Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

What Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts does

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It operates as the statewide association representing Indiana's 92 county-level Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), which collectively serve private landowners — particularly the farmers, foresters, and livestock producers controlling 96% of Indiana's land — with conservation technical assistance, cost-sharing programs, and conservation planning. The organization has a core staff of approximately six (Executive Director, Director of Member Programs and Communications, Grants and Finance Manager, and program directors), supplemented by 460 elected and appointed district supervisors, 450+ volunteer conservationists, and 14 RITA technicians deployed statewide.

IASWCD's core service portfolio comprises the Resilient Indiana Technical Assistance (RITA) program (launched late 2023, employing 14 boots-on-the-ground technicians funded by USDA-NRCS and Clean Water Indiana), the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI, housed under IASWCD's fiscal umbrella since 2009 and reaching 6,000-8,000 people annually through Purdue Extension agronomists), the Urban Soil Health program (statewide since 2021), and the Indiana Small Farms Conservation initiative. The organization also runs a biennial statewide conference (400+ attendees at The Westin Indianapolis), five annual conservation awards, regional trainings, a biweekly newsletter, and active legislative advocacy at the Indiana Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

Revenue is generated through government grants and appropriations (Clean Water Indiana, USDA-NRCS, state/federal pass-throughs), individual and corporate donations (including monthly recurring options), conference and exhibitor fees ($405 attendee registration, $600-$950 booth fees, $500-$8,000 sponsorship tiers), and awards program sponsorships from Indiana Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Prairie Farmer, and Brownfield Ag News. The organization is governed by an elected board of Region Directors, holds Gold-level membership in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), and serves as a leadership member of the 8-agency Indiana Conservation Partnership. It has leveraged $99.7M cumulative conservation dollars with a reported $24.50 federal/local return per state dollar invested.

Name

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Legal name

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Website

https://iaswcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 that represents all 92 county-level Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Indiana, providing legislative advocacy, technical assistance programs (RITA, CCSI, Urban Soil Health), training, and conference services to SWCDs and the private landowners they serve.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Soil and water conservation
• Natural resource management
• Conservation district services
• Agricultural conservation programs
• Landowner technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Appropriations: Primary funding stream includes Clean Water Indiana (CWI) grants administered by the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board, federal USDA-NRCS grants, and other state/federal appropriations. IASWCD leverages federal, state, and local grant dollars to develop programs and maintain staffing that helps Districts achieve conservation goals.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations, including monthly giving options, to support conservation programs and initiatives across Indiana's 92 SWCDs.
3. Conference and Event Revenue: The IASWCD Conference generates revenue through registration fees ($405 per attendee for full conference early bird), exhibitor booth fees ($600-$950), and sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $8,000 across multiple tiers.
4. Awards Program Sponsorships: Conservation award programs including Friend of Conservation, Conservation Farmer of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, District Showcase, and River Friendly Farmer are supported by corporate sponsors such as Brownfield Ag News, Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Prairie Farmer, and The Nature Conservancy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IASWCD is the statewide association representing Indiana's 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, providing legislative advocacy, program development, technical assistance staffing, training, awards, and resources to enable conservation of Indiana's natural resources. It delivers this through conservation programs such as Resilient Indiana Technical Assistance (RITA), the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI), Urban Soil Health, and Indiana Small Farms Conservation, all operated through a network of locally-led SWCDs serving private landowners across all 92 Indiana counties.

Product overview

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts operates as a statewide association of 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, offering a portfolio of conservation programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core programs include Resilient Indiana (RITA) providing technical field assistance, the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) for soil health training, Indiana Small Farms Conservation for urban/small farm support, and the Urban Soil Health Program. Supporting services include annual conferences, conservation awards programs, and professional development training. These programs work together to enable conservation of Indiana's natural resources through the network of local SWCDs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Resilient Indiana: Technical and Outreach Assistance (RITA) program providing boots-on-the-ground staff to assist Districts with their TA workloads.
• Indiana Small Farms Conservation
• Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI)
• Urban Soil Health

