California Council of Land Trusts

What California Council of Land Trusts does

The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit 501(c) membership organization that functions as the statewide trade association and advocacy body for California's land trust community. It was founded to give California's land trusts a unified voice and to coordinate their work across urban and rural regions, with a particular focus on advancing state conservation priorities including the Pathways to 30x30 initiative and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. Its primary members are land trusts such as Big Sur Land Trust, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, San Joaquin River Parkway & Conservation Trust, Save the Redwoods League, John Muir Land Trust, and Amah Mutsun Land Trust, alongside conservation professionals.

CCLT's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based. It administers two grant programs — Capacity Building Grants (funded by the California Department of Conservation's Climate Smart Land Management Program, awarding over $1M to 11 organizations) and Project Advancement Grants (awarding $1.51M to 16 organizations in Round 2). Beyond grant administration, the organization provides state-level advocacy and policy representation, an annual California Land & Water Conservation Conference, an annual Film Fest, an interactive grantee map, a curated Compiled Funding Opportunities resource, a Jobs Board, professional development programs, and an Annual Impact Report.

CCLT operates with a lean team of three full-time staff (Executive Director Caroline Godkin, Grants Program Manager Jessica Matthews, Program Coordinator Claire Marvet) supplemented by consultants. Its revenue model combines three streams: recurring membership dues from land trusts and conservation professionals, pass-through state funding from agencies including the California Department of Conservation, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and CAL FIRE used to fund the grant programs, and charitable donations from individuals and organizations who become "Friends of CCLT." Specific membership fee amounts are not publicly disclosed, and total revenue is not reported in the source materials.

Name

California Council of Land Trusts

Legal name

California Council of Land Trusts

Website

https://calandtrusts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California Council of Land Trusts is a Sacramento-based nonprofit membership organization that advocates for, funds, and convenes California's land trust community through grant programs, policy advocacy, and an annual conference, serving dozens of member land trusts statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Land conservation advocacy
• Nonprofit membership services
• Grant administration programs
• Capacity building services
• Environmental policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: CCLT operates a membership program for land trusts and professionals in California. Two types of membership are available: land trust and professional.
2. Government grants and funding: CCLT receives funding from California Department of Conservation through the Climate Smart Land Management Program, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and other state agencies to distribute as grants to member land trusts.
3. Donations: CCLT accepts charitable contributions from individuals and organizations. Donors become 'Friends of CCLT' supporting conservation work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CCLT is a statewide nonprofit membership council that represents California's land trusts by administering grant programs, providing advocacy before state agencies, delivering education and professional development, and convening the land trust community through an annual conference and member services. It functions as an industry association rather than a product vendor, channeling government and foundation funding to its member organizations working on land and water conservation.

Product overview

The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization serving California's land trust community rather than a software product company. Its offerings consist of grant programs (Capacity Building Grants and Project Advancement Grants), advocacy and education services, a jobs board for member organizations, and resource tools including a grantee map and compiled funding opportunities. CCLT organizes the annual California Land & Water Conservation Conference and publishes annual impact reports. The organization facilitates conservation across California by providing funding, training, and a unified voice for land trusts working toward the state's 30x30 conservation goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capacity Building Grants Program A grant program that awards funding to land trusts and their partners for organizational capacity building, partnership building, strategic planning, and demonstration projects that advance California's 30x30 conservation goals and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. Targeted at member land trust organizations in California.
• Project Advancement Grants Program A competitive grant program providing funding to land trust organizations for projects that advance the goals of Pathways to 30x30 and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. Awarded $1.51 million to 16 organizations in the most recent round.
• CCLT Membership Program A membership program with two tiers — land trust membership (for organizations meeting specific qualifications) and professional membership (for individuals in the conservation sector). Members receive access to special briefings, programs, activities, grant eligibility, and member services.
• Advocacy Services Policy advocacy services that represent member land trusts at the California state level, working to influence legislation and regulations affecting land conservation, including Pathways to 30x30 and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy.
• Education Programs Educational resources and programs for the California land trust community, including training, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities for member land trusts and conservation professionals.
• California Land & Water Conservation Conference An annual conference that brings together land trust professionals for networking, learning, and collaboration. The 2027 conference is scheduled for March 22-24 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa.
• CCLT Film Fest An annual film festival celebrating conservation work, featuring videos submitted by member land trusts and the California conservation community, with winners announced annually.
• CCLT Donation Platform An online donation processing service that enables individuals and organizations to contribute financially to CCLT's conservation work, with options for donation amounts, processing fee coverage, and various payment methods. Donors are recognized as 'Friends of CCLT'.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.61 million+ in grants distributed to land trust organizations

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLT coordinates with CNRA on implementation of Pathways to 30x30 initiative and Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. CNRA releases climate bond guidance that informs CCLT grant programs.
• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing leadership, resources, and professional development for land trusts. CCLT participates in LTA programs including Leadership Lab and shares IRS resources with members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation organization that works with land trusts and government agencies to protect land for public use. It is a featured member of CCLT's network and operates on the same mission of permanent land protection, with deeper resources and broader geographic reach.
• Land Trust Alliance: National umbrella organization for the land trust community, providing leadership, resources, and professional development. CCLT participates in LTA programs including Leadership Lab and shares IRS resources with members, making this the most direct comparable as a coordinating body for land trusts.
• Nature Conservancy (California Chapter): Global environmental organization with a major California chapter focused on land and water conservation. Comparable as a large-scale conservation actor in California working on related climate and biodiversity goals, though it is more programmatic and less of a membership council.

Direct peers

• Save the Redwoods League: A California land trust specifically protecting redwood forests and related landscapes. Listed as a CCLT member and a major recipient of California climate bond funding, making it a member-level peer of CCLT's constituency.
• Big Sur Land Trust: A California land trust and CCLT member protecting natural, scenic, and agricultural lands along the Big Sur coast. Representative of the typical CCLT member organization — a regional land trust relying on CCLT for capacity-building and advocacy support.

Emerging players

• Conservation Lands Foundation: National nonprofit that supports Friends groups for National Conservation Lands. Comparable as a coordinating body that channels resources and advocacy to member organizations focused on conservation outcomes, similar to CCLT's role for California land trusts.

Regional players

• Greenbelt Alliance: Bay Area-focused nonprofit working on open space protection and smart growth. Comparable as a California-based nonprofit advocating for land conservation policy, though more focused on urban edge and urban growth boundary issues than rural conservation.
• California Native Plant Society: California-based nonprofit working on conservation of native plants and habitats. Comparable as a state-level nonprofit umbrella organization engaging volunteers and members in conservation, though its focus is plant ecology rather than land conservation easements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CALandTrusts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCht9WtIXiCZlND-nsSAJXdg
• Facebookfacebook.com/calandtrusts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calandtrusts/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/calandtrusts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Council of Land Trusts