California Wilderness Coalition

What California Wilderness Coalition does

California Wilderness Coalition (CalWild) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It is the only statewide organization dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the wild natural landscapes, rivers, and watersheds on California's public lands. Since its founding, CalWild has secured permanent protections for more than 13 million acres of California wilderness and 1,500 linear miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers through legislation, presidential monument designations, and federal land management plans. The organization works with communities, California Native American tribes, federal and state elected officials, and peer nonprofits to advance conservation campaigns across multiple regions including the Public Lands Defense Network, Central Coast, Northwest, San Gabriel Mountains, Desert, and Wild Rivers Project initiatives.

CalWild's core "products" are advocacy programs and services rather than technology products. These include campaigns and advocacy programs, action alerts and news communications, adventures and hiking resources, an interactive ArcGIS-powered wilderness map, the Stand By Your Lands Training program, donations and membership programs, and a merchandise store hosted on Bonfire. The organization's underlying capability rests on grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and coalition building rather than proprietary technology.

CalWild's revenue model is entirely donation- and event-driven. Revenue streams include individual donations, an annual membership program with recurring support and member benefits (including merchandise prizes from outdoor gear partners), merchandise sales through Bonfire, and special events such as the 50th Anniversary Event. CalWild charges nothing for its advocacy services; donations are voluntary. The organization operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees, including a Senior Policy Director with 30 years of tenure, and is currently navigating an Executive Director transition. CalWild is governed by a board of directors with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital ownership.

Name

California Wilderness Coalition

Legal name

California Wilderness Coalition

Website

https://calwild.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Wilderness Coalition (CalWild) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that protects and restores California's wild public lands, rivers, and watersheds through grassroots advocacy, tribal and government partnerships, and coalition building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Conservation advocacy
• Public lands protection
• Wilderness preservation
• Wildlife conservation
• Environmental nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CalWild relies heavily on individual donations from supporters and members who contribute to fund conservation campaigns, advocacy efforts, and organizational operations.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership drive campaigns that provide recurring support, with members receiving benefits such as access to events, merchandise prizes, and exclusive updates on conservation efforts.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of official CalWild merchandise through Bonfire online store, including apparel and promotional items.
4. Special Events: Revenue from events such as the 50th Anniversary Event and other fundraising activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

California Wilderness Coalition is a nonprofit advocacy organization that runs conservation campaigns to protect and restore California's wild natural landscapes, rivers, and watersheds on public lands. It engages communities, tribes, elected officials, and federal agencies to secure permanent wilderness designations, national monument protections, and Wild and Scenic River designations, while offering supporting programs such as action alerts, advocacy training, an interactive wilderness map, and outdoor adventure resources.

Product overview

California Wilderness Coalition (CalWild) operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization, not a technology product company. Its 'products' are conservation programs and services including: campaigns protecting public lands across California (Public Lands Defense Network, Central Coast, Northwest, San Gabriel Mountains, Desert, and Wild Rivers Project); Action Alerts and News communications; Adventures and Hiking Resources guides; an Interactive Wilderness Map; Stand By Your Lands Training program; Donations and Membership programs; and CalWild Merchandise sold via Bonfire. These programs work together to protect, restore, and advocate for California's wild natural landscapes, rivers, and watersheds on public lands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CalWild Conservation Campaigns Conservation campaign programs protecting California wilderness areas, including the Public Lands Defense Network, Central Coast, Northwest, San Gabriel Mountains, Desert, and Wild Rivers Project initiatives.
• Adventures and Hiking Resources Guides and information about wilderness hiking opportunities in California, including trail descriptions, locations, and outdoor recreation experiences to engage supporters in the wild places CalWild protects.
• Interactive Wilderness Map Web-based ArcGIS mapping tool allowing users to explore CalWild's campaigns and protected wilderness areas across California.
• Stand By Your Lands Training Training program to equip advocates with skills to defend California's public lands, including how to participate in advocacy campaigns and engage decision-makers.
• Donations and Membership Program Individual giving programs, recurring membership management, and legacy donation options supporting CalWild's conservation work, with members receiving benefits such as access to events, merchandise prizes, and updates.
• CalWild Merchandise Store Official branded merchandise including apparel and accessories sold through Bonfire to support the organization's conservation mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected more than 13 million acres of California wilderness since 1976
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

