Bur Oak Land Trust

What Bur Oak Land Trust does

Bur Oak Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust (Tax ID 42-1104058) founded in 1978 in Iowa City, Iowa, and originally incorporated as Johnson County Heritage Trust before being renamed in 2015 to reflect an expanded regional scope. The organization protects over 1,000 acres of eastern Iowa landscapes across 11 named nature preserves — spanning prairies, oak savannas, woodlands, and wetlands — plus an additional ~400 acres under conservation easements, with most preserves open to the public year-round at no charge. Core activities include habitat restoration using techniques such as prescribed fire (conducted by S-130/S-190-certified crews), invasive species removal, native prairie reconstruction, and ecological monitoring supported by ArcGIS and aerial imaging.

The organization operates with a lean team of roughly five staff (Executive Director Jason Taylor, Deputy Director Meredith Roemererman, Conservation Director Carter Johnson, Land Steward Sarah Lawinger, Education Coordinator Amanda Stallman) supported by a Board of Directors, an AmeriCorps service program (terminated April 2025 after 55,000+ cumulative service hours), and a network of community-science partners including the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. Programming spans free public guided hikes, the annual Prairie Preview environmental fair (250+ attendees), the Bur Oak Hiking Club, an archery-based deer management program, and the Backyard Biodiversity Project.

Revenue is generated entirely from philanthropic sources: individual one-time and recurring donations (Nancy Seiberling Circle monthly giving), planned/legacy gifts stewarded through the Community Foundation of Johnson County, corporate sponsorships of events such as Golden Hour ($11K+ raised in 2024), and grants from local government (e.g., Climate Action grant from the City of Iowa City). Large capital campaigns (e.g., $700K Protect. Conserve. Grow. in 2016-2017) finance land acquisitions. Donations are tax-deductible and processed through PayPal, Venmo, Kindful, employer matching programs, and direct stock transfers.

Name

Bur Oak Land Trust

Legal name

Bur Oak Land Trust

Website

https://buroaklandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bur Oak Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that protects more than 1,000 acres of eastern Iowa through 11 public nature preserves, funding conservation and public-access programming via individual donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Timber Tract Operations (11311)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting) (AFAMACAN), Natural Resource Inventory & Forest/Woodland Assessments (Timber, Vegetation, Invasives) (EUAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Nature preserve management
• Habitat restoration
• Environmental education programs
• Nonprofit land trust

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the land trust's conservation mission. Accepts online donations via PayPal and Venmo, checks, and stock transfers.
2. Recurring/Monthly Giving: Monthly donor program (Nancy Seiberling Circle) providing sustainable funding with benefits including early event access and special appreciation events.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraiser events including Golden Hour dinner/auction (raised $11,000+ in 2024, $14,000+ in 2023) and community events.
4. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Bequests, retirement plan designations, life insurance gifts, and endowments through Community Foundation of Johnson County for long-term sustainability.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Event and program sponsorships from local businesses and organizations supporting conservation mission.
6. Employer Matching Contributions: Corporate matching gift programs (e.g., Benevity) amplifying employee donations.
7. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from events like Prairie Preview and Hidden Prairie photography event featuring sponsors like Martin Construction, Iowa Native Plant Society, Coralville, Climate Action, Davisson Millwork, and Grout Electric.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bur Oak Land Trust operates a network of 11 nature preserves totaling over 1,000 acres in eastern Iowa, providing free public access year-round for hiking, bird watching, nature photography, and environmental education. The organization supports these preserves with professional land management including prescribed fire, invasive species removal, native prairie reconstruction, and conservation easements. Complementary programs include the AmeriCorps service program (terminated April 2025), guided hiking clubs, an archery deer management program, the Backyard Biodiversity educational initiative, and structured donation programs including monthly giving and planned legacy gifts.

