The Conservation Foundation
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersNaperville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Conservation Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Conservation Foundation industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Conservation Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Naperville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Conservation Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Rookery Merchandise: Online merchandise store selling nature-themed products with a portion of purchases supporting the organization's conservation mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Prairie Oak Society - Minimum $1,000/year donor tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Farmshare Vegetable Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Conservation Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Conservation Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Conservation Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Conservation Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage CountycoreThe 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 OttawacorePartnership 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 WildernesscoreThe 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 MontgomerycoreDonated 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 InitiativeminorCollaborated 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 WorkgroupcoreStaffed 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 GroupcoreWatershed 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 CommissioncoreThe 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 CenterminorVolunteering and fundraising partner for wildlife conservation efforts in the Fox River valley.
- Friends of the Fox RivercoreBrook 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 FoundationminorPartnered 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
The Conservation Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
The Conservation Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Conservation Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Conservation Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Conservation Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Conservation Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Conservation Foundation
What does The Conservation Foundation do?
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.
Is The Conservation Foundation a public or private company?
The Conservation Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Conservation Foundation founded?
The Conservation Foundation was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Conservation Foundation based?
The Conservation Foundation is headquartered in Naperville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Conservation Foundation make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Membership & Donations are the primary driver. The others are farmshare Subscriptions, farm Stand Sales, corporate Sponsorships, planned Giving & Estate Gifts, renewable Resources Society (Monthly Giving) and the Rookery Merchandise.
Who are The Conservation Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Nature Conservancy - Illinois Chapter, Trust for Public Land and The Conservation Fund. Direct peers are Openlands, Friends of the Fox River and Natural Lands. Others are Land Trust Alliance, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Chicago Wilderness and Pace Suburban Bus / Local Sustainability NGOs (regional cohort).
Does The Conservation Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Conservation Foundation.
What industry is The Conservation Foundation in?
The Conservation Foundation's product category is Land and Watershed Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 700.