Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods

What Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods does

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation (Tax ID 94-3039895) founded in 1985 and headquartered in Sonoma County, California. The organization operates as the designated nonprofit partner of California State Parks for the Russian River Sector, with formal operating agreements covering Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Sonoma Coast State Park. Its mission centers on environmental education, volunteer coordination, and preservation of natural and cultural resources, including the National Historic Landmark-designated Pond Farm Pottery (designated December 2023).

The organization's core offerings include docent-led educational programs serving 6,000+ school children annually (redwood ecology field trips, tidepool education, salmon lifecycle programs), cultural heritage tours of Pond Farm Pottery, free community guided walks, and volunteer docent training under the California State Parks Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP). Ancillary programming includes wellness events (yoga, Redwoods Reset contemplative immersion), nature journaling workshops, Forest Theater concerts, and cultural performances such as the Sonoma County Pomo Dancers. The organization also produced and distributed a PBS documentary, 'Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm,' in partnership with KRCB.

Revenue is generated through five diversified streams: individual donations and memberships ($35+ threshold), grants, e-commerce merchandise sales (apparel, books, Pond Farm pottery, collectibles) through the website and two visitor centers, fees for programs and special events (yoga at $10, Pond Farm tours at $25-35, UC Naturalist certification at $650), and campground operations including firewood sales. Additional donor programs include ADA picnic table sponsorships ($2,500-$3,500) and legacy/planned giving infrastructure. The organization employs 11-50 staff, supplemented by a large volunteer docent and trail crew network, and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Name

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods

Legal name

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods

Website

https://stewardscr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with California State Parks to deliver environmental education, docent-led tours, and volunteer coordination across Armstrong Redwoods, Austin Creek, and Sonoma Coast State Parks, serving schools, visitors, and members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Park Stewardship Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Park volunteer stewardship
• Cultural heritage tours
• Docent-led nature walks
• Nonprofit membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sonoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Individual donations and membership fees provide sustainable annual funding. Membership benefits include 20% discounts at the e-store and visitor centers, discounts on events and courses.
2. Resale of Educational Materials: Revenue from selling educational materials, books, pottery, apparel, and collectibles through visitor centers and the e-store.
3. Special Events and Programs: Fees from events including Pond Farm tours, yoga classes, nature workshops, and docent training programs.
4. Grants: Funding from grants supports organizational operations and specific programs.
5. Campground Operations: Revenue from firewood sales at State Parks campgrounds and campground hosting operations at Bullfrog Pond.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner to California State Parks, delivering environmental education programs, docent-led cultural and nature tours, volunteer coordination, and heritage preservation services at Armstrong Redwoods, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Sonoma Coast State Park. It generates revenue through donations, memberships, program fees, e-commerce merchandise sales, grants, and special events including yoga, concerts, and a PBS documentary.

Product overview

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is a nonprofit organization operating as a partner to California State Parks. The organization offers a portfolio of educational and cultural programs centered on Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Sonoma Coast State Park. Core offerings include docent-led ecology field trips for schools (Armstrong Redwood Ecology and Tidepool Education programs), cultural heritage tours of Pond Farm Pottery National Historic Landmark, and free community programs such as guided nature walks and docent training. The organization also provides wellness programming (yoga in the redwoods, contemplative forest immersion), cultural events (music concerts, Pomo Dancers performances), and nature journaling workshops. Revenue-generating activities include an e-commerce store selling merchandise and pottery, membership subscriptions, picnic table sponsorship, and legacy/planned giving programs. A notable cultural contribution is the documentary film 'Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm' produced for PBS distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Armstrong Redwood Ecology Field Trip with Docents

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 6,000+ school children annually through environmental education programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• California State ParksflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStewards is the designated nonprofit partner to California State Parks for the Russian River Sector, operating Austin Creek State Recreation Area, supporting visitor centers at Armstrong Redwoods and Jenner, and coordinating volunteer programs through the Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP).
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStewards is a registered nonprofit partner of the 1% for the Planet network, enabling member businesses to make charitable donations as part of their environmental commitment.
• KRCB (PBS Northern California)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with KRCB PBS station for distribution of the documentary 'Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm' to public television stations nationwide.
• Northern California Public MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of KRCB supporting nationwide distribution of the Pond Farm documentary film through public media.
• Arts in California ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program supporting free concert series at Forest Theater including performers like Lee Vandeveer Band, Hardly Strictly Irish, and James and Friends.
• California State Parks VIPPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers in Parks Program providing framework for Stewards to recruit, train, and coordinate volunteer docents and trail crew members.
• University of California Naturalist ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver UC California Naturalist Certification courses, a 9-week 50+ hour program integrating science curriculum with field study.
• Pond Farm Pottery (pondfarm.org)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStewards supports preservation and interpretation of Pond Farm Pottery National Historic Landmark through docent-led tours and educational programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pacific Forest Trust: Nonprofit dedicated to conserving and sustaining working forests in the U.S. West. Comparable conservation mission and forest-focused programming, though primarily working on forest carbon and landowner partnerships rather than direct public programming.

Direct peers

• Save the Redwoods League: A nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring redwood forests across California. Directly comparable as a redwood-focused land conservation and stewardship nonprofit serving overlapping donor and volunteer audiences in Northern California.
• Sempervirens Fund: California nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring redwood forests, particularly in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Comparable mission (redwood stewardship, public land partnership, donor-supported conservation) and similar community-engagement and education programming.
• Parks California: Nonprofit established to support California State Parks through philanthropy, programs, and partnerships. Direct peer in the State Parks nonprofit partner ecosystem, with a statewide mandate rather than a single sector focus.
• California State Parks Foundation: Statewide nonprofit that supports California State Parks through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer engagement. Direct counterpart in the State Parks nonprofit partner ecosystem, with broader geographic scope but similar revenue model (memberships, donations, grants).

Broad incumbents

• NatureBridge: National environmental education nonprofit operating residential science programs in multiple national parks. Comparable environmental education model (docent-led field programs for school groups), with broader geographic reach and larger institutional footprint.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring access to nature. Overlaps in mission to preserve public lands and expand access, though operates at a much larger scale across multiple states.

Regional players

• Audubon Canyon Ranch: Northern California conservation nonprofit focused on nature education, land stewardship, and ecological research. Comparable in education program delivery, docent-led tours, and reserve management at field sites.
• Land Trust of Santa Cruz County: Regional land conservation nonprofit in coastal Northern California. Comparable in nonprofit conservation model, volunteer engagement, and educational programming, though with a different geographic footprint.
• Sonoma Land Trust: Regional land trust operating in Sonoma County focused on land conservation, trail stewardship, and public access. Comparable geographic focus and nonprofit land stewardship model, though its emphasis is on land acquisition and easements rather than education programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stewardsofcr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods