Chicago Wilderness
Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional nonprofit collaborative of hundreds of partner organizations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin that coordinates landscape-scale conservation through member programs, accreditation (EERP), and an annual Congress conference.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Wilderness does
Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional nonprofit conservation collaborative founded in 1996 that brings together hundreds of partner organizations and thousands of individuals to implement landscape-scale conservation across a four-state region covering 38 counties in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, focused on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Its core offerings center on a member portal and event infrastructure powered by YourMembership.com association management software, supplemented by a job board/career center, community calendar, the Green Vision Initiatives online hub, an annual Congress conference, and two recognition programs: the Dr. George B. Rabb Force of Nature Awards and the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program (EERP) accreditation, which issues Platinum and Gold tiers to qualifying forest preserves. The organization's go-to-market is membership-based, with tiered annual dues ($100 for partner organizations, $300 for non-partners, $1,500 plus site visit expenses for outside-region applicants), supplemented by voluntary donations; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The Alliance's partner ecosystem spans government forest preserve districts (Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will counties), major conservation NGOs (The Nature Conservancy, Openlands, Audubon Great Lakes), research and education institutions (Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum, Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Fermilab), and a growing set of urban and equity-focused partners (Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Park District, Urban Rivers, American Indian Center). Its current leadership is provided by Chair Elizabeth Kessler, Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation District, supported by a small staff operating under a Steering Committee/Executive Council governance structure.
Chicago Wilderness firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Wilderness
- Legal name
- Chicago Wilderness Alliance
- Website
- https://chicagowilderness.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional nonprofit collaborative of hundreds of partner organizations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin that coordinates landscape-scale conservation through member programs, accreditation (EERP), and an annual Congress conference.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Wilderness industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conservation Services and Ecological Restoration Accreditation
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
Keywords
Where Chicago Wilderness is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Chicago Wilderness business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from partner organizations and individual members, with tiered pricing for partners ($100) vs non-partners ($300) for EERP accreditation applications
- Donations: Voluntary donations from individuals and organizations supporting conservation efforts in the Chicago Wilderness region
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Partner Organization Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Partner Organization |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Outside Region Applicants |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Chicago Wilderness product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional nonprofit collaborative that convenes hundreds of partner organizations and thousands of individuals to implement landscape-scale conservation across 38 counties in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Its core offerings center on a member portal and the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program (EERP), a voluntary accreditation program that establishes best management practices for ecological restoration, alongside the annual Force of Nature Awards and the annual Congress conference.
Product overview
Chicago Wilderness Alliance operates a membership-based online platform powered by YourMembership.com association management software. The core offerings include a member portal for the regional collaborative of hundreds of partner organizations, a job board/career center for posting and searching conservation positions, a community calendar for events and webinars, the Green Vision Initiatives hub, and two award programs: the Dr. George B. Rabb Force of Nature Awards and the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program (EERP) accreditation. The organization also hosts an annual Congress conference. These programs collectively support landscape-scale conservation across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program (EERP) A voluntary comprehensive accreditation program for establishing best management practices in ecological restoration across the four-state region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin), administered by the Commission on Excellence in Ecological Restoration. EERP accreditation is open to partner organizations ($100), non-partner organizations ($300), and out-of-region applicants ($1,500 plus site visit expenses).
- Dr. George B. Rabb Force of Nature Awards An annual awards program that celebrates people, programs, projects, and partnerships whose conservation, restoration, advocacy, and/or educational activities serve as inspirational examples, named in memory of Dr. George B. Rabb.
- Congress Annual Conference An annual congress event for the Alliance featuring field trips, educational sessions, and networking opportunities for conservation professionals. Congress 2026 marks the Alliance's 30th anniversary with the theme 'CWA at 30: Growing Forward Together.'
- Career Center / Job Board A job board platform for posting and searching conservation and environmental job openings across the Chicago Wilderness region, with search options by keywords, location, organization, category, position type, education and experience requirements.
- Green Vision Initiatives Hub An online collaborative hub for the Green Vision Initiatives, a regional effort to advance conservation, equity, and sustainability goals across the Chicago Wilderness Alliance region.
- Member Portal A member-facing online portal for dues-paid members of Chicago Wilderness to access exclusive content, resources, and member-only news, powered by YourMembership.com association management software.
