What Fontenelle Forest does

Fontenelle Forest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature preserve organization founded in 1913 and headquartered at 1111 Bellevue Blvd. North, Bellevue, Nebraska. It manages more than 2,100 acres of forest, prairie, and wetlands along the Missouri River in the Loess Hills, comprising the main Fontenelle Forest preserve (1,500+ acres, 17-24 miles of trails) and the wholly-owned Neale Woods Nature Reserve (560 acres, 7 miles of trails, acquired 1971-1976). The organization operates a 25,000-square-foot Nature Center housing visitor services, the Baright Gallery, and the Habitat Hollow indoor play area, and holds a National Natural Landmark designation under the National Register of Historic Sites.

The organization's operational technology centers on ecological conservation and restoration techniques: oak savanna preservation (now approximately 0.01% globally remaining), prescribed fire management conducted by an NWCG-certified crew, GIS-based trail and habitat mapping, invasive species control, native seed sowing, wetlands restoration, and a decades-long managed deer hunting program begun in 1996. Distinctive visitor-facing assets include the Raptor Woodland Refuge (a 30-foot canopy-level exhibit housing non-releasable birds of prey, originating 2016 with the Chip Davis Eagle Mew added in 2018), the Acorn Acres natural playscape (reopened 2024 with accessibility upgrades), the one-mile accessible Riverview Boardwalk, and over 24 miles of trails across both sites. The Raptor Program reaches approximately 20,000 people annually through on-site and statewide outreach.

Fontenelle Forest's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: daily admissions ($9-$15 tiered by age, with $5-$7 at Neale Woods), annual memberships ranging from Individual at $55 to Benefactor at $2,500+, donations across multiple channels (online, ACH, stocks, IRA distributions, Donor Advised Funds, employer matching via Double the Donation, Share Omaha, Amazon Wish List, PayPal, Venmo), school programs at $8.75 per student, day camps, Mudpies early-childhood program, Critters On-the-Go outreach ($200 per program), facility rentals, gift shop sales, and grants. Customer segments span individual and family members, K-12 school groups, seniors, corporate volunteer groups, and military families through the Blue Star Museums program. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via on-site visitor services and Blackbaud-hosted online ticketing, supplemented by referral partnerships with Omaha Metro Libraries, Blue Star Museums, and corporate volunteer groups.

Name

Fontenelle Forest

Legal name

Fontenelle Forest

Website

https://fontenelleforest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fontenelle Forest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature preserve founded in 1913 that manages 2,100+ acres of forest, prairie, and wetlands in Nebraska. It offers trail access, educational programs, raptor exhibits, and conservation services to individuals, schools, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature conservation and education services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Regeneration & Reforestation Operations (Site Prep, Planting, Seeding) (AFAMAAAC)

Keywords

• Nature preserve operations
• Environmental education programs
• Conservation services
• Wildlife rehabilitation education
• Outdoor recreation facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual memberships providing free admission, guest passes, gift shop discounts, and reciprocal admission benefits at nature centers nationwide. Valid for 12 consecutive months.
2. Daily Admission: Per-visit admission fees for non-members at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods Nature Reserve, with tiered pricing by age.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through online giving, check, ACH, stocks/securities, IRA charitable distributions, Donor Advised Funds, Amazon Wish List, PayPal, Venmo, and employer matching gift programs.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental of forest facilities for private events, corporate gatherings, and special occasions.
5. Education Programs: Revenue from school programs, day camps (spring, summer, winter break), Mudpies early childhood program, outreach programs, and senior programs at $8.75 per student for school groups.
6. Raptor Program Support: Donations specifically designated for raptor program feeding, care, and education. Also includes raptor gift packages for sale.
7. Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop offering merchandise including Raptor program merchandise like Spike & George t-shirts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Fontenelle Forest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature center that operates over 2,100 acres of forest, prairie, and wetlands along the Missouri River in Nebraska. It sells daily admissions, annual memberships, educational programs (school field trips, camps, Mudpies, senior programs), facility rentals, and guided hikes, while conducting oak savanna habitat restoration and raptor conservation. Revenue is generated through memberships, admissions, donations, grants, program fees, gift shop sales, and event hosting.

