Cazenovia Preservation Foundation

What Cazenovia Preservation Foundation does

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1967 to preserve the historic, agricultural, and natural resources surrounding Cazenovia, New York. The organization is Land Trust Alliance accredited (renewed March 2024) and operates across Cazenovia, Madison County, and eastern Onondaga County, holding 3,800+ acres of conserved farmland, habitat, and open space, 14 conservation easements, and 14 miles of public trails. CPF protects land through five conservation approaches including direct purchase, conservation easements, buy-protect-sell transactions, and donor-bargain sales, with a notable recent expansion via the 370-acre Schapiro Farm donation in 2025 and the 471-acre Gianforte Farms easement under the NYS Farmland Protection Implementation Grant.

CPF's revenue model is a hybrid of unrestricted community giving (donations and memberships supply nearly 60% of funding), restricted foundation and state grants (Central New York Community Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of New York, NYS Environmental Protection Fund via Land Trust Alliance, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets), and modest transaction-based event revenue (Turkey Trot $20-$35, Music in the Meadow $20, Walk Among the Spirits $10-$15). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: recurring programs including Trail Work Thursdays, Snowshoe Sundays, Walks 'n Talks, Music in the Meadow, Walk Among the Spirits, and Turkey Trot drive engagement, volunteer activation, and donor cultivation. Distribution is direct via a small staff (Executive Director Jennifer Wong, Development & Marketing Specialist Levi Spires, Land Stewardship Manager Peg Engasser) supported by a volunteer Board of Directors led by President David Gerber.

The business is asset-heavy in real estate (land and easements are the core product) and people-light, with three named staff and a volunteer-dependent operating model. Pricing for events is transactional with member discounts, while conservation services (easements, land purchases) are negotiated individually with landowners and funded by grants rather than fees. Geographic, vertical, and product expansion signals are visible through the Schapiro Farm multi-year preserve buildout, a 920-acre FPIG pipeline across four farms, and a $350,000 forest conservation grant (May 2025) extending CPF's work into forested-land easements.

Name

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation

Legal name

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation

Website

https://cazpreservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) accredited land trust founded in 1967 that conserves 3,800+ acres, 14 conservation easements, and 14 miles of public trails across Cazenovia, Madison County, and eastern Onondaga County, New York. It serves local landowners, farmers, and the broader community through donations, state grants, and recreation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAC

Land Trusts & Protected Areas

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAHAE

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYTHAAAGAI

Facilities Maintenance & Environmental Services (Waste, Water, Trail Maintenance, Restrooms)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access)

SECONDARYTHAJAIAA

National Park & Protected Area Tours

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Nature & Wildlife Experiences (National Parks, Wildlife Encounters, Eco-tours)

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Historic preservation
• Public trail management
• Farmland protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Cazenovia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Nearly 60% of CPF's funding comes from community donations and memberships. The organization runs annual fundraising campaigns, year-end appeals, and membership programs.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from event ticket sales including Turkey Trot registrations ($20-35), Music in the Meadow tickets ($20), Walk Among the Spirits tours ($10-15), and Fall Gala tickets.
3. Grants: Grants from New York State Environmental Protection Fund, Central New York Community Foundation, Nature Conservancy of New York, and various government conservation programs including Farmland Protection Implementation Grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation is a nonprofit land trust that permanently protects land through acquisition of conservation easements and direct purchase, preserves historic properties, and maintains a network of public trails (approximately 14 miles) for community recreation. The Foundation also delivers community education and fundraising programs, including annual events such as the Turkey Trot, Music in the Meadow, and guided hikes.

