Scenic Jacksonville

What Scenic Jacksonville does

Scenic Jacksonville, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, founded in 2000 (originally as Citizens for Tree Preservation) and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The organization preserves, protects, and enhances Jacksonville's natural and built environment through citizen advocacy, coalition-building, and civic education. Its focus areas are design and historic preservation, tree canopy and landscape protection, utility undergrounding, and billboard/sign regulation. Its most consequential regulatory outcome is the 2000 Tree Charter Amendment, which passed with 76% voter approval across all 268 Jacksonville precincts and established minimum tree-mitigation standards for development.

The organization runs two flagship programs: the Great Cities Symposium, an annual civic leadership event (entering its sixth year in 2026, selling out at 350+ attendees at $120 per ticket) that brings nationally recognized urbanists to Jacksonville; and Scenic Visions, a multi-part neighborhood spotlight series with trolley tours, boat tours, and panel discussions (e.g., $25 trolley tours, free panel discussions). It is also the founder of the Riverfront Parks Now coalition (14 nonprofit organizations) and a founding member of the Jacksonville Climate Coalition. Revenue is generated through donations (including GivingTuesday matching campaigns), event ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships (e.g., Gateway Jax and Foley & Lardner LLP as Gold Sponsors of the symposium).

Scenic Jacksonville operates with a small professional staff led since March 2026 by Executive Director Litsa Dawkins, succeeding founder-Executive Director Nancy Powell. It is governed by a Board of Directors that underwent substantial turnover in 2026, including a new President (Bill Hoff Jr.) and four new directors. The organization has no proprietary technology, no physical office (mailing address only at PO Box 380046), and serves exclusively the Jacksonville market.

Name

Scenic Jacksonville

Legal name

Scenic Jacksonville, Inc.

Website

https://scenicjax.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scenic Jacksonville is a Jacksonville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for urban design, tree canopy protection, and riverfront parks through citizen-led initiatives, the annual Great Cities Symposium, and the 14-member Riverfront Parks Now coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Advocacy Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Civic advocacy
• Urban design
• Tree preservation
• Environmental nonprofit
• Community beautification

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Scenic Jacksonville operates primarily through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization conducts annual fundraising campaigns including GivingTuesday initiatives with matching donations.
2. Event Revenue: Annual Great Cities Symposium serves as the primary fundraiser, with ticket sales at $120 per person. Additional revenue from Scenic Visions event tickets and sponsorships.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events including Gold Sponsors for the Great Cities Symposium such as Gateway Jax, Foley & Lardner LLP, and Brinton family.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Scenic Jacksonville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that preserves, protects, and enhances the character and beauty of Jacksonville's natural and built environment. It delivers its mission through citizen advocacy, coalition-building (Riverfront Parks Now), educational events (Great Cities Symposium and Scenic Visions series), and direct engagement with city government on tree canopy protection, billboard reduction, utility undergrounding, and historic preservation.

