Student Conservation Association
Student Conservation Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 and the largest U.S. provider of hands-on environmental conservation service programs for youth and young adults, placing paid crews and interns with federal and state agencies across all 50 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Student Conservation Association does
Student Conservation Association (SCA), founded in 1957 by Liz Putnam at Vassar College, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that operates as the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults in the United States. Its core offering is paid and stipended conservation service — including Urban Green, National Crews, Conservation Corps, Individual Placements, Field Leaders, the SCA Wildland Fire Academy, and specialty programs such as the Traditional Trades Advancement Internship Program and the Indigenous Youth Endowment Fund — delivered through cooperative agreements with federal land management agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), state natural resource agencies, and corporate/community host sites across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Since inception SCA has placed more than 100,000 service members and in 2025 logged 988,638 hours of conservation service across 312 sites, covering 96,861 acres of land and wetlands improved and 1,856 miles of trail built or improved.
SCA's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial product sale. It draws on individual donations (including the Trail Builders monthly giving program and the Conservation Circle for donors giving $1,000+ annually), planned giving through the Liz Putnam Legacy Society, foundation grants (JPB Foundation, Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Comic Relief US, Bay Area Council Foundation), corporate sponsorships (bp America, UPS Foundation, L.L.Bean, KeyBank, Amazon, Southwest Airlines, Con Edison, Arbor Day Foundation), and interagency agreements with federal and state government partners. Programs are free to participants, with stipends, travel reimbursement, academic credit, or AmeriCorps Education Awards provided. GTM is community-led (recruitment via the Join The Crew platform and direct website application) layered onto channel partnerships with government agencies that serve as host sites. The technology footprint is light — ADP for recruiting and workforce management, a public website with application portal, and standard content/newsletter channels — and SCA holds no disclosed patents or proprietary software assets.
The organization is led by President & CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon and COO Dr. Usha Chaudhary, with a 25+ member Board of Directors chaired by D. Lena Hickman-Miott (as of April 2025) that includes former senior officials from the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, alongside corporate and tech executives. SCA has earned a Presidential Citizens Medal (2010), Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, and operates regional offices in Oakland, Chicago, Anchorage, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. It is an original AmeriCorps partner and accredited member of The Corps Network.
Student Conservation Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Student Conservation Association
- Legal name
- Student Conservation Association
- Website
- https://thesca.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Student Conservation Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 and the largest U.S. provider of hands-on environmental conservation service programs for youth and young adults, placing paid crews and interns with federal and state agencies across all 50 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Student Conservation Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)
Keywords
Where Student Conservation Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Student Conservation Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: SCA receives donations from individual donors, monthly giving programs (Trail Builders), major gifts, stock donations, and employer-matched gifts. The Conservation Circle recognizes donors giving $1,000+ annually.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors like bp America, L.L.Bean, UPS Foundation, KeyBank, Amazon, and others provide funding and support for SCA conservation programs, particularly Urban Green expansion initiatives.
- Foundation Grants: SCA receives grants from foundations including JPB Foundation, Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Comic Relief US ($315,000 grant), and others.
- Government Agency Partnerships: SCA has national cooperative agreements with virtually every federal agency and active relationships with state natural and cultural resource offices. These partnerships fund conservation projects through interagency agreements.
- Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: The Liz Putnam Legacy Society recognizes donors who have provided for SCA through estate plans or planned gifts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Youth Conservation Programs - Free with potential stipends |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Student Conservation Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Student Conservation Association provides hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults, including paid green jobs, internships, seasonal corps positions, and year-long fellowships. Programs are delivered at public lands across all 50 U.S. states and territories in partnership with federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), state natural resource offices, and corporate/foundation funders, with participants completing trail building, habitat restoration, wildland fire fuels reduction, and historic preservation projects.
Product overview
The Student Conservation Association operates a portfolio of youth conservation programs designed to engage young people in environmental stewardship. The core offerings include the Urban Green Program (hyper-local urban conservation work in major cities), Field Leaders (leadership development for experienced outdoor professionals), National Crews (summer programs for high school students), Individual Placements (adult conservation internships), and Conservation Corps (team-based regional corps programs). Specialty programs include the Wildland Fire Academy (fuels reduction training with the U.S. Forest Service), Traditional Trades Advancement Program (historic preservation trades), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnership, and Superior & Chippewa National Forests Program. The Indigenous Youth Endowment Fund supports Native youth engagement. Together, these programs provide pathways from introductory conservation work to advanced professional careers, with offerings ranging from single-day service projects to year-long professional internships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Urban Green Program Paid workforce development opportunities for youth and young adults providing single-day service projects, seasonal work, and year-long internships or fellowships in major metropolitan cities across the United States.
- Field Leaders Program Program for experienced outdoor professionals (age 21+) who supervise and train crew members working on conservation projects, serving as supervisors, trainers, mentors, project managers, and program administrators.
- National Crews Summer conservation crews for high school students (ages 15-19) who complete essential service projects at national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, working on trail building and restoration projects.
- Individual Placements Conservation internships for adults (age 18+) providing hands-on experience in various conservation fields, working directly with experienced professionals.
- Conservation Corps Team-based conservation programs including multiple regional corps programs (Adirondack, Alaska, Gulf, Historic Preservation, Hudson Valley, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York State Parks, Pennsylvania Outdoor, Western Conservation) for youth and young adults.
- SCA Wildland Fire Academy Intense fuels reduction training program in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service designed to introduce participants to fire and fuels reduction careers, providing training, certifications, and hands-on experience.
- Traditional Trades Advancement Internship Program National Park Service internship program for aspiring preservation tradespeople focused on historic building preservation and restoration trades.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Program Program protecting waterways, lakes, and campgrounds through wildlife surveys and water safety initiatives in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Superior & Chippewa National Forests Program Hands-on wilderness and developed recreation programs for young adults in Minnesota's forests, lakes, and wetlands.
- Indigenous Youth Endowment Fund Endowment program engaging Indigenous youth with essential skills, experiences, and values for personal and professional growth in conservation careers, fostering partnerships with tribal communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% of participants are better able to work with people with different views and backgrounds
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Student Conservation Association
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Student Conservation Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Student Conservation Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered corporate, major partner, core government and regional.
- L.L.BeancorporatePartnered with UPS Foundation to support Atlanta conservation crew expansion for Black youth
- bp AmericacorporateCalumet Tree Conservation Corps in Chicago plants and cares for 500 trees in Grand Calumet watershed communities, maintaining 3,000+ trees planted since 2017
- Southwest AirlinescorporateCorporate sponsor supporting SCA conservation programs
- Arbor Day Foundationmajor partnerPartnering on tree planting events including Hayward, CA event and FIFA World Cup 2026 host city tree planting projects across all 16 host cities
- AmazoncorporatePartnering with SCA and Arbor Day Foundation for tree planting events and community giveaways
- U.S. Forest Servicecore governmentAwarded $12 million over five years for Wildland Fire Academy Program. Partners on fuels reduction, wildfire prevention, and conservation projects nationwide
- AmeriCorpscore governmentSCA is original AmeriCorps partner and accredited member of The Corps Network. SCA Alaska Corps is an AmeriCorps program
- National Park Servicecore governmentPrimary federal partner for conservation projects at national parks across the country
- FIFAmajor partnerFIFA supporting community tree-planting projects across all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities in North America through SCA and Arbor Day Foundation partnership
- Preserve MontanaregionalLaunched Preserve Montana Trades Corps, an eight-week pilot program for historic preservation trades
- West Atlanta Watershed AllianceregionalHost site for SCA's inaugural EmpowerHer Summit celebrating first Black Women's Conservation Crew
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Student Conservation Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Groundwork USA: Network of local trusts focused on urban environmental restoration and youth engagement. Direct overlap with SCA's Urban Green program in cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the Bay Area; comparable mission, smaller footprint.
Direct peers
- AmeriCorps: Federal agency that funds national service programs including SCA Alaska Corps. Direct upstream partner and comparable youth service-model operator; SCA is an original AmeriCorps partner and accredited member of The Corps Network.
- The Corps Network: National membership organization of conservation and service corps. SCA is an accredited member; The Corps Network operates as both peer and partner, coordinating federal advocacy and shared service-program standards across member corps.
- Outward Bound USA: Outdoor education nonprofit placing youth in expedition-based wilderness programs. Comparable experiential learning model for young adults with similar safety/risk profile, federal partnerships, and scholarship-based program delivery.
- National Parks Conservation Association: Independent nonprofit advocate for national parks. Shares federal agency relationships and parks-focused mission; overlapping board connections (NPCA alumni on SCA's partnerships team) and competitive for conservation funding.
- Earthwatch Institute: Nonprofit that engages volunteers in environmental and conservation field research. Directly comparable model of placing volunteers (often youth) on conservation projects, with similar federal and foundation funding sources.
- National Park Trust: Nonprofit focused on youth engagement with national parks and conservation. Directly comparable youth-to-parks mission model, smaller scale than SCA, similar donor and partner base.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits with broad conservation mission. SCA Board Treasurer Steve Howell previously served as CFAO at TNC; competes for the same foundation and corporate sustainability dollars.
- National Wildlife Federation: Large conservation advocacy and education organization. SCA Board member Cindy Lewin is former SVP at NWF; both compete for foundation funding and corporate partnerships in youth-focused environmental programming.
Regional players
- Appalachian Mountain Club: Outdoor recreation and conservation organization focused on the Northeast U.S. Comparable member-driven, volunteer-stewardship model; intersects SCA's footprint in New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts corps programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Student Conservation Association social profiles
Digital presenceStudent Conservation Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Student Conservation Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Student Conservation Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Student Conservation Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Student Conservation Association 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 Student Conservation Association
What does Student Conservation Association do?
The Student Conservation Association provides hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults, including paid green jobs, internships, seasonal corps positions, and year-long fellowships. Programs are delivered at public lands across all 50 U.S. states and territories in partnership with federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), state natural resource offices, and corporate/foundation funders, with participants completing trail building, habitat restoration, wildland fire fuels reduction, and historic preservation projects.
Is Student Conservation Association a public or private company?
Student Conservation Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Student Conservation Association founded?
Student Conservation Association was founded in 1957. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Student Conservation Association based?
Student Conservation Association is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Student Conservation Association make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, foundation Grants, government Agency Partnerships and planned Giving and Estate Gifts.
Who are Student Conservation Association's main competitors?
Groundwork USA is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are AmeriCorps, The Corps Network, Outward Bound USA, National Parks Conservation Association, Earthwatch Institute and National Park Trust. Broad incumbents are The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation. Appalachian Mountain Club is listed as a regional player.
Does Student Conservation Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Student Conservation Association.
What industry is Student Conservation Association in?
Student Conservation Association's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of THAAAGAK, Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8200.