Product overview

Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) is a land trust offering a portfolio of conservation and recreation services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include Land Conservation (direct land purchases and conservation easements), Historic Preservation, and Public Trails (14+ miles of multi-use trails). Recreation is supported through Winter Trails, Snowshoe Sundays, and access to Fenner Conservation Pond. CPF runs recurring community programs including Trail Work Thursdays, Walks 'n Talks (birding, fishing, kids' discovery), and annual events such as Music in the Meadow, Walk Among the Spirits, Turkey Trot, Poetry on the Trail, and National Trails Day. The Gorge Trail Gateway is a signature infrastructure project. The Schapiro Farm Legacy Fund is an active fundraising campaign. Conservation Easements are available as a service to private landowners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Permanent legal agreements that limit land use on private property to protect its conservation values; available to landowners in the greater Cazenovia area.
• Land Acquisition (Direct Purchase/Donation) Direct acquisition of land by the Foundation (via purchase or donation) for permanent stewardship as conserved open space.
• Public Trail Network A network of approximately 14 miles of public trails on Foundation-owned and conserved lands for community recreation, hiking, and nature access.
• Historic Preservation Preservation of historically significant properties in the greater Cazenovia area, including stewardship of landmark buildings and sites.
• Fenner Conservation Pond Foundation-stewarded conservation pond providing public fishing, paddling, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Schapiro Farm Conservation Project Conservation of the Schapiro Farm property under a Foundation-held conservation easement protecting the farm's agricultural and natural values.
• Gianforte Farms Land Protection Conservation of Gianforte Farms through Foundation-facilitated land protection, preserving agricultural and scenic values.
• Turkey Trot (Annual 5K Run/Walk) An annual Thanksgiving-season 5K run/walk held as a ticketed community fundraising and engagement event for the Foundation.
• Music in the Meadow An annual summer outdoor concert event held on Foundation property as a community gathering and fundraiser.
• Walk Among the Spirits An annual heritage-themed community walking event tied to the Foundation's historic preservation programming.
• Guided Hikes (Summer Sunday Hikes, Snowshoe Sundays) Seasonally recurring guided hike programs (summer Sunday hikes and winter snowshoe Sundays) on Foundation trails for community engagement and education.
• Membership Program Annual membership program providing supporters with benefits and recurring financial support for the Foundation's conservation and preservation work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,800+ acres of local farmland, habitat, and open space preserved
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York State Department of Agriculture and MarketscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership through Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG) program for Purchase of Development Rights (PDR). Critz Farms was first property in Madison County protected through this program. Currently working with four farms representing 920 acres on FPIG applications.
• The Nature Conservancy of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership through Resilient and Connected Network Planning, Capacity & Strategy Grant Program. Provided funding for Conservation Planner position, GIS software license, in-house geodatabase, and strategic land conservation planning.
• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministering New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) grants from NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Provides accreditation through Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
• Cazenovia Area Community Development Alliance (CACDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on farmland protection projects, Gorge Trail Gateway planning, and community development initiatives. Jointly applied for NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting Backyard Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies educational event on native plants and pollinator support.
• Izaak Walton LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Creek Critter Exploration event; natural scientist Mat Webber leading stream exploration program.
• Madison County Chapter of Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Learn to Fish & Fly Fish events and King Field Trout Habitat Improvement Project.
• Shane Pinard Future Fisherman's FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner providing fishing instruction and gear for Learn to Fish events.
• National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided technical assistance through CACDA grant for Gorge Trail Gateway conceptual design refinement.
• Syracuse OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming ensemble for annual Music in the Meadow outdoor concert event.
• Friends of Stoney Pond (FROSTY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated snowshoes available for loan at Snowshoe Sunday events; collaborated on winter trail grooming.
• Meier's Creek Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Snowshoe Sunday start/end and Trail Work Thursday refreshments. Special 'FROSTY' beer with $1 per pour donated to CPF.
• The Brewster InnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering partner for Music in the Meadow and Fall Gala events; provides picnic takeout orders.
• Cazenovia Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for Walk Among the Spirits and Poetry on the Trail contest.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: The national umbrella organization that accredits and supports U.S. land trusts — relevant as the accreditation body for CPF and as a convener of conservation partnership programs like NYSCPP.
• Central New York Community Foundation: A regional community foundation that has provided grants to CPF (e.g., Viktus Fund for Burlingame Gateway, Gorge Trail Gateway) — relevant as a funding partner and ecosystem enabler in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Open Space Institute: A regional conservation organization protecting land across the northeastern U.S., including New York — comparable mission of land protection and conservation finance but operates at a much broader geographic and capital scale.
• The Nature Conservancy (New York Chapter): An international conservation organization with a major New York presence that holds conservation easements, manages preserves, and funds partner land trusts — comparable mission but operates at much larger scale and serves as a funder/partner to CPF.

Direct peers

• Genesee Land Trust: A regional land trust serving the Genesee region of New York, protecting natural areas, farmland, and trails through conservation easements — directly comparable as a New York regional land trust.
• Scenic Hudson: A large New York regional land trust focused on Hudson Valley land conservation, parks, and trails — comparable as an accredited regional land trust with conservation easement, trail, and advocacy operations.
• Finger Lakes Land Trust: An accredited New York regional land trust operating conservation easements, public trails, and farmland protection programs across the Finger Lakes region — directly comparable as a regional 501(c)(3) land trust with similar service model.
• Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy: A New York State accredited land trust that acquires land and holds conservation easements to protect natural and agricultural resources — directly comparable mission and structure as a regional conservation nonprofit.
• Dutchess Land Conservancy: A New York regional land trust that protects working farms, natural lands, and trails in Dutchess County — directly comparable as a regional accredited land trust holding conservation easements and managing public preserves.
• Otsego Land Trust: A central New York regional land trust protecting farmland, forests, and waterways through conservation easements and public preserves — directly comparable mission and operating model in a similar rural NY geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CazPreservation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Cazenovia Preservation Foundation