The Conservation Foundation

What The Conservation Foundation does

The Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land and water conservation organization founded in 1972 and headquartered at McDonald Farm in Naperville, Illinois. It preserves open space, protects rivers and watersheds, and runs education programs across seven counties in northeastern Illinois (DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will, LaSalle, DeKalb, and Grundy), having protected more than 36,000 acres to date. The organization staffs three regional watershed workgroups (DuPage River Salt Creek, Lower Des Plaines, and Chicago Area Waterways Chloride) and operates a portfolio of branded programs including Green Earth Harvest (a 49-acre USDA-certified organic farm serving 700+ farmshare families and 1,200+ food pantry families), Conservation@Home/Work/School, Mighty Acorns youth education, Nature Rx, and Club Nature.

The foundation's core technology stack is primarily programmatic and scientific rather than software-based: conservation easement and fee-simple land acquisition, water quality monitoring and TMDL implementation, certified organic farming (USDA NOP, Real Organic Project, MOSA-certified), and youth/school environmental curricula. It maintains digital infrastructure including a Givecloud-powered farmshare e-commerce portal, DonorPerfect donation management, and an Inksoft merchandise store (The Rookery), with active engagement across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok channels.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring and episodic streams: individual memberships (5,000+ at tiers from entry-level to Prairie Oak Society at $1,000+/year), Renewable Resources Society monthly giving, farmshare vegetable subscriptions, weekly farm stand sales, corporate sponsorships (CITGO, ComEd), The Rookery merchandise, planned giving through the Perennial Circle, and episodic major foundation grants (notably $1.5M from the Hamill Family Foundation in 2015). Land Trust Alliance accreditation (2019) and Illinois Land and Water Reserve designation provide third-party credibility, while 500+ volunteers contributing 20,000 hours annually and 30+ professional staff support operations.

Name

The Conservation Foundation

Legal name

The Conservation Foundation

Website

https://theconservationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that preserves open space, protects rivers and watersheds, and operates a certified organic farm across seven counties in northeastern Illinois, serving 5,000+ members, 700+ farmshare families, and multiple watershed workgroups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land and Watershed Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Land preservation services
• Watershed protection programs
• Certified organic farming
• Environmental education programs
• Conservation nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership & Donations: Individual and business members support the organization through annual membership dues and donations. More than 5,000 local individuals and businesses are members. Donations are fully tax deductible. Membership includes benefits such as The Heron magazine, invitations to events, and email newsletters.
2. Farmshare Subscriptions: Community members purchase seasonal vegetable subscriptions (farmshares) in advance of the growing season, funding farm operations and sharing in the risk and reward of local growing. Over 700 families participate in the farmshare program.
3. Farm Stand Sales: Weekly farm stand sales of certified organic produce during the summer season (early June through November), open Thursday afternoons at McDonald Farm.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor The Conservation Foundation's special events, campaigns, and marketing programs, providing advertising exposure and reinforcing reputation as good corporate citizens.
5. Planned Giving & Estate Gifts: Perennial Circle donors make planned gifts including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, retirement plan beneficiaries, appreciated securities, real estate, and life insurance policies.
6. Renewable Resources Society (Monthly Giving): Monthly recurring donors join the Renewable Resources Society with automatic monthly contributions, providing a steady revenue stream for the organization.
7. The Rookery Merchandise: Online merchandise store selling nature-themed products with a portion of purchases supporting the organization's conservation mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) land and watershed conservation nonprofit that protects open space, restores rivers, and runs a certified-organic community farm. It preserves land through conservation easements, fee-simple acquisition, and partnerships with public agencies; provides professional staffing for regional watershed workgroups; operates the Green Earth Harvest organic farmshare program on 49 acres at McDonald Farm; and delivers environmental education through Conservation@Home/@Work/@School, Mighty Acorns, Summer Camps, Club Nature, and Nature Rx programs across seven northeastern Illinois counties.

Product overview

The Conservation Foundation offers a portfolio of conservation-focused programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Green Earth Harvest (certified organic farm with farmshare subscriptions), Conservation@Home/Work/School programs for property owners and businesses, watershed protection initiatives (DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup, Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group), land preservation services, and youth education programs (Mighty Acorns, Summer Camps, Club Nature, Nature Rx). Additional offerings include membership programs (standard, Prairie Oak Society premium tier, Renewable Resources monthly giving, Perennial Circle planned giving), merchandise through The Rookery, and conservation products like rain barrels. The organization operates several properties including McDonald Farm (headquarters in Naperville), Dickson-Murst Farm (Montgomery), and Dayton Bluffs Preserve (Ottawa).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Earth Harvest: Certified organic farm program devoted to healthy soil, healthy vegetables, healthy people, and healthy communities. Operates on 49 acres at McDonald Farm in Naperville, growing vegetables for community farmshare program and food pantry partners.
• Conservation@Home
• Conservation@Work
• Conservation@School
• Mighty Acorns
• Nature Rx
• Club Nature

