Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative

What Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative does

Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative (NRCC) is a Jackson, Wyoming-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 74-2441476) founded in 1987 that functions as a research collaborative and administrative hub for conservation science in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Its stated mission is to advance conservation for the common good by generating reliable knowledge, fostering effective leadership, and enabling innovation. The organization operates a portfolio of long-term ecological monitoring and applied research projects, including the YELLsWAMP! amphibian and wetland monitoring program (co-administered with the National Park Service and USGS since 2010), Clark's nutcracker–whitebark pine mutualism studies spanning the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Washington's North Cascades, and a human-carnivore coexistence program that has expanded into Colorado wolf restoration planning as a science advisor.

NRCC delivers its work through a distributed model: a core staff and approximately 60 researchers, conservation leaders, educators, and students (a mix of paid staff and Research Associates, Interns, and Visiting Researchers) collaborate with federal agencies (NPS, USGS, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife) and academic institutions (Idaho State, Montana State, University of Wyoming, Central Washington, Yale). Outputs include the annual Year In Review publication (issued continuously since at least 2013), a recurring E-Newsletter, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium, an online Resource Library, and small-scale merchandise (Bears Den Essentials via Etsy). An AI-assisted computer vision pipeline pre-processes the trail camera image backlog from the Cache Creek Study, with citizen-science classification handled on Zooniverse.

NRCC generates revenue exclusively through charitable donations, grants, and foundation funding (e.g., Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Wyoming Arts Council, Meg & Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund), with supplemental affiliate-style donation channels (PayPal, Amazon Smile, Giving Assistant, EcoCards) and Etsy merchandise proceeds. The organization does not sell products or services, has no disclosed financials, and operates without subsidiaries, parent entities, or investment funding.

Name

Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative

Legal name

Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative

Website

https://nrccooperative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative is a Jackson, Wyoming-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that operates long-term ecological monitoring, applied conservation research, and educational programming across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and adjacent Western states, serving researchers, federal agencies, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Research Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation research
• Ecological monitoring services
• Habitat preservation programs
• Citizen science initiatives
• Conservation education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations online via PayPal and by mail. Receives support through Amazon Smile, Giving Assistant, and EcoCards platforms. EIN: 74-2441476.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research cooperative that conducts field-based conservation research projects in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including amphibian monitoring, Clark's nutcracker-whitebark pine mutualism studies, and large carnivore coexistence work. It produces an annual Year In Review publication, hosts the Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium, maintains a digital resource library, and funds operations through donations and grants.

Product overview

NRCC is a conservation cooperative offering a portfolio of research projects, publications, and educational resources focused on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The core offerings include specialized wildlife monitoring projects (amphibians, Clark's nutcracker-whitebark pine mutualism, large carnivore coexistence), publications (Year In Review annual reports, E-Newsletter), educational resources (Resource Library with books and peer-reviewed publications), symposia, and merchandise. The organization functions as a research collaborative rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Year In Review: Annual publication containing stories, field reports, research updates and thought pieces on ecological and social issues
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium

