Virginia Conservation Network

What Virginia Conservation Network does

Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 as the Conservation Council of Virginia and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The organization functions as a statewide coordinator and convener for Virginia's conservation movement, facilitating strategic action across a network of 150+ partner organizations working on issues ranging from stream restoration and land conservation to renewable energy advancement, transportation reform, and good governance. VCN serves as the state lead for the Choose Clean Water Coalition, the Virginia state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, and a member of the Virginia Trails Alliance. It maintains a constant legislative advocacy presence in Virginia's Capitol and operates four main program categories: Water & Flood Resilience, Land & Wildlife Conservation, Climate & Energy, and Land Use & Transportation.

VCN's core products are programmatic rather than technological. These include the annual Our Common Agenda policy briefing book, a Virginia General Assembly Bill Tracker, a Job Finder platform for partner organizations, the Environmental Leadership Fellowship program (launched 2022), and various advocacy training resources. The organization employs approximately 8 staff members organized into specialized director-level roles and operates under a 17-member Board of Directors composed largely of leaders from major Virginia conservation organizations. The underlying technology is standard nonprofit infrastructure: a WordPress website, Google Forms for newsletter signups, and PayPal for donation processing.

VCN's business model is donation-based nonprofit funding with nominal auxiliary fees. As a 501(c)(3), it accepts tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and organizations. Additional revenue comes from a $50 per posting fee for job listings submitted by organizations outside the Network Partner network, while partner job postings are free. The fellowship program pays $20/hour for a 30-hour week over a 10-week summer placement. VCN has no traditional equity funding, no parent company, and no commercial product revenue streams; sustainability depends on continued donor support and foundation grants.

Name

Virginia Conservation Network

Legal name

Virginia Conservation Network

Website

https://vcnva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virginia Conservation Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that coordinates 150+ conservation organizations across Virginia, providing policy advocacy, legislative tracking, fellowship programs, and unified voice in state environmental policy from its Richmond headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Conservation policy
• Nonprofit network coordination
• Legislative bill tracking
• Environmental fellowship

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: VCN is a 501(c)(3) organization that accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations to fund conservation advocacy work across Virginia.
2. Network Partnership Fees: VCN maintains a network of 150+ partner organizations. Network Partners may submit job postings at no charge, and non-partners may submit job listings for $50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Virginia Conservation Network is a nonprofit coordinator that unites 150+ conservation organizations across Virginia under a single advocacy voice at the state Capitol. Its core offerings include the annual Our Common Agenda policy briefing book, a Virginia General Assembly Bill Tracker, the Environmental Leadership Fellowship, a Job Finder listing service, and direct legislative advocacy coordination with partner organizations.

Product overview

Virginia Conservation Network is a nonprofit conservation organization that serves as a coordinator and facilitator for environmental advocacy across Virginia. Rather than offering commercial software products, VCN provides advocacy programs and services including the annual Our Common Agenda environmental policy briefing book, a Bill Tracker for monitoring Virginia General Assembly legislation, a Job Finder platform connecting candidates with partner organizations, the Environmental Leadership Fellowship program for developing diverse environmental professionals, and various educational resources including General Assembly Advocacy 101 training materials. The organization manages a network of 150+ partner organizations and organizes its conservation work across four main program categories: Clean Water & Flood Resilience, Land Conservation & Wildlife, Land Use & Transportation, and Climate & Energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of over 150 partner organizations across Virginia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Choose Clean Water CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCN serves as the state lead for the Choose Clean Water Coalition - the regional coalition advocating for clean rivers and streams in communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This is a primary coalition partnership for VCN's clean water mission.
• National Wildlife FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCN serves as the Virginia state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, providing alignment with national conservation priorities and resources.
• Virginia Trails AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCN is a member of the Virginia Trails Alliance, working to promote and protect trails across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner (top-tier partner status) working statewide on water issues. Part of VCN's network of 150+ partner organizations.
• Chesapeake Bay FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working in Northern Virginia on water issues. Major conservation organization and fellowship host partner.
• Southern Environmental Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working statewide on water, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance issues.
• Sierra Club - Virginia ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working statewide on land, energy, water, and good government issues.
• Piedmont Environmental CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner organization working on environmental conservation in Virginia.
• James River AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working in Central Virginia on water issues.
• Clean VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working statewide on energy and good governance issues.
• The Nature Conservancy in VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardinal Partner (second-tier) organization working statewide on conservation.
• Virginia League of Conservation VoterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBald Eagle Partner working statewide on water, land, energy, and good government.
• Appalachian VoicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiger Swallowtail Partner working on environmental issues including energy policy.
• Chesapeake Climate Action NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiger Swallowtail Partner working on climate action in Virginia.
• Community Climate CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardinal Partner focused on climate collaboration and action.
• Groundwork RVAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast fellowship host partner organization working on environmental issues in Richmond, Virginia.
• Virginia Clinicians for Climate ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast fellowship host partner organization working on climate and health.
• Ebony Walden ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm led by Ebony Walden providing DEIJ training, coaching, and development. Developed VCN's initial DEIJ plan and provides mentorship for the Racial Equity Learning Series cohort.
• BlackOak CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for 'Black in Green' Conservation Career Panels expanding the pipeline of Black professionals in Virginia's environmental movement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Choose Clean Water Coalition: Regional coalition advocating for clean rivers and streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, for which VCN serves as the Virginia state lead — closely comparable in mission and coordination role.
• Washington Environmental Council: Statewide nonprofit that convenes and coordinates a large network of conservation partners in Washington state for unified policy advocacy, directly analogous to VCN's model in Virginia.
• Conservation Federation of Missouri: State-level conservation federation representing diverse partner groups for coordinated policy advocacy and outreach, mirroring VCN's role as a network-of-networks for Virginia.
• Massachusetts Environmental Trust: Environmental advocacy and grantmaking organization supporting conservation work across Massachusetts, comparable to VCN as a statewide coordinator of conservation funding and policy.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Environmental Law Center: Major regional environmental legal and policy organization operating across multiple Southeastern states, including Virginia; overlaps significantly with VCN's policy agenda and board representation.
• Sierra Club - Virginia Chapter: State chapter of a national environmental organization with significant Virginia advocacy capacity; a Bald Eagle Partner of VCN and overlapping on land, energy, and water issues.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Larger regional nonprofit focused on Chesapeake Bay restoration with its own Virginia policy staff; one of VCN's core Bald Eagle partners and a frequent collaborator/co-actor in Virginia water advocacy.
• National Wildlife Federation: National conservation federation for which VCN serves as the Virginia state affiliate; provides the national backbone and resources behind VCN's state-level coordination role.

Regional players

• Piedmont Environmental Council: Regional Virginia conservation organization focused on land use, transportation, and rural land conservation; a Bald Eagle Partner and a frequent VCN collaborator with overlapping issue priorities.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: Regional nonprofit coordinating Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration across multiple states, including Virginia; overlaps with VCN's water and land conservation programs as a Bald Eagle Partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virginia-conservation-network
• Xx.com/vcnvaorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/VCNVAorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Virginia Conservation Network