What Sand County Foundation does

Sand County Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1967 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The organization works at the intersection of agriculture and environmental improvement, equipping farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners with conservation data and field demonstrations to guide ethical land management. Its core offering is the Leopold Conservation Award Program, a peer recognition initiative presented annually in 28 states with $10,000 awards to recipients, supported by a national sponsorship from American Farmland Trust and a dense network of state-level agricultural partners (Farm Bureaus, Cattlemen's Associations, Conservation Districts). The foundation does not sell products or services; it generates revenue through tax-deductible individual donations, planned giving, Donor Advised Fund gifts, IRA transfers, and grants from foundations and government agencies, including a multi-year $7.8 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded in 2026.

The foundation's programmatic portfolio includes the Grassland Conservation Initiative (targeting 1 million acres across 15 states), the Pollinator Habitat Education Program, the Land Ethic Mentorship program for historically underserved farmers, Municipal-Agricultural Watershed Partnerships in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and Performance-Based Conservation methodologies that calculate farmer payments based on net environmental improvement. It conducts applied research with partners including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USDA NRCS, NCR-SARE, and General Mills, producing peer-reviewed publications on soil health, cover cropping, managed livestock grazing, and water quality. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary; the organization leverages remote sensing, on-farm soil sensors, geospatial analytics, and third-party tools (e.g., Field to Market's Fieldprint Calculator) for environmental outcome measurement. Operationally, Sand County Foundation is led by CEO Kevin McAleese and is governed by a board of directors, with 11–50 staff distributed across a national field presence.

The foundation's go-to-market is community-led: it relies on peer-to-peer inspiration, voluntary landowner participation, and institutional partnerships rather than paid acquisition. Distribution occurs through agricultural conferences (Commodity Classic, Sustainable Ag Summit), state-level events, publications, and the Leopold Conservation Award symposium circuit. Customer segments, in mission terms, are farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners as program participants; agricultural educators and students as outreach audiences; and municipalities and water utilities as co-funding partners. On the revenue side, its "customers" are individual donors, foundation funders, and government grant providers, with notable supporters including the Walton Family Foundation, Bradley Fund for the Environment, McKnight Foundation, and USDA NRCS.

Name

Sand County Foundation

Legal name

Sand County Foundation

Website

https://sandcountyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sand County Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances ethical land management among farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners through the Leopold Conservation Award, conservation research, watershed partnerships, and educational programs across 28 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Nonprofit

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Land conservation programs
• Agricultural conservation research
• Conservation recognition awards
• Soil and water stewardship
• Grassland habitat restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization generates revenue primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, including online donations, mailed contributions, IRA qualified charitable distributions, appreciated securities, real estate, closely held stock, and other tangible personal property. The organization also accepts future gifts through wills, living trusts, beneficiary designations in retirement plans and life insurance policies.
2. Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gifts: Accepts gifts directly from Donor Advised Funds through their DAF Direct platform, allowing donors to recommend grants from their DAF accounts.
3. Haglund Ecology Fund: A special endowment fund established to motivate and empower land stewards, environmental educators and young people across the U.S.
4. Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations and government agencies. In 2026, Sand County Foundation received a multi-year, $7.8 million NFWF grant to accelerate regenerative grazing practices, habitat restoration, and conservation of wildlife and water on working ranches.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sand County Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances voluntary, science-based land conservation with farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners. It runs the Leopold Conservation Award recognition program, conducts on-farm conservation research and demonstrations, and delivers education and outreach programs, funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

Sand County Foundation is a national nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of programs and educational resources focused on advancing voluntary, science-based land stewardship. The core offerings include the Leopold Conservation Award Program (a prestigious recognition program present in 28 states), combined with direct conservation implementation programs covering soil health, watershed partnerships, grassland conservation, and pollinator habitat. Educational resources include publications, books, and the Land Ethic Mentorship program that connects conservation champions with historically underserved farmers and ranchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leopold Conservation Award®: A prestigious award honoring farmers, ranchers and forestland owners for exceptional environmental stewardship, presented in 28 states.

