North Olympic Land Trust

What North Olympic Land Trust does

North Olympic Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1990 and headquartered in Port Angeles, Washington, that pursues permanent conservation of farmland, forests, fish habitat, and open space across Clallam County on the North Olympic Peninsula. The organization's core work consists of two mechanisms: (1) conservation easements, which are voluntary legal agreements with willing landowners that permanently remove development rights while the landowner retains ownership, and (2) direct ownership and stewardship of conservation properties open to the public for passive recreation. It has cumulatively protected more than 3,900 acres through 89 conservation easements and holds four publicly accessible conservation areas (Pysht River, Elk Creek, Lyre, and Siebert Creek) totaling roughly 647.5 acres, including 670+ acres of farmland, 1,940+ acres of forest, 1.7 miles of marine shoreline, and 14 miles of stream and river habitat.

The Land Trust does not sell products or services. Its revenue is derived from individual donations (one-time and recurring through the Monthly Evergreen Giving program), business sponsorships, planned/legacy gifts including the John Willits Legacy Circle, and grants from federal, state, and private foundations such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Forterra, and The Nature Conservancy. It maintains a stewardship endowment and is a member of the Terrafirma conservation insurance program, holding Land Trust Accreditation Commission accreditation since 2012 and a Charity Navigator 4-star rating. The organization serves willing landowners, Clallam County community members, local farmers, and regional tribal nations (Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah) through a 30+ partner alliance network, and operates with a small staff of approximately eight people under Executive Director Tom Sanford. Notable recent activity includes the 2026 purchase of the 135-acre Big Red Barn Farm and the Climate Resiliency Partnership with Jefferson Land Trust.

Name

North Olympic Land Trust

Legal name

North Olympic Land Trust

Website

https://northolympiclandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

North Olympic Land Trust is a community-based nonprofit whose mission is to conserve land and natural resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation
• Conservation easements
• Natural resource preservation
• Habitat protection
• Nonprofit land trust

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Gifts: Charitable donations from individuals, families, and community members supporting land conservation efforts. Includes one-time and monthly recurring donations.
2. Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from local and regional businesses, with recognition benefits including logo placement, event recognition, and website acknowledgment.
3. Legacy Giving and Planned Gifts: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance policies, and other estate planning vehicles for long-term support.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from government agencies, foundations, and conservation organizations for specific land protection and restoration projects.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

North Olympic Land Trust is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that conserves land and natural resources on the North Olympic Peninsula through conservation easements and direct land ownership. The organization manages four conservation areas and stewards working forests, salmon streams, and habitat across the region, and is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Product overview

North Olympic Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on permanent land protection across the North Olympic Peninsula. Core services include Conservation Easements (voluntary legal agreements permanently protecting land) and direct Land Ownership through four public Conservation Areas totaling approximately 647.5 acres. The organization manages specialized conservation areas (Pysht River, Elk Creek, Lyre, and Siebert Creek) providing public recreation access alongside habitat protection. Key initiatives include the Big Red Barn Farm acquisition (135 acres), Climate Resiliency Partnership with Jefferson Land Trust, and prairie restoration projects. Donor engagement programs include Monthly Evergreen Giving and the John Willits Legacy Circle for planned giving. Community engagement offerings encompass volunteer programs, Landscapes Newsletter (digital and print), and annual events including Conservation Breakfast, Family Picnic, and Second Saturday Strolls.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Easement Stewardship
• Direct Land Acquisition and Stewardship
• Conservation Area Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,900 acres permanently protected since 1990
• +4 more outcomes

