Santa Monica Conservancy, The

What Santa Monica Conservancy, The does

Santa Monica Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at the historic 2520 2nd Street in Santa Monica, California, where the circa-1897 Shotgun House — LEED Gold certified and serving as the Preservation Resource Center — functions as both visitor center and operational base. The organization's mission is heritage conservation: it serves as the leading voice of historic preservation in Santa Monica through advocacy, landmark designation campaigns, educational programming, and community engagement. Its primary stakeholders are Santa Monica residents, property owners of historic buildings, government partners (City of Santa Monica, SMMUSD, Santa Monica Public Library, Annenberg Community Beach House), and visitors/tourists interested in local heritage. Headcount is small and largely part-time/volunteer-based, with a planned transition to a first Executive Director in 2022 and an Office Administrator working 15-20 hours per week.

The Conservancy's core products are non-software services: the Shotgun House Preservation Resource Center, guided and self-guided walking tours (Downtown, Main Street, Third Street, Garden Tour, Adelaide Drive), volunteer docent programs at the Annenberg Community Beach House and Shotgun House, an annual Preservation Awards ceremony, an Interactive Landmarks Map and Historic Resources Inventory database, video content series (3-Minute History, Santa Monica Mosaic), youth engagement via Preservation Next, and advocacy services supporting landmark designation, Mills Act contracts, and Landmarks Commission liaison. Technology plays a supporting role through the website (smconservancy.org), a Givecloud membership/donation portal, Constant Contact email newsletters, and social media channels — but no proprietary software or AI/ML capabilities are present.

Revenue is generated through five streams: individual membership dues (annual subscription), one-time and recurring donations, corporate business sponsorships (BXP, Ben Allen, Deasy Penner, Fonda Bonardi, KCK, WJE, Chattel, Farrow Ball, Worthe, Page Turnbull, Harding Larmore Kutcher), government and philanthropic grants (including a disclosed $10,000 City of Santa Monica grant), and preservation consulting/technical assistance. The go-to-market motion is community-led: grassroots advocacy, volunteer docent recruitment, public tours, preservation awards, and policy advocacy. Key strategic partnerships include the City of Santa Monica, Los Angeles Conservancy, California Preservation Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Sea of Clouds, Quinn Research Center, Heal the Bay, and the Gabrieleno Tongva Springs Foundation.

Name

Santa Monica Conservancy, The

Legal name

Santa Monica Conservancy

Website

https://smconservancy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Santa Monica Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that advocates for heritage conservation and historic preservation in Santa Monica, California, operating the LEED Gold certified Shotgun House Preservation Resource Center, walking tours, docent programs, preservation awards, and landmark designation advocacy for residents, property owners, and city/government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Heritage conservation advocacy
• Cultural heritage education
• Historic site tours
• Landmark designation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

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. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide core operational support for the nonprofit organization.
2. Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting heritage conservation efforts.
3. Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (BXP, Ben Allen, Deasy Penner, Fonda Bonardi, KCK, WJE, Chattel, Farrow Ball, Worthe, Page Turnbull, Harding Larmore Kutcher and others) provide financial support in exchange for recognition.
4. Government and Philanthropic Grants: City of Santa Monica and other governmental/philanthropic sources provide grant funding for preservation projects and initiatives. The Conservancy received a $10,000 grant from the City.
5. Preservation Services: The organization provides technical assistance, educational resources, and preservation consultation services to property owners and the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Santa Monica Conservancy operates heritage conservation programs centered on the Preservation Resource Center at the historic 1897 Shotgun House, guided and self-guided walking tours of historic districts, volunteer docent programs, an annual Preservation Awards program, and advocacy services supporting landmark designations. It also delivers educational content through an Interactive Landmarks Map, Historic Resources Inventory database, and video series, while engaging youth through the Preservation Next program.

Product overview

The Santa Monica Conservancy operates as a single unified offering centered on heritage conservation and historic preservation education. Its core products include the Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House (a historic 1897 shotgun house serving as an educational visitor center), guided and self-guided walking tours of historic districts, volunteer docent programs at major sites, an annual Preservation Awards program, an Interactive Landmarks Map, Historic Resources Inventory database, and video content series (3-Minute History Videos and Santa Monica Mosaic Videos). Additional offerings include Preservation Next (youth engagement) and Advocacy Services for landmark designation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Preservation Resource Center: An award-winning educational center housed in the historic Shotgun House, offering information about historic resources in Santa Monica and preservation methods

