What Conservation Florida does

Conservation Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservancy headquartered in Orlando, Florida, founded in 1999 by David Carr. Originally operating as Conservation Trust for Florida, the organization rebranded to Conservation Florida in 2018. It is one of only four accredited land trusts in Florida under the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, and leads conservation projects spanning more than 100,000 acres. The organization works with private landowners, government agencies, and partner organizations to permanently protect ecologically significant lands, including the 639-acre Bellini Preserve in Polk County. Leadership includes President and CEO Traci Deen, Esq., and VP of Conservation Adam Bass.

The organization generates revenue through individual donations, grants, merchandise sales, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving. Revenue diversification is supported by program-specific initiatives including the Conservation Florida Collective (a monthly giving program), This Brand Saves Land (a corporate partnership program), and the Protect Our Paradise docuseries produced with Crawford Entertainment. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026), indicators of strong governance and accountability.

Strategic partnerships anchor the operating model, including the U.S. Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). These partnerships position Conservation Florida as a federal collaborator in landscape-scale conservation and provide access to federal conservation funding and program pipelines. The combination of accreditation, federal partnership access, and a diversified fundraising base constitutes the organization's core structural advantages.

Name

Conservation Florida

Legal name

Conservation Florida

Website

https://conservationfla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conservation Florida is an Orlando-based 501(c)(3) land conservancy, founded 1999, leading projects across 100,000+ acres in Florida. It serves private landowners, government agencies, and donors as one of four accredited land trusts in the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Wildlife corridor protection
• Land trust stewardship
• Habitat preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors making one-time or recurring tax-deductible donations. Donors can give online, by mail, or through various planned giving instruments including IRA charitable rollovers, donor-advised funds, stock donations, and real estate gifts.
2. Conservation Florida Collective (Monthly Giving Program): Monthly giving program where donors contribute $10 or more per month ($25+ for perks) to receive limited-edition stickers and exclusive conservation updates.
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce store selling branded apparel, hats, drinkware, stickers, and accessories with prices ranging from $4.50 to $73.00. Proceeds support land conservation efforts.
4. Corporate Sponsorships and This Brand Saves Land: Corporate cause-marketing partnerships where brands align with Conservation Florida for mutual visibility and conservation impact. Includes event sponsorships and in-kind contributions.
5. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Legacy gifts including donations of 401k, real estate, retirement accounts, and other assets through planned giving arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Conservation Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservancy that protects Florida's natural and agricultural landscapes—primarily within the Florida Wildlife Corridor—through land acquisitions, conservation easements, and on-the-ground stewardship of its own preserves. Founded in 1999 by David Carr and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the organization funds its mission through individual donations, corporate partnerships, grants, merchandise sales, and recurring monthly giving programs.

Product overview

Conservation Florida operates as a statewide accredited land conservancy offering a portfolio of conservation-focused programs and visitor experiences. Core offerings include land protection services (conservation easements, land acquisition) through the main organization, the Conservation Florida Collective monthly donor program, and branded merchandise sold through their online shop. The organization maintains two preserves open to the public: D Ranch Preserve in Osteen with a Nature Center, and Bellini Preserve (639 acres in Polk County). Additional offerings include the This Brand Saves Land corporate partnership program, the Protect Our Paradise docuseries produced with Crawford Entertainment, and a volunteer program with monthly Trail Team events and online Conservation Crew calls. The portfolio is unified by the mission to protect Florida's water, wildlife, and wild places within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Conservation Florida Collective: A monthly donor program where supporters give $10 or more per month to support land conservation. Members receive limited-edition stickers and exclusive conservation updates.

Products and services

• Land Protection Services (Conservation Easements and Land Acquisitions)
• Preserve Stewardship and Educational / Visitor Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $1 donated, Conservation Florida protects $36 of habitat
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) / Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NRCS for Agricultural Conservation Easement Program providing financial and technical aid to conserve agricultural lands, wetlands, and grasslands of special significance in the Northern Everglades. Combining with matching funds from DOD and other sources for permanent protection.
• U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) / Avon Park Air Force RangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged with DOD's Office of the Secretary of Defense through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. Awards millions of dollars for land protection projects in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape to buy development rights from landowners near the Air Force Range.
• U.S. Department of the Interior / U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USFWS for habitat restoration at D Ranch Preserve in Volusia County. USFWS provides funds and technical support to reintroduce fire to the preserve for species including Rugel's pawpaw plants, gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes, longleaf pines, and Florida scrub-jays.
• Florida Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for land conservation and funding programs including Florida Forever. Conservation Florida advocates for meaningful funding and facilitates land acquisition and conservation easements.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for wildlife conservation and habitat protection initiatives across Florida.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and other agricultural conservation initiatives.
• University of Central FloridasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UCF's Biology Department and Coastal for research, teaching, learning, and field research opportunities in land and wildlife conservation in Central Florida.
• Crawford EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint venture partner on Protect Our Paradise, a six-episode docuseries highlighting Florida's land, water, and wildlife conservation efforts. Crawford Entertainment produces and distributes content nationally.
• The Nature ConservancysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit conservation partner collaborating on statewide land protection goals and ecosystem preservation.
• Bellini FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation buyers who purchased Lake Marion property to hold while Conservation Florida assembled the conservation deal. Generous supporters who have made protection of Bellini Preserve and other projects possible.
• Polk County Natural LandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Bellini Preserve conservation project. Polk County acquired 639 acres for permanent protection as environmental park for public use.
• Duke EnergysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Bioblitz at Bellini Preserve, supporting community science activities and conservation education.
• Sea and ShorelinesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Conservation on Tap events discussing land and coastal conservation interconnections and ecosystem revitalization projects.
• Florida PanthersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional sports team partnership for Panther Conservation Night events. Portion of ticket proceeds benefit Conservation Florida.
• Freehand GoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner under This Brand Saves Land initiative. Shares conservation values through physical products while Conservation Florida protects the lands that inspire their branding.
• Archbold Biological StationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution partner for conservation science and land management education.
• Regional Water Management DistrictssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with five water management districts: Northwest Florida Water Management District, Suwannee River Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and South Florida Water Management District.
• Wildlands ConservationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation nonprofit partner involved in collaborative land protection projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that protects land for public use through acquisitions, conservation easements, and park creation. It uses the same core methodology as Conservation Florida (easements, agency partnerships, private landowner transactions) and competes for the same donor and government funding pools.
• The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit focused on land and water conservation through acquisitions, easements, and federal agency partnerships. It operates with similar complex multi-party deal structures and works closely with USDA, DOD, and DOI — directly comparable in methodology to Conservation Florida.
• Wildlands Conservation: Wildlands Conservation is a Florida-based nonprofit land trust pursuing similar conservation easement and land acquisition strategies. It is an existing Conservation Florida partner and a directly comparable peer on methodology, geography, and scale.
• Ducks Unlimited: Ducks Unlimited is a major nonprofit focused on wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation through land acquisition, easements, and partnership projects. It works closely with USDA and state agencies in Florida and operates comparable conservation deal structures to Conservation Florida, though focused on wetlands rather than corridor-wide habitat.

Broad incumbents

• Defenders of Wildlife: Defenders of Wildlife is a national conservation nonprofit focused on imperiled species and habitat protection, with active Florida operations. It pursues conservation easements and land protection partnerships with federal agencies, comparable to Conservation Florida's easement-based Florida Wildlife Corridor work.
• National Audubon Society: National Audubon Society runs significant Florida conservation programs including land protection, habitat management, and policy advocacy. Audubon is a broader environmental organization with bird-focused mission framing but overlaps heavily with Conservation Florida on habitat, easement, and Florida corridor priorities.
• National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is a large national conservation nonprofit with state affiliate model and active Florida presence. It pursues land protection, wildlife corridor advocacy, and federal funding partnerships comparable to Conservation Florida's mission and methods.
• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is the largest global conservation nonprofit, with extensive Florida operations including land protection, easement programs, and government partnerships. It is directly comparable to Conservation Florida in mission, easement methodology, and Florida corridor focus, but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: Land Trust Alliance is the national umbrella organization that administers the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and supports land trusts nationwide. Conservation Florida's accreditation comes through this body; the Alliance shapes industry standards, training, and federal advocacy relevant to all accredited Florida land trusts including Conservation Florida.

Regional players

• Florida Wildlife Federation: Florida Wildlife Federation is the state affiliate of National Wildlife Federation focused on Florida wildlife habitat, corridor advocacy, and land protection policy. It shares Conservation Florida's geographic focus and corridor mission but emphasizes policy/advocacy more than direct land transactions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservationflorida

Compliance2 records

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 Conservation Florida