Golden Hills RC&D

Name

Golden Hills RC&D

Legal name

Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development

Website

https://goldenhillsrcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Watershed restoration programs
• Prairie habitat restoration
• Community development initiatives
• Outdoor recreation events

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Grants and Fundraising: As a small nonprofit, Golden Hills depends largely on grants and fundraising to sustain conservation and community programs.
2. Donations: Financial contributions accepted through PayPal, Venmo, and Share Omaha platform. All donations are tax deductible.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Loess Hills merchandise including postcards ($50 for pack of 7), WanderLoess bison shirts, Loess Hills prints from Bozz Prints (die-cut stickers $3, 8x10 prints $15, 18x24 prints $35), and prairie-related merchandise as fundraisers.
4. Program Fees: Registration fees for events like the LoHi Trek hiking event, workshop fees (e.g., $10 for some workshops), and Iowa Prairie Conference registration ($80 regular, $60 students).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Golden Hills RC&D is a community-led nonprofit organization that develops and delivers conservation, community, and cultural programs in rural western Iowa's Loess Hills ecoregion. Its offerings span land stewardship (prairie seed harvest, native oak project, prairie strips, regenerative agriculture), water resources (streambank stabilization through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program with NRCS, Hungry Canyons Alliance gully work), outdoor recreation (annual LoHi Trek hiking event, trails coordination), and educational programs (Iowa Master Conservationist course, workshops). It also sells branded merchandise (postcards, prints, bison shirts) as fundraising tools.

Product overview

Golden Hills RC&D is a nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of conservation, community, and cultural programs focused on rural western Iowa. The organization operates across multiple service areas including land stewardship (prairie seed harvest, native oak project, regenerative agriculture, prairie strips), water resources (streambank stabilization through RCPP, Hungry Canyons Alliance), outdoor recreation and tourism (LoHi Trek hiking event, trails coordination), community partnerships, local foods, and arts and culture. They also provide educational programs like the Iowa Master Conservationist course and publish resources including the Loess Hills Plant List and LID ordinances. Merchandise sales (bison shirts, prints, postcards) serve as fundraising mechanisms. The organization does not offer a unified technology product platform but rather functions as a traditional nonprofit delivering programs and services directly to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LoHi Trek Annual four-day hiking and camping event through the Loess Hills that offers immersive outdoor experiences, expert-guided educational activities, and community engagement for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Iowa Master Conservationist Program Conservation education course delivered in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Pottawattamie County Conservation, comprising roughly 12 hours of online curriculum and six in-person sessions at Hitchcock Nature Center; priced at $100 per participant ($50 for students).
• Streambank Stabilization (RCPP) Regional Conservation Partnership Program delivered with the NRCS to stabilize streambanks along western Iowa rivers, providing technical and financial assistance to property owners to reduce erosion and improve water quality.
• Prairie Seed Harvest Conservation program that harvests native prairie grass and forb seeds for use in prairie restoration and conservation projects across western Iowa.
• Hungry Canyons Alliance Alliance program that addresses gully erosion and streambank stabilization across western Iowa through technical assistance and conservation partnerships with landowners.
• Native Oak Project Project that develops markets for locally-sourced and propagated native oak trees, including acorn harvesting, grower training, and facilitating local sales of oak seedlings.
• Prairie Strips Conservation practice that integrates strips of native prairie into crop fields to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat for participating landowners.
• Regenerative Agriculture Program supporting adoption of soil-health and sustainable farming practices among western Iowa landowners and producers.
• Low Impact Development (LID) Ordinances Model development ordinances and a Storm Water Best Management Practices Guidance Manual developed for Loess Hills communities to manage urban growth while protecting erodible loess soil topography.
• Loess Hills Merchandise Fundraiser merchandise including WanderLoess bison shirts, Loess Hills prints and die-cut stickers from Bozz Prints, and Western Iowa postcards, sold to support Golden Hills programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8.4% annual increase in Bird-Friendliness Index on Audubon Conservation Ranching certified lands (76% overall increase 2016-2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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, major and minor.

