Montana Conservation

What Montana Conservation does

Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) is a private nonprofit conservation service organization headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, operating as an accredited AmeriCorps program since 1993. MCC engages young adults (17+) and Montana teens (14-18) in hands-on conservation service across the Northern Rockies and Plains, delivering trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, native plant restoration, fuels reduction, watershed work, and noxious weed eradication across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

MCC operates four regional offices (Central Divide, Greater Yellowstone/Southern Youth Branch, Northern Rockies/Northern Youth Branch, and Western Wildlands) and runs five program lines: Adult Conservation Crews (team-based outdoor service), Individual Placement Programs (Conservation Interns at $10,500/14 weeks, Conservation Fellows at $16,000/20 weeks), the Big Sky Watershed Corps (10.5-month watershed placements at $17,000/member), Youth Programs (National Park Service Expeditions and Youth Corps for teens), and the Piikuni Lands Crew serving Blackfeet Nation members on ancestral lands. MCC holds master agreements with US Forest Service Regions 1, 2, and 4, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.

MCC's revenue model combines federal AmeriCorps grants (the primary funding channel), host site cost-share fees from 500+ partner organizations, individual donations, and philanthropic grants from 15+ named foundations and corporate partners including the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, BNSF Railway Foundation, and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. MCC is led by President/CEO Jono McKinney and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Name

Montana Conservation

Legal name

Montana Conservation Corps

Website

https://mtcorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Montana Conservation Corps is a Bozeman-based nonprofit AmeriCorps program engaging young adults and teens in hands-on conservation service across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas through crew-based deployments, individual placements, and youth programs for federal and nonprofit partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Conservation services
• AmeriCorps program
• Land stewardship
• Youth service programs
• Watershed restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. AmeriCorps Grants: MCC receives federal funding through AmeriCorps National Grants to support programming and participant services including living stipends, education awards, and training.
2. Host Site Cost-Share: Host site organizations pay cost-share fees for Conservation Interns ($10,500/Intern), Conservation Fellows ($16,000/Fellow), and Big Sky Watershed Corps Members ($17,000/member).
3. Donations: MCC accepts donations from individuals, parents, alumni, and supporters. One-time and recurring monthly donation options are available.
4. Philanthropic Partnerships: Various foundations and corporations provide grant funding including Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, BNSF Railway Foundation, Cinnabar Foundation, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and many others supporting youth programs and general operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montana Conservation Corps is a nonprofit AmeriCorps program that engages youth and young adults in hands-on conservation service projects across the Northern Rockies and Plains. It delivers turnkey conservation labor through Adult Conservation Crews, Individual Placement Programs (Conservation Interns, Conservation Fellows, Big Sky Watershed Corps), Youth Programs, and the Piikuni Lands Crew, completing trail construction, habitat restoration, watershed projects, and fuels reduction for federal and state land management agencies, nonprofits, and tribal partners.

Product overview

Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) is a nonprofit conservation service organization operating as an AmeriCorps program. Rather than a technology platform, MCC offers a portfolio of youth and young adult service programs focused on hands-on conservation work across public lands. The core programs include Adult Conservation Crews (team-based outdoor service), Individual Placement Programs (internships and fellowships with partner organizations), and Youth Programs (expeditions for teens). Specialized offerings include the Big Sky Watershed Corps for watershed-focused placements and the Piikuni Lands Crew for indigenous youth. All programs provide participants with technical conservation skills, leadership development, and career preparation while completing essential public lands maintenance and restoration projects throughout Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Conservation Crews Team-based conservation service program for adults ages 17+ who camp while working on physically demanding projects including trail maintenance, watershed restoration, planting, backcountry projects, and forest fuels reduction across the Northern Rockies and Plains. Crew members serve through AmeriCorps with living stipends, education awards, and training.
• Individual Placement Programs AmeriCorps member placement programs where participants serve with federal/state agencies, nonprofits, tribal offices, or conservation organizations. Includes Conservation Interns (14 weeks), Conservation Fellows (20 weeks), and Big Sky Watershed Corps members (10.5 months) who receive mentorship and career development while contributing to host site projects.
• Big Sky Watershed Corps 10.5-month individual AmeriCorps placement program for college graduates serving with watershed groups, conservation districts, tribal offices, federal/state agencies, and community-based conservation organizations focused on watershed health, protection, community engagement, and natural resource volunteer generation in Montana.
• Conservation Interns and Fellows 14-week Conservation Intern and 20-week Conservation Fellow individual placements with host site organizations including federal/state agencies, nonprofits, conservation districts, and tribal offices. Participants receive hands-on conservation experience, mentorship, and career development. Host sites pay $10,500/Intern or $16,000/Fellow in cost-share fees.
• Youth Programs No-cost service experiences for Montana teens ages 14-18 including National Park Service Expeditions and Youth Corps programs where members camp, learn, and work on conservation projects across public lands improving wildlife habitat and recreation resources. Programs are accessible regardless of income background.
• Youth Program Leaders Leadership positions for adults ages 21-35 leading National Park Service Expeditions and Youth Corps crews serving Montana teens ages 14-18 on conservation projects that improve wildlife habitat and recreation resources.
• Piikuni Lands Crew (Amskapi Piikuni Partnership) Conservation service program for indigenous youth and adults from the Blackfeet Nation serving on ancestral lands to develop conservation skills and learn about cultural values, including trail maintenance, wildlife surveying, and fencing work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 years of successful conservation project completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps is the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps grants. With a mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering, AmeriCorps has awarded over $800 million in funding each year to programs including MCC. Since 1993, AmeriCorps grants have supported MCC's programs.
• Montana Governor's Office of Community ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Governor's Office of Community Service works to promote and expand national service and volunteer opportunities in Montana and administers AmeriCorps grants made to Montana-based organizations.
• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Corps Network is the national association for service and conservation corps, providing critical leadership to the Corps movement and to the nation's Service and Conservation Corps. MCC is a proud accredited member.
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe US Forest Service, an agency within the Department of Agriculture, is MCC's largest partner, with crews and interns serving across the Northern Region, and also the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain regions. MCC's partnership spans 21 national forests and grasslands. Master agreements in place with USFS Region 1, 2 and 4.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources of the country for the enjoyment of current and future generations. MCC members serve in premier parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier in addition to historic sites like Big Hole and Little Bighorn Battlefield, and City of Rocks.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging national monuments like the Upper Missouri River Breaks, pocket wildernesses like Beartrap Canyon, and vast recreational lands, the BLM is a valued partner offering diverse stewardship projects for members. The BLM sponsors MCC's Women's Fire Corps.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe US Fish & Wildlife Service is committed to assisting in the development and application of an environmental stewardship ethic for society, guiding the conservation, development, and management of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources.
• Bureau of ReclamationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public in the Northern Rockies and Plains.
• Montana State ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana State Parks preserve and protect the state's heritage and natural beauty for the benefit of families, communities, local economies and visitors. The partnership is grounded in the legacy of the 1930's CCC which developed Montana's first state park at Lewis and Clark Caverns.
• Glacier National Park ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis vibrant partnership brings young people to Glacier National Park to help steward this national gem. The Conservancy is also a close partner in supporting the Piikani Lands Crew, a crew program for young adults from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
• Montana Watershed Coordination CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MWCC cultivates broad-based support for community driven approaches to managing land and water issues. MWCC represents over 60 watershed groups in Montana and is a close partner in offering the Big Sky Watershed Corps.
• Soil & Water Conservation Districts of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWCDM is dedicated to serve and support Montana's 58 conservation districts in managing natural resources through program, technical expertise, and information sharing. SWCDM is a close partner in offering the Big Sky Watershed Corps.
• National Forest FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Forest Foundation (NFF) is the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service and transforms America's love of nature into action for forests. Working across 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands, NFF leads collaborative efforts that restore land and water, strengthen wildfire resilience, and expand recreation access.
• National Park FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Park Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. NPF supports MCC's efforts to engage indigenous youth in service on public lands of cultural significance. NPF awarded MCC funds for a crew of young leaders from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming serving in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield.
• Montana Fish, Wildlife, and ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks supports MCC's trail stewardship programs through grant funding.
• Montana Association of Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMACD partners with MCC on the Big Sky Watershed Corps program, providing placement opportunities for AmeriCorps members with conservation districts across Montana.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conservation Legacy: Nonprofit umbrella operating multiple regional conservation corps (e.g., Southwest Conservation Corps, New Mexico Conservation Corps, Arizona Conservation Corps). Direct peer given shared corps-service model, AmeriCorps affiliation, and federal land partnerships.
• American Conservation Experience: Nonprofit conservation service corps offering crew-based and individual placement programs on federal lands nationwide. Highly comparable to MCC in service delivery model, age demographic served, and AmeriCorps-style programming.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit that places young people in conservation service on public lands through internships, crew programs, and individual placements. Closest direct peer to MCC given shared AmeriCorps-affiliated service model, federal agency partnerships, and youth-to-career pipeline.

Others

• The Corps Network: National membership association for service and conservation corps that accredits and advocates on behalf of corps including MCC. Comparable industry/ecosystem connection, but functions as an enabling trade association rather than a direct service provider competing for the same contracts.

Regional players

• Washington Conservation Corps: State-run AmeriCorps program placing young adults in habitat restoration and trail projects across Washington State. Comparable service delivery model and demographic, but operates exclusively in Washington rather than the Northern Rockies/Plains.
• Rocky Mountain Conservancy: Nonprofit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park supporting stewardship, education, and volunteer programs. Comparable in park-based conservation service and federal partnership model, but with a narrower single-park geographic focus.
• Southeast Conservation Corps: Regional conservation corps operated by Conservation Legacy serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Southeast. Comparable AmeriCorps crew and individual placement model, but geographically distinct from MCC's Northern Rockies footprint.

Emerging players

• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts engaging youth in environmental restoration and community development. Comparable youth-development and conservation-service orientation, with a stronger urban-community focus than MCC's rural public-lands emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• California Conservation Corps: State-established conservation corps providing young adults with environmental and community service opportunities. Comparable in service model and demographic focus, with significantly larger scale and state-government backing rather than nonprofit status.
• AmeriCorps NCCC: Federal AmeriCorps direct-service program deploying young adults in team-based national and community service projects. Comparable demographic and team-based service model, with broader nationwide geographic mandate rather than MCC's regional Northern Rockies/Plains focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mtconservationcorps/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/MontanaConservationCorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3550662/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/mtcorps
• TikToktiktok.com/@montanaconservationcorps

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

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Frequently asked questions about Montana Conservation