Products and services

• Green Earth Harvest Organic Farm Program
• Conservation@Home Program
• Conservation@Work Program
• Conservation@School Program
• Mighty Acorns Youth Education Program
• Nature Rx / Forest Therapy Program
• Farm to Pantry Initiative
• Watershed Protection Programs
• Land Preservation Services
• DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup Staffing
• Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group Staffing
• The Rookery Merchandise Store
• Rain Barrels and Composters Sales
• Summer Camps
• Club Nature

Quantifiable outcome

• Preserved more than 36,000 acres of open space throughout northeastern Illinois
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forest Preserve District of DuPage CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservation Foundation originated as the Forest Foundation of DuPage County in 1972 and was formally constituted as an official support organization of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in 1974. The Foundation continues to work closely with the District on land preservation and open space referenda campaigns, having helped raise public funds through bond referenda.
• City of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create and manage the Dayton Bluffs Preserve. The Conservation Foundation owns the 253-acre property and leases it to the City of Ottawa, which manages it as a public preserve. The City handles daily access, security, and general maintenance while TCF manages ecological restoration and long-term stewardship.
• Chicago WildernesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservation Foundation partnered with Chicago Wilderness and other organizations to launch the Mighty Acorns educational program in 1998. Chicago Wilderness is a regional alliance for conservation in the Chicago region.
• Village of MontgomerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated property that became the Dickson-Murst Farm in 2006. At the time, Kendall County was one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., and the Village's support allowed The Conservation Foundation to establish a presence for conservation advocacy in land use decisions.
• The Wetlands InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands work, specifically featuring the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes as part of efforts to promote wetland conservation and wise use.
• DuPage River Salt Creek WorkgroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffed by The Conservation Foundation since 2006, this workgroup celebrates over a decade of cutting-edge science, water quality monitoring, dam removal, and restoration projects along the DuPage River and Salt Creek. Led by Dave Gorman as President since 2012.
• Lower Des Plaines Watershed GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed group formed in 2017 and staffed by The Conservation Foundation, focused on water quality and watershed protection for the Lower Des Plaines watershed.
• Illinois Nature Preserves CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dayton Bluffs Preserve was designated as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in 2014, providing regulatory protection for the property.
• Fox Valley Wildlife CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and fundraising partner for wildlife conservation efforts in the Fox River valley.
• Friends of the Fox RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrook McDonald is a founding board member of Friends of the Fox River. The Conservation Foundation launched the Fox River Initiative in 2017 to bring awareness and care to the Fox River, funded by the Hamill Family Foundation.
• Midwest SOARRING FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Joseph Standing Bear from the Midwest SOARRING Foundation to develop The Conservation Foundation's Native American Land Acknowledgment Statement, with input and blessing from Indigenous community leadership.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy - Illinois Chapter: The Nature Conservancy is the largest global conservation nonprofit with active land protection, watershed work, and chapter-based programming across Illinois. It is broadly comparable to The Conservation Foundation through its mission (land and water preservation) but operates at much larger scale and geographic breadth.
• Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for people, with active Illinois operations including Chicago-area conservation and conservation referenda support. It overlaps with The Conservation Foundation on conservation easement, land acquisition, and ballot measure strategy.
• The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of conservation and commerce, including land acquisition, working forest preservation, and watershed protection. Comparable in mission breadth and land protection approach, though it operates at a national rather than regional scale.

Direct peers

• Openlands: Openlands is a Chicago-region conservation nonprofit focused on land protection, water, and green space advocacy in northeastern Illinois. It is a direct peer to The Conservation Foundation, operating in the same geography with overlapping programs around land preservation, watershed work, and Conservation@Home-style homeowner outreach.
• Friends of the Fox River: Friends of the Fox River is a regional nonprofit focused on Fox River watershed stewardship, with Brook McDonald as a founding board member. Directly comparable to The Conservation Foundation's watershed workgroup staffing model and river-focused conservation programs.
• Natural Lands: Natural Lands is a regional land trust operating across Pennsylvania and New Jersey with land preservation, conservation easement, and community conservation programs. Comparable to The Conservation Foundation as a regional, accredited land trust with similar multi-program structure.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: The Land Trust Alliance is the national umbrella organization that has accredited The Conservation Foundation since 2019. It is not a direct peer but functions as the industry body and standard-setter relevant to comparable land trusts.
• Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is the public agency that The Conservation Foundation was originally created to support and continues to partner with on land preservation and referenda. Comparable mission but a government entity rather than a nonprofit peer.
• Chicago Wilderness: Chicago Wilderness is a regional alliance of organizations working to protect, restore, and manage the natural resources of the Chicago region. The Conservation Foundation is a member and co-created the Mighty Acorns youth program with this alliance, making it an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• Pace Suburban Bus / Local Sustainability NGOs (regional cohort): Comparable regional environmental and sustainability nonprofits in the Chicago metro that compete for similar corporate sponsorship and member dollars. Included as ecosystem participants that share the Chicago-area corporate sustainability giving pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2YywN4LMzCxSCv219MV56A
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/The-Conservation-Foundation/130550789762
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservation-foundation-the
• Instagraminstagram.com/theconservationfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@conservationfoundation
• Xx.com/TCFHeron

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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 Foundation