What Adirondack Land Trust does

Adirondack Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1984 and headquartered in Keene, New York, focused on permanently conserving forests, farmlands, waters, and wild places in the Adirondack region. Its core offerings include acquisition of conservation easements and fee-simple parcels, fee ownership of nature preserves, and ongoing stewardship of protected lands. The organization maintains a portfolio of preserves including Glenview, High Meadow, Westport, Three Sisters, and the VIC Forestlands easement, alongside community programs such as Birding for All (14 libraries across 5 counties) and the Next Generation Council, and a research initiative on accessible wildland trails.

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding streams include individual donations (one-time, recurring sustainer, and planned giving), corporate sponsorships through a tiered Business & Community Partner program ($250 and $1,000 annual levels), matching gifts, gifts of stock and appreciated assets, and government grants. Approximately 17 full-time professional staff execute conservation, philanthropy, communications, stewardship, and operations functions, with a community-led, relationship-driven go-to-market model that relies on direct landowner outreach, referrals, and partnerships rather than paid acquisition. The trust holds national accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid, and sustains a multi-stakeholder ecosystem including Paul Smith's College, The Nature Conservancy, NYS DEC, Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, Barkeater Trails Alliance, and regional libraries.

Name

Adirondack Land Trust

Legal name

Adirondack Land Trust, Inc.

Website

https://adirondacklandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adirondack Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1984, that permanently protects Adirondack forests, farmlands, waters, and wild places through conservation easements, land acquisitions, and stewardship, serving private landowners, communities, and public visitors across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI), Timberland & Forest Asset Management (IMAMAJAA), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Land stewardship
• Nature preserve management
• Forest protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Keene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct contributions from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly/quarterly recurring donations through Adirondack Sustainer program, and major gifts.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Business & Community Partner Program with Partner ($250+/year) and Sponsor ($1,000+/year) tiers providing recognition benefits.
3. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including Northern Border Regional Commission ($3M grant), NY State Conservation Partnership Program, and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests through wills, IRA gifts (up to $100,000 tax-free for those 70.5+), gifts of stock, real estate donations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and donor-advised fund designations.
5. Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable contributions.
6. Gifts of Stock/Appreciated Assets: Donations of appreciated stock and securities providing tax benefits to donors while supporting organizational financial stability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Adirondack Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization that preserves and protects natural lands in the Adirondack region. Its core work centers on acquiring land and holding conservation easements, then stewarding those protected properties in perpetuity for ecological and public-benefit purposes.

