Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

What Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts does

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) is a Springfield, Illinois-based non-profit association founded in 1948 that represents and coordinates Illinois' 97 county-based Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), which together serve all 102 counties in the state. Its core function is to support local conservation program delivery: AISWCD coordinates implementation of federal and state conservation programs (Farm Bill programs such as EQIP, CRP, CREP, CSP, WRP, plus state initiatives), provides technical assistance, outreach and education, and hosts member training through its 78-year-running Annual Conference and the Illinois Envirothon competition for high school students.

AISWCD's product surface is programmatic rather than software-based. Key offerings include the Illinois Urban Manual (a cooperative technical reference for soil erosion and sediment control on construction sites), the STAR (Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources) program for soil health and water quality, the SWCD Directory, an E-Newsletter, and the Envirothon competition. The organization operates from 201 West Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, with roughly 10 central staff led by Executive Director Eliot Clay, and is governed by a Board of Directors representing member districts.

Its business model is non-commercial: AISWCD is funded through a mix of local, state, and federal sources plus member SWCD contributions and landowner cost-share, with no disclosed pricing or fee-for-service revenue. The associated AISWCD Foundation operates as a separate 501(c)(3) to raise philanthropic support for SWCD goals. Distribution is executed through 97 county SWCD offices, with strategic partnerships spanning USDA NRCS and FSA, Illinois IDNR, IEPA, IDOA, IDOT, USACE, USFWS, and conservation NGOs including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Name

Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Legal name

Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Website

https://aiswcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AISWCD is a Springfield, Illinois-based non-profit founded in 1948 that coordinates 97 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts serving all 102 Illinois counties, delivering conservation programs, technical assistance, and education through partnerships with federal, state, and NGO stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAF

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

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

Keywords

• Soil conservation services
• Water quality protection
• Natural resource management
• Conservation education programs
• Agricultural conservation assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AISWCD is a non-profit association that coordinates and represents 97 member Soil and Water Conservation Districts serving all 102 counties in Illinois. It delivers conservation planning, technical assistance, outreach, education, and financial assistance for soil health, water quality, erosion control, habitat restoration, and land use issues, primarily through partnerships with state and federal agencies. The association also produces the Illinois Urban Manual, runs the STAR agricultural conservation initiative, hosts the Envirothon student competition, and provides annual training for SWCD directors and staff.

Product overview

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) operates as a membership organization representing 97 county-based Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Rather than a unified software platform, AISWCD offers a portfolio of conservation programs, educational initiatives, and technical resources. Key offerings include the Illinois Envirothon Competition (environmental education for high school students), the Illinois Urban Manual (technical reference for erosion control), the STAR conservation program, an Annual Training Conference, and a members-only newsletter. The organization also provides coordination for conservation programs including soil health, water quality, forestry, habitat, and land use assistance in partnership with federal and state agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Illinois Envirothon Competition Annual educational competition for high school students testing knowledge of natural environment and environmental problem-solving skills across five core areas: soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and current environmental issues. Held annually at 4H Memorial Camp in Monticello, Illinois.
• Illinois Urban Manual Technical reference manual for developers, contractors, planners, engineers, and government officials involved in soil erosion and sediment control best management practices on construction sites in Illinois.
• STAR (Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources) Program Agricultural resource conservation program focused on protecting soil health and improving water quality through strategic conservation practices.
• SWCD Directory Directory providing information about Illinois' 97 Soil and Water Conservation District offices serving all 102 counties in the state.
• Annual Training Conference & Meeting Annual conference providing training, networking, and professional development for SWCD directors and staff, with the 2026 Summer Training Conference & 78th Annual Meeting scheduled for July 12-14 in Peoria.
• Conservation Programs & Technical Assistance Comprehensive conservation services including soil health, water quality protection, forestry, habitat and pollinator conservation, land use assistance, urban conservation, and conservation education delivered through partnerships with NRCS, USDA, and state agencies.

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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS is a key federal partner for SWCD program delivery. SWCDs implement Farm Bill Programs administered by NRCS including EQIP, WHIP, CSP and WRP. Also partners on USDA Soil Health Initiative and USDA Conservation Reserve Program.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWCDs implement Farm Bill Programs administered by FSA including CRP, CREP and SAFE. Currently hold over 1,200 CREP easements.
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDNR is a key state agency partner for SWCD program delivery, including Illinois Water Use Act and Water Supply Planning Program.
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEPA partners with SWCDs on Storm Water Management, Watershed Planning, Water Quality Improvement and Protection Programs.
• Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDOA Bureau of Land & Water Resources partners with SWCDs, including the Apiary Program and Partners for Conservation Program.
• Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDOT participates in the Illinois Urban Manual Technical Review Committee and Steering Committee for revision of the manual.
• US Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSACE partners on Construction Permitting, Habitat Restoration and Land Treatment Programs administered by the Chicago District.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Landowner Incentive Program that SWCDs assist with.
• National Wild Turkey FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• Pheasants ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• Trees ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• National Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs that SWCDs participate in.
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that administers grants and programs that SWCDs participate in for conservation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: National wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization that partners with SWCDs across Illinois. Comparable on habitat restoration, wetland conservation, and landowner payment programs, but operates nationally with a different funding and membership model.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency that administers Farm Bill conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, CRP, CREP) and partners with SWCDs as front-line delivery. AISWCD's member districts are local delivery partners for NRCS, making NRCS the most significant institutional peer in terms of program co-execution.
• The Nature Conservancy (Illinois Chapter): Major national conservation organization operating in Illinois on land and water stewardship. Overlaps with AISWCD on habitat, water quality, and landowner incentive programs but operates at broader scale and as part of a global portfolio rather than a county-district network.

Emerging players

• American Farmland Trust: National non-profit focused on protecting farmland and promoting sound farming practices, with active Illinois programming on soil health and water quality. Comparable mission overlap on agricultural conservation, though AFT operates without a county-district network.
• Pheasants Forever: Habitat-focused conservation organization that administers grants and landowner payment programs SWCDs participate in. Comparable in delivering voluntary, landowner-facing conservation work in Illinois, though narrower in geographic and habitat focus.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association: Wisconsin's state association of land and water conservation counties. Closely comparable non-profit coordinating body that supports county conservation districts in delivering soil health, water quality, and landowner assistance programs.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National umbrella for the 3,000+ conservation districts across the U.S. AISWCD is the Illinois state affiliate and operates the same member-district model, delivering soil and water conservation through county-level entities in direct parallel.
• Iowa Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI): Iowa's non-profit association supporting the state's soil and water conservation districts. Directly comparable in mission, member-district structure, and focus on agricultural conservation, water quality, and education programs like Envirothon.
• Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: State-level peer association representing Indiana's soil and water conservation districts. Operates with the same non-profit, county-district coordinating structure and partnership model with USDA NRCS, state agencies, and conservation organizations.

Others

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA): State regulatory agency that partners with SWCDs on storm water management, watershed planning, and water quality programs. Not a direct competitor but a key institutional counterpart whose programs AISWCD helps implement at the local level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/facebook
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aiswcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts