Alachua Conservation Trust

What Alachua Conservation Trust does

Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional land trust founded in 1988 and headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, with approximately 25 staff members. Its mission is to protect natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources across 22 North Central Florida counties. The organization has facilitated conservation of 70,000+ acres of Florida land since inception, including 27,000+ acres directly purchased, 6,000+ acres owned and managed as public preserves, and 7,046 acres protected through conservation easements held with private landowners.

ACT's core service lines are land acquisition (direct purchase, donation, bargain sale, and facilitated acquisition through programs such as Florida Communities Trust, Alachua County Forever, and USDA programs), conservation easements (voluntary legal agreements limiting development on private land while the landowner retains ownership), habitat restoration and management (prescribed fire, invasive species control, longleaf pine restoration), and environmental education and outreach (CrEEK program serving 2,200 K-12 students annually, Young Leaders for Wild Florida, Women in the Woods, and internships). The organization manages 15+ public preserves open free of charge from sunrise to sunset and operates the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in partnership with Conservation Burial, Inc., the fourth U.S. site certified as a Conservation Burial Ground by the Green Burial Council.

ACT's business model is donation- and grant-funded. Operating revenue comes from individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, and project-restricted state and federal conservation funding. ACT explicitly receives no government grants for general operating support, relying on private contributions for core operations. Major recent funding includes three USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program awards: $7.1 million for Surface to Springs (2021), $7.85 million for Forest to Gulf (2022), and $25 million for Lake to Lagoon (2023), the latter extending operations into East Central Florida. ACT has been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission since 2009, and in 2019 was named Conservation Organization of the Year by the Florida Wildlife Federation. The organization has no technology platform; its operations are centered on physical land management, easement negotiation, habitat restoration, and community education.

Name

Alachua Conservation Trust

Legal name

Alachua Conservation Trust

Website

https://alachuaconservationtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alachua Conservation Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional land trust founded in 1988 that protects natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources across 22 North Central Florida counties through land acquisition, conservation easements, habitat restoration, and environmental education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easement programs
• Habitat restoration services
• Environmental education programs
• Land trust management

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: ACT receives contributions from private individuals to support land conservation efforts. Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with tax ID 59-2919630.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: ACT receives grants from foundations and corporations. The organization receives no government grants for general operating support and relies on private contributions.
3. State and Federal Conservation Funding: ACT secures funding through Florida Communities Trust, Florida Forever program, and other state/federal conservation programs for land acquisition and easement projects.
4. Conservation Easement Services: Landowners may make tax-deductible donations to offset ACT's facilitation costs for conservation easement transactions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alachua Conservation Trust is a nonprofit regional land trust that protects natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources in North Central Florida. Its core offerings are direct land acquisition (purchase, donation, and bargain sale) and conservation easement transactions with private landowners, post-acquisition habitat restoration and preserve management, and a suite of environmental education and outreach programs serving K-12 students, youth leaders, and the broader community. ACT owns and manages 6,000+ acres of public preserves and parks free of charge across Alachua and Marion counties.

Product overview

Alachua Conservation Trust operates as a land conservation nonprofit with a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. Core offerings include Land Acquisition Services (direct purchase and facilitated acquisition of conservation lands), Conservation Easements (legal agreements protecting private land), and Habitat Restoration & Management (prescribed fire, invasive species control, preserve management). Educational programs include CrEEK (environmental education for K-12 students), Young Leaders for Wild Florida (summer leadership program), Women in the Woods (career development), and internship programs (Natural Resource Management and Nonprofit Operations). The organization manages over 6,000 acres of public preserves and parks across North Central Florida, operates Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in partnership, and offers specialized Coastal Conservation Easements for sea turtle habitat. Support programs include scholarship opportunities, donation options, and the Keep Florida Wild virtual content series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Santa Fe Untamed: Conservation initiative focused on the Santa Fe River region
• Sandhill Crane Studio
• CrEEK Program
• Young Leaders for Wild Florida
• Women in the Woods

Products and services

• Land Acquisition Services Direct and facilitated acquisition of conservation land in North Central Florida through outright purchase, donation, and bargain sale, and by assisting landowners in selling to state and county government conservation programs such as Florida Forever and Alachua County Forever.
• Conservation Easements Voluntary legal agreements with private landowners that permanently limit development of their land to protect conservation values while allowing the landowner to retain ownership; ACT negotiates, holds, and stewards these easements in perpetuity.
• Habitat Restoration & Management Active management of acquired lands and conservation easements, including prescribed fire, invasive species control, longleaf pine restoration, and ongoing stewardship of nature preserves and parks across Alachua and Marion counties.
• CrEEK Program (Creekside Environmental Ed for Kids) Hands-on outdoor environmental education program delivering wetland ecology and wildlife lessons to K-12 students from Title I schools, hosted at Little Orange Creek Nature Park and partner sites around Gainesville and Putnam counties.
• Young Leaders for Wild Florida (YLWF) Two-week summer program for high school and early college students that explores Florida conservation issues, environmental career paths, and community leadership skills.
• Women in the Woods (WITW) Women-centered skills-based program within the Natural Resources Internship that provides land management training and professional networking for women pursuing careers in the natural resources sector.
• Natural Resource Management Internship Semester-based internship giving participants hands-on training in invasive species management, prescribed fire, trail work, and plant and wildlife identification across ACT's preserves.
• Nonprofit Operations Internship Semester-based internship offering experience in nonprofit operations including outreach, events, fundraising, legal research, advocacy, and environmental education within a working land trust.
• ACT Parks & Preserves More than 6,000 acres of nature preserves and parks owned and managed by ACT and open to the public free of charge for hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and nature observation across Alachua and Marion counties.
• Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery 94-acre conservation burial ground operated in partnership with Conservation Burial, Inc., providing natural burial options for families while contributing to ongoing habitat restoration.
• Coastal Conservation Easements (Sea Turtle Protection) Specialized conservation easements protecting sea turtle nesting habitat along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts, developed jointly with sea turtle research and advocacy partners.
• Florida Wild for All Scholarship Scholarship program supporting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Multiracial students pursuing careers in natural resources management or environmental protection in Florida.
• Donation Programs (Ways to Give and Donate Land) Programs enabling individuals to support land conservation through direct monetary donations, planned giving, and land or property donations to ACT.
• Keep Florida Wild Virtual Series On-demand webinar and video series covering North Central Florida ecosystems, conservation work, and land management topics, available through ACT's website and YouTube channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000 acres facilitated for conservation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• UF Law Conservation ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership to draft first model conservation easement designed specifically to protect sea turtle nesting habitat on private property.
• Land Trust Accreditation CommissioncoreOthers · 1 January 2009ACT received accreditation as a land trust meeting the highest standards for excellence and sustainability.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing conservation partnership projects including work on the Santa Fe River and regional conservation initiatives.
• Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership for land acquisition and conservation projects throughout North Central Florida.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Little Orange Creek Preserve acquisition (2010) and Santa Fe River Preserve. Provided $1 million bridge loan for Orange Lake Overlook.
• Conservation Trust for FloridamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing regional conservation partnership projects in Florida.
• Suwannee River Water Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Santa Fe Springs Preserve acquisition and management. ACT partnered with district to protect 254-acre property along upper Santa Fe River.
• Alachua County ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT played pivotal role in creation of Alachua County Forever program. ACT drafted acquisition guidelines and continues partnership for land conservation.
• University of Florida Conservation ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop mechanisms for protecting parks from sale or conversion. Also collaborated on coastal conservation easements for sea turtle habitat.
• Conservation Burial, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. CBI operates the cemetery while ACT manages and protects the land through conservation easement.
• Volusia CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Lake to Lagoon RCPP. County working lands protection program accelerated through federal funding.
• St. Johns River Water Management DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Lake to Lagoon RCPP and regional conservation initiatives.
• Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coastal conservation easement program for sea turtle protection along Florida beaches.
• Sea Turtle ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coastal conservation easement program for sea turtle protection.
• Swamp Head BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts annual Tree Fest event in April where drinking beer helps plant trees at Little Orange Creek Nature Preserve. 695,216 trees planted to date.
• Friends of Little Orange CreekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Little Orange Creek Nature Park and CrEEK Program.
• City of HawthorneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with ACT to host CrEEK Program at Little Orange Creek Nature Park.
• City of GainesvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for CrEEK Program and Hogtown Creek Greenway project.
• Santa Fe College Teaching ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for CrEEK Program providing educational support.
• WaterlustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter of Young Leaders for Wild Florida program.
• The Repurpose ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Young Leaders for Wild Florida.
• Florida Museum of Natural HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Young Leaders for Wild Florida program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on protecting land for public access and community benefit through acquisition and easements. Operates in Florida with longstanding partnership with ACT; directly comparable mission of land conservation for public benefit, similar funding model (donations, grants, partnerships with government agencies).
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that acquires and manages land for conservation and sustainable use, including working forests and easements. Direct partner to ACT (Little Orange Creek, Orange Lake Overlook with bridge loan); operates with similar acquisition/easement model and federal grant pursuit.
• Conservation Trust for Florida: Florida-focused land trust working on agricultural land conservation and easements, frequently partnering with ACT on regional projects. Directly comparable as a peer Florida land trust with similar easement/donation-driven model and accredited nonprofit structure.

Emerging players

• Tall Timbers Research Station: Florida-based research and land management organization focused on fire ecology, longleaf pine restoration, and upland habitat conservation. Comparable through North Florida geographic focus, prescribed fire management expertise (overlapping with ACT's stewardship work), and conservation research/management integration.

Regional players

• Florida Wildlife Federation: Florida state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, focused on state-level wildlife and habitat conservation. Awarded ACT its 2019 Conservation Organization of the Year; comparable through regional conservation mission and education/outreach programming, though primarily advocacy-oriented rather than land acquisition-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife conservation organization focused on imperiled species and habitat protection through policy, advocacy, and land protection. Comparable through wildlife habitat mission and protected areas work, but primarily advocacy-driven rather than direct land acquisition/easement holding like ACT.
• Sierra Club: One of the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organizations in the US, with a Florida chapter. Comparable through conservation mission, donor-funded nonprofit model, and environmental education programs, but operates primarily through advocacy and chapter-based organizing rather than direct land trust activity.
• The Nature Conservancy: The largest global conservation nonprofit, operating across all 50 states and 80+ countries. Directly comparable through land acquisition, conservation easements, and habitat restoration; ACT has formal partnership with TNC on Santa Fe River and regional conservation initiatives. Significantly larger in scale and budget than ACT.
• National Audubon Society: Large national conservation organization focused on birds and habitat, with state offices including Florida Audubon (which has awarded ACT). Comparable through habitat conservation work, but operates a much broader portfolio spanning advocacy, science, and sanctuary management beyond direct land acquisition.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership association for land trusts that operates the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (which has accredited ACT since 2009). Not a direct peer but the industry body governing ACT's accreditation status; sets standards and provides training to the broader land trust sector ACT operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlachuaConserv

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Alachua Conservation Trust