates at much larger scale than PPFF but pursues an overlapping mission of expanding public access to nature.
• National Wildlife Federation: Large national conservation organization with state affiliate programs. Comparable through advocacy for public lands, conservation education, and outdoor recreation access for diverse audiences.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest environmental nonprofits globally, focused on land and water conservation. While operating at vastly larger scale and scope, TNC shares PPFF's conservation mission and dependence on donor and foundation funding.
• Sierra Club: One of the oldest and largest U.S. environmental organizations, with active chapters in Pennsylvania. Overlaps with PPFF on conservation advocacy, public lands protection, and outdoor recreation programming.

Regional players

• New York-New Jersey Trail Conference: Regional nonprofit that builds and maintains trails in partnership with public agencies in NY and NJ. Comparable to PPFF through its volunteer-driven trail stewardship model and partnership with state park systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLejwb83_B8pJWtBEuikNr7OHw7rT7Wk7A
• Facebookfacebook.com/PennsylvaniaParksAndForestsFoundation
• Xx.com/PaPFF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation