Citizens for Conservation
Citizens for Conservation is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that owns and restores 14 nature preserves totaling 777 acres in northeastern Illinois, serving Barrington-area residents through habitat protection, youth education, plant sales, and the 14,000-acre Barrington Greenway Initiative coalition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersBarrington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Citizens for Conservation does
Citizens for Conservation (CFC) is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Barrington, Illinois, that preserves and restores native prairie, oak savanna, and wetland ecosystems across Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties in northeastern Illinois. The organization owns and manages 14 nature preserves encompassing approximately 777 acres, with a broader influence footprint of more than 3,500 protected acres achieved through direct acquisition, conservation easements, and partnerships. Its core operational activities include ecological restoration workdays, native-species propagation, and habitat-corridor construction across CFC-owned land and an enrolled network of 250+ private properties.
CFC's portfolio of community-facing programs includes the award-winning "Fourth Graders on the Prairie" school partnership (700+ students annually across all eight Barrington District 220 elementary schools since 2009), youth summer camps for ages 5-10, monthly community education programs at the Barrington Area Library, a Native Plant Database, a Habitat Corridors home-visit program, and biannual native plant sales featuring more than 200 species. Revenue is generated through eight membership tiers ranging from $40 (student/senior) to $1,000 (Legacy), individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and the Oberweiler Foundation), and transactional plant-sale proceeds. CFC coordinates the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI), a seven-organization coalition spanning 14,000+ acres, and operates a 10-week paid summer internship program funded continuously since 1993. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a website, native plant database, and standard social media channels.
Citizens for Conservation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Citizens for Conservation
- Legal name
- Citizens for Conservation
- Website
- https://citizensforconservation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Citizens for Conservation is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that owns and restores 14 nature preserves totaling 777 acres in northeastern Illinois, serving Barrington-area residents through habitat protection, youth education, plant sales, and the 14,000-acre Barrington Greenway Initiative coalition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Citizens for Conservation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)
Keywords
Where Citizens for Conservation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barrington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Citizens for Conservation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $40 (student/senior) to $1,000 (Legacy), providing donors with benefits including discounts at plant sales, free admission to education programs, newsletter delivery, and voting rights at annual meetings.
- Donations and fundraising campaigns: The organization relies heavily on financial donations from individuals, families, and businesses. Fundraising campaigns have been used to purchase conservation land (e.g., over 411 acres purchased through fundraising campaigns).
- Plant and tree sales: Annual Spring Native Plant, Shrub & Tree Sale (30th edition in 2026, featuring 200+ species) and Fall Native Tree and Shrub Sale. Proceeds support CFC's conservation mission. Members receive a 10% discount.
- Grants from foundations: CFC receives grants from foundations including Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF), Oberweiler Foundation, and others to fund land acquisition and restoration projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Student membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Senior membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Family membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron/Business membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Steward membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Guardian membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Legacy membership |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Beginning Naturalists Camp (Ages 5-7) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Junior Naturalists Camp (Ages 8-10) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Citizens for Conservation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Citizens for Conservation preserves and restores native prairie, oak savanna, wetland, bog, and fen ecosystems across 14 nature preserves in northeastern Illinois. It delivers complementary community programs including youth and adult environmental education, the Habitat Corridors property consultation service, native plant and tree sales, and a paid summer restoration internship program.
Product overview
Citizens for Conservation is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of conservation-focused programs and services. The core offerings include 14 nature preserves (over 777 acres) for habitat protection and restoration; educational programs including the Junior Naturalist series for children, youth summer camps, and community education workshops; a Native Plant Database for species identification; the Habitat Corridors program providing property consultations; and seasonal native plant sales. These programs work together to advance CFC's mission of protecting, educating, and restoring natural environments in northeastern Illinois.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CFC Preserves 14 nature preserves totaling approximately 777 acres across Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties in Illinois, including prairies, oak savannas, wetlands, bogs, and fens. Open to members, donors, and the public through trails, scheduled tours, and guided events for habitat protection, native plant restoration, and community nature access.
- Habitat Corridors Program Property consultation service offering free home visits for CFC members and $25 visits for non-members. Trained volunteers assess yards, identify native and invasive species, recommend native plants, and help homeowners create connected natural habitats across the Barrington area. More than 250 properties are enrolled.
- Youth Summer Camps
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 3,500 acres of land protected in the Barrington area
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Citizens for Conservation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Citizens for Conservation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Citizens for Conservation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Duchossois Group / Kim DuchossoiscoreThe Duchossois Group sold the 246.5-acre Hill 'N Dale Farm South property to CFC for permanent conservation protection. Kim Duchossois noted that Barrington-area family members contributed a significant portion of their sale proceeds back to the CFC campaign to protect the land in perpetuity.
- Lake County Forest PreservescoreLake County Forest Preserves is a founding strategic partner of the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI). CFC collaborated with the district to create Cuba Marsh (1976) and encouraged acquisition of Grassy Lake Forest Preserve (2003, 185 acres). CFC volunteers continue to work with forest preserve staff on restoration projects.
- Forest Preserves of Cook CountycoreForest Preserves of Cook County is a founding strategic partner of the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI). CFC contributed to the creation of Spring Creek Forest Preserve (nearly 4,000 acres), the largest restoration project in Cook County, by providing planning expertise, native seed, and volunteers.
- McHenry County Conservation DistrictcoreMcHenry County Conservation District is a founding strategic partner of the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI), collaborating across the region to create connected habitat corridors and share restoration priorities, plans, and resources.
- Audubon Great LakescoreAudubon Great Lakes is a founding strategic partner of the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI). The organization supports grassland bird restoration efforts and is involved in the linked habitat corridor vision, including restoring habitat for species such as bobolinks, bitterns, and Henslow's sparrows.
- Friends of the Forest PreservescoreFriends of the Forest Preserves is a founding strategic partner of the Barrington Greenway Initiative (BGI), working collaboratively with CFC and other partners to restore prairie, savanna, woodland and wetland ecosystems in the greater Barrington area.
- Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG)coreBACOG passed Resolution No. 18-03 in February 2018 unanimously supporting the Barrington Greenway Initiative and encouraging member municipalities and townships to incorporate BGI support in their comprehensive plans. All eight member villages and townships endorsed the resolution.
- Barrington Area LibraryminorBarrington Area Library, located at 505 N Northwest Highway, Barrington, Illinois, serves as the venue for CFC's monthly community education programs from January through April. The library partnership enables free public access to CFC's educational programming.
- Barrington School District 220coreCFC partners with all eight elementary schools in Barrington District 220 for the award-winning 'Fourth Graders on the Prairie' program. Since 2009, more than 700 students annually participate in prairie field visits and citizen science activities. CFC volunteers conduct in-class orientation sessions and support field work. The partnership directly supports the district's science curriculum standards.
- The Garden Club of BarringtonminorThe Garden Club of Barrington has funded restoration along Flint Creek including planting of native plant plugs in critical areas of the floodplain, savanna, and prairie.
- Village of BarringtoncoreThe Village of Barrington owns the 17-acre Baker's Lake Savanna and has cooperated with CFC for 34 years in restoring the preserve. CFC has also influenced the Village of Lake Barrington's additions to the Flint Creek greenway corridor.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Citizens for Conservation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- McHenry County Conservation District: Special-purpose government district managing 25,000+ acres of conservation land across McHenry County, Illinois. Comparable as a BGI founding partner managing the same prairie/savanna/wetland ecosystems, but funded by tax levies and operating at significantly larger scale than CFC.
- Lake Forest Open Lands Association: A volunteer-supported nonprofit land trust serving Lake Forest and surrounding Lake County, Illinois communities. Directly comparable to CFC as a suburban Chicago land trust that owns preserves, runs habitat restoration, and delivers community conservation programs at similar scale and mission.
- Lake County Forest Preserves: Government entity managing 31,000+ acres of forest preserves across Lake County, Illinois. Comparable as a BGI founding partner managing prairies, savannas, and wetlands in the same region, though a public agency with tax-base funding rather than a nonprofit donor/volunteer model.
Emerging players
- Prairie Rivers Network: Illinois statewide nonprofit protecting water quality, prairie, and wetland habitat through advocacy and on-the-ground restoration. Comparable restoration and education mission with adjacent geographic focus, though stronger emphasis on rivers and policy advocacy than CFC's land trust model.
Direct peers
- The Land Conservancy of McHenry County: McHenry County-based nonprofit land trust that preserves natural and agricultural land through acquisition and easements. Directly comparable: same state, same ecological region (prairie, wetland, oak savanna), same member/donor/volunteer model, and overlapping partnership with CFC through the Barrington Greenway Initiative.
- Friends of the Forest Preserves: Chicago-area nonprofit supporting the Forest Preserves of Cook County through volunteer restoration, education, and advocacy. Directly comparable volunteer-driven model and founding BGI partnership, focused on the same ecological communities and similar suburban Chicago geography.
- Natural Land Institute: Illinois-based nonprofit land trust focused on preserving natural lands and waterways, with work across northern Illinois. Comparable operating model (volunteers, members, preserves, restoration), overlapping geography, and similar scale of land protected.
Broad incumbents
- Openlands: Regional land conservation nonprofit working across northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana to protect land and water. Comparable as a Chicago-area conservation organization using acquisition and partnerships, though much larger in scope and budget than CFC's locally focused work.
- Audubon Great Lakes: Regional office of the National Audubon Society focused on Great Lakes bird habitat. Comparable as a founding BGI partner and shared grassland bird restoration priority; much larger organization operating across multiple states but with overlapping mission on habitat connectivity.
- The Nature Conservancy (Illinois): Global conservation organization with active Illinois chapter pursuing land protection and prairie/savanna restoration. Comparable mission and ecological focus, but operates at vastly greater scale with professional staff and national donor base; serves as the obvious large-scale incumbent in the same conservation space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Citizens for Conservation social profiles
Digital presenceCitizens for Conservation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Citizens for Conservation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Citizens for Conservation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Citizens for Conservation 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 Citizens for Conservation
What does Citizens for Conservation do?
Citizens for Conservation preserves and restores native prairie, oak savanna, wetland, bog, and fen ecosystems across 14 nature preserves in northeastern Illinois. It delivers complementary community programs including youth and adult environmental education, the Habitat Corridors property consultation service, native plant and tree sales, and a paid summer restoration internship program.
Is Citizens for Conservation a public or private company?
Citizens for Conservation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Citizens for Conservation founded?
Citizens for Conservation was founded in 1971. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Citizens for Conservation based?
Citizens for Conservation is headquartered in Barrington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Citizens for Conservation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and fundraising campaigns, plant and tree sales and grants from foundations.
Who are Citizens for Conservation's main competitors?
Regional players on record are McHenry County Conservation District, Lake Forest Open Lands Association and Lake County Forest Preserves. Prairie Rivers Network is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are The Land Conservancy of McHenry County, Friends of the Forest Preserves and Natural Land Institute. Broad incumbents are Openlands, Audubon Great Lakes and The Nature Conservancy (Illinois).
Does Citizens for Conservation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Citizens for Conservation.
What industry is Citizens for Conservation in?
Citizens for Conservation's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas, with a secondary code of AFAMAMAH, Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 800.