Catawba Lands Conservancy
Catawba Lands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust founded in 1991 in Charlotte, NC that permanently protects land, water, wildlife, and farmland across 15 counties in North and South Carolina, holding over 18,800 acres under conservation easement and leading the 435-mile Carolina Thread Trail regional network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Catawba Lands Conservancy does
Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1991 and headquartered in Charlotte, NC. The organization permanently protects land, water, wildlife habitat, farmland, and natural areas across a 15-county service area spanning the Southern Piedmont and lower Catawba River basin in North and South Carolina. Its core work consists of negotiating and holding conservation easements, acquiring property, and stewarding protected lands, with cumulative conserved acreage exceeding 18,800 acres, 161 miles of protected waterfrontage, and 3,350 acres of preserved farmland. CLC also serves as the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network of more than 435 miles of open trails, greenways, and blueways connecting over 2 million citizens.
The organization's core technology stack centers on geographic information systems and mapping tools used to track conservation properties and plan trail network expansion. Programmatic offerings include the Catawba Grasslands Project for habitat restoration, NeighborWoods tree planting with TreesCharlotte, the Spencer Mountain River Access paddler pass program, the Jenner Wood V Citizen Science Program, and signature events such as Clays for Conservation and Trail Forum. CLC's go-to-market is community-led: the organization engages landowners through direct outreach to negotiate easements, cultivates volunteer stewardship and trail-building labor, and runs corporate partnership and event programming to drive engagement and donations.
CLC is funded by a diversified nonprofit revenue base rather than commercial sales. Income streams include individual and corporate donations across tiered membership levels (Catawba Society and Catawba Corps affinity groups), foundation and corporate grants (notably Foundation For The Carolinas, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo, Knight Foundation, and the Women's Impact Fund), government funding through NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, and the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, planned giving via bequests and trusts, and event revenue. Customer-facing segments span private landowners donating easements, county and municipal government partners, corporate sponsors, schools and youth organizations, and the general public using trails and preserves.
Catawba Lands Conservancy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catawba Lands Conservancy
- Legal name
- Catawba Lands Conservancy
- Website
- https://catawbalands.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Catawba Lands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust founded in 1991 in Charlotte, NC that permanently protects land, water, wildlife, and farmland across 15 counties in North and South Carolina, holding over 18,800 acres under conservation easement and leading the 435-mile Carolina Thread Trail regional network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catawba Lands Conservancy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Land Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)
Keywords
Where Catawba Lands Conservancy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catawba Lands Conservancy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and membership programs. Donors can contribute at various levels including Catawba Society and Catawba Corps affinity groups.
- Grants and Government Funding: CLC receives funding from foundations (Women's Impact Fund, Duke Energy Water Fund), government trust funds (NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund), and federal programs (Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program).
- Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: The organization offers planned giving options including bequests and trusts, as well as stock and mutual fund donations for legacy gifts.
- Event Revenue: Signature events including Clays for Conservation, Trail Forum, and National Trails Day generate community engagement and fundraising opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Donation-based support with variable contribution levels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Catawba Lands Conservancy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catawba Lands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that permanently protects land, water, wildlife habitat, and farmland across a 15-county region in North and South Carolina through conservation easements and direct land acquisition. The organization also serves as the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network spanning 435+ miles of trails connecting more than 2 million citizens.
Product overview
Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) is a nonprofit land trust offering land conservation services and managing the Carolina Thread Trail regional network. The organization provides conservation easements, preserves natural areas, and operates citizen science programs including the Jenner Wood V Citizen Science Program. Key programs include the Catawba Grasslands Project for habitat restoration, Spencer Mountain River Access for paddling, and signature events like Clays for Conservation and Trail Forum. The conservancy serves six counties in North Carolina and leads the 15-county Carolina Thread Trail initiative spanning North and South Carolina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carolina Thread Trail: A regional network of trails, greenways and blueways focused on linking more than two million citizens through 15 counties in North and South Carolina.
- Jenner Wood V Citizen Science Program
Products and services
- Land Conservation Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 18,800 acres of land conserved permanently for public benefit
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Catawba Lands Conservancy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Catawba Lands Conservancy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Catawba Lands Conservancy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Great Outdoor Provision Co.minorAnnual Land Trust Day events where a portion of sales proceeds are donated to CLC. Store location at Park Road Shopping Center in Charlotte.
- City of CharlottecoreCollaboration on Tree Canopy Preservation Program; donated conservation easements on forestland; partnership for greenway development and tree planting initiatives.
