Volunteers for Outdoor colorado

What Volunteers for Outdoor colorado does

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at the historic Dos Chappell Bathhouse in Denver's Washington Park, with additional partnership offices in Greeley and Del Norte. The organization's core service is the coordination of volunteer-led outdoor stewardship projects across Colorado — including trail construction and maintenance, ecological restoration, invasive species removal, native plant restoration, chainsaw and crosscut work, wildfire mitigation, and community gardening — delivered in partnership with federal (USFS, USFWS, BLM), state (Colorado Parks & Wildlife), and local land management agencies. Since founding, VOC has engaged 138,800 volunteers across 1,820 projects, contributing $29.3 million in cumulative donated volunteer labor value, with 27,000 volunteer hours and $1.1 million in labor value recorded in the most recent season alone.

VOC operates three principal program brands: the Cairn Youth Program (a 9-month Front Range high school conservation leadership program for ages 14-18 with $200 tuition subsidized against a ~$2,500 real cost per student), the Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI, providing online and in-person training in crew leadership, trail construction, ecological restoration, chainsaw certification, and wilderness first aid), and the Grossman Scholarship program (awarding $45,000 annually to six Colorado students pursuing environmental undergraduate education). Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model spanning individual donations and tiered memberships (Trailblazer $50-$249, Leadership Circle $250-$999, Stewardship Society $1,000+), corporate sponsorships across five tiers (up to Visionaries $50,000+), grants from government agencies and foundations including Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), training material and merchandise sales, Cairn tuition, meeting space rentals at the Denver office, and program fees. The organization employs 10-15 full-time staff supplemented by seasonal hires and operates a volunteer management portal (volunteervoc.org) and separate OSI training platform (ositraining.org) — no proprietary AI or advanced technology platform is disclosed.

Name

Volunteers for Outdoor colorado

Legal name

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Website

https://voc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that coordinates volunteer-led trail construction, ecological restoration, and stewardship projects across Colorado in partnership with federal, state, and local land management agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Conservation and Volunteer Stewardship Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Outdoor volunteer coordination
• Conservation stewardship programs
• Trail building services
• Environmental youth education
• Community land restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Memberships: VOC generates revenue through individual donations, annual memberships at tiered levels (Trailblazer $50-$249, Leadership Circle $250-$999, Stewardship Society $1,000+), and one-time contributions. Membership provides perks including early project registration, donor wall recognition, and event invitations.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial sponsorships at various contribution levels (Visionaries $50,000+, Stewardship Society $25,000-$49,999, Trustees' Circle $10,000-$24,999, Leadership Circle $5,000-$9,999, Conservators $1,000-$4,999). Sponsors receive recognition on VOC's website and annual reports, custom volunteer days, and branding opportunities.
3. Training & Store Revenue: VOC sells training manuals, quick reference cards, and merchandise (t-shirts, apparel) through its online store. Training materials include guides for Crew Leadership for Trails ($30), Ecological Restoration ($30), Independent Stewardship for Trails ($20), and quick reference card sets ($19).
4. Government & Foundation Grants: VOC receives support from government agencies and foundations including Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), which funds the Grossman Scholarship program.
5. Meeting Space Rentals: VOC rents out meeting rooms at its Denver office in Washington Park to external organizations, including special rates for nonprofit organizations. Available spaces include the Terrace Room (seats up to 12) and Large Conference Room (seats up to 20-30).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) coordinates volunteer-driven outdoor stewardship projects across Colorado, including trail construction and maintenance, ecological restoration, invasive species removal, native tree and shrub planting, wildfire mitigation, and community gardening. The organization recruits, trains, and deploys individual volunteers and corporate teams in partnership with federal, state, and local land management agencies. Supporting programs include the Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI) for stewardship training, the Cairn Youth Program for high school students, and the Grossman Scholarship for students pursuing environmental careers.

Product overview

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that operates a comprehensive outdoor stewardship platform centered on volunteer conservation projects. The core offering consists of volunteer projects spanning trail construction, ecological restoration, invasive species removal, and community gardening across Colorado. Supporting infrastructure includes the Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI) for training, the Cairn Youth Program for high school students, scholarship programs (Grossman and Steve Austin Training), corporate Team Stewardship Days, a three-tier membership program, an online store, and meeting space rentals. The organization engages 138,800+ volunteers across 1,820 projects, delivering $29.3M in donated labor value.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cairn Youth Program: A 9-month conservation leadership program for Front Range high school students (ages 14-18), led by adult volunteer mentors.
• Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI)
• Grossman Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• 138,800 volunteers engaged and $29.3 million in donated volunteer labor value since 1984
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOC's primary land management partner for stewardship projects on national forests across Colorado, including trail construction, ecological restoration, and forest management. USFS staff provide technical guidance and project coordination.
• United States Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on wildlife habitat restoration and conservation projects on federal wildlife lands in Colorado.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLM provides access to public lands for VOC volunteer projects focused on trail construction, restoration, and ecological stewardship across BLM-managed Colorado territories.
• Colorado Parks & WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing project sites in Colorado state parks and wildlife areas for trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and public land stewardship projects.
• Jefferson County Open SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for trail projects and ecological restoration; hosts Cairn Program final projects and provides volunteer crew leaders. JCOS staff collaborate with VOC on project planning and technical guidance.
• Boulder County Parks & Open SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for trail maintenance, ecological restoration, and youth programs including the Junior Ranger program. Boulder OSMP staff mentor youth and guide stewardship projects.
• City and County of Denver Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for urban park improvements, community gardens, trail maintenance, and stewardship projects in Denver parks including Washington Park and Harvard Gulch.
• Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELK co-manages Montbello Open Space Park with Denver Parks & Recreation and hosts Cairn Program final projects. VOC partners with ELK to provide urban stewardship and mentorship opportunities for youth.
• Grow Local ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership since 2012. Grow Local engages VOC volunteers to plant, harvest, and tend community gardens across Denver, with over 5,000 seedlings planted in two-week volunteer periods. Produce is donated to local food pantries.
• Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOC volunteers support SPLT's bison conservation and prairie restoration efforts near Las Animas through trail construction and habitat work. Camping on SPLT land provides exclusive access for volunteers.
• RiversEdge WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on riparian restoration, beaver dam analog (BDA) construction, and wetland restoration along Colorado rivers including the Dolores River and Upper Yampa River Basin. VOC volunteers receive hands-on training from RiversEdge West staff.
• Colorado Fourteeners InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on high-altitude trail stewardship and conservation on Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, addressing erosion and habitat impacts from high-use mountain routes.
• The Conservation FundminorOthersA Grossman Scholar's community fundraising effort contributed to The Conservation Fund's acquisition of land around Sweetwater Lake, which was subsequently transferred to the US Forest Service to become Colorado's 43rd State Park.
• Youth Exploring Stewardship (YES) CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition co-coordinated the 4th Annual Career Exploration Day with VOC, bringing together 19 organizations from across the Front Range to connect youth with conservation and outdoor career pathways.
• Colorado Mountain ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinated the 4th Annual Career Exploration Day, donated the Basecamp venue in Golden, and provided climbing instructors, gear, and equipment for youth career exploration activities.
• City of Aurora Parks, Recreation, and Open SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for parks and open space stewardship projects in Aurora, Colorado.
• City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSee Boulder County Parks & Open Space entry.
• City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for parks and trail stewardship projects in Colorado Springs.
• City of Greeley Culture, Parks and RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for parks and open space stewardship in Greeley, Colorado, supported by VOC's Weld County Partnership Office.
• City of OurayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner near Ridgway, Colorado, where VOC conducts trail construction projects at Top of the Pines nature preserve.
• Civic Center ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban park stewardship and community engagement partner for Denver's Civic Center park.
• Friends of Mt. Evans and Lost Creek WildernessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilderness area stewardship partner for trail work and conservation projects in designated wilderness areas.
• Headwaters Trails AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional trail partnership organization that collaborates with VOC on trail maintenance and construction projects across its service region.
• Larimer County Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner for natural areas stewardship and trail projects in Larimer County, Colorado.
• Sand Creek Regional Greenway PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban greenway restoration and stewardship partnership in the Sand Creek corridor.
• Bluff Lake Nature CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban nature center partner in Denver for conservation and stewardship projects at Bluff Lake.
• Cal-Wood Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for youth environmental education and post-fire restoration work, including trail building and tree planting in burn scar areas.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Long-standing membership-based nonprofit (founded 1876) that organizes volunteer trail maintenance, conservation, and outdoor education across the Northeast. Directly comparable to VOC in mission, volunteer leadership model, and stewardship programming.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit that engages youth and adults in conservation service projects on public lands. Directly comparable to VOC's volunteer project model, youth development programming (Cairn equivalent), and federal agency partnerships.
• American Hiking Society: National nonprofit focused on trails and hiking, organizing volunteer trail stewardship events (National Trails Day) and advocating for hiking infrastructure. Closely aligned with VOC's trail building and maintenance core activities.
• Southwest Conservation Corps: Volunteer and crew-based conservation corps serving public lands in the Southwest through trail building, restoration, and fire mitigation. Operates a similar volunteer-staffed stewardship model on public lands in a different region.
• Conservation Legacy: Parent organization of Southwest Conservation Corps and other regional corps. Runs volunteer and crew-based conservation service programs on public lands, closely mirroring VOC's trained volunteer leadership model for stewardship delivery.

Regional players

• Rocky Mountain Conservancy: Regional nonprofit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park that runs volunteer stewardship projects, youth programs, and field institute trainings. Highly comparable to VOC in mission and partnership-driven model within the Rocky Mountain region.

Emerging players

• Groundwork USA: National network of local Trusts running environmental stewardship, urban greening, and youth programs. Comparable to VOC in combining urban park improvements, ecological restoration, and youth engagement across multiple cities.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global environmental nonprofit, operating across land conservation, restoration, and climate. Operates broadly in the same space as VOC's ecological restoration and habitat work, but at vastly larger scale and with different funding mechanics.
• Sierra Club: Historic environmental membership organization with active volunteer-led outings and conservation advocacy in Colorado. Overlaps with VOC on conservation mission and grassroots volunteer mobilization, though VOC focuses on hands-on stewardship versus advocacy.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation, park creation, and public access. Comparable in engaging public land agencies and community stewardship, but operates more in acquisition and policy than volunteer-led project delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/58319327475_10153145352657476
• Instagraminstagram.com/voc_colorado
• Xx.com/voc_colorado
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volunteers-for-outdoor-colorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Volunteers for Outdoor colorado