Product overview

Bur Oak Land Trust operates as a unified nonprofit offering centered on land conservation and public access. The core offering is the management and public access to 11 nature preserves (totaling over 1,000 acres) across eastern Iowa for recreation, education, and wildlife habitat. Supporting services include the AmeriCorps conservation program, educational initiatives like the Backyard Biodiversity Project, the Bur Oak Hiking Club with guided nature walks, an archery deer hunting program for ecological management, and comprehensive donation/fundraising programs including monthly giving and planned giving options. All offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of biodiversity conservation and connecting people to nature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Preserves Network (11 properties in eastern Iowa)
• AmeriCorps National Service Program
• Backyard Biodiversity Project
• Bur Oak Hiking Club
• Archery Deer Hunting Program
• Donation and Fundraising Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected over 1,000 acres of eastern Iowa land including 12 preserves and conservation easements
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program hosting AmeriCorps members for land management and conservation work. Since 2019, 60+ members served 55,000+ hours improving 400+ acres annually across 19 Iowa counties. In April 2025, program was terminated along with 14 other Iowa AmeriCorps programs due to federal funding changes.
• Iowa Natural Heritage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide land conservation organization. AmeriCorps crew partnered with INHF on restoration projects including 89-acre burn at Indiangrass Hills property in Iowa County.
• The Nature Conservancy in IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal conservation organization with Iowa operations. AmeriCorps host site for Land Stewardship Specialist and partnered on burns including 68 acres in Louisa County. Served alongside TNC staff on restoration projects.
• Johnson County ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government conservation department. AmeriCorps host site for Naturalist Assistant position and partnered on land management projects throughout Johnson County.
• Iowa Project AWAREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization. AmeriCorps host site providing conservation training and experience to members.
• Volunteer IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa Commission on Volunteer Service overseeing AmeriCorps and service programs statewide. Partnered with Bur Oak on advocacy efforts following program termination in 2025.
• University of Iowa Museum of Natural HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum receiving insect specimens from volunteer Jeff Klahn's surveys. specimens inform biogeography studies about habitat loss and prairie restoration effectiveness.
• AmeriCorps NCCC North Central RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Civilian Conservation Corps regional program. partnered with Bur Oak AmeriCorps for sand prairie restoration project at Big Sand Mound in September 2024 for 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps.
• Iowa Master NaturalistsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer organization providing training in natural history and conservation. Elisabeth Swain serves as executive director; provides volunteer opportunities for program graduates at Bur Oak preserves.
• Prairie States Mushroom ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMushroom identification and education organization. Led guided mushroom foray at Corriell Nature Preserve.
• Iowa Young BirdersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth birding organization connecting young people to ornithology and conservation education.
• Martin ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Hidden Prairie photography event featuring Chris Helzer in 2026.
• Iowa Native Plant SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState organization promoting native plant conservation. Event sponsor and exhibitor at Prairie Preview.
• City of CoralvilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government. Event sponsor for Hidden Prairie photography event and Prairie Preview.
• Climate Action (City of Iowa City)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity department. Grant provider for Backyard Biodiversity Project supporting native shrub planting in the community.
• Davisson MillworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business. Program sponsor supporting Bur Oak conservation programs and events.
• Grout ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business. Program sponsor for conservation events and tours.
• Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Department of State program. Hosted cultural exchange fellow Irhamna Putri from Indonesia for professional fellowship focused on youth wildlife conservation training.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National umbrella organization representing land trusts and setting accreditation standards. Functions as an industry-level peer/advisor rather than a direct competitor, but is central to Bur Oak's regulatory and accreditation positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Pheasants Forever: National habitat conservation nonprofit active across the Midwest. Comparable in mission (grassland/wetland conservation and landowner engagement) and donor-driven revenue model, but operates at far greater scale with chapters in multiple states.
• The Nature Conservancy in Iowa: Global conservation NGO operating a significant Iowa chapter. TNC has served as an AmeriCorps host site alongside Bur Oak and partnered on burns (68 acres in Louisa County), giving it directly overlapping land management and public-access activities at greater scale.

Direct peers

• Mississippi Valley Conservancy: Regional land trust operating in Wisconsin's Driftless region with a comparable portfolio of fee-owned preserves and conservation easements open for public access and education. Closely comparable in scale, structure, and community-led conservation model.
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Statewide Iowa land trust focused on land protection and restoration. Bur Oak has partnered directly with INHF on prescribed burns (89-acre Indiangrass Hills burn) and AmeriCorps deployment, making it the closest operational peer in the same geography.
• Driftless Area Land Conservancy: Wisconsin-based land trust protecting Driftless Area prairies, woodlands, and cold-water streams. Comparable in mission (Midwest prairie/woodland preservation with public access and habitat restoration) and organization scale.
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Duplicate consideration omitted; INHF appears earlier in the list as the strongest direct peer.

Regional players

• Johnson County Conservation: Local Iowa government conservation department that manages public parks and natural areas in Johnson County. It is both a direct partner (AmeriCorps host site, joint land management) and a comparable public-facing preserve operator in Bur Oak's primary geography.
• Dubuque County Conservation Board: Iowa county-level conservation operator managing public natural areas in eastern Iowa. Operates an overlapping preserve/public-access model with similar educational programming, but is government-funded rather than donation-dependent.

Emerging players

• Tallgrass Prairie Center: Iowa-based nonprofit dedicated to prairie restoration, seed production, and landowner outreach. Comparable in mission (prairie conservation in eastern Iowa) but narrower in scope, without a multi-preserve public access network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BurOakLandTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buroaklandtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/buroaklandtrust
• Xx.com/BurOakLT

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Bur Oak Land Trust