Products and services

• Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House An award-winning visitor and education center housed in the historic 1897 Shotgun House at 2520 2nd Street, Santa Monica. Open for free docent-led tours on the second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of every month from noon to 2 p.m., providing exhibits about Santa Monica history and preservation methods for community members and visitors.
• Walking Tours Guided and self-guided tours of Santa Monica's historic districts and sites, including Downtown Walking Tour, Main Street Walk, Third Street Walk, Garden Tour, Coastal Crossroads Self-Guided Tour, and exclusive interior access tours of landmark residences. Targeted at community members, visitors, and tourists interested in Santa Monica's architectural heritage and history.
• Preservation Awards Annual awards program recognizing exemplary contributions to the preservation of Santa Monica's architectural and cultural heritage. Categories include restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, stewardship, and volunteer service. Held at the Annual Meeting each November.
• Historic Resources Inventory A comprehensive survey and database of historic buildings and sites in Santa Monica, providing information for property owners, Realtors, and the public about landmark designation eligibility and preservation resources.
• Interactive Landmarks Map An online mapping tool allowing users to search for historic resources throughout Santa Monica, identifying landmarks, historic districts, and points of cultural significance. Available publicly on the Conservancy website.
• Advocacy Services Heritage conservation advocacy efforts including landmark designation support, Landmarks Commission liaison, policy development, and community engagement to preserve significant places. Targeted at property owners, government agencies, and community stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• LEED Gold certification achieved for Shotgun House rehabilitation, with 95% reuse of original building materials and 95% construction waste recycling
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sea of CloudscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Nonprofit focusing on coastal heritage conservation and historic preservation. Partnered with historian Alison Rose Jefferson on successful Bay Street Beach Historic District National Register nomination in 2019.
• City of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership on preservation projects including Annenberg Community Beach House docent tours since 2009, Landmarks Commission support, historic resource assessments, and city services building projects. The Conservancy works with various city departments on preservation initiatives and advocacy.
• Quinn Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center founded by Carolyne and Bill Edwards to archive local Black history. Collaboration on landmark designation efforts for historic properties of African American importance.
• Los Angeles ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional preservation organization. Awarded Santa Monica Conservancy the LA Conservancy Preservation Award in 2017 and collaborated on various preservation initiatives.
• California Preservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState preservation organization that awarded the Conservancy's Shotgun House rehabilitation project.
• National Trust for Historic PreservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational preservation organization. Featured Santa Monica Conservancy's Samohi History Building advocacy in Preservation magazine.
• Gabrieleno Tongva Springs FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative American cultural organization working on preservation of Tongva history. Collaborated on City Hall mural advocacy efforts and preservation of indigenous heritage.
• Business Members and SponsorsminorOthersCorporate sponsors including BXP, Ben Allen, Deasy Penner, Fonda Bonardi, KCK, WJE, Chattel, Farrow Ball, Worthe, Page Turnbull, Harding Larmore Kutcher and others who support preservation efforts through financial contributions and recognition.
• Heal the BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization. Collaboration on programs and events related to Bay Street Beach and African American beach culture history.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois: Regional nonprofit focused on advocacy and education for historic preservation in Illinois. Comparable in advocacy scope and educational programming, though operating in a different region than the Santa Monica Conservancy.
• Heritage San Francisco: San Francisco-based nonprofit preservation advocacy organization running walking tours, advocacy campaigns, and educational programming for a single city's heritage. Highly comparable operating model in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Preservation Society of Newport County: Nonprofit that preserves and operates historic house museums in Newport, RI, combining advocacy with active visitor operations including tours, educational programming, and special events — closely aligned with the Conservancy's Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House model.
• Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO): San Diego-based heritage preservation nonprofit that conducts advocacy, operates a heritage education program, and maintains historic resources inventories — closely parallel to the Santa Monica Conservancy's city-level preservation model.
• San Antonio Conservation Society: One of the oldest city-level preservation nonprofits in the U.S., dedicated to heritage conservation in San Antonio through advocacy, education, and direct property stewardship — a direct functional mirror of the Santa Monica Conservancy's role in Santa Monica.
• Pasadena Heritage: City-focused nonprofit historic preservation organization in Pasadena, CA. Highly comparable as a municipal-level preservation society offering advocacy, walking tours, a historic resources inventory, and preservation awards within a single Southern California city.
• Los Angeles Conservancy: The regional preservation organization covering Los Angeles County. Direct functional peer — also a nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation through advocacy, tours, and awards — and has actually awarded the Santa Monica Conservancy for its Shotgun House rehabilitation.

Broad incumbents

• California Preservation Foundation: State-level heritage conservation nonprofit that also awarded the Santa Monica Conservancy's Shotgun House rehabilitation. Operates more broadly across California with advocacy, education, and recognition programs.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The leading national preservation organization in the U.S. Has featured the Santa Monica Conservancy's advocacy work in its Preservation magazine. Operates at national scale with broader programming and resources.

Emerging players

• Quinn Research Center: Research center founded to archive local Black history, with whom the Santa Monica Conservancy has collaborated on landmark designation efforts for historic properties of African American importance — a focused, narrower peer in adjacent preservation work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@santamonicaconservancy1379
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Santa-Monica-Conservancy/96043286046
• Instagraminstagram.com/smconservancy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-monica-conservancy

Compliance1 record

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 Santa Monica Conservancy, The