What Delaware Highlands Conservancy does

Delaware Highlands Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1994 and headquartered at the 144-acre Van Scott Nature Reserve in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, with a secondary office in Jeffersonville, New York. Its core business is the permanent protection of land through voluntary conservation easements and direct land acquisition, with approximately 19,380 acres and more than 80 easements under stewardship across the Upper Delaware River region spanning Pike, Wayne, Monroe (PA) and Sullivan, Delaware, Orange (NY) counties. The organization was founded by Barbara Yeaman, merged with the Eagle Institute in 2012, became nationally accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2011, and is led by an Acting Executive Director (Trey Talley) following a 2025 leadership transition.

The Conservancy's product surface includes conservation easements, the Van Scott Nature Reserve with three miles of public trails, the Women and Their Woods educational program for women forest landowners, the Pike-Monroe Woodland Owners Group, the Green Lodging Partnership with 12+ regional hotels, the Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship, and a planned Conservation Education Center funded through the $5 million Fund for the Future capital campaign. Technology is limited to conservation easement management and stewardship tooling; there is no proprietary software platform or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams: individual memberships (annual subscriptions with discounted event access), a premium River Club giving circle ($2,500+/year), monthly recurring giving, planned giving and bequests (including gifts of stock, real estate, and charitable remainder trusts), corporate sponsorships across Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers, Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) contributions from approved businesses (tax credits up to 90%), grants (including a $1M watershed grant awarded in February 2026), Green Lodging Partnership per-reservation contributions, and one-time donations including $5,000 bench dedications. Customer segments span private landowners seeking conservation easements, women forest landowners seeking education, community members and visitors engaged via events and Eagle Watch programs, and local businesses/hotels seeking sustainability positioning through the EITC and Green Lodging Partnership channels.

Name

Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Legal name

Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Website

https://delawarehighlands.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Delaware Highlands Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) land trust that protects land in the Upper Delaware River region through voluntary conservation easements, operating across PA and NY from its 144-acre Van Scott Nature Reserve.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Land trust stewardship
• Environmental education programs
• Watershed protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Beach Lake, Pennsylvania

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership & Donations: Annual membership fees and one-time donations from individuals. Members receive biannual newsletters and invitations to special programs at discounted member rates.
2. Planned Giving & Legacy Gifts: Charitable bequests, gifts of stock, real estate donations, IRA transfers, charitable remainder trusts, and retained life estates. Supports long-term conservation planning.
3. Women and Their Woods Program: Educational retreat program for women forest landowners with funding support from US Forest Service at Grey Towers, William Penn Foundation, Pennsylvania DCNR, and Penn State.
4. Green Lodging Partnership: Hotels contribute to the Conservancy with every guest reservation, allowing visitors to participate in protecting lands and waters of the Upper Delaware River region.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor the organization at Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers, providing financial support while aligning with conservation values.
6. Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): Pennsylvania EITC program allows businesses to contribute to the Conservancy as an approved Educational Improvement Organization, receiving PA state tax credits up to 90%.
7. Fund for the Future Capital Campaign: $5 million capital campaign to support the Conservation Education Center development, long-term organizational sustainability, and expanded educational programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Delaware Highlands Conservancy provides voluntary, permanent conservation easements and ongoing stewardship for private landowners in the Upper Delaware River region, protecting forests, farmland, and drinking water sources. It operates the 144-acre Van Scott Nature Reserve for public education and recreation, and runs related educational programs (Women and Their Woods, Pike-Monroe Woodland Owners Group, Green Lodging Partnership, scholarships) to support its conservation mission.

Product overview

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is an accredited land trust offering land conservation programs and environmental education services. Core offerings include the Van Scott Nature Reserve (144-acre nature reserve with trails and educational facilities), conservation easement programs for landowners, and educational initiatives including the Women and Their Woods program, Pike-Monroe Woodland Owners Group, and Green Lodging Partnership. The organization also provides scholarships, publishes bi-annual newsletters (DHC News and LandLines), and is developing a Conservation Education Center through its Fund for the Future campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Van Scott Nature Reserve: A 144-acre nature reserve in Beach Lake, Wayne County, PA serving as the headquarters of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Features three miles of walking trails through diverse habitats, ponds, wetlands, and serves as a center for conservation education.

