What Alice Ferguson Foundation does

The Alice Ferguson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) environmental education nonprofit founded in 1954 and headquartered in Accokeek, Maryland, on a 330-acre campus (Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Campus) along the Potomac River that includes the longest freshwater Living Shoreline in the U.S. It is the first overnight outdoor education center in the Potomac River watershed region and, by its own account, has served more than 1 million students from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. over its lifetime. The organization delivers NGSS- and MWEE-aligned, hands-on environmental science education across four primary product lines: on-site school programs at Hard Bargain Farm (day, extended day, and overnight programs priced from $800 to $3,700 per group), the Bridging The Watershed field-study partnership with the U.S. National Park Service (free to qualified school districts across 10+ national and state parks), seasonal camps (Summer Adventure Camp, Spring Adventure Camp, Overnight Camp, Women in Nature Camp), and community/family programming including the annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. Revenue comes from a mix of paid program fees, individual donations, memberships, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Athletic Brewing Company, Bona Terra), and event-hosting rentals of the campus, with no ownership or parent entity and no public financial disclosures. Distribution is regional (DMV) and primarily direct: outreach to school districts and teachers, self-serve registrations through fergusonfoundation.org, social and email channels, and a free library of interactive online games and lesson plans that serve as a top-of-funnel engagement asset.

Name

Alice Ferguson Foundation

Legal name

Alice Ferguson Foundation

Website

https://fergusonfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alice Ferguson Foundation is a Maryland-based nonprofit founded in 1954 that delivers hands-on, NGSS-aligned environmental education to K-12 students, teachers, families, and community members across the Washington D.C. region from its 330-acre Hard Bargain Farm campus and through a National Park Service partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Outdoor science field trips
• Watershed conservation initiatives
• Summer nature camps
• Teacher professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Accokeek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from school programs (day, extended day, overnight), camp registrations, and community/adventure events. Fees are charged per group or per camper.
2. Donations & Memberships: The organization solicits donations through its website and offers membership programs to individuals and families who wish to support the foundation's mission of environmental education and conservation.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships and event support from companies such as Athletic Brewing Company and Bona Terra for community stewardship events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Alice Ferguson Foundation delivers hands-on environmental education programs for K-12 students, teachers, families, and community members at its 330-acre Hard Bargain Farm campus along the Potomac River and through a National Park Service partnership. Core offerings include on-site day, extended day, and overnight field study programs, summer and spring adventure camps, the Bridging The Watershed program at national parks, virtual lessons, teacher professional development, community cleanup events, and free digital educational resources aligned to NGSS and MWEE standards.

Product overview

Alice Ferguson Foundation operates as a unified environmental education organization offering multiple interconnected programs centered on connecting people to the natural world through education, stewardship, and advocacy. The core portfolio includes on-site programs at Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Campus (day and overnight programs), the Bridging the Watershed national park partnership program, Virtual Programs for remote learning, Summer/Spring Adventure Camps, Women in Nature Camp, Outdoor Experiences, and the annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. Supporting these programs is a library of free Educational Resources (interactive games and lesson plans) and Professional Development for teachers. The organization serves students, teachers, families, and community members across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, focusing on the Potomac River watershed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridging the Watershed An environmental education program delivered in partnership with the National Park Service that brings students to national parks for hands-on watershed educational experiences, featuring six core curriculum modules (Plant Invaders, Don't Get Sedimental, Talkin' Trash, Water Canaries, Watershed Watchdogs, Sustainability). Free to qualified school districts across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Athletic Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 May 2026Athletic Brewing Company is listed as a supporting sponsor for the Community Native Plant & Stewardship Day event at the Alice Ferguson Foundation on May 30, 2026. The partnership provides support for the hands-on community stewardship event.
• Bona TerraminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 May 2026Bona Terra is listed as a supporting sponsor for the Community Native Plant & Stewardship Day event at the Alice Ferguson Foundation on May 30, 2026. The partnership supports the community education event focused on invasive plant removal and native plant stewardship.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alice Ferguson Foundation partners with the National Park Service to deliver the Bridging The Watershed program, which brings students to national parks across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. for meaningful watershed educational experiences. The program is free to qualified school districts and involves hands-on, curriculum-based outdoor studies in national parks and public lands. Participating parks include Piscataway Park, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia Park, Great Falls Park (VA), C&O Canal National Historical Park, Prince William Forest Park, Greenbelt Park, Fort Washington Park, and Oxon Cove Park.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional environmental education nonprofit offering K-12 field studies, teacher PD, and watershed-focused programming across the Mid-Atlantic. Highly comparable mission, customer base (DMV schools), and program structure.
• NatureBridge: National environmental education nonprofit operating residential field science programs in multiple national parks. Closely comparable outdoor, NGSS-aligned science programming model and NPS-partnered delivery.
• Living Classrooms Foundation: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing hands-on education, workforce development, and environmental programs for schools and communities, including water-based experiential learning. Overlaps in target population and experiential education model.
• IslandWood: Pacific Northwest environmental education nonprofit with overnight school programs, teacher training, and graduate programs in education. Comparable program portfolio, especially overnight K-12 field studies and teacher PD.
• Audubon Naturalist Society: DC-area environmental education nonprofit delivering nature programs, camps, and field classes for schools, families, and adults in the same Mid-Atlantic geography. Directly comparable target market and program mix.
• Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center: Residential outdoor environmental learning center serving K-12 schools with overnight field trips and summer camps. Comparable overnight-program pricing, curriculum, and customer segment.

Regional players

• Potomac Conservancy: Regional nonprofit focused on protecting the Potomac River watershed through advocacy, restoration, and community engagement. Comparable geography and watershed focus, though more advocacy-driven than field education.
• Wolf Trap Foundation: Regional nonprofit operating performing arts, education, and outdoor programs near Vienna, VA, including early childhood and STEM enrichment. Comparable DMV geography and educational nonprofit structure, but with a cultural-arts focus.

Emerging players

• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Mid-Atlantic research and education institution offering K-12 and public programs on environmental science in the Chesapeake Bay region. Comparable in K-12 environmental programming but with a research-first mission.

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: Large national environmental nonprofit with education, advocacy, and conservation programs across the U.S., including local Audubon chapters running school and community nature programs. Comparable mission but much broader geographic and programmatic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aliceferguson
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AliceFergusonFdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/alicefergusonfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alice-ferguson-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/alicefergusonfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Alice Ferguson Foundation