Products and services

• Leopold Conservation Award Program A prestigious national recognition program honoring farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners for exceptional environmental stewardship in soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat management. Recipients receive $10,000 and recognition, presented annually across 28 states.
• Grassland Conservation Initiative A landmark effort advancing conservation practices across America's imperiled grasslands, working with ranchers in 15 states to expand regenerative grazing, habitat restoration, and water conservation across 1 million acres of working lands.
• Soil Management and Technology Program On-farm demonstration project integrating remote sensing and soil sensors to enable farmers to make in-season management decisions based on real-time soil moisture and temperature data.
• Performance-Based Conservation Conservation approach that calculates farmer payments based on net environmental improvement rather than specific practices, using environmental quantification methodologies.
• Prairie Filter Strips Conservation practice working with farmers to improve water quality and biodiversity through strategic placement of prairie strips within agricultural landscapes.
• Pollinator Habitat Education Program Grant program providing high school agriculture and science students with native seeds, seedlings, technical assistance, and educational resources to establish habitat for imperiled insect pollinators and monarch butterflies.
• Land Ethic Mentorship Program Program linking historically underserved farmers and ranchers with conservation mentors, providing peer-based learning and support for adopting conservation practices.
• Municipal-Agricultural Watershed Partnerships Initiative promoting partnerships between municipalities and farmers to achieve water quality goals through on-farm conservation implementation, focusing on the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
• Conservation Publications Research reports, policy analyses, and guidance documents covering water quality partnerships, performance-based conservation, soil health, watershed management, and prairie strips implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million acres targeted for conservation across 15 states through Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• American Farmland TrustflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNational sponsor for the Leopold Conservation Award program, presenting awards to private landowners in 28 states. Partnership amplifies reach and credibility of conservation recognition across agricultural community.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and various conservation initiatives. Collaborates on transforming croplands, pasture, and prairie to perennial cover.
• Environmental Policy Innovation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored reports on watershed partnerships in the Midwest, evaluating successes, challenges, and opportunities for water quality improvement programs.
• North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grant funding and support for the three-year rotational grazing on cover crops demonstration project with four Wisconsin farmers.
• Field to MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on conservation initiatives including presentations on leveraging the Fieldprint Calculator to advance conservation in agriculture.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on soil health demonstration projects, rotational grazing studies, and prairie restoration work. Dr. Randy Jackson from Department of Agronomy was key project partner.
• General Mills, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Lake Michigan Basin water quality study resulting in peer-reviewed journal article and interactive Story-Map on regenerative agriculture adoption.
• Noble Research InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in presenting Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award and co-authored water quality goals report.
• Farm FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national water quality practice assessment to address agricultural water quality challenges.
• Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSand County Foundation serves as legacy partner member, leading rapid assessment of state policies relevant to environmental market development within the Mississippi River Basin.
• Sauk Soil & Water Improvement Group (SSWIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmer-led watershed group collaborating on rotational grazing demonstration projects in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
• State Soil and Water Conservation Districts (various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with conservation districts across 28 states for Leopold Conservation Award presentations and watershed partnership programs.
• State Farm Bureaus (various states)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level partnership for Leopold Conservation Award presentations including Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Texas Farm Bureau, and others.
• State Cattlemen's Associations (various)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for award presentations including Nebraska Cattlemen, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, and others at annual conventions.
• Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors annual Conservation in Action Tour showcasing innovative farms and conservation practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quail Forever: Sister organization to Pheasants Forever focused on quail and grassland habitat conservation. Operates the same farmer-led chapter model and shares mission overlap with SCF around voluntary conservation on working agricultural lands.
• Pheasants Forever: Habitat-focused nonprofit operating through a chapter model with farmers, ranchers, and conservation districts to deliver grassland and upland bird habitat. Highly comparable in mission, target audience (private landowners), funding model, and partnership strategy with state soil and water conservation districts.
• Noble Research Institute: Largest nonprofit agricultural research organization in the U.S., focused on regenerative ranch management. Direct peer — co-presents the Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award and partners on water quality goals reporting; comparable in serving ranchers as the primary customer segment.
• Ducks Unlimited: Wetlands and grassland conservation nonprofit working closely with ranchers and farmers on private lands across the U.S. Comparable in leveraging private landowner partnerships, working-land conservation programs, and partnerships with state agricultural associations for habitat delivery.
• American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit dedicated to saving American farmland and promoting sustainable farming practices. A natural direct peer — Sand County Foundation and AFT are flagship national sponsors of the Leopold Conservation Award Program across multiple states, sharing target customers (farmers/ranchers), mission, and program design.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation nonprofits with significant U.S. agricultural and land stewardship programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent working at the intersection of agriculture and conservation, though with a much larger portfolio and broader geographic footprint than SCF.
• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit focused on protecting land for public benefit. Comparable as a peer conservation organization protecting land and partnering on water/agricultural outcomes, though with a heavier emphasis on public parks and conservation real estate transactions.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that combines land acquisition, conservation finance, and working-lands programs. Comparable in targeting private landowners and delivering conservation at scale, with overlapping policy interests in agricultural land stewardship.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Major funder of conservation in the U.S. — SCF's $7.8M grantee and a key financial partner. Comparable as a conservation funder/intermediary that channels capital toward grassland, water, and wildlife outcomes, but operating at vastly larger scale and from the grantmaking side rather than program delivery.

Emerging players

• Soil and Water Conservation Society: Professional society advancing the science and practice of conservation on working lands. Comparable in scientific mission and emerging-leader programming (SCF's Agricultural Field Data Scientist was accepted into SWCS's Emerging Leaders Program); operates more as a professional membership body than a delivery organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kmcaleese1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sand-county-foundation

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 Sand County Foundation