Product overview

Fontenelle Forest is a nature preserve organization offering a portfolio of interconnected outdoor experiences and educational programs. The core offering centers on two nature reserves: Fontenelle Forest (1,500+ acres with 17-24 miles of trails) and Neale Woods (560 acres with 7 miles of trails). Visitor experiences include the Raptor Woodland Refuge housing non-releasable birds of prey, Acorn Acres natural playscape, one-mile Riverview Boardwalk, indoor Habitat Hollow, and Baright Gallery. Educational programs span school field trips ($8.75/student), Mudpies for ages 3-5, Seniors Understanding Nature, day camps (spring/summer/winter), Acorn Academy homeschool series, and wellness programs including Yoga in the Forest. Conservation services include oak savanna habitat restoration, prescribed fire management, wetlands access, and deer management. The organization is funded through day passes ($9-$15), annual memberships ($55-$2,500+), donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acorn Acres: A half-acre natural playscape in the heart of Fontenelle Forest that introduces visitors of all ages to nature through unstructured play, featuring Tom's Treehouse, hillside play, dry creek bed, and ADA accessible trails.
• Raptor Woodland Refuge
• Neale Woods Nature Reserve

Products and services

• Fontenelle Forest Nature Preserve
• Neale Woods Nature Reserve
• Raptor Woodland Refuge
• Acorn Acres Natural Playscape
• Day Pass Admission
• Membership Program
• School Programs
• Mudpies Program
• Raptor Outreach Programs
• Seniors Understanding Nature (SUN)
• Timeless Trekkers
• Day Camps
• Acorn Academy
• Wellness Programs
• Guided Hikes and Nature Walks
• Birding Programs
• Habitat Restoration Service
• Prescribed Fire Program
• Deer Management Program
• Facility Rentals
• Donation and Support Programs
• Volunteer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 people reached annually through raptor education programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Audubon Society of OmahacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner collaborating on habitat restoration, bird conservation, and environmental education initiatives.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal conservation agency partner supporting wildlife habitat preservation and species protection efforts.
• Nebraska Environmental TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Oak Woodland Restoration grant to support conservation education and public outreach about oak savanna restoration.
• Nebraska Game and Parks CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for wildlife management, habitat conservation, and outdoor recreation programming.
• Pheasants ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization focused on habitat for pheasants and other wildlife, supporting prairie restoration efforts.
• Green BellevueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal sustainability organization supporting environmental initiatives in the Bellevue community.
• Nebraska Wildlife FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, supporting conservation and wildlife habitat initiatives.
• Werner Blue BrigadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer group that began partnership with Fontenelle Forest in 2023, providing regular conservation volunteer support.
• Omaha Storm ChasersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional baseball team recognized as a corporate volunteer group that contributed to the Forest in 2025.
• Share OmahaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform for consolidated charitable giving allowing donors to support Fontenelle Forest alongside other Omaha nonprofits.
• Omaha Metro LibrariescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary Pass Program partnering with libraries throughout the Omaha metro and surrounding areas to provide free day passes that can be checked out like books.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Pioneers Park Nature Center: Municipal nature center in Lincoln, Nebraska with similar trail, education, and prairie/wetland programming. Operates ~50 miles from Fontenelle Forest, providing the closest regional peer in the same state.
• Platte River State Park: Nebraska state park located along the Platte River with trails, cabins, and outdoor recreation. Operates as a public park rather than private nonprofit, but shares the regional outdoor recreation and nature experience market in Nebraska.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global conservation nonprofit with operations across all 50 states and many countries. Shares the conservation mission but operates at vastly larger scale and with a land acquisition/conservation easement model rather than visitor-facing programs.
• National Audubon Society: National nonprofit focused on bird and habitat conservation with over 500 local chapters. Fontenelle Forest has a direct partnership with Audubon Society of Omaha, and the two share overlapping conservation and education goals, but Audubon operates nationally.
• National Wildlife Federation: National nonprofit conservation organization that supports wildlife habitat and education. Fontenelle Forest partners with Nebraska Wildlife Federation (state affiliate), but NWF operates at vastly broader scale with national advocacy and programming.

Direct peers

• Dawes Arboretum: Private nonprofit arboretum near Newark, Ohio with 2,000+ acres of woodland, gardens, and trails. Closely comparable in footprint, conservation mission, and educational programming, making it a highly relevant peer.
• Cincinnati Nature Center: Private nonprofit nature center in Milford, Ohio with over 1,000 acres of forest, meadows, and trails. Offers school programs, summer camps, and adult nature education, paralleling Fontenelle Forest's programmatic mix.
• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES): Private nonprofit environmental education center in Aspen, Colorado offering school programs, naturalist-led hikes, and wildlife education. Similar visitor-facing nature center model with strong education programming focus.
• Bernheim Forest: Private nonprofit forest and arboretum in Clermont, Kentucky with 16,000+ acres, offering similar forest conservation, education programs, and trails. Connected to the same nonprofit nature center operating model.
• The Morton Arboretum: Large private nonprofit arboretum in Lisle, Illinois with 1,700 acres, similar visitor-facing mission of tree conservation, environmental education, and trails. Comparable scale, 501(c)(3) status, and education/recreation programming makes it a closely matched peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fontenelle4est
• Facebookfacebook.com/fontenelleforest
• Instagraminstagram.com/fontenelleforest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

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 Fontenelle Forest