What Civilian Conservation Corps, USA does

Civilian Conservation Corps, USA (CCCUSA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Williston, Vermont, that operates as the nation's first 'Corps Accelerator.' It functions as a social franchisor, recruiting and training community leaders to launch independent local 'CCC Enterprises' as separate 501c3 organizations across the United States. Each Enterprise enrolls young people aged 16-26 in crews of 6-8, led by two trained crew leaders, to perform conservation, infrastructure, and disaster-response projects. CCCUSA's core platform consists of three components: (1) the National Service Leadership Academy (NSLA), the first-of-its-kind national academy that trains and credentials Crew Leaders and Executive Directors; (2) a standardized social franchise operating model offering uniform operating systems, guidelines, training, and 24/7 support to local franchises; and (3) the Conservation Closets (ReUse Store) concept modeled on Habitat for Humanity ReStores, projected to net up to $1 million annually per store.

The organization's revenue model is designed around fee-for-service government contracts, with the stated target that approximately 85% of each Enterprise's operating budget will be covered by federal, state, and local government contracts (Department of Interior, NPS, Forest Service, FEMA, AmeriCorps NCCC, state AmeriCorps commissions, municipalities) and roughly 15% from philanthropic support. CCC Enterprises compete for contracts in deferred maintenance on public lands, urban forestry, trail work, disaster response, and similar projects, often combining grants from multiple agencies to deliver multiple outcomes per dollar. To date CCCUSA has raised $450,000 in philanthropic capital toward stated goals of $5 million for development and pilot programs and $25 million for national launch.

CCCUSA was founded by Thomas Hark, who previously built the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) from a one-dollar state appropriation in 1986 into a multi-million-dollar, multi-state organization with 6,500 alumni, 300 annual enrollees, and a 400-acre, $3.5 million training campus. The organization is governed by a three-tier structure (Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and a Leadership Corps) and operates with a small staff supported by a network of 60+ strategic advisors. Key strategic alliances include the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Great Lakes Conservation Corps in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Name

Civilian Conservation Corps, USA

Legal name

Civilian Conservation Corps, USA

Website

https://cccusa.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CCCUSA is a 501c3 nonprofit that operates as a social franchise accelerator, training community leaders to launch local 'CCC Enterprises' that employ young people aged 16-26 in fee-for-service conservation, infrastructure, and disaster-response contracts with federal, state, and local government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Williston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Government Contracts: The lion's share of each CCC Enterprise's operating budget is covered by fee-for-service contracts with government agencies at federal, state, and local levels. CCC Enterprises charge fees for work projects completed for public land management agencies, municipalities, and other government clients. The model leverages multiple grants from different agencies together (e.g., combining a labor grant with a natural resources grant) to stretch each dollar across multiple outcomes.
2. Philanthropic Support: Approximately 15% of each CCC Enterprise's operating budget is covered by philanthropic support including donations, foundation grants, and private philanthropy. CCCUSA has a financial goal of $5 million for development and pilot programs, and $25 million for national launch, with $450,000 raised to date.
3. Conservation Closets Retail Revenue: Revenue generated from ReUse stores (Conservation Closets) that accept and resell used household goods. Projected to net as much as $1 million annually per store, sufficient to fund more than ten local CCCUSA crews.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CCCUSA is a 501c3 nonprofit that acts as a national "Corps Accelerator," licensing and supporting local 501c3 "CCC Enterprises" through a social franchise model. Its central deliverable is the National Service Leadership Academy (NSLA), which trains and credentials Crew Leaders and Executive Directors, and its deployed service is Youth Conservation Corps Crews of 6-8 members aged 16-26 that complete fee-for-service conservation, infrastructure, and disaster response projects for government clients.

Product overview

Civilian Conservation Corps, USA (CCCUSA) is a non-profit organization that operates as a national social franchise accelerator for youth conservation corps programs. Rather than a single unified product, the organization offers a franchise model called 'CCC Enterprises' that provides a National Service Leadership Academy (NSLA) for training crew leaders and executive directors, along with standardized operating systems, guidelines, and support for launching local corps organizations. The core offering combines conservation work projects with youth development and values education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Service Leadership Academy (NSLA): The first of its kind in the nation, training and credentialing both Crew Leaders and Executive Directors for CCC enterprises.
• National Leadership Academy

Products and services

• National Service Leadership Academy (NSLA) A first-of-its-kind national academy that trains and credentials Crew Leaders and Executive Directors for CCC Enterprises, providing intensive comprehensive training that establishes new national standards in the corps field. Designed for community leaders and experienced corps members who will lead local franchises.
• CCC Enterprise Social Franchise

Quantifiable outcome

• VYCC grew from a $1 state appropriation in 1986 to a multi-million-dollar organization with 6,500 alumni and 300 enrollees per year over 30 years — demonstrating the scalability and financial sustainability of the model.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Superior Watershed PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a key strategic partner. SWP's Carl Lindquist, SWP's Executive Director, serves on CCCUSA's Board of Directors. SWP founded the Lake Superior Watershed Trust, Climate Corps, and Great Lakes Corps. With CCCUSA support, SWP plans to roll out the CCCUSA Climate Corps program, which will eventually enroll thousands of young adults from hundreds of communities in every state adjacent to a Great Lake.
• Great Lakes Conservation Corps (GLCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Great Lakes Conservation Corps began in 2014 with a single crew and, with CCCUSA support, grew to 10 crews. Leaders are anxious to become full-fledged CCCUSA franchises as they feel this will help them grow to at least 30 crews over the next few years. GLCC operates under the Superior Watershed Partnership and conducts restoration and educational projects across Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Student Conservation Association: Long-standing national nonprofit placing youth and young adults in conservation service on public lands. Directly comparable in mission, target population, and government contracting approach.
• The Corps Network: National association of 110+ local conservation corps. Directly comparable as the existing field-wide membership body that CCCUSA is positioning itself to accelerate and aggregate.
• Conservation Legacy: Operates multiple regional conservation corps (Southwest, Southeast, Appalachian). Closely comparable as an existing multi-state corps operator with fee-for-service contracting and youth programming.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts focused on urban environmental restoration and youth engagement. Comparable as a federated nonprofit model with locally governed affiliates doing fee-for-service conservation.

Emerging players

• National Park Trust: Nonprofit focused on park conservation and youth engagement on public lands. Comparable as a fellow youth-and-conservation mission organization working with NPS and federal partners.
• City Year: National service nonprofit deploying young adults (ages 18-25) in schools and communities. Comparable in target demographic, service-year framing, and AmeriCorps funding dependency.
• Public Allies: National nonprofit placing young adults in nonprofit leadership apprenticeships. Comparable in AmeriCorps-funded youth service model and leadership development framing.

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps (Corporation for National and Community Service): The largest federal national-service program, funding hundreds of thousands of service members annually. Comparable as the dominant institutional funder and operator in the youth service space CCCUSA targets.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Operates the ReStore reuse-retail model that CCCUSA's Conservation Closets directly replicate. Comparable for the retail/social-enterprise revenue arm rather than the conservation mission.

Regional players

• Yosemite Conservancy: Park-specific nonprofit supporting Yosemite through philanthropy and volunteer programs. Comparable in conservation mission and donor-funded model, though geographically narrower.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cccusanow

Compliance1 record

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 Civilian Conservation Corps, USA