Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District

What Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District does

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio organized under Ohio Revised Code 940, headquartered at 1404 Goodale Boulevard, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1945, it operates as a non-profit government entity with 11-50 employees and a publicly elected five-member Board of Supervisors, delivering conservation, protection, and improvement of soil and water resources within Franklin County. Its mission centers on responsible land-use decisions through partnering, technical guidance, and education, with Jennifer Fish serving as Director. The District serves four primary customer segments: residential property owners (backyard conservation education), commercial businesses (water quality partnerships), developers and urban lands (construction and post-construction stormwater services), and agricultural landowners (NRCS-administered federal programs). It also engages municipal governments, schools, watershed groups, and community organizations as secondary segments.

The District's core service portfolio spans GIS-based natural resource evaluations, watershed management coordination with four active groups (Darby Creek Association, FACT, FLOW, SWAG), stormwater compliance services, and conservation grant administration. Core operational products include the annual Spring Tree and Plant Sale (native bareroot trees, shrubs, live stakes, seed packets, mushroom kits), T.R.E.E. Membership ($35/year), Conservation Mini-Grants (up to $2,000 per project), the Columbus Tree Assistance Program, the Columbus Watershed Partner Service Agreements ($50,000 in 2024-2025), and the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant ($285,000 federal ARPA for 2025). Underlying technology is GIS mapping and spatial analysis for watershed and resource planning, supplemented by a Central Ohio Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (COPRISM) coordination framework and AmeriCorps service-member deployment.

Revenue mechanics combine grant administration (federal ARPA via Franklin County, county appropriations, foundation support), modest product sales from the annual tree and plant sale, recurring T.R.E.E. membership dues, donations managed through the Columbus Foundation Conservation Stewardship Fund, and event sponsorships. As a government subdivision, the District does not pursue venture or private equity capital, operating instead through publicly elected governance and intergovernmental partnerships with USDA-NRCS, Columbus Recreation and Parks, Columbus Water and Power, OSU Extension, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging the District's website, monthly newsletters, social media channels on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn, in-person workshops, Stormwater Awareness Week, volunteer events, and partner distribution across watershed groups, schools, and municipalities.

Name

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://franklinswcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reclamation (Cleanup for Reuse, Risk-Based Closure) (EUAIALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brownfield Site Assessment & Remediation (BPALAKAA), Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)

Keywords

• Soil and water conservation
• Stormwater management services
• Watershed management programs
• Conservation grants administration
• Environmental education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual T.R.E.E. (Terrific Resources for Environmental Education) membership dues at $35.00 covering statewide organization memberships, event displays, and brochure printing
2. Product Sales: Sales of native trees, shrubs, seed packets, fruit trees, and mushroom kits through annual Spring Tree and Plant Sale; proceeds support Conservation Fund and Mini-Grant Program
3. Grants Administration: Administration of government and foundation grants including Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant, Columbus Tree Assistance Program, Conservation Mini-grants, and Columbus Watershed Partner Service Agreements
4. Donations and Sponsorships: Donations to Conservation Stewardship Fund managed in partnership with Columbus Foundation; event sponsorships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District is a government subdivision of the State of Ohio that promotes responsible land use for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil and water resources in Franklin County. It delivers conservation services including backyard education programs, stormwater management, watershed coordination, GIS mapping, natural resource evaluations, annual native tree and plant sales, and administration of conservation grant programs.

Product overview

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District operates as a single integrated conservation services organization rather than a platform-plus-modules software product. The District offers a comprehensive portfolio of conservation programs and services centered around soil and water resource protection in Franklin County, Ohio. Core offerings include the annual Spring Tree and Plant Sale (bareroot native trees, shrubs, live stakes, seed packets, and mushroom kits), Backyard Conservation Programs (rain gardens, rain barrels, native plantings), Watershed Management coordination, Stormwater Services, and GIS Mapping. The District also administers grant programs including Conservation Mini-Grants (up to $2,000), Columbus Tree Assistance Program, Columbus Watershed Partner Service Agreements, and Franklin County Urban Agriculture Critical Infrastructure Grant. Educational offerings include Youth Education Programs, Community Outreach Programs (Invasive Plant Trade In, Community Backyards Rebate, Get Grassy, PUP, Don't Drip & Drive, Be Salt Smart), and T.R.E.E. Membership. Additional services encompass Agricultural Lands/NRCS programs, Natural Resources Evaluations, and Conservation Easements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FSWCD: Abbreviated name used for Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
• Community Backyards
• COPRISM
• T.R.E.E.

Products and services

• Spring Tree and Plant Sale Annual sale of bareroot native Ohio trees, shrubs, live stakes, seed packets, fruit trees, and mushroom kits available for pickup at the district office, supporting the Conservation Fund and Mini-Grant Program.
• Backyard Conservation Programs Community education and outreach services covering rain gardens, rain barrels, native plantings, composting, lawn care guidance, pet waste management, and salt application education for residential property owners in Franklin County.
• Watershed Management Coordination with local watershed groups to manage resources, promote land use decisions, and implement conservation and restoration projects across watersheds in Franklin County.
• Stormwater Services Stormwater management services for developers, urban lands, and commercial properties including construction and post-construction services to manage runoff and protect water quality.
• T.R.E.E. Membership Annual membership dues program at $35 per year for T.R.E.E. (Terrific Resources for Environmental Education), covering statewide organization membership fees, event display space, and brochure printing.
• Conservation Mini-Grants Annual competitive grant program offering up to $2,000 per project to organizations demonstrating need and ability to carry out on-the-ground conservation projects within Franklin County.
• Columbus Tree Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 subscribers reached through Backyard Conversation newsletter
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbus FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Conservation Stewardship Fund management; donors directed to Columbus Foundation website to search for Franklin Soil and Water to make donations
• Columbus Recreation and Parks DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Columbus Urban Tree Assistance Program; funding provided by Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to increase urban tree canopy on private properties
• Columbus Water and PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Watershed Partner Service Agreement program in Fall 2024 to support and collaborate with local watershed groups; total funding of $50,000 available
• Darby Creek AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive watershed group partner for Darby Creek watershed management
• Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive watershed group partner for Alum Creek watershed management
• Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive watershed group partner for Lower Olentangy watershed management
• Scioto Watershed Action Group (SWAG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive watershed group partner for Scioto watershed management
• Ohio Prairie NurseryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYear-round native seed sales partnership offering 10% discount to Franklin SWCD supporters using promo code
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership delivering conservation programs including EQIP, CSP, CRP, and ACEP; district conservationist and resource conservationist stationed at local office
• Franklin County Economic Development and PlanningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant administration in second year of program
• Environmental Education Council of OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of T.R.E.E. (Terrific Resources for Environmental Education) consortium in 1999 to coordinate environmental education efforts statewide
• OSU ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant program providing resources for local growers
• Columbus and Franklin County Local Food BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan through Urban Agriculture Grant program
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbus Watershed Partner Service Agreement Program modeled after NEORSD's program
• Keep Columbus BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured in volunteer newsletter for trash cleanups and environmental stewardship
• Metro ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured in volunteer newsletter for conservation events and volunteer opportunities
• RAPID 5minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for river cleanup and conservation volunteer events
• COPRISM Members (State and Local Government Agencies, Park Services, Watershed Groups, Conservation Districts, Volunteers, University Staff)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Ohio Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management - regional partnership meeting quarterly to coordinate invasive species management across Central Ohio

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District: Direct Ohio peer operating under identical Ohio Revised Code 940 authority in Hamilton County (Cincinnati area). Delivers parallel services including stormwater compliance, urban conservation, agricultural land programs, and youth education, making it the closest structural comparable.
• Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District: Adjacent Ohio SWCD in Fairfield County, sharing a border with Franklin County. Operates with the same legal mandate under Ohio Revised Code 940 and offers the same combination of urban and agricultural conservation services, making it a tight geographic and functional peer.
• Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District: County-level Soil and Water Conservation District operating under the same Ohio Revised Code 940 framework in Cuyahoga County. Offers directly comparable services including stormwater management, conservation education, urban tree programs, and watershed coordination to a major Ohio metropolitan area.
• Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District: Neighboring Ohio SWCD serving Delaware County (Columbus exurb). Same statutory framework and service portfolio — watershed management, conservation programs, and agricultural landowner assistance — directly comparable in scope and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Conservation Districts: National nonprofit umbrella organization representing the country's 3,000+ conservation districts including Franklin SWCD. While not a direct competitor, NACD sets standards, advocates for federal funding, and provides shared services that frame Franklin SWCD's operating context.
• Ohio Environmental Council: Statewide environmental advocacy and policy organization operating across Ohio on water quality, land use, and conservation funding — the same themes as Franklin SWCD's programs. Engages in advocacy and policy work that complements or competes for conservation funding and attention.
• The Nature Conservancy (Ohio Chapter): Larger and better-funded conservation organization operating across Ohio including Franklin County on land protection, watershed restoration, and conservation easement programs that overlap with Franklin SWCD's mandate. Operates at significantly greater scale with private philanthropic funding.
• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation organization active in Ohio on urban tree canopy, parks, and conservation easements. Overlaps with Franklin SWCD's Columbus Tree Assistance Program and conservation easement services, but operates with a national funding base and larger programmatic footprint.

Others

• Keep Columbus Beautiful: Local environmental nonprofit affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, partnering with Franklin SWCD on volunteer cleanups and community stewardship. Adjacent rather than competing organization focused on litter prevention and beautification rather than soil/water conservation.

Regional players

• Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission: Regional planning body serving Franklin County and surrounding jurisdictions, addressing stormwater management, watershed planning, and sustainability initiatives. Overlaps with Franklin SWCD on regional environmental planning and often a partner or co-funder on watershed projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/franklinsoilandwater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklin-soil-and-water-conservation-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/franklinsoilandwater
• Xx.com/franklinswcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District