- TreesCharlottecoreCLC leads the NeighborWoods program, planting 3,500 trees annually in Charlotte neighborhoods. Initiative to increase city tree canopy by 50% by 2050.
- ReVenture Park / Forsite Development Inc.majorCorporate partner for Long Creek Conservation Area stewardship. Brownfield redevelopment site adjacent to conserved land.
- Clariant CorporationminorCorporate partner supporting conservation near their sites. Donated 1997 conservation easement involving 17 acres at Long Creek Bluff.
- The North Carolina ArboretumminorPartner for ecoEXPLORE citizen science program at CLC preserves. Incentive-based community science project for children K-8.
- Mecklenburg County Park and RecreationminorCoordination with CLC on citizen science events including Moth Nights at Eastover Ridge Preserve.
- NC Wildlife FederationminorPartnership for wildlife habitat protection and recognition. ReVenture Park received Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) certification.
- NC Forest ServicemajorPartnership on prescribed burns and forest management. Worked with NCFS on Piedmont Oak Savanna habitat restoration at Buffalo Creek Preserve.
- NC Biodiversity ProjectminorBiodiversity experts consulted on rare moth sightings and species identification at CLC preserves.
- Carolina Raptor CenterminorRehabilitation center for injured raptors. Released rehabilitated barred owl at Long Creek Conservation Area.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Catawba Lands Conservancy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks/trails for public access. Overlaps with CLC's conservation easement and Carolina Thread Trail mission but at much greater scale and geography.
- The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that acquires and conserves land for working forests, farms, and public access. Competes for federal and foundation conservation funding across the same Southern landscape.
- The Nature Conservancy (NC Chapter): Global conservation organization with active NC operations, broader portfolio, and significantly larger resources. Competes with CLC for major foundation and corporate conservation dollars in the same region.
Direct peers
- Piedmont Land Conservancy: Greensboro-based North Carolina land trust operating across the Piedmont with a similar conservation-easement and stewardship model. Comparable in scope, headcount, and donor-base profile to CLC.
- Three Rivers Land Trust: Regional North Carolina land trust conserving farmland, forests, and waterways. Most direct peer given overlapping Piedmont-region land-conservation mission, easement-driven model, and similar reliance on government and foundation grants.
- Triangle Land Conservancy: Durham-based NC land trust protecting land across the Research Triangle. Direct peer operating a multi-county conservation easement portfolio and public trail network similar to CLC's Carolina Thread Trail.
- Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina: North Carolina land trust focused on the western foothills and Catawba watershed. Direct regional peer with overlapping conservation priorities and easement-driven model.
Emerging players
- MountainTrue: Western North Carolina conservation nonprofit focused on forests, rivers, and public lands. Partial overlap with CLC's stewardship and advocacy work but different geographic focus, making it more of an adjacent peer than a direct competitor.
- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National trail-advocacy nonprofit that recently invested in CLC (2025-10-06 funding round). Strong overlap with the Carolina Thread Trail mission and a likely partner/funder for CLC's trail expansion going forward.
Regional players
- Coastal Land Trust: North Carolina coastal-region land trust with a comparable conservation-easement model. Same nonprofit land-trust category but focused on a different geography, so direct competition is limited.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Catawba Lands Conservancy social profiles
Digital presenceCatawba Lands Conservancy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catawba Lands Conservancy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Catawba Lands Conservancy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catawba Lands Conservancy 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 Catawba Lands Conservancy
What does Catawba Lands Conservancy do?
Catawba Lands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that permanently protects land, water, wildlife habitat, and farmland across a 15-county region in North and South Carolina through conservation easements and direct land acquisition. The organization also serves as the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network spanning 435+ miles of trails connecting more than 2 million citizens.
Is Catawba Lands Conservancy a public or private company?
Catawba Lands Conservancy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Catawba Lands Conservancy founded?
Catawba Lands Conservancy was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Catawba Lands Conservancy based?
Catawba Lands Conservancy is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Catawba Lands Conservancy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants and Government Funding, planned Giving and Estate Gifts and event Revenue.
Who are Catawba Lands Conservancy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trust for Public Land, The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy (NC Chapter). Direct peers are Piedmont Land Conservancy, Three Rivers Land Trust, Triangle Land Conservancy and Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. Emerging players are MountainTrue and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Coastal Land Trust is listed as a regional player.
Does Catawba Lands Conservancy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catawba Lands Conservancy.
What industry is Catawba Lands Conservancy in?
Catawba Lands Conservancy's product category is Land Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas, with a secondary code of BPAJADAH, Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.