What DISHMAN HILLS CONSERVANCY does

Dishman Hills Conservancy (DHC) is a private nonprofit land trust incorporated in Washington State in 1966 by 16 community members led by Tom Rogers, originally as the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association. The organization stewards over 3,200 acres of protected land in the Greater Spokane area jointly with Spokane County Parks and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, of which it directly owns and maintains more than 1,000 acres across the Dishman Hills Natural Area, Glenrose Unit, Iller Creek Unit, and Wilson Conservation Area. Its core activities are land acquisition, trail and habitat stewardship, fire risk reduction, native plant restoration, and weed control, alongside public recreation access with free parking and no Discover Pass requirement.

DHC serves conservation-minded individuals and families in the Spokane region, outdoor recreation users (hikers, mountain bikers, wildlife viewers), and elementary students and educators through nature education programs. Its product portfolio includes Conservation and Stewardship programs, Recreation Access, the Kids in the Hills field program, Guided Hikes and Nature Walks, the Nature at Home virtual education series aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades 3-5, Volunteer Programs (Trail Steward Program, Stewardship and Education Committees, Ambassadors), trail maps and self-guided tours, and Camp Caro Lodge event rentals in Spokane Valley. Operations are run by a small staff of approximately five employees under Executive Director Ruth Gifford, with substantial reliance on volunteer labor.

The business model is a nonprofit funding model: annual membership granted with donations of $50 or more per calendar year, additional one-time and recurring donations at $50, $100, $500, and $1,000 tiers directed to land purchases, education, or stewardship, legacy giving through wills and retirement accounts, and a new informational "Friends of DHC" tier effective June 2026. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. DHC is currently in active discussions with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to explore a merger that would broaden regional conservation impact.

Name

DISHMAN HILLS CONSERVANCY

Legal name

Dishman Hills Conservancy

Website

https://dishmanhills.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dishman Hills Conservancy is a 1966-founded nonprofit land trust in Spokane, Washington, jointly stewarding over 3,200 acres with county and state partners and serving local members, outdoor recreation users, and school groups through conservation, education, and volunteer programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Nature education programs
• Trail recreation access
• Habitat preservation
• Volunteer stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership granted with donations of $50 or more per calendar year (January 1 through December 31). Members receive newsletters, priority event invitations, and complimentary admission to most events.
2. Donations: General donations accepted at various levels ($50, $100, $500, $1000). Donations can be directed to specific causes: land purchases, education programs (Kids in the Hills and guided hikes), or stewardship (trail maintenance and fire risk reduction). Legacy giving through wills, retirement accounts, and insurance also mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dishman Hills Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that conserves, manages, and provides public access to more than 3,200 acres of natural areas in the Spokane, Washington region. Founded in 1966, it partners with state, county, and municipal agencies to operate conserved lands, and delivers volunteer-driven land stewardship alongside nature and environmental education programs for community members.

Product overview

Dishman Hills Conservancy offers a portfolio of land conservation and outdoor recreation programs. The core offerings center on protecting and managing over 3,200 acres of conservation land through the Conservation & Stewardship Programs, while providing public access via Recreation Access. Educational initiatives include the Kids in the Hills program and Guided Hikes & Nature Walks, supplemented by the Nature at Home virtual education series. Additional programs include Membership, Volunteer Programs, Camp Caro Lodge Rental, and Trail Maps & Self-Guided Tours resources. The organization is Washington State's oldest land trust, founded in 1966.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land Conservation and Stewardship Direct protection, ownership, and management of more than 3,200 acres of natural areas in the Spokane, Washington region, including joint management partnerships with Washington State Parks, Spokane County Parks, and the City of Spokane.
• Public Trail and Natural Area Access Free public access to trails and conserved natural areas for hiking, nature observation, and outdoor recreation for Spokane-area residents and visitors.
• Nature and Environmental Education Programs Nature and environmental education programs developed and delivered by the Education Committee for community members, families, and school or youth groups.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership tier program that provides ongoing financial support for the conservancy's land protection, stewardship, and education work.
• Volunteer Stewardship Program Volunteer-based land stewardship program, coordinated by the Properties Manager and Stewardship Committee, supporting trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and on-the-ground conservation activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,200+ acres of protected land preserved for public use
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Washington Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987Washington State Legislature established the Dishman Hills Natural Resource Conservation Area in 1987, marking the first time the DNR, county, and DHC worked together to manage land. DNR bought 70 acres on the western side of the Natural Area in 1988 identified as high priority for conservation by the Washington Natural Heritage Program.
• Redeemer Lutheran Church and East Spokane Kiwanis ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1970These organizations donated land and buildings including Camp Caro Lodge (named after James A. Caro), playground, picnic area, and hiking/camping areas for children's groups.
• Inland Northwest Land ConservancyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive discussions underway between Dishman Hills Conservancy and Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to explore a merger that would broaden and strengthen collective impact. The shared intent is to continue building a resilient network of protected places, deepen human connection to nature, and ensure lasting conservation success across the region for people and wildlife.
• Spokane County ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint management of over 3,200 acres of protected land together with Spokane County Parks and Washington Department of Natural Resources. Spokane County Parks manages Camp Caro lodge and responds to concerns about land management and transient camping.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Washington): National/global land trust with a Washington state chapter that has been a historic financial partner to DHC (1967 seed loan for first 80-acre purchase). Overlaps on conservation mission and acquisition strategy but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth than DHC.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit land trust focused on conserving land for public use and access. Comparable on core mission (land acquisition for conservation/public benefit) but operates nationally and does not specialize in the Spokane region; serves as a broad incumbent reference point for the U.S. land trust model.

Direct peers

• Washington Trails Association: Statewide nonprofit focused on trail advocacy, volunteer trail maintenance, and hiking recreation. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest outdoor conservation nonprofit reliant on membership and volunteer engagement, with overlapping mission around trail stewardship and public access to natural areas.
• Inland Northwest Land Conservancy: Spokane-area private land trust actively in merger discussions with DHC. Directly comparable on mission (conserving land for ecological and community benefit), geography (Eastern Washington/North Idaho), and model (acquisition + stewardship + donor-funded nonprofit). The most relevant peer because of operational and strategic overlap.

Regional players

• Idaho Conservation League: Inland Northwest nonprofit advocating for land, water, and wildlife conservation across Idaho and adjacent regions. Comparable on regional conservation mission and donor-funded nonprofit model, though operates more on policy/advocacy than direct land ownership.
• Mount Spokane Conservancy: Nonprofit land trust serving Mount Spokane State Park in the same Spokane metro geography. Comparable as a regional land trust with member/donation funding, stewardship programming, and conservation-focused mission tied to a specific natural area.
• Spokane Audubon Society: Local Spokane-area conservation nonprofit focused on birds, habitats, and natural areas. Comparable as a regional nonprofit with membership model, education programming, and habitat protection mission tied to the inland Northwest landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dishman-hills-conservancy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 DISHMAN HILLS CONSERVANCY