Driftless Area Land Conservancy

What Driftless Area Land Conservancy does

Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 2000 and headquartered in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. It works with private landowners to permanently protect ecologically and agriculturally significant land in Southwest Wisconsin's Driftless Area through voluntary conservation easements and direct land acquisition. As the only Land Trust Accreditation Commission-accredited land trust operating in the region, DALC stewards seven nature preserves totaling over 1,700 acres across six Wisconsin counties, and is building the Driftless Trail, a regional corridor vision targeting nearly 100 miles of connected conservation land and public access (currently approximately 10 continuous miles with 17 participating landowners).

DALC's service portfolio is organized around three core product lines: (1) Land Protection Services (conservation easements, acquisitions, land donations, bargain sales, retained life estates, charitable real estate transactions); (2) Nature Preserves (Big Rock, Bloomfield Prairie, Erickson Conservation Area, Sardeson Forest, Wild Oaks, and Wintergreen — the last acquired in December 2025 with a 15,000-square-foot Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired event center); and (3) the Driftless Trail network. Supporting programming includes Driftless Sustainers (monthly recurring giving at $10–$100 tiers), the Legacy Society (planned giving via bequests, IRA QCDs, and donor-advised funds), Evenings Afield educational events, volunteer workdays, a bluebird nest box program with BRAW (160 boxes distributed, 986 birds fledged in 2024–2025), and a Prescribed Burn Education program that engaged 68 landowners in 2025.

DALC is funded by a diversified mix of individual donations (including 50% of Wintergreen acquisition funding), monthly sustainer revenue, planned/legacy gifts, and grants from public and private sources (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NFWF via Pheasants Forever, Dane County Conservation Fund, Wisconsin DNR/Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, USFWS/NAWCA, Ducks Unlimited, BadgerLand Foundation, Schlect Family Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin). It operates as the coordinating member of the Southern Driftless Grasslands partnership and collaborates with Taliesin Preservation, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Gathering Waters, and Iowa County government. The organization employs approximately 16 staff led by Executive Director Jennifer Filipiak and Conservation Director Stephanie Judge.

Name

Driftless Area Land Conservancy

Legal name

Driftless Area Land Conservancy

Website

https://driftlessconservancy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Driftless Area Land Conservancy is an accredited nonprofit land trust in Southwest Wisconsin that permanently protects Driftless Area land through voluntary conservation easements, manages seven nature preserves totaling over 1,700 acres, and is building the Driftless Trail corridor. It serves private landowners, donors, and the public through conservation, education, and recreation programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Nature preserve management
• Habitat restoration
• Trail network development

Headquarters

HQ city

Dodgeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: DALC relies heavily on individual contributions, including one-time gifts, monthly sustainer donations (Driftless Sustainers program), and major gifts. Private donations made up 50% of the funding for the Wintergreen property acquisition.
2. Monthly Giving (Driftless Sustainers): Monthly sustainer program providing predictable, recurring revenue. Donors contribute set amounts monthly (e.g., $10/month for Pathmakers). Supports trail building, tools, snacks, and signage.
3. Grant Funding: DALC receives grant funding from public and private sources. Examples include $25,000 from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, and participation in multi-partner grants led by partners such as Pheasants Forever ($750,000 NFWF grant). Funding supports land protection, prescribed burn education, and landowner assistance.
4. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: DALC accepts planned gifts including bequests, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance designations, and retained life estate gifts. The Legacy Society recognizes members who include DALC in their estate plans.
5. Donor-Advised Fund & IRA QCD Gifts: DALC accepts gifts directed through donor-advised funds and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for donors age 72+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Driftless Area Land Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that permanently protects Southwest Wisconsin's Driftless Area through voluntary conservation easements with landowners, the management and stewardship of nature preserves, and the development of the Driftless Trail corridor. The organization also operates monthly giving, planned giving, and educational event programs to support these conservation efforts.

Product overview

Driftless Area Land Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust offering conservation services including land protection (via voluntary conservation easements and land acquisition), management of six nature preserves spanning diverse Wisconsin ecosystems, and development of the Driftless Trail network. The organization also operates philanthropy programs (Driftless Sustainers monthly giving and Legacy Society planned giving), educational events (Evenings Afield), and volunteer stewardship opportunities. The portfolio consists entirely of service-based conservation programs rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Preserves Public nature preserves managed by DALC across Southwest Wisconsin, protecting diverse ecosystems including oak savannas, wetlands, prairies, forests, and farmland. Open dawn to dusk for hiking, bird-watching, nature observation, fishing, hunting (with permit), cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Includes Big Rock Preserve, Bloomfield Prairie, Erickson Conservation Area, Sardeson Forest Preserve, Wild Oaks Preserve, and Wintergreen Preserve.
• Driftless Trail An expanding regional trail network connecting communities, natural areas, and outdoor recreation opportunities across the Driftless Area. Current segments include Knobs Road (3.9-mile loop), Phoebe Point (1.1-mile loop), Weaver Road (1.2-mile loop), and Welsh Hills (2.0-2.8 mile loops), with a goal of nearly 100 miles of connected conservation land and public access.
• Land Protection Services Voluntary conservation easements and land acquisition services that permanently protect land from development. DALC partners with private landowners to safeguard healthy habitats, clean water, working farms, and open spaces through lasting conservation commitments, alongside land acquisition opportunities.
• Driftless Sustainers Monthly Giving Program A monthly recurring donation program providing steady funding for conservation efforts, connecting donors to clean water, wildlife habitat, healthy soil, and scenic farm protection. Suggested tiers include $10/month Pathmakers (trail support), $25/month (signage/tools), $50/month (volunteer workday supplies), and $100/month (professional crew time).
• Legacy Society DALC's planned giving program for supporters who include the conservancy in their will or estate plans, ensuring long-term land conservation beyond the donor's lifetime. Accepts bequests, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance designations, and retained life estate gifts.
• Evenings Afield Monthly educational events that bring landowners and community members together to explore different properties, learn about habitat restoration, prairie management, wildlife monitoring, and conservation practices firsthand.
• Volunteer Workdays Monthly hands-on stewardship opportunities at nature preserves and trail systems, including invasive species removal, trail maintenance, seed collection, and prescribed fire activities at Wild Oaks Preserve and Driftless Trail segments. Open to all ages and skill levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 148 acres impacted by prescribed burn education in 2025, with 68 landowners engaged through 3 full-day trainings and 10 community burns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pheasants ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Pheasants Forever leads the Prescribed Burn Education program within the SDG partnership, applying for and managing large federal grants (e.g., $750,000 NFWF grant). PF brings expertise in securing and managing federal grants and hiring full-time staff, complementing DALC's land trust capabilities.
• Southern Driftless Grasslands (SDG) PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDALC serves as the coordinating member of the Southern Driftless Grasslands (SDG) partnership, a coalition of non-profit and governmental agencies working to maintain and increase grasslands in Southwest Wisconsin. SDG enables DALC to leverage partner superpowers—Pheasants Forever's grant capacity, DALC's accreditation, Dane County's funding—to overcome complex conservation challenges including prescribed fire on private lands and grassland bird conservation.
• Dane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDane County raised its Conservation Fund budget for 2026 and increased maximum project funding percentage from 50% to 75% in response to the loss of state and federal land protection funding, providing critical public funding for land protection projects within SDG partnership.
• Cornell Lab of OrnithologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDALC received $25,000 from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative grant, with $15,000 designated to distribute to landowners for grassland bird habitat management practices.
• Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDALC co-runs a joint bluebird nest box program with BRAW, distributing free nest boxes to Driftless landowners. In 2025, 160 nest boxes were distributed, resulting in 986 birds fledged.
• BadgerLand FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBadgerLand Foundation is a cooperative partner on the Wild Oaks Preserve project, contributing site stewardship (Fil Sanna as site steward) and volunteer coordination for preserve management and restoration work.
• Taliesin PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaliesin Preservation collaborated on the Welsh Hills Trail segment of the Driftless Trail and the Phoebe Point segment. The organization manages the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, which serves as trailhead for Welsh Hills and Phoebe Point segments.
• Frank Lloyd Wright FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation owns the Taliesin property where Phoebe Point and Welsh Hills Trail segments are located. The Foundation collaborates with DALC on Driftless Trail development and landscape stewardship.
• Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance of Land TrustsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGathering Waters hosts the annual Wisconsin Land Trust Conference and presented the Land Legacy Award to DALC supporters. DALC staff actively participate in Gathering Waters events and initiatives.
• Iowa County Land and Water ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa County Land and Water Conservation collaborates with DALC on active management of Bloomfield Prairie, working together on prairie diversity and restoration.
• Iowa County (government)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa County owns 430 of the 630 acres at Bloomfield Prairie, with DALC actively managing the property for prairie diversity in partnership with the county.
• Savor the River ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyle Adams, DALC's Events Coordinator, serves on the board of Savor the River Valley and chairs its Community Outreach Committee, reflecting ongoing community connections throughout the Driftless Area.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pheasants Forever: National habitat organization and DALC's core partner in the Southern Driftless Grasslands partnership. Leads the $750,000 NFWF prescribed burn education grant; comparable grassland bird and habitat conservation focus but operating at national scale.
• The Nature Conservancy (Wisconsin Chapter): Largest global conservation organization with active Wisconsin operations. DALC's Conservation Director Stephanie Judge previously worked at TNC for nearly 15 years; comparable conservation easement and land acquisition model at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Ice Age Trail Alliance: Wisconsin-based nonprofit that builds and maintains a 1,000-mile trail through glacier-formed landscape. Comparable to DALC's Driftless Trail vision in mission and segment-by-segment community engagement model; DALC's Communications Associate previously interned there.
• Ozaukee Washington Land Trust: Wisconsin-based accredited land trust focused on permanent land protection, conservation easements, and nature preserves. Comparable operating model and accreditation status to DALC, though serving a different (eastern) Wisconsin region.
• Mississippi Valley Conservancy: Accredited land trust operating in western Wisconsin along the Mississippi River. Closely comparable to DALC in geography, scale, and land-protection mission; both serve overlapping Driftless Area-adjacent counties.
• Tall Pines Conservancy: Wisconsin land trust focused on conserving forests, wetlands, and working lands in northwestern Wisconsin. Comparable accredited land trust model, though geographically distinct.
• Natural Heritage Land Trust: Accredited Wisconsin land trust protecting natural areas, prairies, and forests through easements and acquisition. Directly comparable mission and tools to DALC.

Regional players

• Madison Audubon Society: Wisconsin Audubon chapter managing sanctuaries and running restoration programs. Comparable in scale and conservation focus, with overlap in grassland bird habitat and prescribed fire work; serves the broader Madison region rather than the Driftless specifically.

Others

• Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance of Land Trusts: Statewide consortium of Wisconsin land trusts that advocates for land conservation policy and provides training (including the Wisconsin Land Trust Conference where DALC staff present). Acts as an umbrella and capacity-builder for DALC and peer land trusts.
• Taliesin Preservation: Frank Lloyd Wright site steward and DALC's partner on Welsh Hills and Phoebe Point Driftless Trail segments. Comparable in heritage/preservation focus and a key collaborator on Wintergreen-area trail and event programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVA-I8CGn-XqahF6GD5GSTA
• Facebookfacebook.com/driftlessconservancy
• Instagraminstagram.com/driftlessconservancy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/driftless-area-land-conservancy-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Driftless Area Land Conservancy