Stowe Land Trust

What Stowe Land Trust does

Stowe Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization headquartered in Stowe, Vermont, founded in 1987 (with its first major project, the 235-acre Mayo Farm acquisition by the Town of Stowe, in 1989). The organization conserves rural and natural landscapes in and around Stowe through two primary mechanisms: holding conservation easements on private land and owning conserved properties directly. Its portfolio includes Mayo Farm (235 acres), Adams Camp (513 acres), Wiessner Woods (79 acres), and the 1,100-acre von Trapp Family Forest (held via easement), collectively representing thousands of acres of permanently protected land. The organization has been nationally accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission since 2010 and is currently applying for renewal of that accreditation.

Stowe Land Trust serves a mix of community beneficiaries: local residents and visitors who use conserved lands for hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing; conservation donors and volunteers (including 550+ supporters who funded the 2006 Adams Camp campaign and the Every Day Land Supporter Giving Circle); housing-insecure residents supported through the Downstreet Housing & Community Development partnership; researchers and students using properties for outdoor education; and partner organizations such as Laraway School, Stowe Trails Partnership, and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Conserved properties are open to the public at no charge for non-motorized recreation.

The organization operates with 1-10 employees and is governed by a Board of Directors with Amy Stewart as Board President and Kristen Sharpless as Executive Director. Its revenue model is donation- and grant-driven rather than earned-revenue-based, with funding sourced from individual donors, member contributions, institutional grants (Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust), voter-approved municipal bonds, and an international supporter group (Canadian Friends of Stowe Land Trust). No technology products, software platforms, APIs, or AI capabilities are offered; distribution is via the website, newsletter, social media, community events, and physical public access to conserved lands.

Name

Stowe Land Trust

Legal name

Stowe Land Trust

Website

https://stowelandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stowe Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization in Stowe, Vermont that protects and stewards rural and natural landscapes through conservation easements and direct land ownership. It serves local residents, visitors, donors, and housing-insecure residents across multiple conserved properties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Land conservation
• Conservation easements
• Habitat preservation
• Public trail access
• Stewardship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Stowe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conservation Fundraising: Stowe Land Trust raises funds for land conservation projects through community fundraising campaigns, seeking to complete funding for specific projects like the Muddy Moose initiative.
2. Membership and Donations: The organization generates revenue through member donations, supporter giving circles like the 'Every Day Land Supporter Giving Circle', and general donations from the public.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stowe Land Trust conserves land in the Stowe, Vermont region through conservation easements, direct land purchases, and stewardship of natural areas. It provides free public access to conserved lands featuring hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing opportunities, while running community education, volunteer, and conservation programs supported by donations and grants.

Product overview

Stowe Land Trust is a land conservation nonprofit organization that protects and manages natural lands in and around Stowe, Vermont. Rather than a software technology platform, the organization offers a portfolio of conservation services including land protection through easements and ownership, public recreation access to conserved properties, environmental education programs, and community engagement through volunteer opportunities. Key conserved properties include Mayo Farm (235 acres of agricultural and recreational land), Adams Camp (513-acre forest with trail networks), Wiessner Woods (79-acre forest with trail access), and von Trapp Family Forest (1,100-acre conservation easement). The organization also partners on housing initiatives through the Shared Equity Housing Program. The organization does not offer a technology product, software platform, or API services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mayo Farm Conserved working farm property held by Stowe Land Trust, supporting local agriculture and providing community access to scenic rural land in Stowe, Vermont.
• Adams Camp Conserved natural property acquired by Stowe Land Trust in 2022, providing public recreational trail access in Stowe, Vermont.
• Wiessner Woods Conserved forest property managed by Stowe Land Trust, providing wildlife habitat and public trail access in Stowe, Vermont.
• von Trapp Family Forest Conserved forest property held by Stowe Land Trust, permanently protected through a conservation agreement and open for public enjoyment.
• Conservation Easement Program Core service through which Stowe Land Trust partners with private landowners to establish voluntary conservation easements that permanently restrict development while keeping land in private ownership.
• Community Education Programs Educational programs and events hosted by Stowe Land Trust including mapping activities, Earth Week celebrations, and nature-based learning opportunities for community members.
• Volunteer Stewardship Program Volunteer program engaging community members in direct stewardship of Stowe Land Trust's conserved properties, including trail maintenance and conservation activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected over 350 acres across three conservation projects with $7.5 million in combined real estate value
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Downstreet Housing & Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Strategic partnership to convert short-term rentals into long-term affordable housing. Partnership creates up to 16 single-family homes for year-round residents, including 6 permanently affordable homes through Downstreet's Shared Equity Housing program. Also collaborating on Muddy Moose property conversion.
• Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Assisted in purchasing 86 acres in the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor for $709,000 total contribution. VHCB is a key funding partner for conservation easements and land acquisition projects.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Contributed $709,000 (combined with other partners) to protect 86 acres in the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor. Part of the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership collaborating since 2010.
• Vermont Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Part of the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership since 2010. Vermont Land Trust conserves key parcels in the corridor using conservation easements and works with individual landowners.
• Canadian Friends of Stowe Land TrustsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 January 2026International supporter group that contributed to the $709,000 funding for the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor property purchase. Helps expand fundraising reach beyond local community.
• von Trapp Family LodgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2006Negotiated conservation of Adams Camp in 2006 with Trapp Family Lodge. The von Trapp family owns Adams Camp and von Trapp Family Forest. Provides trail access through Outdoor Center for ski, snowshoe, and mountain bike trails.
• Waterbury Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership since 2010. Works with Stowe Conservation Commission and other groups to protect the critical wildlife crossing.
• Waterbury Lands InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership working to protect the critical wildlife corridor crossing Route 100.
• Stowe Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership. Proposed the 25-year term easement for Mayo Farm and continues to collaborate on management and conservation.
• Vermont Fish and Wildlife DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership. Jens Hilke serves as Conservation Planner providing expertise on wildlife habitat protection.
• Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & RecreationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildlife corridor efforts and provides expertise for forest management workshops and programs at conserved properties.
• Vermont Agency of TransportationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership addressing wildlife crossing infrastructure along Route 100.
• Land Trust Accreditation CommissioncoreOthersIndependent program of the Land Trust Alliance that awards national accreditation to land trusts demonstrating ethical conduct, strong stewardship, and sound organizational management. Stowe Land Trust has been accredited since 2010.
• Town of StowecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoters approved $450,000 bond in March 2006 to purchase development rights for Adams Camp. Town of Stowe co-manages conservation lands with Stowe Land Trust. Owns Mayo Farm with conservation easement held by SLT.
• Laraway SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner10+ year partnership with this education organization serving students who need alternative classroom settings. Students volunteer on invasive plant removal and trail work at DuMont Meadow, Cady Hill Forest, and other properties.
• Stowe Trails PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages multi-use trails at Adams Camp and other conserved lands around Stowe. Led by Carolyn Lawrence, the organization balances trail creation with wildlife habitat protection.
• VT Youth Conservation CorpssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SLT and Catamount Trail Association for trail improvements at Wiessner Woods including bridge replacements and puncheon bridges.
• Catamount Trail AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on trail improvements at Wiessner Woods, where the Catamount Trail passes through the property.
• Stowe Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts guided hikes and educational events like the River Walk at Mayo Farm. Collaborates with SLT on property management and conservation planning.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that consolidates conservation real-estate deals with partners across the U.S. Operates in the same conservation-acquisition space as Stowe Land Trust, but at vastly greater scale and as a generalist intermediary rather than a community-based trust.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit actively working in Vermont on land conservation and public park creation. Operates broadly in the same conservation-acquisition space as Stowe Land Trust but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.

Regional players

• Northern Forest Center: Regional nonprofit working across northern New England (New York through Maine) on forest conservation, community vitality, and outreach. Comparable in scale and forest-conservation orientation; overlaps with Stowe Land Trust's mission to keep rural forested lands conserved and economically productive.
• Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation: Vermont state agency that partners with Stowe Land Trust on forest management and wildlife corridor work, and whose state forests (e.g., Mt. Mansfield State Forest, adjacent to Adams Camp) interlock with Stowe Land Trust's conserved holdings. Functions as a peer in the corridor partnership rather than a competing land trust.

Direct peers

• Upper Valley Land Trust: Accredited community-based land trust serving the Connecticut River upper valley region of Vermont/New Hampshire. Closely analogous in scale, staff size, and small-town community-conservation model to Stowe Land Trust, with overlapping partner relationships.
• Vermont Land Trust: Vermont's largest and most established private land trust, holding conservation easements across the state and co-member of the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor Partnership with Stowe Land Trust. Directly comparable in mission, geography, accreditation status, and partner ecosystem.
• New England Forestry Foundation: Regionally accredited forest-focused land trust working across New England — directly analogous to Stowe Land Trust's emphasis on forestland stewardship, especially the Wiessner Woods and Adams Camp holdings. Comparable scale, accreditation, and forest-easement focus.
• Lake Champlain Land Trust: Vermont-accredited land trust focused on conservation around Lake Champlain. Highly comparable as a small-staffed, regionally accredited trust engaging in conservation easement acquisition, public access to conserved lands, and similar donor/volunteer programming.
• The Nature Conservancy — Vermont Chapter: Major institutional conservation partner that directly co-funded Stowe Land Trust's 86-acre Shutesville Hill acquisition. Operates the same corridor partnership, deploys similar conservation-easement and acquisition tools, and serves overlapping Vermont donor markets.
• Green Mountain Conservancy: Vermont-based nonprofit land trust managing trail networks and conserved forest properties. Directly analogous in small-staff community-conservation model, trail stewardship role, and Vermont geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stowelandtrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/StoweLandTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/stowelandtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stowe-land-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Stowe Land Trust