Placer Land Trust
Placer Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that preserves natural and agricultural lands in Placer County, California, through conservation easements and fee-title acquisitions. A 14-person staff has protected over 22,000 acres, sustained by donations, grants, and partnerships with landowners, universities, and tribal nations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersAuburn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Placer Land Trust does
Placer Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation founded in 1991 and headquartered in Auburn, California. The organization preserves natural and agricultural lands in Placer County through conservation easements, fee-title acquisitions, and ongoing land stewardship, and has cumulatively protected more than 22,000 acres since inception. It was the first land trust in the Sierra region to earn national Land Trust Accreditation (2008), a regulatory designation that signals compliance with rigorous land conservation standards.
The Trust operates with a 14-person staff and sustains activities through a diversified revenue model combining individual donations, membership dues, foundation and government grants, fundraising events, planned giving, and merchandise sales. Its portfolio includes public preserves supported by a docent and volunteer stewardship network, and recent transactions demonstrate increasing deal size and partnership sophistication. The Trust's 2024–2026 activity includes the 581-acre Lincoln 1079 Ranch agricultural conservation easement (2024), the 279-acre Vista Ranch acquisition (April 2025), the 320-acre Upper Ranch protection (May 2025), the $10 million 402-acre Clover Valley Preserve acquisition with Jessup University (Spring 2025), and the 308-acre Owl Creek Land Back Project with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, backed by $1.36 million in CAL FIRE funding (April 2026).
Operationally, the organization extends its reach through formal partnerships with universities and tribal governments, recurring donor and member programs, and regional fundraising vehicles such as Big Day of Giving (where 2026 participation was record-setting). Its underlying technology stack is conventional third-party SaaS (NeonCRM, Constant Contact, SpreadShop), with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML systems. The Trust's competitive position rests on its regulatory accreditation, multi-decade stewardship track record, legally perpetual conservation easements, and a community-anchored volunteer and donor ecosystem that lowers the marginal cost of new transactions.
Placer Land Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Placer Land Trust
- Legal name
- Placer Land Trust
- Website
- https://placerlandtrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Placer Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that preserves natural and agricultural lands in Placer County, California, through conservation easements and fee-title acquisitions. A 14-person staff has protected over 22,000 acres, sustained by donations, grants, and partnerships with landowners, universities, and tribal nations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Placer Land Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Land Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)
Keywords
Where Placer Land Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Placer Land Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership contributions from individuals and families who support land conservation efforts in Placer County.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, families, and organizations supporting land conservation, including Big Day of Giving campaigns and general fundraising.
- Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests through wills, trusts, IRA beneficiary designations, and real estate donations that provide long-term financial support for land protection.
- Event Revenue: Ticket sales for events such as the Placer Conservator Reception ($85 for members, $100 for general public) and auction proceeds during Conservation Celebration Week.
- Grants and Government Funding: Funding from government programs such as CAL FIRE's Forest Legacy Program, California Strategic Growth Council's Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, and local agencies.
- Shop and Merchandise: Online merchandise sales through SpreadShop platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free events with suggested donations |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Placer Conservator Reception tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Placer Land Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Placer Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization that permanently protects natural and agricultural lands in Placer County, California through conservation easements and fee title ownership of preserves. The organization has preserved over 22,000 acres since 1991 and offers public preserve access through docent-led hikes, volunteer stewardship programs, a planned-giving legacy society (Forever Society), annual membership, and educational programs such as Nature Quest.
Product overview
Placer Land Trust operates as a land conservation nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include permanent land protection through conservation easements and fee title ownership of preserves, public access opportunities through docent-led hikes and the Nature Quest program, planned giving via the Forever Society legacy program, and membership/volunteer engagement. The organization conducts annual fundraising events including the Conservation Celebration Auction and coordinates with partners on research, Tribal Land Back projects, and community education. No commercial product or software platform is offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conservation Easements Voluntary, perpetual legal agreements with Placer County landowners that permanently restrict development on their property while allowing continued private ownership, working land use, and stewardship of natural and agricultural values.
Quantifiable outcome
- Preserved over 22,000 acres of natural and agricultural land in Placer County since 1991
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Placer Land Trust
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Placer Land Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Placer Land Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jessup UniversitycoreJessup University partnered with Placer Land Trust to purchase and protect Clover Valley. Jessup purchased 402 acres of the valley floor at a discounted price of $10M and Placer Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the property. The partnership combined Jessup's real estate opportunity with PLT's fundraising and conservation expertise.
- Placer CountycorePlacer County co-holds conservation easements on Clover Valley Preserve and Vista Ranch. The county contributed funding through fees that offset loss of oak woodlands and supports the Placer County Conservation Program Reserve System.
- Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated TribecorePlacer Land Trust partnered with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe on two Land Back projects, including the Owl Creek Project (308 acres). PLT holds a perpetual conservation easement on the land while the Tribe owns the property. This partnership represents a significant advancement in tribal land sovereignty and collaborative conservation.
- UC Davis Bohart Museum of EntomologyminorUC Davis's Bohart Museum of Entomology partners with Placer Land Trust to study the California dogface butterfly at Shutamul Bear River Preserve. Butterfly expert Greg Kareofelas leads tours and conducts research.
- Placer County Conservation AuthoritycorePlacer Conservation Authority co-holds a conservation easement on Vista Ranch with Placer County, ensuring the property is never subdivided and developed.
- California State ParksminorCalifornia State Parks hosts Community Paddle Day at Upper Lake Clementine in partnership with Placer Land Trust and other community partners.
- Southside UnlimitedminorLocal nonprofit supporting adults with disabilities provides ongoing volunteer opportunities through Placer Land Trust to help participants hone workplace skills.
- Friends Aiding Wildlife in Nature (FAWN)minorLocal nonprofit dedicated to re-wilding areas by removing dangerous manmade obstacles such as obsolete barbed wire fencing. FAWN volunteers assist with wildlife protection projects at preserves.
- Lone Buffalo Vineyards & WineryminorLocal winery collaborated with Placer Land Trust to release a Dogface Syrah wine, with proceeds supporting conservation. Both organizations share membership and supporter communities.
- McIlwain Mobility SolutionsminorMobility solutions provider partnered with Placer Land Trust for TrailAble Mobility Demo Day, providing adaptive devices for people with mobility limitations to experience outdoor recreation.
- United Cerebral Palsy of SacramentominorNonprofit organization partnering with Placer Land Trust to host TrailAble Mobility Demo Day, helping people with disabilities access outdoor experiences.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Placer Land Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nevada County Land Trust: Accredited land trust in neighboring Nevada County operating with a similar conservation easement and fee-title preserve model. Comparable in scale, Sierra foothills geography, and community-engagement approach.
- Sequoia Riverlands Trust: Accredited California land trust focused on preserving lands in the southern Sierra and Tulare County region. Comparable accredited nonprofit land trust operating conservation easements and preserves.
- Bear Yuba Land Trust: Accredited land trust serving Nevada and Yuba Counties in California's Sierra foothills. Closely comparable nonprofit model focused on conservation easements, preserve management, and community-based fundraising in adjacent geography.
- Sacramento Valley Conservancy: Regional land trust operating in the greater Sacramento Valley with conservation easements and public preserve access. Directly comparable nonprofit structure and California interior-region focus.
- Sierra Foothill Conservancy: California land trust conserving working ranches, farms, and natural lands in the Sierra foothills and Central Valley edge. Directly comparable in mission, easement-based model, and rural-agricultural conservation focus.
Broad incumbents
- American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit working to protect farmland and ranchland, including through agricultural conservation easements. Comparable to PLT's agricultural easement work (e.g., Lincoln 1079 Ranch) but operates at national scale.
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that works with communities to protect land for parks and conservation. Comparable in conservation easement and land acquisition work but operates at much larger scale across many states.
- The Nature Conservancy (California Chapter): Largest global conservation organization with significant California operations including easements and preserve management. Overlaps mission but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic scope.
- Save the Redwoods League: California-based nonprofit focused on redwood forest protection through land acquisition and stewardship. Comparable in perpetual conservation and easement-based model but specialized in a different forest ecosystem.
Regional players
- American River Parkway Foundation: Nonprofit focused on the American River Parkway in Sacramento/Placer region. Comparable in local conservation mission and public access programs but focused on a specific parkway rather than dispersed easement-based conservation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Placer Land Trust social profiles
Digital presencePlacer Land Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Placer Land Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Placer Land Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Placer Land Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Placer Land Trust
What does Placer Land Trust do?
Placer Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization that permanently protects natural and agricultural lands in Placer County, California through conservation easements and fee title ownership of preserves. The organization has preserved over 22,000 acres since 1991 and offers public preserve access through docent-led hikes, volunteer stewardship programs, a planned-giving legacy society (Forever Society), annual membership, and educational programs such as Nature Quest.
Is Placer Land Trust a public or private company?
Placer Land Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Placer Land Trust founded?
Placer Land Trust was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Placer Land Trust based?
Placer Land Trust is headquartered in Auburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Placer Land Trust make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions, planned Giving and Legacy Gifts, event Revenue, grants and Government Funding and shop and Merchandise.
Who are Placer Land Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nevada County Land Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Sacramento Valley Conservancy and Sierra Foothill Conservancy. Broad incumbents are American Farmland Trust, Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy (California Chapter) and Save the Redwoods League. American River Parkway Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Placer Land Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Placer Land Trust.
What industry is Placer Land Trust in?
Placer Land Trust's product category is Land Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas, with a secondary code of AFAMAMAH, Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 71219 and its SIC code is 6532.