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

32 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• ForterramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional conservation organization supporting land protection efforts in the Pacific Northwest.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization working on habitat protection and environmental stewardship.
• Makah TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coastal and marine habitat conservation efforts, particularly in the Pysht River restoration.
• Clallam Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in conservation efforts across Clallam County, working on shared environmental goals including farmland protection and habitat conservation.
• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing accreditation, standards, and support for land trusts. North Olympic Land Trust is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Jefferson Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring land trust on the Olympic Peninsula. Partners in the Climate Resiliency Partnership for landscape-scale conservation and stewardship projects.
• Jamestown S'Klallam TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tribal nation partner in conservation and natural resource protection efforts.
• Lower Elwha Klallam TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in salmon habitat restoration and conservation, particularly in the Elwha River watershed.
• The Trust for Public LandsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting land conservation and public access to natural areas.
• Natural Resource Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing technical and financial assistance for conservation programs.
• Washington Department of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in wildlife habitat conservation and management.
• Washington Department of Natural ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in forest land and natural resource management.
• Coastal Watershed InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit focused on coastal and watershed conservation research and restoration.
• Green CrowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal forestry and conservation company involved in forest land management.
• Merrill & RingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest products company partner in forest conservation and restoration efforts.
• Ducks UnlimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWetland and waterfowl conservation organization partner in habitat restoration.
• North Olympic Salmon CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization focused on salmon habitat conservation and recovery efforts.
• Pacific Coast Joint VenturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership focused on migratory bird habitat conservation.
• Pacific Coast Salmon CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on Pacific coast salmon conservation efforts.
• Puget Sound PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for Puget Sound recovery and protection efforts.
• PCC Farmland TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmland conservation organization partner in protecting agricultural land.
• Washington State Recreation and Conservation OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing funding and support for conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
• Washington Wildlife and Recreation CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition supporting wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation funding.
• Washington Sea GrantmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-based program providing research and expertise on marine and coastal resources.
• Washington Association of Land TrustsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association supporting and connecting land trusts across Washington State.
• Strait of Juan de Fuca Ecosystem Recovery NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network focused on ecosystem recovery across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
• North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for SalmoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coordinating body for salmon recovery funding and projects.
• Dungeness River Management TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal watershed management organization for the Dungeness River.
• Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business chamber supporting economic vitality connected to land conservation.
• US Department of Fish and WildlifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner in wildlife habitat conservation.
• United State Department of AgriculturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing agricultural and conservation support programs.
• TerrafirmacoreOthersLand Trust member-owned conservation insurance program providing additional protection for stewardship responsibilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jefferson Land Trust: Neighboring land trust on the Olympic Peninsula operating an identical model of conservation easements, land ownership, and community-based conservation in Jefferson County. Directly comparable as a fellow accredited, community land trust in the same region and a current co-partner in the Climate Resiliency Partnership.
• PCC Farmland Trust: Washington-state farmland conservation trust that permanently protects agricultural land through easements and ownership, mirroring North Olympic Land Trust's working-land focus (e.g., 670+ acres of farmland and the Big Red Barn Farm acquisition). Listed as a major partner.

Regional players

• Forterra: Regional conservation organization supporting land protection across the Pacific Northwest with a broader, multi-county scope than North Olympic Land Trust. Listed as a major partner and operates a directly comparable easement/land-acquisition model.
• Coastal Watershed Institute: Local nonprofit focused on coastal and watershed conservation research and restoration on the North Olympic Peninsula. Listed as a major partner and a co-stewardship peer for the Lyre and Siebert Creek conservation areas.
• North Olympic Salmon Coalition: Local organization focused on salmon habitat conservation and recovery across the North Olympic Peninsula. A core partner and the trust's primary collaborator on stream and estuary protection projects.
• Clallam Conservation District: Special district in Clallam County working on farmland protection, habitat conservation, and natural-resource stewardship. Listed as a core partner and a directly comparable local conservation-services peer.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that funds and completes land conservation transactions, often partnering with community land trusts on individual deals. Listed as a major partner; provides the same easement/fee-simple toolkit at national scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: International conservation organization working on habitat protection and stewardship via easements and land purchases. Listed as a major partner and operates a directly overlapping science-driven, easement-based model globally.
• Ducks Unlimited: National wetland and waterfowl conservation organization that funds easements and habitat restoration, often co-funding projects with smaller land trusts. Listed as a major partner and shares salmon/wetland conservation overlap in the Pacific Northwest.

Others

• Washington Association of Land Trusts: State-level association that supports and connects Washington land trusts — a network peer rather than a competitor. Provides capacity-building, advocacy, and shared insurance/programs that North Olympic Land Trust benefits from as a member.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOj9nR7q3QgzjQ0EpTP44Ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/northolympiclandtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/northolympiclandtrust
• Xx.com/olylandtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-olympic-land-trust

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 North Olympic Land Trust