Product overview

The Adirondack Land Trust operates as a land conservation nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and preserves. Its core offering is land protection services including acquiring land and conservation easements, owning and managing nature preserves, and providing stewardship. Key products include specific nature preserves (VIC Forestlands, Glenview Preserve, High Meadow Preserve, Westport Preserve, Three Sisters Preserve), community programs (Birding for All, Next Generation Council), and research initiatives (Accessible Wildland Trails report). The organization works exclusively across the Adirondack region to protect forests, waters, farmlands, and wild places for ecological and community benefit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Legal agreements with private landowners that permanently restrict development and land-use on a property while the landowner retains ownership; the trust holds and enforces the easement in perpetuity.
• Land Acquisition and Preserve Stewardship Outright purchase or donation of ecologically significant properties and their long-term management as nature preserves, including trail construction, habitat monitoring, and invasive species control.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers offered to supporters that provide funding for conservation work and benefits such as newsletters, event invitations, and recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 360,000+ acres of forests, farmlands, waters and wild places permanently protected
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Six Nations Iroquois Cultural CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Historic land-back partnership transferring 900+ acres to Indigenous stewardship in Onchiota, NY. Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center received 600 acres from The Nature Conservancy and 300 additional acres from Adirondack Land Trust. Represents largest private-sector land-back in New York State history.
• Paul Smith's CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 December 2025Partnership to protect 2,800 acres surrounding the college's Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) through a permanent conservation easement. Paul Smith's College retains land ownership while Adirondack Land Trust holds easement ensuring forests remain forever. VIC provides outdoor classroom, 25 miles of public trails, and serves 35,000 visitors annually.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in landmark land-back partnership. TNC purchased 600 acres from Paul Smith's College for $1.1 million and transferred to Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center. ALT separately transferred 300 additional acres.
• Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrail stewardship partner maintaining trail systems at Three Sisters Preserve and other ALT properties. Builds and maintains shared-use trails including the Flobus downhill mountain biking trail. Also maintains disc golf course at VIC.
• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint conservation easement holders at BREIA (Black River Environmental Improvement Association). Both land trusts hold easements ensuring perpetual conservation of forests and streams at this 30+ mile trail system.
• Northwood SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Cobble Hill trail improvement project. School owns private land crossed by the 0.8-mile public trail to 2,343-foot summit. Provided access for trail improvements including new public trailhead.
• NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner receiving conserved lands for addition to Forest Preserve. Commissioner Lefton acknowledged ALT's land conservation investments. DEC also operates educational bus at Cobble Hill trailhead.
• Town of North ElbaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Cobble Hill trail improvement project, collaborating on access and safety improvements.
• Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Cobble Hill project, contributing to collaborative effort for trail improvements and visitor engagement.
• Regional Office of Sustainable TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tourism partner contributing to Cobble Hill trail improvement collaborative effort.
• Lake Placid 9'er Hiking ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiking challenge program partner in Cobble Hill trail project collaboration.
• Ben Wever FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner294-acre farm conserved through permanent conservation easement. Owners Shaun and Linda Gillilland operate Black Angus cattle and Katahdin sheep operation. Farm contributes to Boquet River salmon habitat protection.
• 14 Libraries Across 5 CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary partners hosting Birding for All backpacks with binoculars, field guides, and materials. Includes Au Sable Forks Free Library, Belden Noble Memorial Library (Essex), Chazy Public Library, Indian Lake Public Library, Keene Valley Library, Lake Placid Public Library, and others.
• Asgaard Farm & DairyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Adirondack Land Trust. Owner David Brunner also serves on Board of Directors.
• Vortex OpticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor providing binoculars (Vortex Viper HD 8X42) for Birding for All program backpacks valued at $725+ each.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust: New York-based regional land trust operating in the Tug Hill region. ALT and Tug Hill Tomorrow already serve as joint easement holders at BREIA, demonstrating direct operational overlap in conservation easement stewardship within New York.
• Lake Champlain Land Trust: Vermont land trust conserving farmland, forest, and shoreline around Lake Champlain. Directly comparable as a regional nonprofit land trust using conservation easements, with overlapping geography on the Adirondacks' eastern border.
• Open Space Institute: New York-focused land conservation organization that protects scenic, recreational, and environmentally sensitive land, including within the Adirondacks. Directly comparable in mission and regional focus on conservation easements and acquisition.
• Vermont Land Trust: Statewide Vermont land trust protecting farmland, forest, and natural areas through conservation easements. Comparable as a Nationally accredited state-level land trust with similar farmland and forestland conservation programs adjacent to the Adirondacks.
• Finger Lakes Land Trust: New York State land trust conserving natural areas, farmland, and trails in the Finger Lakes region. Directly comparable as an accredited NYS land trust with similar easement/acquisition/program portfolio model.
• Scenic Hudson: New York land trust conserving land along the Hudson River. Comparable as a NYS-based nonprofit land trust using conservation easements and public-access preserves, with similar revenue model of grants, donations, and planned giving.

Regional players

• Champlain Area Trails (CATS): Western Adirondack/Lake Champlain-focused nonprofit building and maintaining a trail network, with overlap in trail stewardship roles (Stewardship Director Derek Rogers previously worked at CATS). Comparable as an Adirondack conservation nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (New York Chapter): Global conservation organization with significant New York Adirondack operations (staff overlap with ALT). Functions as both peer and partner in land-back deals, but operates at vastly broader scale across many geographies.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit land conservation organization protecting land for public access. Comparable in easement/acquisition work but operates across all 50 states at much larger scale than the Adirondack-focused ALT.

Others

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: State agency that accepts conserved lands into the Forest Preserve (e.g., planned Drake Mountain transfer) and administers the NY State Conservation Partnership Program that funds ALT. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/adklandtrust
• Xx.com/AdkLandTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adirondack-land-trust

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Adirondack Land Trust