Companies that use Chicago Wilderness
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chicago Wilderness technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chicago Wilderness partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Southeast Wisconsin Conservation PartnerscoreRegional conservation organizations collaborating within the Chicago Wilderness Alliance network spanning the southern shores of Lake Michigan
- Northeast Illinois Conservation OrganizationscorePartner organizations in Northeast Illinois working on landscape-scale conservation under the Alliance framework
- Northwest Indiana Conservation PartnerscoreConservation organizations in Northwest Indiana collaborating on regional biodiversity recovery initiatives
- Southwest Michigan Conservation PartnerscorePartner organizations in Southwest Michigan participating in the four-state collaborative conservation effort
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage CountycoreMajor government agency partner managing forest preserves, participant in EERP accreditation program with multiple Platinum-level accreditations
- Forest Preserves of Cook CountycoreMajor forest preserve district and founding member of Chicago Wilderness Alliance, managing 70,000+ acres of natural areas
- Lake County Forest PreservescoreForest preserve district partner with multiple EERP Platinum accreditations including Greenbelt and Grassy Lake
- McHenry County Conservation DistrictcoreConservation district partner with Platinum EERP accreditation for High Point Conservation Area and hosting 2025 chair of CWA
- Forest Preserve District of Will CountycoreForest preserve district partner with EERP Platinum accreditation for Lockport Prairie and Gold for Sand Ridge Savanna
- The Nature ConservancycoreMajor conservation nonprofit partner and founding member of the Alliance, key partner in Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and Calumet region conservation
- Friends of the Forest PreservescoreAdvocacy nonprofit partner providing volunteer stewardship, conservation corps programs, and community engagement for forest preserves
- Chicago Botanic GardencoreEducational institution partner contributing to conservation research, ecological restoration, and professional education
- The Morton ArboretumcoreResearch and education partner in tree conservation, urban forestry, and ecological restoration
- Field MuseumcoreResearch institution partner through Keller Science Action Center, contributing to Calumet region conservation planning
- Friends of the Chicago RivercoreRiver conservation organization partner leading watershed restoration, dam removal, and policy advocacy
- Lincoln Park Zoo (Urban Wildlife Institute)coreResearch partner conducting urban biodiversity monitoring at 100+ sites through Chicago Wildlife Watch and Bat Tracker programs
- OpenlandscoreConservation nonprofit partner in Calumet region conservation, land protection, and urban nature initiatives
- Audubon Great LakescoreBird conservation partner involved in Powderhorn Lake restoration and regional habitat projects
- Fermilab (US Department of Energy)coreResearch facility partner with groundbreaking prairie restoration since 1975, managing 1,000 acres of tallgrass prairie
- Shedd AquariumcoreConservation partner leading Rewilding the South Branch Chicago River restoration project with $1.8M in grant funding secured
- Chicago Park DistrictcoreMunicipal partner in urban conservation, river restoration, and community nature programs
- Urban RiverscoreConservation nonprofit partner that has installed 3,000+ square feet of floating wetland habitats in the Chicago River
- American Indian CentercoreCultural organization partner in land-based healing, traditional ecological knowledge, and Native community conservation
- Great Lakes CommissioncoreIntergovernmental partner providing funding and support for Powderhorn Lake habitat restoration project
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreFederal agency partner providing funding for Great Lakes restoration and coastal habitat projects
- Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern UniversitycoreAcademic partner funding the Defusing Disasters Working Group's Heat Vulnerability Index development
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chicago Wilderness competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Audubon Great Lakes: Regional bird and habitat conservation arm of the National Audubon Society. Listed as a core CWA partner (e.g., Powderhorn Lake restoration); shares a Great Lakes regional focus and biodiversity/habitat mission.
- The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit and founding CWA partner focused on land and water protection. TNC operates at far greater scale but shares the same biodiversity, habitat, and landscape-scale conservation mission; it is also a key CWA partner in Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and Calumet region initiatives.
- Openlands: Chicago-area conservation nonprofit focused on land protection and urban nature. Listed as a core CWA partner, it shares the regional conservation mandate and overlapping Chicago-metro geographic footprint.
- Friends of the Chicago River: Regional nonprofit focused on Chicago River watershed policy, restoration, and advocacy. Listed as a CWA partner (2025 Force of Nature Award to its leader) and shares the regional conservation/waterway protection focus.
- Greater Yellowstone Coalition: Regional conservation alliance focused on the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, often cited as a model for landscape-scale collaborative conservation. Structurally analogous to CWA as a multi-state, multi-partner conservation coalition.
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks/nature access. Comparable mission around land protection, conservation finance, and community access to nature; operates broader geographically but with similar conservation tools.
- Wildlands Network: National nonprofit focused on landscape-scale wildlife corridor and connectivity conservation. Shares the science-driven, regional-collaboration approach CWA uses for biodiversity recovery in the Chicago region.
- The Conservation Foundation: DuPage County-based regional land conservation nonprofit referenced in CWA's Force of Nature Awards. Operates a similar model of regional land protection, donor stewardship, and conservation collaboration in the Chicago metro.
Broad incumbents
- Sierra Club: National grassroots environmental organization with overlapping conservation, advocacy, and member-driven programs. Operates at much larger scale but shares a member/dues-driven model and conservation mission space.
- National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. private conservation organization with state affiliates in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Operates at national scale on overlapping wildlife and habitat issues; serves as a broader incumbent with similar advocacy function.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Wilderness social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Wilderness financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Wilderness leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Chicago Wilderness funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Wilderness M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Wilderness
What does Chicago Wilderness do?
Chicago Wilderness Alliance is a regional nonprofit collaborative that convenes hundreds of partner organizations and thousands of individuals to implement landscape-scale conservation across 38 counties in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Its core offerings center on a member portal and the Excellence in Ecological Restoration Program (EERP), a voluntary accreditation program that establishes best management practices for ecological restoration, alongside the annual Force of Nature Awards and the annual Congress conference.
Is Chicago Wilderness a public or private company?
Chicago Wilderness is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Wilderness founded?
Chicago Wilderness was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chicago Wilderness based?
Chicago Wilderness is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Wilderness make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Chicago Wilderness's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Audubon Great Lakes, The Nature Conservancy, Openlands, Friends of the Chicago River, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Trust for Public Land, Wildlands Network and The Conservation Foundation. Broad incumbents are Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation.
Does Chicago Wilderness have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Wilderness.
What industry is Chicago Wilderness in?
Chicago Wilderness's product category is Conservation Services and Ecological Restoration Accreditation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.