Products and services

• Resilient Indiana Technical Assistance (RITA) A statewide initiative deploying 14 boots-on-the-ground technicians who provide soil and water resource-related technical and outreach assistance to agricultural, woodland, and urban land users, supporting local SWCDs in reducing soil erosion, enhancing soil health, improving water quality and quantity, and developing the next generation of conservation professionals. Funded by USDA-NRCS and Clean Water Indiana.
• Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) A program of the Indiana Conservation Partnership housed under IASWCD's fiscal umbrella that promotes the adoption of science-based, farmer-proven soil health practices through grassroots leadership. CCSI provides a full soil health training curriculum in partnership with ICP organizations and reaches 6,000-8,000 people annually through outreach events, employing four Program Managers and three Purdue Extension Agronomists.
• Urban Soil Health Program A statewide initiative providing technical assistance to improve soil health on Indiana's urban and small farms, with a focus on environmental sustainability, urban ecology, and healthy food systems. Works with Marion County SWCD and partners to reach urban and small-scale producers across the state.
• Indiana Small Farms Conservation
• IASWCD Annual Statewide Conference
• Indiana Conservation Awards Program Five annual awards programs recognizing individuals, farmers, and SWCDs for significant contributions to soil and water conservation in Indiana, including Friend of Conservation, Conservation Farmer of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, District Showcase, and River Friendly Farmer awards. Recipients are honored at the annual IASWCD Conference and the Indiana State Fair.
• Training and Professional Development for SWCDs Timely training and professional development services for Indiana's 92 SWCDs including regional trainings, lunch-n-learn sessions, a five-part Canva 101 series, conservation programs training, grant writing workshops, and the Board Leadership Program library, delivered through in-person sessions, recorded webinars, and online resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• $99.7 Million in total conservation dollars leveraged for on-the-ground conservation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

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

• Resilient Indiana (RITA Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Launched in late 2023, Resilient Indiana Technical Assistance for SWCDs (RITA) employs 14 technicians who provide boots-on-the-ground support to districts. Funded by USDA NRCS and Clean Water Indiana, RITA focuses on reducing soil erosion, enhancing soil health, improving water quality and quantity, and workforce development for young conservation professionals.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1968IASWCD is a Gold-level member of NACD and participates in NACD's North-Central Region. NACD provides national advocacy, policy representation, technical assistance grants, urban conservation grant initiatives, and the annual Spring Fly-In to Washington D.C. IASWCD sends Indiana conservation leaders annually to advocate for conservation at the federal level, including Farm Bill priorities.
• Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIASWCD is a leadership member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, a coalition of eight Indiana agencies and organizations sharing a common goal of promoting conservation. The ICP mission is to provide technical, financial, and educational assistance for economically and environmentally compatible land and water stewardship decisions, practices, and technologies. ICP produces county-level conservation reports used to make the case for conservation investment.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA-NRCS is a member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership and provides federal technical and financial assistance programs, conservation planning support, and Climate Smart Mitigation Activities guidance. NRCS works with SWCDs to deliver conservation programs to Indiana landowners. NRCS State Technical Committee includes SWCD representation.
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil Conservation (ISDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDA's Division of Soil Conservation is the state agency partner overseeing SWCDs under Indiana Code. It administers the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) program and the State Soil Conservation Board. ISDA provides District Support Specialists, the District Operations Manual, supervisor recruitment resources, and coordinates the Board Certification Program.
• Purdue Cooperative Extension ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurdue Extension is a member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, providing research-based agricultural and conservation education, extension agents in all Indiana counties, and technical support for conservation programs including the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) which employs three Purdue Extension Agronomists.
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDNR (including the Division of Fish & Wildlife and Division of Forestry) is a member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership. IDNR provides programs including the Private Lands Access Program, Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program, Classified Forest and Wildlands Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds, and the Indiana Forest Stewardship Advisory Council.
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDEM is a member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership and provides watershed specialists, Nonpoint Source Management Strategic Planning, and stormwater permitting guidance for SWCDs. IDEM works with districts on water quality protection and compliance issues.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSA is a member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, administering federal farm programs including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in coordination with SWCDs and NRCS. FSA provides technical recommendations and program updates through SWCD channels.
• Indiana State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSCB is the state oversight board that appoints two supervisors to each of the 92 SWCD boards. It administers the Clean Water Indiana fund under the direction of the State Soil Conservation Board and plays a key role in SWCD governance and funding decisions.
• Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCSI is a program of the Indiana Conservation Partnership housed under IASWCD's fiscal umbrella. It promotes adoption of science-based, farmer-proven soil health practices through grassroots leadership. CCSI provides a full soil health training curriculum in partnership with ICP organizations and reaches 6,000-8,000 people annually through outreach events. Led by Lisa Holscher, CCSI has grown from one employee to a team of four Program Managers and three Purdue Extension Agronomists.
• Urban Soil Health ProgramsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Urban Soil Health program is directed by Elli Blaine and was launched statewide in 2021. It provides technical assistance to improve soil health on Indiana's urban and small farms, building on work begun at Marion County SWCD with Clean Water Indiana and NACD Urban Conservation grants. Learn more at www.urbansoilhealth.org.
• Indiana Small Farms ConservationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Small Farms Conservation (insmallfarms.org) is a statewide initiative that provides technical assistance to improve soil health through conservation farming practices on Indiana's urban and small farms. The team works with partners to deliver outreach and assistance to small-scale producers.
• Women4theLandsecondaryOthersIASWCD participates in Women4theLand, a conservation education initiative focused on engaging women landowners and producers in conservation stewardship. This represents IASWCD's involvement in targeted conservation outreach programming.
• Indiana Family of Farmers (IFOF)secondaryOthersIASWCD participates in the Indiana Family of Farmers coalition, which advocates for agricultural issues including conservation, farmland preservation, and rural quality of life at the state level.
• The Nature Conservancy (Indiana Chapter)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Nature Conservancy is a sponsor of the River Friendly Farmer Award program and collaborates on conservation initiatives including the Pathway to Water Quality at the Indiana State Fair and Upper Wabash River projects.
• Indiana Farm BureausecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerIndiana Farm Bureau is a sponsor of the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award and River Friendly Farmer Award, and a partner in the Indiana Conservation Partnership. It provides agricultural advocacy and member outreach that complements SWCD conservation programs.
• Indiana Prairie FarmersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerIndiana Prairie Farmer co-sponsors the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award and Supervisor of the Year Award with IASWCD, providing agricultural media outreach and recognition for conservation-minded Indiana farmers.
• Brownfield Ag NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrownfield Ag News is a sponsor of the Friend of Conservation Award, providing agricultural news coverage and media support for Indiana conservation recognition programs.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) — Partners for Fish and WildlifesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS Indiana Private Lands Office participates in IASWCD's conservation programs, providing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Program as part of the Conservation Programs training series for SWCD staff.
• Indiana Conservation AllianceminorOthersIASWCD participates in the Indiana Conservation Alliance, a coalition of conservation organizations working collaboratively on shared environmental protection priorities in Indiana.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Ohio's statewide association of SWCDs, structurally analogous to IASWCD. Comparable scope, member-district model, and conservation advocacy mission in a neighboring Midwestern state.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National umbrella organization for the 3,000+ conservation districts across the U.S. IASWCD is a Gold-level member of NACD and participates in the North-Central Region, making NACD the most direct structural peer at the national level.
• Iowa Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Statewide association for Iowa's SWCDs with a comparable focus on soil health, water quality, and locally-led conservation. Strong direct peer given overlapping agricultural conservation priorities in the Midwest.
• Illinois Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Direct state-level peer organization serving Illinois's soil and water conservation districts. Closely comparable mission, structure, and statewide association role as IASWCD in Indiana.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy (Indiana Chapter): A direct partner and awards sponsor of IASWCD (River Friendly Farmer). While not a district association, TNC operates in the same Indiana conservation ecosystem and collaborates on initiatives like the Pathway to Water Quality and Upper Wabash River projects.
• Indiana Farm Bureau: Partner ICP member and co-sponsor of IASWCD's Conservation Farmer of the Year and River Friendly Farmer awards. Comparable Indiana-based agricultural stakeholder with overlapping member base among farmers and rural landowners.
• Purdue Extension (Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative partner): Member of the Indiana Conservation Partnership and houses three CCSI Extension Agronomists. Direct partner delivering soil health research and education, with overlapping but distinct (academic) mission.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit working on land conservation and public access with Indiana projects. Comparable conservation mission at a broader geographic and capital scale, representing an alternative channel for conservation funding.
• Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever: National habitat conservation nonprofit with active Indiana chapters delivering conservation programs to private landowners. Comparable private-lands conservation model with broader wildlife-habitat orientation.
• American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit focused on farmland preservation and conservation, with a strong Midwest presence. Comparable conservation mission scaled nationally with broader policy and program reach than IASWCD's Indiana focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iaswcd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indiana-association-of-soil-and-water-conservation-districts

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 Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts