Ruffed Grouse Society

What Ruffed Grouse Society does

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1961 in Monterey, Virginia, and currently headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The organization unites conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and broader forest wildlife, operating through a national network of six regional programs (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Appalachian, Coastal Plain and Piedmont, Eastern Great Lakes, Western Great Lakes), local chapters, and a professional staff of forest wildlife biologists and conservation specialists deployed at state level across roughly 20+ states.

RGS & AWS's core work is delivered via the Dynamic Forest Restoration Block (DFRB) framework — a landscape-scale approach that combines public-land stewardship agreements (notably with the U.S. Forest Service across Cherokee, George Washington and Jefferson, Daniel Boone, Pisgah, and Francis Marion National Forests) with technical assistance to private landowners and corporate sustainability partnerships (e.g., LP Building Solutions). Programmatic products include the membership program (with Covers Magazine), a citizen-science Woodcock Migration Map, and the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative (a University of Maine-coordinated GPS tracking initiative). Outputs are quantified in acres of habitat impacted (e.g., 6,700 acres funded and 500 acres completed at North Cumberland WMA in Tennessee).

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: (1) recurring individual membership dues and donations; (2) chapter-level fundraising events (banquets, sporting clays, Birds & Brews, habitat days); (3) institutional grants and government agreements (e.g., $1.3M Southern Appalachian program, $546,500 NFWF/USFWS grant, $112,240 American Bird Conservancy sub-award); and (4) national corporate partnerships (Orvis, Purina Pro Plan, Federal Premium, Benelli, LL Bean, OnX, Pyke, Lucky Duck, Gundog Grind Coffee, North American Hunting). Distribution occurs through direct membership enrollment via uplandstore.org, local chapters, government stewardship frameworks, and a branded merchandise e-commerce channel.

Name

Ruffed Grouse Society

Legal name

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society

Website

https://ruffedgrousesociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1961 that delivers forest wildlife habitat conservation across six U.S. regions via professional biologists, local chapters, and federal, state, and corporate partnerships targeting ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and forest health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Habitat Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife habitat conservation
• Forest stewardship programs
• Conservation nonprofit membership
• Upland game bird habitat
• Early successional forest

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from individual membership subscriptions and charitable donations from members and supporters. Membership benefits include subscription to Covers Magazine, chapter access, and event participation.
2. Chapter Events and Fundraising: Local chapters organize banquets, sporting clays shoots, Birds & Brews events, and other fundraising activities whose proceeds support RGS & AWS conservation programs.
3. Grants and Government Agreements: RGS & AWS receives grant funding from government agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service), foundations (e.g., American Bird Conservancy sub-award of $112,240), and corporate partners to fund specific habitat projects. The Southern Appalachian region reported $1.3 million in grants and agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that delivers forest wildlife habitat restoration through landscape-scale Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks (DFRBs), a network of professional forest wildlife biologists, and a national chapter-driven volunteer program. Core offerings include individual memberships with Covers Magazine subscription, chapter-organized fundraising events, grant-funded stewardship agreements with federal and state agencies, corporate partnership programs supporting sustainable forest management, and the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative citizen science initiative.

Product overview

The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) is a nonprofit conservation organization, not a technology product company. Its core offerings consist of wildlife habitat conservation programs, a membership program with Covers Magazine subscription, a network of local volunteer chapters, educational resources, and citizen science initiatives including the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative. The organization focuses on forest stewardship for ruffed grouse and American woodcock through landscape-scale habitat management, working with private landowners and government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual membership program providing access to conservation efforts, local chapter participation, member events, and a Covers Magazine subscription for individuals supporting forest wildlife conservation.
• Covers Magazine Award-winning membership publication featuring member stories, conservation field reports, and landscape-scale initiative updates delivered to RGS & AWS members.
• Conservation Programs (Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks / Working Forest Model) Forest wildlife habitat restoration programs including Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks (DFRBs) and the Working Forest Model, delivered to private landowners and government land agencies across six U.S. regions.
• Events and Fundraising Program Organized events including Birds & Brew gatherings, conservation banquets, sporting clays shoots, and habitat work days that promote the conservation mission and raise funds through chapter networks.
• Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative (EWMRC) International collaborative research initiative coordinated by the University of Maine using GPS and satellite technology to track American woodcock migration patterns, with RGS & AWS funding transmitter purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,700 acres of habitat impact funded in Southern Appalachians Year 1, with 500 acres of habitat management completed at North Cumberland WMA in TN
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• U.S. Forest Service — Francis Marion National ForestmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026RGS & AWS executed the Francis Marion Restoration and Wildlife Enhancement Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. This five-year partnership represents a significant investment in active forest management and wildlife habitat restoration across the Francis Marion National Forest in coastal South Carolina. The project will improve approximately 3,000 acres of overstocked loblolly and longleaf pine stands through commercial timber harvests, with revenue reinvested into additional restoration work and a dedicated Forest Wildlife Specialist position.
• LP Building SolutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026LP Building Solutions partnered with RGS & AWS to promote sustainable forest management practices across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The collaboration focuses on enhancing wildlife habitat for ruffed grouse and American woodcock while supporting forest regeneration and ensuring stable long-term wood fiber supply for LP's manufacturing operations. Progress is evaluated through defined milestones including habitat improvements, forest management outcomes, and landowner engagement.
• U.S. Forest Service (Cherokee NF, George Washington and Jefferson NFs, Daniel Boone NF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service covering Cherokee National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, and Daniel Boone National Forests as part of the Southern Appalachian conservation program. These agreements enable landscape-scale habitat management on federal lands.
• U.S. Forest Service — Pisgah National ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to maintain, restore, and enhance forest conditions and wildlife habitat on the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. Primary funder is the USDA Forest Service. RGS & AWS and the National Forests in North Carolina exchange personnel, funding, and other resources for sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration.
• American Bird ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between RGS & AWS and American Bird Conservancy to deliver land conservation in the Great Lakes Basin of northern New York. The $112,240 sub-award to RGS & AWS ($16,962 non-federal match required) funds critical habitat improvement practices promoting diverse forest conditions and native ecosystem benefits.
• Pheasants ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between RGS & AWS and Pheasants Forever on habitat projects, including the Andy Ammann Chapter Habitat Cleanup Day at Potterville State Game Area in Michigan. Collaborative delivery of conservation on state game areas.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership at Jennings Randolph Lake, a flood-control reservoir straddling the West Virginia-Maryland border. RGS & AWS works with USACE to improve forest habitats on and around USACE-managed lands, evolving from cooperation on the Handicapped Hunter program.
• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on conservation events, including the Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter Summer Birds and Brew with BHA, bringing together hunters and anglers around shared conservation values.
• U.S. Forest Service (General)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroader partnership with the U.S. Forest Service through stewardship agreements across multiple national forests, enabling landscape-scale forest management and wildlife habitat delivery.
• State Fish and Wildlife AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with state fish and wildlife agencies including NY DEC (Young Forest Program), Michigan DNR, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and others for habitat projects on state-managed lands.
• National Wild Turkey FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partner in the New York DEC Young Forest Program and various state-level habitat projects. NTWF and RGS & AWS share a complementary focus on forest wildlife and regularly collaborate on habitat initiatives.
• Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative (EWMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGS & AWS, through member and donor generosity, has been supporting the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative coordinated by the University of Maine. RGS & AWS has conducted fundraising campaigns to purchase GPS transmitters for migrating woodcock and assisted partner agencies in completing timely transmitter purchases and leveraging federal research funding.
• Corporate Partners (Orvis, Purina Pro Plan, Federal, Benelli, LL Bean, OnX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGS & AWS's work is accelerated through national corporate partners including Orvis, Purina Pro Plan, Federal Premium Ammunition, Benelli, LL Bean, OnX Maps, Pyke, Lucky Duck, Gundog Grind Coffee, and North American Hunting. These partners support conservation through generous contributions and shared conservation vision.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Bird Conservancy: Bird conservation nonprofit and active RGS & AWS partner ($112,240 sub-award). Operates with a more advocacy/science orientation but shares the federal-grant and habitat-restoration delivery model across overlapping geographies.
• Pheasants Forever: Upland bird and habitat conservation nonprofit with parallel chapter/coordinator structure and federal/state conservation delivery. RGS & AWS partner; competes and collaborates on overlapping upland habitat and federal farm-bill conservation programs.
• Quail Forever: Upland bird (quail) habitat nonprofit with nearly identical chapter/farm-bill biologist model to Pheasants Forever. Directly comparable in delivering young-forest and early-successional habitat programs on private and public lands.
• Ducks Unlimited: Largest waterfowl/wetland conservation nonprofit in North America with comparable chapter-based membership model, federal cost-share program delivery, and habitat biologist network. Direct comparable in operating model despite wetland vs. forest habitat focus.
• Trout Unlimited: Coldwater fish habitat conservation nonprofit with a near-identical chapter-based, biologist-embedded, federal-grant-delivery model. Closest structural analog outside the upland bird category.
• National Wild Turkey Federation: Upland wildlife habitat conservation nonprofit with similar member-driven, chapter-based model. Already a formal RGS & AWS partner; comparable in focus on game-bird habitat, federal stewardship agreements, and corporate hunting-industry sponsorship base.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Big-game habitat conservation nonprofit with comparable membership model, federal stewardship agreement work, and corporate hunting-industry sponsorships. Comparable in mission (wildlife habitat) and operating model despite different focal species.

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: Large generalist wildlife conservation nonprofit with broader species/scope than RGS & AWS. Comparable in policy/advocacy and federal partnerships but lacks the same single-species deep technical focus.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest private conservation land trust globally. Operates in overlapping forestry and habitat geographies but at much larger scale, with land acquisition as the dominant lever rather than active management/stewardship agreements.

Emerging players

• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Conservation-focused hunting/angling advocacy nonprofit already co-hosting events with RGS & AWS. Comparable membership demographic and policy posture but thinner delivery infrastructure (less habitat biologist capacity).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/RuffedGrouseSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/RuffedGrouseSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/RuffedGrouseSociety
• Xx.com/RGS_AWS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ruffed-grouse-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 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 Ruffed Grouse Society