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

• The Pew Charitable TrustscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Coalition partner in advocating for the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan (NCIP). The organization works with CalWild and others to advance conservation protections for northwestern California public lands, contributing expertise and resources to the planning process.
• Conservation Lands FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Partner organization advocating for public lands conservation in northwestern California. Collaborates with CalWild on the NCIP process and broader conservation goals for the region.
• Friends of the Lost CoastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Local advocacy organization focused on protecting public lands in Humboldt County and the Lost Coast region. Works with CalWild on coalition efforts for northwestern California conservation.
• Shasta Environmental AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Regional environmental organization partnering with CalWild on the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan advocacy efforts.
• Yocha Dehe Wintun NationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024First California tribe to sign an agreement managing a portion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, representing a historic first for federal lands collaborative management in California.
• Power In Nature CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition of over 100 community groups, environmental organizations, land trusts, indigenous organizations, and tribal members dedicated to advancing California's 30x30 commitment to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030.
• Backcountry Hunters and AnglersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Organization representing hunters and anglers who advocate for public lands access and conservation. Partner in the broader conservation tent expanding to include diverse outdoor recreation interests.
• Outdoor AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition of outdoor recreation organizations representing hikers, kayakers, mountain bikers and others who value public lands access.
• Latino OutdoorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Organization connecting Latino communities with outdoor recreation and conservation opportunities, supporting CalWild's expanded outreach to diverse communities.
• Karuk TribecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Leading efforts on cultural burning and traditional ecological knowledge integration. Partnered with CalWild on federal land conservation and advocates for getting 'good fire' back on the land.
• Timbisha Shoshone TribecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2016Tribe partnered with CalWild in advocating for and supporting the designation of Castle Mountains, Sand to Snow, and Mojave Trails National Monuments by President Obama in February 2016. The tribe has lived in the Death Valley region for over a thousand years.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conservation Lands Foundation: National nonprofit specifically focused on BLM-managed National Conservation Lands, and a documented CalWild coalition partner on the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan. Directly comparable mission on public-lands advocacy and monument/wilderness protections.
• The Wilderness Society: National wilderness advocacy nonprofit that actively campaigns on California public lands protections, including wilderness designations and monument campaigns overlapping with CalWild's portfolio. Closely aligned mission, advocacy methodology, and federal-agency engagement approach.
• Center for Biological Diversity: Active petitioner and litigator on California endangered species and public lands protections, frequently aligning with CalWild on monument and wilderness campaigns. Similar advocacy intensity and federal-petition-driven approach.
• Friends of the Lost Coast: Regional Humboldt County advocacy nonprofit and CalWild coalition partner focused on protecting California's Lost Coast public lands. Closely comparable grassroots advocacy model at a smaller geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental nonprofits with a heavily engaged California chapter that campaigns on public lands, wilderness, and rivers, overlapping CalWild's geographic and issue focus. A broader incumbent with a much wider portfolio spanning climate, energy, and outings programs beyond public lands.
• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife-focused advocacy nonprofit engaged in California habitat and public lands issues, with comparable advocacy methodology and federal agency engagement. Broader portfolio across wildlife policy and endangered species, but overlapping on California land protection.
• Natural Resources Defense Council: National advocacy organization engaged in California public lands, monument defense, and BLM planning processes that directly intersect with CalWild's campaigns. Operates as a broad legal-and-policy incumbent with significantly greater resources and litigation capacity.
• The Nature Conservancy (California): Global conservation organization with major California land protection, stewardship, and policy programs that overlap with CalWild's public-lands focus. Operates more through land acquisition and easement mechanisms, but shares advocacy on California land-use policy and 30x30 implementation.

Emerging players

• The Pew Charitable Trusts: Large philanthropic organization that actively funds and co-advocates California public lands campaigns, including the NCIP coalition with CalWild. Functions partly as a peer advocacy organization and partly as a strategic funder with overlapping campaign interests.
• Earthjustice: Public interest environmental law organization that litigates to defend California public lands, monuments, and species protections often at issue in CalWild's advocacy. Functions as an adjacent peer with a litigation rather than lobbying delivery model, frequently partnering on the same federal-land cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=-pNSghJ790I
• Facebookfacebook.com/CalWild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calwild
• Instagraminstagram.com/calwildorg
• Xx.com/Calwild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 California Wilderness Coalition