Products and services

• Amphibian Monitoring in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (YELLsWAMP!) Coordinates annual ground-based surveys across Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to document amphibian species occurrence and breeding habitat condition, including long-term monitoring since 2010 and supplemental research projects. Delivered in partnership with the National Park Service, USGS, Idaho State University, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming.
• Understanding Clark's Nutcracker and Whitebark Pine Mutualism Studies Clark's nutcracker space use in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Washington's North Cascades through satellite-tracking and passive acoustic recording units to understand the mutualistic relationship between the birds and whitebark pine. Delivered with Central Washington University, the U.S. Forest Service, and North Cascades National Park.
• Reintegrating Wildness: Integral Land Stewardship and Coexistence with Large Carnivores Promotes human-carnivore coexistence through integral land stewardship approaches, strategic grazing management, and low-stress livestock handling methods, with a focus on wolf restoration planning in Colorado. Delivered in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the CSU Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence, and the Southwest Colorado Wolf Cooperative.
• A Greater Yellowstone Seasonal Almanac and Film An integrated scientific and cultural book project with companion film that documents the cyclical ecological and cultural happenings of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, aiming to reconnect people to the land and empower underrepresented voices in conservation. Supported by the Wyoming Arts Council through the Pattie Layser Memorial Fellowship and developed with the National Elk Refuge and Trinity University Press.
• Year In Review Publications Annual publication containing stories, field reports, research updates, and thought pieces on a wide range of ecological and social issues. PDF downloads are available for editions from 2013 through 2025, distributed to the public, supporters, and partners.
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium Annual symposium that brings together conservation professionals, researchers, and community members and includes workshops, QuickTalks, and photography contests. Editions have included in-person and virtual formats.
• Bears Den Essentials Handknit Hats Custom handknit hats inspired by the Grand Teton photograph by NRCC's Photographer-in-Residence, sold through Etsy with 12% of proceeds donated to NRCC as a fundraising merchandise line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 years of conservation work since founding in 1987
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010NRCC has provided administrative support and partnership for amphibian monitoring projects in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since the 1990s, and has been an invaluable partner every year since 2010 for both long-term monitoring and supplemental efforts.
• US Geological SurveycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Greater Yellowstone Wetland and Amphibian Monitoring Program (YELLsWAMP!), providing scientific expertise and research support.
• Idaho State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing research expertise to amphibian monitoring and conservation efforts in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
• Montana State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing research support and expertise for amphibian and wetland monitoring projects.
• University of WyomingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner contributing to amphibian monitoring and conservation science.
• Greater Yellowstone Amphibian and Reptiles iNaturalist ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity science initiative supporting citizen involvement in amphibian and reptile documentation.
• Central Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on passive acoustic monitoring units research for nutcracker occupancy in whitebark pine ecosystems.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner contributing expertise to Clark's nutcracker and whitebark pine research.
• North Cascades National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational park partner for nutcracker research and habitat studies in Washington's Cascades.
• Wyoming Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Pattie Layser Memorial Fellowship support for the Greater Yellowstone Seasonal Almanac project and journalism/creative writing programs.
• National Elk RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Artist-in-Residence program and Greater Yellowstone Seasonal Almanac development.
• Trinity University PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher partner for Greater Yellowstone Seasonal Almanac book project.
• Rocky Mountain Wolf ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience advisor role for wolf restoration and management planning in Colorado.
• Colorado Parks and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStakeholder Advisory Group membership contributing to Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan development.
• CSU Center for Human-Carnivore CoexistencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on livestock-wildlife coexistence research and wolf management science.
• Southwest Colorado Wolf CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaborative working on wolf coexistence strategies in southwestern Colorado.
• Jackson Hole Wildlife FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Neighbors to Nature: Cache Creek Study, a four-way partnership for wildlife and recreation research.
• The Nature Conservancy in WyomingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner contributing research expertise to Cache Creek Study and community ecology research.
• Bridger-Teton National ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal land management partner for recreation-wildlife studies and trail camera monitoring.
• Friends of PathwaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildlife and recreation coexistence research initiatives.
• National Ecological Observatory NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for plant phenology and climate change studies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
• Astoria Park ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in interpretive artwork installation at Astoria Hot Springs Park.
• Trust for Public LandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in natural area interpretive artwork and conservation projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Biological Diversity: A national nonprofit using science, legal action, and advocacy to protect endangered species and habitats. Overlaps with NRCC on amphibian conservation (where NRCC has long-term monitoring) and carnivore protection work.
• Defenders of Wildlife: A national wildlife conservation nonprofit with overlapping work on large carnivore coexistence, wolf policy, and federal land management advocacy. Comparable mission with much larger scale and lobbying infrastructure.
• The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming: TNC's Wyoming chapter operates large-scale land conservation, science, and partnership programs across the same GYE landscape where NRCC works (including the Cache Creek partnership). Much larger, but overlapping mission and stakeholder ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Rocky Mountain Wolf Project: A Colorado-focused nonprofit where NRCC's Matt Barnes serves as science advisor for wolf restoration planning. Directly comparable in carnivore coexistence advocacy, scientific advisory model, and small-team operations.
• Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation: A Jackson Hole-based conservation nonprofit partnering with NRCC on the Cache Creek wildlife and recreation study. Comparable in scale, local focus, and wildlife/habitat mandate.
• Conservation Science Partners: A research-focused nonprofit applying quantitative ecology, remote sensing, and data science to wildlife and land-use questions in the American West. Comparable in scientific orientation, small staff model, and Western U.S. geography.
• Greater Yellowstone Coalition: A regional conservation nonprofit focused on protecting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem through advocacy, science, and collaboration. Highly comparable to NRCC in geographic scope (overlap on GYE), mission (wildlife and habitat conservation), and stakeholder base (ranchers, federal agencies, donors in Jackson Hole).
• Yellowstone Forever: The official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, running education, research, and stewardship programs in the same ecosystem where NRCC conducts amphibian and wetland monitoring. Direct overlap in mission, federal partnership structures, and donor base.

Emerging players

• Wildlands Network: A science-based nonprofit focused on connecting and restoring North American landscapes for wildlife, with comparable emphasis on carnivore coexistence and large-landscape conservation science.

Regional players

• Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund: A Jackson Hole-based grantmaking nonprofit funding amphibian field work and other wildlife research through NRCC. Closely aligned in regional conservation scope and operates as both a peer and an active funder relationship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nrccooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/northernrockiescc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-rockies-conservation-cooperative

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 Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative