Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

What Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance does

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, that protects and restores water resources across the Fox-Wolf River Basin in northeastern Wisconsin. The organization operates two umbrella programs, Winnebago Waterways (focused on the Winnebago Pool Lakes) and Keepers of the Fox (focused on the Lower Fox River to the Bay of Green Bay), alongside targeted initiatives including the Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium. Its core technical offering is the Agricultural Runoff Treatment System (ARTS), an engineered practice combining sediment forebays, constructed wetland treatment cells, water control structures, and phosphorus removal systems; third-party monitoring by USGS and UW-Green Bay has documented greater than 60% particulate phosphorus and 80% suspended solids reductions. Complementing ARTS, the portfolio includes streambank restoration, wetland restoration, soil health programs (cover crops, no-till, low-disturbance manure injection), aquatic invasive species monitoring and education, and the "Turning Fields into Filters" initiative that converts marginal farmland into natural filters.

The organization serves three primary constituencies: agricultural producers and farmers in the basin, local governments and county conservation departments, and community members/volunteers. Revenue is generated through grants (notably EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding of $1.6 million awarded in 2020 and additional foundation grants from the Great Lakes Commission, Fund for Lake Michigan, and Caerus Foundation), individual donations, and membership programs, with corporate sponsorships supplementing the mix. Operational delivery is conducted through direct community engagement, one-on-one farmer outreach, volunteer coordination across 100+ waterbodies, and grant-funded infrastructure projects executed in partnership with county Land Conservation Departments and municipalities. With approximately 10 employees and a 35-year operating history, Fox-Wolf functions as a regional coordinating hub for water quality improvement in the Fox-Wolf Basin.

Name

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Legal name

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Website

https://fwwa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and restores water quality across the Fox-Wolf River Basin through programs like Winnebago Waterways and Keepers of the Fox, deploying engineered Agricultural Runoff Treatment Systems, restoration practices, and community engagement to serve farmers, local governments, and volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation services
• Water quality restoration
• Agricultural runoff treatment
• Stream and wetland restoration
• Nonprofit environmental programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Appleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: The organization generates revenue through individual donations, membership programs, and tribute gifts. Donors can direct gifts undesignated or to specific programs including Winnebago Waterways or Keepers of the Fox initiatives.
2. Grant Funding: Fox-Wolf receives significant grant funding from government programs including Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), EPA funding, and state/county conservation programs. Awards have included $1.6 million for multiple water quality improvement projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance delivers watershed conservation programs and services across the Fox-Wolf River Basin in northeastern Wisconsin, including agricultural runoff treatment systems (ARTS), streambank and wetland restoration, soil health and farmer outreach, aquatic invasive species management, urban stormwater education, and shoreline restoration. The organization operates as a nonprofit through grants, donations, and memberships, with programs organized under two umbrella initiatives: Winnebago Waterways (Winnebago Pool Lakes region) and Keepers of the Fox (Lower Fox River to Bay of Green Bay).