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Voluntary, legally binding agreements between landowners and the Conservancy that permanently protect a property's natural values while the landowner retains private ownership and use rights. Each easement includes a Baseline Documentation Report, annual monitoring, and long-term stewardship by the Conservancy.
• Van Scott Nature Reserve A 144-acre nature reserve in Beach Lake, Wayne County, PA, serving as the Conservancy's headquarters and offering more than three miles of publicly accessible walking trails through forests, wildflower meadows, wetlands, and ponds for public education and recreation.
• Women and Their Woods Educational Program A dynamic educational program teaching women landowners effective conservation stewardship and forestland ownership management. Includes biennial retreats, regional events, networking opportunities, and a peer-learning network.
• Pike-Monroe Woodland Owners Group A peer network of woodland landowners in Pike and Monroe Counties, PA that shares knowledge about forest management, conservation, and sustainability to keep forests healthy.
• Green Lodging Partnership A partnership program in which participating hotels, inns, resorts, and bed-and-breakfasts contribute to the Conservancy with every guest reservation, supporting protection of lands, waters, and outdoor recreation in the Upper Delaware River region.
• Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship An annual $2,500 scholarship awarded to high school seniors pursuing education or environmental stewardship, open to students in school districts bordering the Upper Delaware River in NY and PA.
• Conservation Education Center A planned accessible conservation education center at the Van Scott Nature Reserve, to include a science lab and educational workshop space, funded through the Fund for the Future capital campaign.
• River Club Major Donor Circle Annual membership giving circle for donors contributing $2,500 or more per year, offering exclusive invitation-only events and recognition in the Conservancy's annual report.
• Van Scott Nature Reserve Bench Dedication A named bench dedication at the Van Scott Nature Reserve, available for a $5,000 donation in honor or memory of a loved one.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 19,380 acres protected across the Upper Delaware River region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delaware River Watershed InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration of 50+ nonprofits working to protect and restore ecological systems providing drinking water to 15 million people and supporting $25 billion in water-related economic activity. Conservancy participates in Pocono-Kittatinny Cluster.
• US Forest Service at Grey TowerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Key partner in Women and Their Woods program since 2008, providing funding and support for educational programming for women forest landowners. Grey Towers National Historic Site serves as partner in forest conservation efforts.
• Penn State College of Agricultural SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Center for Private Forests at Penn State provides support for Women and Their Woods program, offering expertise in forest stewardship education and peer-learning network development.
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA-DCNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Funding partner for Women and Their Woods through Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape. Bureau of Recreation and Conservation provides grants for conservation education programs.
• Catskill MountainkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner in projects contributing to healthy natural resources and connections between people and land in the region.
• Pike County Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernmental organization partner in natural resource conservation and sustainable communities initiatives.
• Pike Wayne Conservation PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of government, non-government, non-profit and grass roots organizations with shared goals for natural resource conservation, sustainable communities, and citizen involvement in community planning.
• Pike-Monroe Woodland Owners GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored by Conservancy, Grey Towers Heritage Association, and PA-DCNR. Connects woodland owners in Pike and Monroe Counties to share knowledge about managing, conserving, and sustaining forests. Currently inactive but accepting landowner inquiries.
• TrailKeeper.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-source outlet for hiking trails and public lands in Sullivan County, NY with maps and hiking safety guides. Conservancy partner in promoting outdoor recreation.
• Pennsylvania Environmental CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program, administering Community Conservation Partnerships Program Environmental Stewardship Fund grants.
• AMSKierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum level corporate sponsor supporting the Conservancy's conservation and education programs in 2026.
• Brookfield RenewableminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold level corporate sponsor in 2026, supporting conservation efforts in the Upper Delaware River region.
• The Dime BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold level corporate sponsor providing financial support for Conservancy programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Delaware Riverkeeper Network: Regional watershed advocacy and protection organization for the Delaware River basin, including partners in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative alongside the Conservancy. Comparable mission focus on Delaware River water quality and habitat, though more advocacy-oriented than easement-based.

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit working with public and private partners to protect conservation lands and working forests, including in the Delaware River watershed. Broader-scope incumbent offering overlapping land-protection and easement services nationally.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global environmental nonprofit operating land conservation programs including easements, reserves, and watershed protection across the U.S. National-scale incumbent with overlapping mission in Delaware River watershed conservation.

Direct peers

• New Jersey Conservation Foundation: Regional nonprofit land trust focused on preserving open space and natural resources through easements and direct land acquisition in New Jersey. Closely comparable nonprofit-accredited land-trust operating model in the adjacent Mid-Atlantic region.
• Scenic Hudson: New York-based land trust and conservation advocacy organization protecting the Hudson River Valley through land acquisition, easements, and stewardship. Comparable regional land-trust model with similar watershed-protection and public-access programming.
• Natural Lands: Regional nonprofit land trust operating across PA and NJ, holding conservation easements, managing nature preserves, and running education programs. Closest peer in scale, geography, and mission — both accredited land trusts focused on voluntary private-land conservation in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Brandywine Conservancy: Accredited PA land trust protecting the Brandywine watershed with conservation easements, land stewardship, and education programs. Comparable mission focus on easements, water quality, and public nature preserves within Pennsylvania.
• Open Space Institute: Regional nonprofit that protects scenic, natural, and historic landscapes in the northeastern U.S., including active work in New York's Catskill/Delaware region. Comparable focus on conservation easements and land acquisition in the same Delaware River watershed.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization supporting accredited land trusts through advocacy, accreditation program administration, and capacity-building. Functions as the industry body that confers and oversees the National Land Trust Accreditation held by Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

Emerging players

• Forest Foundation / Pinchot Institute for Conservation: Forestry-focused research and education nonprofit based at Grey Towers in Pike County, PA — a direct neighbor and longtime program partner. Overlap in private-forest landowner education, stewardship research, and Delaware Highlands regional programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCw2un9xRUzHkkDNkL6BZjsQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-highlands-conservancy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Delaware Highlands Conservancy