What The McHenry County Conservation Foundation does

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1999 and headquartered at the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Richmond, Illinois. It operates as the exclusive philanthropic partner of the McHenry County Conservation District, raising and deploying private funds in support of public land acquisition, habitat restoration, environmental education, and outdoor recreation programs across McHenry County. Since inception, the Foundation has helped permanently protect over 6,820 acres of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands, and has transferred more than $3.2 million to conservation entities — nearly $3 million of which flowed directly to the Conservation District. The Foundation played a central role in two successful Open Space Bond Referendums (2001 and 2007) that together generated $141.5 million for open space protection.

The Foundation's core service lines include Land Acquisitions (supporting purchases such as Camp Lakota, Brookdale, and the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge), Land and Water Protection (habitat restoration including prairie, wetland, and woodland conservation), Environmental Education (ecological training for children and adults), and Outdoor Recreation (trail development and accessibility improvements). Underlying capabilities include grant writing and institutional fundraising, donor cultivation through planned giving (Natural Heritage Society), event programming (Big Woods Planting Party, Festival of the Sugar Maples, First Friday Concerts), and corporate partnership management through tiered sponsorship packages.

The Foundation's business model is structured around four revenue streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, tree/bench dedications), planned giving (bequests, life estates, stock donations), corporate sponsorships ($125-$5,000 tiers), and grant funding from government agencies and private foundations (Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Illinois DNR, Prairie State Conservation Coalition, Enbridge, Nicor Gas, ComEd, and family foundations). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on volunteer programs, donor recognition, and regional partnerships. Pricing for tangible giving products includes $50 for two-tree donations and $3,500-$4,500 for 10-year bench dedications. The Foundation operates with 1-10 employees under Executive Director Shawna Flavell.

Name

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation

Legal name

McHenry County Conservation Foundation

Website

https://mchenryconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 in Richmond, Illinois that serves as the philanthropic arm of the McHenry County Conservation District, raising private funds to support land acquisition, habitat restoration, environmental education, and outdoor recreation programs across McHenry County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Habitat restoration projects
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Outdoor recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting land protection, environmental education, and outdoor recreation programs. Includes one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and tribute gifts in honor or memory of loved ones.
2. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through bequests, life estate agreements, stock donations, and gift of life insurance policies. The Natural Heritage Society recognizes members who include the foundation in their estate planning.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorship at multiple levels (Osprey $5,000, Eagle $4,000, Hawk $2,000, Shooting Star $1,000, Prairie Dropseed $500, Bluebird $250, Wild Bergamot $125). Corporate gifts, volunteer days, and lunch-and-learn programs for employees.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from government agencies, private foundations, and conservation organizations including Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Prairie State Conservation Coalition, Wisconsin DNR, Enbridge, Nicor Gas, ComEd, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic organization that raises and channels private gifts to support the McHenry County Conservation District's work. Its core offerings include funding land acquisitions for permanent protection of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands, supporting habitat restoration, underwriting environmental education programs, and enabling outdoor recreation infrastructure such as trails and visitor centers.

Product overview

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that serves as the fundraising arm of the McHenry County Conservation District. Its product portfolio consists of four interconnected core service areas: Land Acquisitions (supporting permanent protection of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands), Land and Water Protection (habitat restoration including prairie, wetland, and woodland conservation), Environmental Education (ecological training and nature education for children and adults), and Outdoor Recreation (trail development and accessibility improvements). These core services are supported by a suite of philanthropic giving programs including one-time and monthly Donation Programs, Planned Giving through the Natural Heritage Society, Big Woods Tree Donation, and Bench Donation memorial offerings. The Foundation also offers Corporate Engagement through Event Sponsorship with tiered levels, Community Engagement via its Events Program (including Big Woods Planting Party, Festival of the Sugar Maples, and concerts), and Volunteer Programs such as Prairie Trail Clean-Up. Together, these products work to bridge funding gaps for public conservation lands while engaging the community in preservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land Acquisitions Supports the McHenry County Conservation District's efforts to protect prairies, woodlands, and wetlands by acquiring land for permanent preservation. The Foundation has helped secure over 6,820 acres through direct acquisition and successfully ran two Open Space Referendums providing $141.5 million for land purchases.
• Land and Water Protection Provides funding for habitat restoration projects including prairie, wetland, and woodland conservation. Supports purchase of seeds, stewardship equipment, prescribed burn programs, and invasive species removal to maintain high-quality natural habitats.
• Environmental Education Funds ecological training and environmental education opportunities for children and adults, including school programs, summer camps, teacher training, and wildlife education exhibits. Supports the Wildlife Resource Center and outdoor learning experiences.
• Outdoor Recreation Funds recreational projects that connect people to wilderness in their communities, including trail development, ADA-accessibility improvements, hunting programs, and visitor center exhibits.
• Donation Programs Offers one-time and monthly donation options that bridge the gap between public funding and the cost of maintaining public lands. Donations support land protection, recreation improvements, and education programs.
• Planned Giving (Natural Heritage Society) Legacy giving program allowing donors to ensure natural heritage preservation for generations through bequests, life estate agreements, stock donations, and life insurance policy gifts.
• Big Woods: Tree Donation Tree planting program that donates native trees and shrubs to commemorate loved ones or celebrate occasions while restoring oak savannas and woodlands. Donations of $50 purchase and plant two oak/hickory/native trees.
• Bench Donation Memorial bench program allowing donors to dedicate benches on Conservation District sites or The Prairie Trail. Includes 10-year recognition with customized plaque. Conservation Site Benches: $3,500; Prairie Trail Benches: $4,500.
• Event Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship opportunities for Foundation and Conservation District events including Osprey ($5,000), Eagle ($4,000), Hawk ($2,000), Shooting Star ($1,000), Prairie Dropseed ($500), Bluebird ($250), and Wild Bergamot ($125) levels.
• Events Program Hosts and co-sponsors events including Adopt-A-Trail cleanups, Big Woods Planting Party (OAKtober), Festival of the Sugar Maples, First Friday Summer Concert Series, Hooked on Fishing, and Great Outdoors Beer Trail.
• Prairie Trail Clean-Up Volunteer Program Monthly volunteer program where participants help maintain a one-mile stretch of the Prairie Trail from April through December. Provides gloves, hand sanitizers, and long-handled trash pickers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saved McHenry County Conservation District over $225,000 through Goose Lake acquisition home purchase
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DuPage County Forest Preserve DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in native mussel reintroduction project propagating elktoe mussels in Nippersink Creek through the District's Urban Stream Research Center.
• Illinois Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge establishment and awarded $36,630 Illinois Habitat Fund grant for bison grazing restoration at Pleasant Valley. Co-partner in purchasing first parcel of Hackmatack refuge land.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $245,176 State Wildlife Grant Program for cross-border habitat connectivity project improving habitat on nearly 235 acres in Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois for pollinators, birds, and reptiles.
• OpenlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MCCF and Illinois DNR to purchase first parcel establishing Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's 557th refuge.
• Friends of HackmatackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary advocacy group that led efforts for over eight years to establish Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Openlands: Chicago-area regional conservation organization focused on land protection. Listed as an explicit partner in establishing the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, demonstrating direct collaborative overlap in mission and projects.
• Prairie State Conservation Coalition: Illinois state-level conservation coalition advancing prairie, woodland, and wetland protection. Awarded MCCF a $369,900 grant in 2025, evidencing directly overlapping land-protection mission and grant-making activity.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on conserving land for public enjoyment, especially in urban and regional contexts. Directly comparable in land acquisition, conservation easement, and public-access funding models.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that works with public agencies to acquire and manage conservation land. Directly comparable in its bridge between private philanthropy and public land management, similar to MCCF's model.
• Natural Lands: Regional nonprofit land trust operating across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Directly comparable in running a network of nature preserves with similar land-acquisition, stewardship, and public-access programming.
• The Nature Conservancy (Illinois): National nonprofit land trust doing conservation land acquisition and habitat restoration. Executive Director Shawna Flavell previously worked at The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, signaling direct operational alignment in mission, methodology, and donor cultivation approach.
• Illinois Audubon Society: Statewide habitat and bird conservation nonprofit. Co-funder with MCCF on the $503,440 Camp Lakota acquisition, indicating directly comparable land-protection project execution and co-funding structures.

Regional players

• Forest Preserves of Cook County Foundation: Philanthropic foundation supporting the Cook County Forest Preserves—the largest county forest preserve district in Illinois. Near-identical organizational model: 501(c)(3) foundation raising private funds for a public forest preserve district.
• Lake County Forest Preserves Foundation: Foundation arm of the Lake County Forest Preserves in adjacent northeastern Illinois. Same structural model—philanthropic foundation funneling private donations to public conservation land management.

Emerging players

• Friends of the Forest Preserves: Independent nonprofit supporting the Cook County Forest Preserves through volunteer programs, advocacy, and community engagement. Directly comparable grassroots-friends-group model to MCCF's volunteer/stewardship programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DiscoverMCCD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/DiscoverMCCD
• Facebookfacebook.com/mchenryconservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/DiscoverMCCD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mchenry-county-conservation-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The McHenry County Conservation Foundation