Santa Monica Mountains Fund

What Santa Monica Mountains Fund does

Santa Monica Mountains Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, operating as the official philanthropic partner of the National Park Service for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and, since 2025, of California State Parks. The organization runs a portfolio of conservation programs rather than a single product: habitat restoration (over 180,000 native trees and plants planted since 2018), a Native Plant Nursery and Seed Farm producing 100,000+ plants annually, a Native Seed Program curating conservation-quality seed for 600+ species, the Trails Forever campaign for trail system restoration, the SAMO Field Institute for experiential learning, and wildlife conservation programs including a $1M+ contribution to the Liberty Canyon wildlife crossing.

Its underlying 'technology' is operational and ecological rather than digital: specialized propagation techniques, a regional herbarium, a Seed Production Site at Rancho Sierra Vista, and a seed-to-seeding restoration methodology designed for wildfire- and climate-impacted Mediterranean ecosystems. Distribution is achieved through on-the-ground delivery via NPS and State Parks facilities, school field-trip programs reaching ~25,000 students annually (96% from Title I schools), and community events. The organization maintains a Four Star Charity Badge from Charity Navigator and Platinum Transparency Status from Candid.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven with no formal pricing tiers. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time, recurring, major, planned giving via IRA QCDs, CRUTs, and stock transfers through Charles Schwab), foundation and corporate grants (REI, John Logan Foundation, National Park Foundation, Target), merchandise sales ($10-$26 price points), and free educational field-trip programs. The organization states that over 80% of funding is reinvested into programming, and the Sara Nelson Fund endowment was established to buffer donation cyclicality. With 58 employees plus a seasonal cohort of 18 SAMO Youth interns and six California Climate Action Corps Fellows, the organization serves the Greater Los Angeles Area across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Name

Santa Monica Mountains Fund

Legal name

Santa Monica Mountains Fund

Website

https://samofund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Santa Monica Mountains Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the official partner of the National Park Service and California State Parks for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, funding habitat restoration, native plant propagation, trail maintenance, wildlife conservation, and outdoor education serving Greater Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI), Regeneration & Reforestation Operations (Site Prep, Planting, Seeding) (AFAMAAAC), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD)

Keywords

• Habitat restoration services
• Native plant nursery
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Environmental education field trips
• Trail maintenance stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Thousand Oaks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting park preservation, habitat restoration, and education programs. Multiple giving options including one-time gifts, recurring donations, and major gifts.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funding from organizations including REI, John Logan Foundation, National Park Foundation, and other environmental conservation foundations supporting specific programs.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hats, ornaments, mugs, notecards, posters, coloring books, and educational materials.
4. Education Programs and Field Trips: Joint programs with NPS and California State Parks providing free field trip experiences for students, with additional educational resources and curriculum materials.
5. Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: Estate planning options including IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts, life estates, and bequests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Santa Monica Mountains Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates conservation programs for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in partnership with the National Park Service and California State Parks. Its core work covers habitat restoration (over 180,000 native plants planted since 2018), a native plant nursery producing 100,000+ plants per year, a native seed program covering 600+ species, trail maintenance across 500+ miles, wildlife conservation, environmental education for roughly 25,000 students annually, and workforce development through paid youth internships and Climate Action Corps fellowships.

Product overview

Santa Monica Mountains Fund is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) that operates as a platform of conservation programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include Habitat Restoration Programs, the Native Plant Nursery, Native Seed Program, and Trails Forever initiative for trail maintenance. The organization also runs workforce development through the SAMO Youth Program and California Climate Action Corps Fellowship. Education is delivered via the SAMO Field Institute, Youth Field Trips, and merchandise-based curricula. Additional programs include Wildlife Conservation (Break the Poison Chain, Nature Neighbor), Cultural Preservation efforts, and the Sara Nelson Fund endowment. The merchandise Store and donation system round out the service portfolio, all aimed at preserving the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in partnership with the National Park Service and California State Parks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAMO Field Institute: Field institute focused on transforming ecological knowledge into lived experience where science, culture, art and land converge through beauty, practice and community.
• Trails Forever
• Sara Nelson Fund
• Sara Nelson Fund

Products and services

• Habitat Restoration Programs Restoration initiatives partnering with the National Park Service and California State Parks to restore damaged ecosystems in the Santa Monica Mountains, including burned and invasive-species-impacted landscapes.
• Trails Forever Campaign Campaign and ongoing program to restore the Santa Monica Mountains trail system, address wildfire damage, improve access, protect ecosystems, and host the annual Trail Challenge for hikers.
• SAMO Field Institute Field-based educational institute delivering place-based experiential learning where science, culture, art, and land converge through mentored restoration projects for community members and aspiring conservation professionals.
• Native Plant Nursery Joint operation with the National Park Service that grows more than 100,000 native plants per year from local seed for restoration projects and maintains a herbarium for scientific research.
• Native Seed Program Program that collects, cleans, and curates conservation-quality seed samples from over 600 species native to the Santa Monica Mountains to support large-scale restoration.
• SAMO Youth Paid Internship Program Award-winning immersive paid internship offering hands-on work experience in habitat restoration for 18 college students and recent graduates annually, with opportunities for eligible participants to extend employment.
• California Climate Action Corps Fellowship AmeriCorps service program hosting six Fellows each year who mobilize climate action through education, volunteer mobilization, and assessment focused on urban greening, wildfire resiliency, and organic waste diversion.
• Youth Field Trips Program Free outdoor education field trips jointly delivered with the National Park Service and California State Parks, serving approximately 25,000 students annually from Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, with 96% of attendees from Title I schools.
• Wildlife Conservation Programs Programs including the Break the Poison Chain campaign, Nature Neighbor project, and wildlife crossing support, with over $1 million contributed to wildlife research and plant propagation for the world's largest wildlife crossing.
• Cultural Preservation Program Efforts to protect the cultural heritage of the Santa Monica Mountains, including Native American archaeological sites, historic ranches, and film locations, in partnership with NPS-hosted Chumash cultural programs at Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center.
• Online Merchandise Store Online store selling branded merchandise including the SAMO Fund Coloring Book, Exploring Monarch Butterflies curriculum, apparel, ornaments, notecards, posters, and mugs to support fundraising.
• Sara Nelson Fund Endowment Endowment fund established to provide financial stability during periods of fluctuating donations and budget constraints, ensuring the park's sustainability for future generations and honoring the legacy of environmental activist Susan Nelson.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 180,000 native trees and plants planted since 2018 across burned and degraded landscapes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership formed in 2025 to work more effectively across public lands to protect and steward Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Collaboration includes education programs, field trips, and volunteer coordination.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Official partner to the National Park Service since 1988 for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The partnership involves habitat restoration, trail maintenance, educational programs, wildlife conservation, and visitor services. Santa Monica Mountains Fund supports NPS operations and programs for the largest and most diverse urban park in the United States.
• California Climate Action Corps (CCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps service program partnership hosting six CCAC Fellows working on urban greening, wildfire resiliency, and climate action projects. Fellows expand green spaces to combat heat island effect, improve air quality, boost biodiversity, and sequester carbon through microforest planting and maintenance.
• Theodore Payne FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for native plant education and resources, supporting community education about California native plants.
• Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica MountainsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization for conservation and environmental education efforts in the region.
• TreePeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization referenced for native plant resources and environmental education.
• Amigos de los RiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization for environmental programs and native plant education.
• Council for Watershed HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for native plant resources and conservation education.
• California Native Plants SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for native plant education and conservation resources.
• UCLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through CCAC Fellows program and horticulture certificate collaboration. UCLA graduates serve as climate fellows with SAMO Fund.
• CaltranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project with Caltrans and National Park Service for wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon over 101 Freeway, supporting safe wildlife movement and genetic diversity.
• Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner location at base of Boney Mountain where SAMO Fund helps host Chumash cultural programs, preserving indigenous heritage and traditions.
• Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on open space preservation and conservation efforts in the Conejo Valley area.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating and protecting parks and green spaces. Operates a similar conservation model across many regions including California, with park partnership and habitat restoration programs.
• Resources Legacy Fund: California-focused conservation funder supporting land protection, parks, and environmental justice. A potential peer funder and policy ally for Santa Monica Mountains conservation initiatives.
• The Nature Conservancy (California): Global conservation powerhouse with significant California operations including land acquisition, habitat restoration, and native species work. Far larger scale but pursues overlapping objectives in Mediterranean ecosystem conservation.

Direct peers

• Catalina Island Conservancy: California-based conservation nonprofit managing large protected lands with habitat restoration, native plant propagation, and education programs. Comparable model of managing and restoring a defined geographic conservation area.
• Amigos de los Rios: LA-area nonprofit focused on urban greening, native plants, and community environmental programs. Listed as a SAMO Fund partner with overlapping community-based restoration and education work.
• TreePeople: LA-based nonprofit focused on urban forestry, native plants, and environmental education. Listed as a SAMO Fund partner with overlapping youth education and tree-planting programs.
• National Park Trust: National nonprofit dedicated to completing park trails and preserving natural areas. Operates Kids in Parks program analogous to SAMO Fund's Title I school field trips.
• California Native Plant Society: Statewide nonprofit dedicated to California native plant conservation, education, and advocacy. Listed as a SAMO Fund partner and operates overlapping native plant education and habitat programs.
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner to the National Park Service for Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operating trails, education, and habitat restoration programs. Most structurally comparable peer given the same NPS partnership model and urban park focus.
• Theodore Payne Foundation: California native plant nonprofit explicitly listed as a SAMO Fund partner. Focused on native plant education, propagation, and habitat restoration in the LA region—closest direct peer in the native plant nursery domain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SamoFund/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/RimoftheValley
• Instagraminstagram.com/samofund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-monica-mountains-fund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Santa Monica Mountains Fund