Conservation Nation
Conservation Nation is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides small grants to wildlife conservationists and runs the Conservation Nation Academy, a free K-12 conservation education program reaching 10,000+ students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Conservation Nation does
Conservation Nation is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates two core programs: a Grant Program providing up to $5,000 in funding to individual wildlife conservationists, and the Conservation Nation Academy, a K-12 education initiative delivering free, standards-aligned, bilingual conservation lessons to classrooms. The organization has supported 150+ grantees across five or more continents and reached more than 10,000 students, with approximately 80% of grantees identifying as women or people of color — a deliberate focus on underrepresented voices in conservation. The Academy curriculum includes topics such as Bioacoustics and de-extinction (developed in partnership with Colossal Biosciences), and LIVE lessons feature conservationists based in Kenya, India, Ecuador, and other international locations.
The organization is led by founder Tricia Reilly Koch and co-CEO Lynn Mento, who transitioned to a shared co-CEO structure in early 2025. The team consists of approximately eight members. Revenue is generated through individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships, most notably through 1% for the Planet. The organization maintains The Collective, an alumni network for past grantees, which functions as a community engagement layer alongside the educational programming. Notable external recognition includes founder Tricia Reilly Koch's selection to the Explorers Club 50 in early 2026.
The business model is a traditional nonprofit fundraising and grantmaking model: donor contributions are aggregated and redistributed as small grants to individual conservationists, while the Academy operates as a free educational resource with no direct tuition or licensing revenue. Growth signals include new curriculum launches, international LIVE programming expansion, and current hiring for a Grant Writer and Development Manager — both indicating investment in fundraising capacity.
Conservation Nation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Conservation Nation
- Legal name
- Conservation Nation
- Website
- https://conservationnation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Conservation Nation is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides small grants to wildlife conservationists and runs the Conservation Nation Academy, a free K-12 conservation education program reaching 10,000+ students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Conservation Nation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)
Keywords
Where Conservation Nation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Conservation Nation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Conservation Nation is funded primarily through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization participates in the 1% for the Planet initiative.
- Grant Funding: CN receives grants from foundations and government agencies to support its conservation and education programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Conservation Grants for Individual Conservationists |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Conservation Nation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Conservation Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and elevates a diverse community of wildlife conservationists through its Grant Program (up to US$5,000 per year for early-to-mid-career conservationists from underrepresented communities) and inspires the next generation through the Conservation Nation Academy, a free K-12 educational platform offering NGSS-aligned wildlife conservation lessons in English and Spanish. Grantees receive ongoing professional development and network support through the Conservation Nation Network.
Product overview
Conservation Nation operates two primary product lines: the Conservation Nation Grant Program (providing up to US$5,000 to early-to-mid-career conservationists from underrepresented communities for wildlife conservation projects, with ongoing support through the Conservation Nation Network) and Conservation Nation Academy (a free K-12 educational platform featuring wildlife conservation lessons with downloadable lesson plans, educational videos, student worksheets, vocabulary lists, and Kahoot-based interactive assessments in English and Spanish). The Academy offers diverse content including species-specific lessons (Think Like a Wolf, Wingin' It, Manatee Tales), scientific concepts (Bioacoustics, De-extinction), career exploration (Green Careers, Wildlife Detectives), and mindfulness activities, while the Grant Program funds field conservationists globally with a one-year grant period and professional development support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Conservation Nation Academy: Wildlife conservation education program providing free NGSS-aligned lessons featuring inspiring role models for students
- The Collective
- Chrysalis Fund
- Conservation Nation Network
Products and services
- Conservation Nation Academy A free K-12 educational platform offering NGSS-aligned wildlife conservation lessons featuring diverse role models from underrepresented communities. Provides lesson plans, educational videos, student worksheets, vocabulary lists, and interactive Kahoot quizzes in English and Spanish. Designed for K-12 educators and students from underserved communities.
- Conservation Nation Grant Program A grant program providing up to US$5,000 to early-to-mid-career conservationists from underrepresented communities for wildlife conservation projects. Funds field research, travel, personnel, intern stipends, and project expenses over a one-year grant period. Includes ongoing professional development and access to the Conservation Nation Network.
- Conservation Nation Network (The Collective) An active support network providing ongoing professional development, resources, connections, and capacity-building opportunities for grantees throughout their grant cycle. Includes Coffee and Chat sessions and mentorship programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of grantees are women and people of color
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Conservation Nation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Conservation Nation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Conservation Nation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 1% for the PlanetminorConservation Nation is a member of 1% for the Planet, a corporate partnership initiative where businesses commit to donating 1% of sales to environmental causes. This partnership provides visibility and credibility through the 1% for the Planet directory.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Conservation Nation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the largest global wildlife conservation nonprofits, funding field projects, advocacy, and education worldwide. Compares to Conservation Nation as a broader incumbent that also invests in workforce diversity and youth education, but at vastly greater scale and scope.
- The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit operating across habitat protection, climate, and biodiversity. Comparable to Conservation Nation in mission alignment around wildlife and ecosystems, with much larger programmatic and fundraising scale.
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Operates wildlife parks and field conservation programs in 60+ countries. Comparable to Conservation Nation in global wildlife mission and education programming, but anchored in zoological park operations and much larger staff.
- National Geographic Society – Explorer Programs: Funds explorers and conservationists globally through grants and storytelling, with strong education and media platforms. Comparable to Conservation Nation's grant program targeting early-career conservationists and K-12 audience, but at much higher grant values.
- Conservation International: Global conservation organization funding biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and field programs worldwide. Comparable to Conservation Nation in its global grantmaking and conservation focus, but with significantly larger budget and policy influence.
Emerging players
- Rare: Behavior-change conservation nonprofit running local campaigns and training programs worldwide. Comparable to Conservation Nation in combining field program funding with capacity-building/training for conservation practitioners.
Direct peers
- Re:wild: Global wildlife conservation nonprofit funding species recovery and habitat protection. Comparable to Conservation Nation as a similarly sized peer that also funds individual conservationists and works across multiple continents.
- African Wildlife Foundation: Funds African wildlife conservation projects and community programs. Comparable to Conservation Nation in grant-based field conservation funding model, though geographically focused on Africa and at a larger scale.
- Rainforest Trust: Funds biodiversity protection through land purchases and partner projects worldwide. Comparable to Conservation Nation in nonprofit grantmaking for species/habitat protection, with a more direct land-acquisition model.
- Panthera: Wild cat conservation nonprofit funding field biologists and conservation projects globally. Comparable to Conservation Nation in species-focused grantmaking and support for individual conservationists in the field.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Conservation Nation social profiles
Digital presenceConservation Nation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Conservation Nation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Conservation Nation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Conservation Nation 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 Conservation Nation
What does Conservation Nation do?
Conservation Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and elevates a diverse community of wildlife conservationists through its Grant Program (up to US$5,000 per year for early-to-mid-career conservationists from underrepresented communities) and inspires the next generation through the Conservation Nation Academy, a free K-12 educational platform offering NGSS-aligned wildlife conservation lessons in English and Spanish. Grantees receive ongoing professional development and network support through the Conservation Nation Network.
Is Conservation Nation a public or private company?
Conservation Nation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Conservation Nation founded?
Conservation Nation was founded in 1958. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Conservation Nation based?
Conservation Nation is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Conservation Nation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are Conservation Nation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, National Geographic Society – Explorer Programs and Conservation International. Rare is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Re:wild, African Wildlife Foundation, Rainforest Trust and Panthera.
Does Conservation Nation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Conservation Nation.
What industry is Conservation Nation in?
Conservation Nation's product category is Wildlife Conservation Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 813312.