What Catskill Center does

The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1969 and headquartered in Arkville, New York. It owns and manages three anchor properties totaling more than 300 acres — Platte Clove Preserve (200+ acres), Thorn Preserve (60+ acres), and the Catskills Visitor Center property in Mt Tremper — and monitors more than 1,000 acres of conservation easements across the Catskill Park. The organization operates the official Catskill Park Visitor Center in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Catskill Stewards Program that places trained staff at high-use destinations, and the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP). It also co-chairs the Catskill Park Coalition and Forest Preserve Coalition, which have collectively secured more than $46 million in state funding for Forest Preserve stewardship.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of individual memberships, a tiered business membership program (Bronze $250, Silver $500, Gold $1,000, Platinum $2,500+), individual donations and planned gifts via the Sherret Spaulding Chase Legacy Circle, government grants including Environmental Protection Fund allocations, and mission-driven merchandise sales through the Catskills Visitor Center gift shop. It holds Land Trust Accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a designation signaling compliance with national standards for land conservation governance. Distribution channels include direct public access to preserves with suggested $10/day-use donations, the Visitor Center in Mt Tremper, the Visitor Center e-commerce shop, online donation and membership processing, and the print Catskills Magazine distributed to members and supporters.

The Catskill Center serves visitors, residents, local and regional businesses, and private landowners in the Catskill region through educational programming, conservation easements, stewardship, and advocacy. Strategic priorities articulated in the recently completed Strategic Plan 2026-2030 include trail improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced visitor facilities across the three anchor properties. The organization does not disclose revenue figures, operates with a modest full-time staff of 33 augmented by seasonal conservation and visitor services teams, and reports programmatic outcomes such as 57,003+ visitor engagements and 2,919+ acres surveyed for invasive species in 2025.

Name

Catskill Center

Legal name

Catskill Center for Conservation and Development

Website

https://catskillcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that owns and manages 300+ acres of conservation land, operates the official Catskill Park Visitor Center, runs stewardship and invasive species programs, and advocates for Forest Preserve funding in New York's Catskill region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arkville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Individual and business membership programs provide recurring revenue. Individual donations and legacy gifts support operations. The Sherret Spaulding Chase Legacy Circle recognizes planned giving donors.
2. Business Membership Program: Tiered business membership program (Bronze $250, Silver $500, Gold $1,000, Platinum $2,500+) providing recognition, advertising benefits, and sponsorship opportunities in exchange for annual fees.
3. Visitor Center Operations: The Catskills Visitor Center operates a mission-driven gift shop featuring custom apparel, souvenirs, home goods, maps, and locally inspired items. Proceeds directly benefit conservation programs.
4. Government Grants and Funding: The organization receives government funding including $250,000 from Environmental Protection Fund for Catskills Visitor Center, $200,000 for Catskill research, and $10 million for Forest Preserve stewardship. Additional $50,000 for Catskill Stewards program from Aid to Localities budget.
5. Visitor Use Fees: Suggested $10 per person day use donation at Platte Clove Preserve and Thorn Preserve. Revenue supports trail maintenance and stewardship activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Catskill Center owns and manages more than 300 acres of conservation land across three anchor properties (Platte Clove Preserve, Thorn Preserve, and the Catskills Visitor Center) and monitors over 1,000 acres of conservation easements, while running stewardship programs (Catskill Stewards, CRISP), advocacy, and visitor education in the Catskill Park. Its products and services are publicly accessible preserves (free with suggested $10 donation), the official Visitor Center with exhibits and gift shop, tiered business and individual memberships, donations, and grant-funded stewardship work.

Product overview

The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development is a nonprofit conservation organization that owns and manages three anchor properties: Platte Clove Preserve (200+ acres), Thorn Preserve (60 acres), and the Catskills Visitor Center. These sites provide public access for recreation, environmental education, and habitat conservation. The organization also operates stewardship programs including the Catskill Stewards Program and CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership) to protect the Catskills region through visitor education, invasive species management, and land stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Catskills Visitor Center: The official visitor center for the Catskill Park, operated by the Catskill Center in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Serves as the gateway to the Catskills for visitors.
• Catskill Stewards Program
• CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership)
• Sherret Spaulding Chase Legacy Circle

Products and services

• Platte Clove Preserve A 200+ acre protected preserve within a dramatic Catskills corridor featuring steep forested slopes, cold-water streams, and shaded ravines, offering public access for hiking, nature study, and outdoor education.
• Thorn Preserve

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 57,003 visitors engaged by Catskill Stewards in 2025, helping reduce resource impacts and improve safety
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catskills Visitor Center is operated by the Catskill Center in partnership with NYSDEC. This partnership supports informed, responsible use of the Catskills and plays an important role in protecting the region's long-term health and resilience. The Catskill Stewards Program also operates in partnership with NYSDEC at locations including Peekamoose Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls, and Devil's Path.
• Empire State Development (ESD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpire State Development provided support for the Catskill Center's Strategic Plan study for anchor amenities (Platte Clove Preserve, Thorn Preserve, and Catskills Visitor Center). The organization looks forward to continued collaboration with ESD, NYS DEC, Department of State, OPRHP, and other state partners.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Catskill Center is a proud 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner. Businesses that join 1% for the Planet commit to giving 1% of gross sales each year to approved environmental partners, and can choose the Catskill Center as their designated Nonprofit Partner.
• Catskill Park CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catskill Center serves as co-chair of the Catskill Park Coalition, which advocates for dedicated Forest Preserve stewardship funding, expanded trail contracts, more stewards, and investments in key corridors. This coalition-based advocacy helped secure more than $46 million in Forest Preserve stewardship funding.
• Forest Preserve CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catskill Center serves as co-chair of the Forest Preserve Coalition, working to advance advocacy for the Adirondacks and Catskills Forest Preserves and secure funding for stewardship and visitor services.
• Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies receives $200,000 in funding through the Environmental Protection Fund for Catskill research. The Catskill Center's advocacy efforts helped secure this funding, demonstrating successful coalition-based advocacy for scientific research in the region.
• Catskill Watershed CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in collaborative efforts for conservation and regional promotion. The Catskill Center looks forward to continued collaboration with the Catskill Watershed Corporation alongside ESD, NYS DEC, Department of State, OPRHP, local governments, and other nonprofit partners.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adirondack Mountain Club: A New York-based regional conservation and outdoor recreation organization that protects wilderness, advocates for the Adirondack Park, manages trails and lodges, and educates visitors — highly analogous to Catskill Center's preserve stewardship, advocacy, and visitor-services model in a neighboring region.
• Mohonk Preserve: A nonprofit land trust in the Shawangunk Ridge near New Paltz, NY that manages 8,000+ acres of conserved land, runs stewardship and education programs, and charges modest access fees — directly comparable to Catskill Center's preserve management and member-supported nonprofit model.
• Catskill Watershed Corporation: A regional nonprofit working on water quality, land conservation, and community programs throughout the Catskills — a direct regional peer with overlapping mission areas in conservation easements, stewardship grants, and Catskill-region community programming.
• Scenic Hudson: A New York-based conservation organization focused on land protection, advocacy, and parkland along the Hudson River, with membership fundraising and public policy engagement closely paralleling the Catskill Center's coalition-based advocacy and land trust activities.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (New York): A global land trust with active New York operations including Catskill and Adirondack conservation projects. Compares to Catskill Center through conservation easements, science-based stewardship, and state-level advocacy, though at significantly greater scale and capitalization.
• Open Space Institute: A larger Northeastern land conservation organization that acquires and manages protected lands across multiple states, including in the Catskills. Comparable as a regional land trust peer but with a broader geographic footprint and larger capital base than the Catskill Center.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: A long-standing regional outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit managing trails, huts, and education programs across the Northeast. Comparable through stewardship programs, visitor services, and member-supported operations, though with substantially greater scale and a multi-state footprint.
• New York-New Jersey Trail Conference: A nonprofit that builds and maintains 2,000+ miles of trails across the NY-NJ region, including significant Catskill trail networks. Comparable through trail stewardship, volunteer mobilization, and outdoor education that overlaps with Catskill Center's trail and visitor work.

Regional players

• Delaware Highlands Conservancy: An accredited land trust protecting forests and streams in the Upper Delaware River region of Pennsylvania and New York. Comparable through land trust accreditation, easement monitoring, and small-staff nonprofit land conservation, though geographically adjacent rather than overlapping.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: The national membership association supporting land trusts, including the Catskill Center. Comparable as a sector-wide organization that influences accreditation standards, advocacy, and funding access relevant to the Center's operations, but not a direct operating peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/catskillcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catskill-center

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Catskill Center