Belwin Conservancy

What Belwin Conservancy does

Belwin Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust and environmental education organization established around 1970–1971 in Afton, Minnesota, approximately 15 miles from St. Paul. The organization permanently protects and actively manages more than 1,600 acres of prairie, oak savanna, woodland, wetland, and riparian habitat in Minnesota's Saint Croix Valley, including approximately 1,400 acres (about 17.5% of the landscape) within the Valley Creek watershed, which drains to the St. Croix River. Its core technical capabilities are ecological rather than digital, centered on prescribed fire management, invasive species control (buckthorn, Grecian foxglove, spotted knapweed, bird's foot trefoil), native plant reintroduction, watershed stewardship, and conservation easement administration.

Belwin's program portfolio spans K–12 environmental education through the Belwin Outdoor Science partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools (serving over 10,000 students annually and 500,000+ students since 1971), public access recreation across 10+ miles of trails, a bison herd, the Joseph J. Casby Observatory operated with the Minnesota Astronomical Society, the Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields, the Savanna Center, the Wetlands Center, and signature community events including Music in the Trees, the Bison Festival, Night in Nature, and the Winter Solstice Bonfire. The Arts, Culture, and Ecology program and an Artist in Residence partnership with the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery extend the organization beyond traditional conservation into cultural programming.

As a nonprofit, Belwin does not sell products or services at price; revenue is generated entirely through individual donations, planned giving and bequests, employer matching gifts, gifts of land and conservation easements, grants, and event-driven community support. The organization is led by Executive Director Katie Bloome (since 2021) and Board Chair David Hartwell (grandson of founders Charles and Lucy Winton Bell). In 2024 Belwin launched a $10M "Inspiring Through Nature" capital campaign and in 2025 completed a $3.6M accessible outdoor-education facility, signaling an active scaling phase.

Name

Belwin Conservancy

Legal name

Belwin Conservancy

Website

https://belwin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Belwin Conservancy is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit that permanently protects 1,600 acres of prairie, savanna, and woodland in the Saint Croix Valley and delivers K–12 outdoor science education to Saint Paul Public Schools students, public trail access, bison and observatory programs, and community events funded entirely by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation and Environmental Education

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Land conservation
• Environmental education
• Habitat restoration
• Outdoor recreation
• Nature programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Afton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals supporting land protection, educational programming, and conservation efforts. Includes online donations, direct mail, and planned giving.
2. Planned Giving and Estates: Bequests, charitable annuities, gifts of stock, donor-advised funds, and charitable IRA distributions provide long-term revenue streams from legacy donors.
3. Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable donations, doubling the impact of individual contributions.
4. Gifts of Land and Easements: Landowners donate land or conservation easements to permanently protect properties, often with significant tax benefits for donors.
5. Conservation Easements: Voluntary agreements through which landowners limit development to preserve natural features, with Belwin holding easements on approximately 124 acres of surrounding land.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Belwin Conservancy protects and restores 1,600 acres of prairie, savanna, and woodland habitat in Afton, Minnesota, providing free public trail access and outdoor recreation, while delivering K–12 environmental education through the Belwin Outdoor Science program in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools. The organization also maintains on-site amenities including a bison herd, an observatory, and athletic fields, supporting both ecological stewardship and community engagement.

Product overview

Belwin Conservancy is a nonprofit nature conservation organization offering a portfolio of environmental education, outdoor recreation, and land stewardship programs across 1,600 acres in Minnesota's Saint Croix Valley. The core offerings include Belwin Outdoor Science (field trips for Saint Paul Public Schools students), public access to 10+ miles of trails, a bison herd, the Joseph J. Casby Observatory, and athletic fields. The organization integrates arts and ecology through its Arts, Culture and Ecology program with an Artist in Residence component, and hosts signature events including Music in the Trees, Night in Nature, and Winter Solstice Bonfire. Land management services include prescribed burns, invasive species control, and conservation easements for private landowners. Facilities include the Savanna Center, Wetlands Center, and Oxbow Trails preserve.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Belwin Outdoor Science: Environmental education program in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools, offering outdoor science education for students since 1971.
• Belwin Outdoor Science Laboratory

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Valley Creek Conservation PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Formed in 2008 to protect properties in the Valley Creek watershed. In its first decade, the partnership protected 10 properties totaling nearly 1,000 acres and more than 20,000 feet of shoreline.
• Minnesota Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Land Trust holds numerous conservation easements on Belwin's property, ensuring long-term protection. MLT Director Wayne Ostlie noted their easements are 'more negotiated, crafted to work for the landowner while also protecting the conservation value.' Belwin also advises easement partners about land management.
• Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Valley Creek Conservation Partnership working to protect properties in the watershed, totaling nearly 1,000 acres and more than 20,000 feet of shoreline protected through the partnership.
• Valley Branch Watershed DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Valley Creek Conservation Partnership formed in 2008, working with state funds, private donations, and other contributions to protect properties in the watershed.
• Washington County Land and Water Legacy ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Valley Creek Conservation Partnership, contributing funding and resources for land protection efforts in Washington County.
• Minnesota Astronomical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt the Joseph J. Casby Observatory at Belwin in 2009 with an 8-foot-long, 10-inch apochromatic refracting telescope. MAS members operate the observatory during events and open it to the public for astronomy programs. MAS has nearly 500 members and is one of the largest amateur astronomy clubs in the country.
• American Indian Family CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed to bring Indigenous youth to Belwin and develop culturally relevant programming. The partnership with the American Indian Family Center was celebrated as building community and creating new connections to the land.
• Saint Paul Audubon Society Conservation CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPASCC places kestrel nest boxes at Belwin and monitors nesting activity. In June 2021, five kestrel chicks were documented in one of two nesting boxes at Belwin. The project contributes data to the American Kestrel Partnership, a continent-wide research program.
• Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MAAHMG to award artist residencies at Belwin's Savanna Center. The 2025-26 artists in residence (ShaVunda Brown and Joe Davis) were selected through this partnership.
• Prairie RestorationsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted restoration crews perform invasive species control work, including buckthorn removal along Valley Creek. Crews use EPA-approved chemicals for use near water to protect stream quality.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Audubon Minnesota: State chapter of the National Audubon Society, working on bird habitat and conservation. Shares Belwin's conservation and education focus, and is an active Belwin partner via the Saint Paul Audubon Society Conservation Committee.
• The Nature Conservancy (Minnesota Chapter): The largest global conservation organization with active work in Minnesota. Highly comparable in land protection and habitat restoration mission, but operates at far greater scale and geographic breadth than Belwin.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use. Comparable in combining land conservation with public access/education, but at a national scale versus Belwin's single-site model.
• The Conservation Fund: National conservation nonprofit that acquires and protects land while enabling economic use. Comparable in land-protection and partnership-driven model, but operates nationally with much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Valley Branch Watershed District: A local watershed management unit that is a core partner in the Valley Creek Conservation Partnership alongside Belwin. Directly comparable in watershed-level conservation work in the same geography.
• Dodge Nature Center: A small Minnesota nature preserve offering trails, environmental education, and prairie/restoration work. Closely mirrors Belwin's combination of protected land, K-12 outdoor science programming, and volunteer-driven stewardship.
• Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center: Minnesota nature center on the St. Croix River focused on environmental education and habitat preservation. Highly comparable in proximity, mission, and educational programming structure.
• Minnesota Land Trust: A Minnesota-focused land trust that holds conservation easements and acquires/protects natural lands. It is a direct operational peer and an active Belwin partner (MLT holds easements on Belwin property), sharing the conservation-easement and habitat-restoration model.

Regional players

• Friends of the Mississippi River: Minnesota-based conservation nonprofit focused on the Mississippi River corridor. Comparable in combining habitat protection with public engagement and education in a Minnesota context.
• Three Rivers Park District: Minneapolis-area park district managing extensive trail systems, nature centers, and outdoor education programs. Comparable in regional outdoor recreation and school programming, though a public agency rather than nonprofit conservancy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/belwin_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Belwin Conservancy