Product overview

Scenic Jacksonville is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization, not a product or technology company. The organization focuses on preserving, protecting, and enhancing the character and beauty of Jacksonville's natural and built environment through citizen advocacy, civic leadership, and community programs including the Great Cities Symposium, Scenic Visions neighborhood spotlight series, and the Riverfront Parks Now coalition initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Great Cities Symposium Annual civic leadership event bringing nationally recognized urbanists and city builders to Jacksonville; serves as the organization's primary fundraiser with ticket sales of $120 per person and featuring cocktail social hour, program, and desserts.
• Scenic Visions Series Multi-part neighborhood spotlight series featuring trolley tours, boat tours, and panel discussions that highlight specific Jacksonville neighborhoods such as Arlington (2024) and Mayport Village (2025). Trolley tours priced at $25 per person; panel discussions are free.
• Riverfront Parks Now Coalition Citizen-led coalition initiative working to transform downtown Jacksonville riverfront into a connected network of public green space and active parks. Grew to 14 nonprofit organizations under Executive Director Nancy Powell's leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tree Charter Amendment passed in all 268 precincts with 76% voter approval
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Public Trust for ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Ongoing partnership supporting James Staman Jr. internship. Scenic Jacksonville provides a grant to Public Trust that supports the internship, and in return James contributes research on tree legislation that benefits both organizations. Partnership focuses on protecting Jacksonville's natural environment through evidence-based policy and legal research on tree ordinances.
• Mayport Waterfront PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host partner for Scenic Visions 2025 series 'Spotlight on Mayport Village.' Partnership focuses on highlighting Mayport's historic working waterfront, cultural heritage, and potential for thoughtful revitalization.
• Riverfront Parks Now CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Riverfront Parks Now coalition, a citizen-led initiative working to transform downtown Jacksonville riverfront into a connected network of public green space and active parks. Coalition grew to 14 nonprofit organizations including Late Bloomers Garden Club, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Greenscape, Garden Club of Jacksonville, Sierra Club of NE Florida, and Memorial Park Association.
• Jacksonville Climate CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Jacksonville Climate Coalition, working on climate resilience and environmental protection initiatives for the Jacksonville community.
• Old Arlington Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions 2024 'Spotlight on Arlington' series. OAI is dedicated to preserving the architecture, history, and culture of the Arlington community and was instrumental in bringing together organizations and stakeholders for Arlington's revitalization.
• JAX Chamber Arlington CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Scenic Visions Arlington series. Council's mission is to help Arlington flourish by supporting local businesses, schools, community partners and initiatives that improve quality of life for Arlington residents.
• Greater Arlington Civic CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Scenic Visions Arlington series. GACC is an independent umbrella organization formed in 1978 to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of citizens of the Greater Arlington Area.
• Jacksonville UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions Arlington panel discussion held at Jacksonville University. Hosted 'Future of Arlington' panel with over 100 civic and business leaders.
• OCEARCHsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions 2025 Mayport series. Global shark research nonprofit establishing headquarters in Mayport; featured behind-the-scenes tour of research boat.
• Greenscape of JacksonvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner in tree preservation efforts. Co-hosted Jax Digs Trees Campaign with Scenic Jacksonville. Joint advocacy on tree canopy protection and landscape issues.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & GardenssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Jax Digs Trees Campaign 15th Anniversary event commemorating the Tree Charter Amendment.
• Timucuan Parks FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions 2025 Mayport series. Nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve; provided educational content on river ecology.
• Gateway JaxmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Fifth Annual Great Cities Symposium. CEO Bryan Moll served as presenting sponsor and introduced speaker Carol Coletta.
• Foley & Lardner LLPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Fifth Annual Great Cities Symposium.
• Jacksonville Transportation AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions 2025 Mayport series. JTA providing ferry rides and discussing second ferry plans for Mayport.
• Mayport Lighthouse AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scenic Visions 2025 Mayport series. Working on relocation of St. Johns River Lighthouse.
• Congress for New UrbanismsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerScenic Jacksonville Executive Director attended CNU33 conference to learn about New Urbanism principles and practices. CNU focuses on excellent design, walkability and urban livability.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Keep America Beautiful: National nonprofit focused on litter prevention, beautification, and community greening. Local affiliate Keep Jacksonville Beautiful is a partner of Scenic Jacksonville, and the national organization is comparable in advocacy model and beautification focus.
• Urban Land Institute: Global research and education organization focused on land use, urban planning, and real estate development. Comparable in its downtown-riverfront planning and urban design focus, and represents the broader institutional ecosystem Scenic Jacksonville engages through its Great Cities Symposium.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting land for communities, with active urban-parks and riverfront work. Comparable to Scenic Jacksonville's Riverfront Parks Now mission and parks-advocacy focus, but at significantly larger national scale.
• Scenic America: National nonprofit umbrella for the 'Scenic' movement, focused on billboard control, sign ordinances, and scenic preservation. Directly comparable to Scenic Jacksonville's signage and scenic-preservation advocacy work, and serves as the national network for local Scenic chapters like Scenic Jacksonville.
• Sierra Club: One of the largest and oldest U.S. environmental organizations, with active presence in Jacksonville through its Northeast Florida chapter. Coalition partner of Scenic Jacksonville and comparable in environmental-advocacy mission, but at vastly larger national scale.
• Congress for New Urbanism: National organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and urban design best practices. Scenic Jacksonville partners with CNU and draws Great Cities Symposium speakers from its network, making it a directly adjacent peer in urban-design advocacy.

Direct peers

• Scenic Hudson: Regional scenic/environmental advocacy nonprofit along New York's Hudson River, focused on land conservation, riverfront access, and policy advocacy. Closely comparable to Scenic Jacksonville in mission, structure, and community-based advocacy model.
• Riverkeeper: Founding member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, focused on protecting the Hudson River and clean water advocacy. Comparable to Scenic Jacksonville's riverfront parks and water-quality advocacy through its coalition partners.
• St. Johns Riverkeeper: Local Jacksonville-based Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate focused on protecting the St. Johns River. Direct coalition partner of Scenic Jacksonville through Riverfront Parks Now and a directly comparable regional environmental advocacy nonprofit.
• Greenscape of Jacksonville: Jacksonville-based nonprofit focused on tree planting, beautification, and community gardens. Long-time partner of Scenic Jacksonville on Jax Digs Trees and tree-canopy protection, and a directly comparable local environmental/beautification advocacy peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scenicjacksonville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scenic-jacksonville-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/scenicjax

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Scenic Jacksonville