• Iowa Natural Heritage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a 2026 LoHi Trek sponsor and partner, leading hikers on private property tours. INHF also manages the Little Sioux Scout Ranch which is part of Loess Hills State Forest.
• The Nature Conservancy in IowacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Nature Conservancy in Iowa is a 2026 LoHi Trek sponsor, supporting the annual hiking event in the Loess Hills.
• Audubon Upper MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Audubon Conservation Ranching launched in Iowa in 2026, with Golden Hills promoting the program to help reverse grassland bird declines by partnering with cattle and bison producers. Program provides technical and financial assistance to enrolled producers.
• NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Hills works with NRCS on streambank stabilization through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS provides technical assistance and cost-share opportunities for riverbank property owners.
• Iowa Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa DNR works with Golden Hills on managing public lands including Loess Hills Wildlife Area, Sylvan Runkel State Preserve, and Loess Hills State Forest. DNR staff provide expertise for educational events and trails.
• Woodbury County Conservation BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodbury County Conservation Board manages public lands used for LoHi Trek including Oak Ridge Conservation Area and Southwood Conservation Area. Staff led educational presentations during 2026 Trek.
• Pottawattamie County Trails AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Hills Trails Coordinator develops recreational trails in Pottawattamie County in partnership with Pottawattamie County Trails Association and Pottawattamie Conservation.
• Pottawattamie ConservationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for trails development in Pottawattamie County alongside the Trails Coordinator position funded by Golden Hills.
• Iowa State University Extension and OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Hills partners with ISU Extension and Outreach and Pottawattamie County Conservation to offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program at Hitchcock Nature Center.
• Midwest Cover Crop CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Hills Project Coordinator participated in Cover Crops Essentials course developed by Midwest Cover Crop Council, gaining expertise in cover crop research for conservation.
• Loess Hills National Scenic Byway CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing Low Impact Development ordinances to protect Loess Hills topography from development impacts.
• Soil and Water Conservation DistrictsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Low Impact Development ordinance development for Loess Hills region.
• HDR and Schemmer & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firms hired to assist in developing model Low Impact Development ordinances and Storm Water Best Management Practices Guidance Manual.
• Local Businesses (20+)majorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 LoHi Trek engaged 20+ local businesses including Graceful Grind Coffeehouse, JUGGs BBQ, Livengoodies, Ada J's Steakhouse, Cleo's Homestead, Long Walk Farm, and others providing food, services, and support for the event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ducks Unlimited: Large conservation nonprofit focused on wetland and grassland habitat. Comparable in delivery model — partnering with NRCS and landowners on habitat programs in Iowa — though at much larger scale and with a waterfowl focus.
• Sand County Foundation: National nonprofit promoting regenerative agriculture and conservation on working lands. Comparable to Golden Hills in bridging farmer-led land stewardship with measurable environmental outcomes and policy advocacy.
• Pheasants Forever: National habitat organization focused on grassland and prairie conservation for wildlife, with strong Iowa chapter presence. Comparable mission, audience (farmers/ranchers), and delivery mechanism (cost-share, technical assistance, regional staff).
• Practical Farmers of Iowa: Iowa-based nonprofit supporting regenerative agriculture, on-farm research, and farmer education. Comparable to Golden Hills in serving the same western Iowa farmer audience with sustainable agriculture programming and field-day events.
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Iowa-focused land conservation nonprofit that acquires and manages natural areas. Direct peer — explicitly partners with Golden Hills on LoHi Trek and manages adjacent Loess Hills State Forest properties, sharing the same regional conservation mission and donor base.
• Trees Forever: Iowa-based nonprofit focused on tree planting, urban forestry, and watershed restoration. Comparable in geography (Iowa), audience (rural communities and landowners), and educational programming model.
• The Nature Conservancy in Iowa: Global conservation nonprofit with active Iowa operations. Direct peer — actively sponsors Golden Hills' LoHi Trek and shares focus on Loess Hills protection, prairie restoration, and landowner partnership programs.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership association supporting land trusts and conservation nonprofits. Not a direct operational peer but the umbrella/infrastructure organization relevant to Golden Hills' community-led conservation model.

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: National bird and habitat conservation organization. Functions as both a program partner (Audubon Conservation Ranching) and broader incumbent in the same conservation space, offering greater geographic and programmatic scope.

Regional players

• Iowa Environmental Council: Iowa-wide environmental policy and advocacy coalition. Comparable in Iowa focus and stakeholder breadth, but primarily engages through policy advocacy rather than on-the-ground land stewardship like Golden Hills.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GoldenHillsRcd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goldenhillsrcd

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 Golden Hills RC&D