Product overview

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is a nonprofit conservation organization that offers a portfolio of water quality improvement programs and conservation services rather than a unified software product. The organization's offerings include Winnebago Waterways (focused on the Winnebago Pool Lakes region) and Keepers of the Fox (Lower Fox River watershed), which serve as umbrella programs. Key conservation technologies include Agricultural Runoff Treatment Systems (ARTS), an engineered practice combining sediment basins, constructed wetlands, and phosphorus removal to treat agricultural stormwater. The Turning Fields into Filters initiative converts marginal farmland into natural filters. Additional services encompass streambank restoration, aquatic invasive species management, agriculture and soil health practices, urban stormwater education, wetland restoration, shoreline restoration, and the Fox-Wolf in the Classroom education program. These programs work together to address water quality challenges from multiple angles across the Fox-Wolf Basin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Winnebago Waterways Umbrella program focused on water quality improvement in the Winnebago Pool Lakes region (Lakes Poygan, Winneconne, Butte des Morts, and Winnebago). Addresses runoff, flooding, and algal blooms through watershed restoration and conservation practices.
• Keepers of the Fox Program that works cooperatively to protect, sustain, and restore the water resources of the Lower Fox River watershed, from the Fox Valley to the Bay of Green Bay.
• Agricultural Runoff Treatment Systems (ARTS) Engineered multi-stage runoff treatment systems combining sediment forebays, wetland treatment cells, water control structures, and phosphorus removal systems to capture and filter agricultural stormwater runoff before it enters waterways, achieving greater than 60% particulate phosphorus and 80% suspended solids load reductions.
• Turning Fields into Filters Conservation project that converts marginal farmland into natural filters through wetland scrapes and habitat restoration, reducing nutrient runoff and sediment entering Lake Poygan while creating wildlife habitat.
• Streambank Restoration Restoration of degraded streambanks to prevent erosion, reduce sediment runoff, and return streams to their natural width and healthy conditions.
• Aquatic Invasive Species Management Monitoring, education, and management of aquatic invasive species including round gobies, zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and brittle naiad, with volunteer training, Snapshot Day events, and public education campaigns.
• Agriculture and Conservation (Soil Health) Working with farmers on soil health practices including cover crops, no-till farming, low-disturbance manure injection, and nutrient management to reduce agricultural runoff and improve water quality.
• Urban Stormwater Management Addressing urban runoff through education and practices that help homeowners and communities understand where stormwater goes and how to reduce pollution at the source.
• Wetland Restoration Restoration and creation of wetlands to treat runoff, store water, provide wildlife habitat, and improve water quality in the watershed.
• Shoreline Restoration Programs to restore and protect shorelines along Lake Winnebago and other waterways to reduce erosion and improve water quality.
• Fox-Wolf in the Classroom Educational outreach program bringing watershed education to schools and students in the Fox-Wolf Basin region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Greater than 60% particulate phosphorus and 80% suspended solids load reductions achieved by ARTS installations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Waushara County Land Conservation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-partner in Turning Fields into Filters project converting 85+ acres of marginal farmland to wetland and habitat restoration in Hatton and Willow Creek Watersheds. Waushara County provides land conservation expertise and local landowner coordination.
• Town of Calumet and Fond du Lac CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to install ARTS in Taycheedah Creek Watershed to solve flooding, runoff, and algal blooms issues. Collaborating on watershed planning and runoff reduction solutions.
• UW ExtensionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Statewide partner coordinating Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day with 176 volunteers monitoring 100+ waterbodies.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State agency partner for AIS monitoring, invasive species verification, and water quality database (SWIMS) integration.
• Village of WrightstowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner providing $200,000 local match for Plum Creek restoration project, installing ARTS and streambank restoration to reduce sediment and nutrients entering the Fox River.
• Outagamie County Land Conservation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing partner on multiple GLRI-funded projects including Fox Farmers program, Plum Creek restoration, and ARTS installations. County provides conservation staff and technical expertise.
• Fond du Lac County Land and Water Conservation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner on Pipe Creek watershed conservation including farmer outreach, nutrient management, and streambank restoration projects.
• USDA Agricultural Research ServicemajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Partnership with soil scientist Chad Penn providing P-TRAP modeling software for ARTS phosphorus removal system design and filter media specifications.
• University of Wisconsin-Green BaymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Academic partner providing water quality monitoring and research support, including Kevin Fermanich's expertise in ARTS effectiveness assessment.
• USGSmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Federal agency providing intensive monitoring and assessment of ARTS installations demonstrating water quality benefits.
• Keepers of the FoxcoreOthersA program of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance focused on the Lower Fox River watershed from the Fox Valley to the Bay of Green Bay.
• Winnebago Waterways ProgramcoreOthersA program of Fox-Wolf focused on Winnebago Pool Lakes (Poygan, Winneconne, Butte des Morts, and Winnebago) and surrounding watersheds.
• Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium (NEWSC)majorOthersA consortium coordinated by Fox-Wolf bringing together municipalities and organizations to address regional stormwater challenges.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Wisconsin Chapter): Global environmental nonprofit with active Wisconsin operations including land conservation, watershed work, and farmer engagement. Comparable mission space but operates at vastly greater scale and broader geographic scope.
• Ducks Unlimited (Great Lakes Initiative): Large national habitat conservation nonprofit with significant wetland and prairie restoration work in the Upper Midwest. Comparable in agricultural-land-to-habitat conversion programs and watershed restoration.

Direct peers

• Izaak Walton League of America: National conservation organization with chapters focused on watershed protection, water quality monitoring, and habitat restoration. Comparable in volunteer-driven conservation with chapter-based delivery.
• Trout Unlimited: National nonprofit focused on coldwater fisheries and watershed conservation with strong volunteer chapter networks. Comparable in grassroots watershed restoration, streambank work, and farmer partnership models.
• River Alliance of Wisconsin: Wisconsin-based nonprofit advocating for river and watershed protection through grassroots engagement and policy work. Highly comparable as a state-level watershed advocacy nonprofit working with farmers and local governments on water quality.
• River Network: National nonprofit supporting local watershed groups with training, resources, and coalition building. Comparable as a watershed organization umbrella/member model with a community-led engagement approach.
• Wisconsin Wetlands Association: Statewide nonprofit dedicated to wetland conservation and policy advocacy in Wisconsin. Directly comparable mission overlap with Fox-Wolf's wetland restoration programs and Wisconsin geographic focus.
• Clean Wisconsin: Wisconsin environmental advocacy organization focused on clean water, clean air, and conservation. Comparable as a state-level nonprofit combining advocacy, community engagement, and on-the-ground conservation projects.
• Alliance for the Great Lakes: A Great Lakes-focused nonprofit advocating for water quality, shoreline health, and policy reform. Directly comparable as a Great Lakes watershed advocacy nonprofit operating across multiple states with volunteer-driven programs.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Commission: Binational government agency coordinating Great Lakes policy and funding programs including GLRI implementation. Comparable as a regional Great Lakes convener, though structured as intergovernmental rather than a 501(c)(3).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnxqMJ-jEoSLdOKNgfmJ7pQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WinnebagoWaterways
• Instagraminstagram.com/fox_wolf_watershed_alliance/?hl=en
• Xx.com/WinnWaterways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fox-wolf-watershed-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance