Sunflower Land Trust Inc

What Sunflower Land Trust Inc does

Sunflower Land Trust, Inc. (SLT) is a Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust incorporated in 1996 and headquartered in Wichita, with a secondary site (Prairie Home Scattering Garden) in Derby. Its mission is to provide conservation activities for Kansas landowners through a portfolio of land protection programs, including conservation easements (site-specific legal instruments that can cluster or limit development), Mitigation Bank One (a 2008-established, federally compliant wetland and stream credit bank for south central Kansas), a statewide In Lieu Fee Program (accepting mitigation fees from economic development projects and replicating credits within 18 months), a Threatened and Endangered Species Mitigation Program (notably Eastern Spotted Skunk habitat creation with KDWP since 2005), and a Family Legacy Program that has produced documented estates such as the 280-acre Fleming Conservancy, the 80-acre Satterthwaite Wildlife Preserve, and the 27-acre Naylor Legacy.

The organization's underlying technology stack is non-software: its core capability is regulatory and legal — operating within frameworks administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers (404 Permits), US Fish and Wildlife Service, EPA, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment, supported by accredited appraisers for Before/After valuations used to quantify charitable tax deductions. SLT also offers an affordable end-of-life service, the Prairie Home Scattering Garden, co-developed with Episcopal Social Services' Breakthrough program.

SLT's revenue mechanics are diversified across tax-deductible donations (accepted via Ko-fi and direct contributions), conservation easement transactions structured as bargain sales (providing landowners an income stream plus a charitable deduction), mitigation credit sales to project developers needing 404 Permit offsets, In Lieu Fee program fees, and ancillary landowner consulting on farm income, tax trust options, 1031 exchanges, and trespass management. Its go-to-market is community-led and relationship-driven — direct phone (316-734-7545) and email ([email protected]) engagement, supplemented by the sunflowerlandtrust.com website. Customer segments include Kansas landowners (primary), absentee landowners, project developers and municipalities requiring regulatory mitigation, and philanthropic donors; pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sunflower Land Trust Inc

Legal name

Sunflower Land Trust, Inc.

Website

https://sunflowerlandtrust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sunflower Land Trust is a Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, established 1996 and headquartered in Wichita, that provides conservation easements, mitigation banking, in-lieu fee services, and family legacy programs to Kansas landowners, project developers, and municipalities across south central Kansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Landscaping Services (561730), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reclamation (Cleanup for Reuse, Risk-Based Closure) (EUAIALAI)

Keywords

• Conservation easements
• Wetland mitigation banking
• Land trust services
• Wildlife habitat protection
• Environmental land conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, SLT receives tax-deductible donations from the public to support conservation efforts.
2. Conservation Easement Transactions: Landowners convey easements to SLT, with some transactions structured as 'bargain sales' allowing owners to receive an income stream while receiving a charitable donation.
3. Mitigation Banking Services: SLT creates and sells mitigation credits (wetland and stream credits) to project developers who need to offset environmental impacts. Serves South Central Kansas region through Mitigation Bank One.
4. In Lieu Fee Program: SLT accepts fees from economic development projects to fulfill their mitigation obligations off-site. SLT creates mitigation projects within required timeframes.
5. Landowner Assistance Consulting: Team of local experts provides answers to landowner concerns including farm income, conservation options, tax advantages, 1031 exchanges, and trespasser issues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sunflower Land Trust is a Kansas-based 501(c)(3) land trust that provides conservation easements, mitigation banking (wetland and stream credits), in lieu fee mitigation services, threatened and endangered species habitat programs, family legacy programs, landowner assistance consulting, and an affordable burial cemetery (Prairie Home Scattering Garden). Its offerings are tailored to individual landowner needs, leveraging relationships with USACE, USFWS, and KDWP, and supported by tax-deductible donations and bargain-sale easement structures.

Product overview

Sunflower Land Trust is a Kansas-based land trust established in 1996 that provides conservation activities for landowners. The organization operates multiple programs: Legacy Programs (Family Legacy Program, Fleming Conservancy, Satterthwaite Wildlife Preserve), Mitigation Programs (Mitigation Banking, In Lieu Fee, Threatened/Endangered Species), and Landowner Assistance. It also operates Prairie Home Scattering Garden as an affordable burial solution. Key services include conservation easements, tax benefits guidance, and conservation sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prairie Home Scattering Garden: A 6-acre cemetery and peaceful resting place for cremated ashes, offering ash scattering and inurnment services in Derby, Kansas. Creation of Sunflower Land Trust and Episcopal Social Services' Breakthrough program.

Products and services

• Prairie Home Scattering Garden A 6-acre cemetery on 12600 E 79th St S, Derby, KS 67037, surrounding 34 acres of permanently preserved hay-land, offering ash scattering and inurnment services as an affordable end-of-life option.
• Conservation Easements Legal conservation tools tailored to individual family needs that protect natural aspects, preserve visual aspects, cluster or limit development, and can be site-specific to each property.
• Mitigation Banking Wetland and stream credits mitigation services for south central Kansas, providing federally compliant mitigation credits to project developers and municipalities.
• In Lieu Fee Program Enables economic development projects to fulfill mitigation obligations by transferring them to SLT, which replicates mitigation credits on another site within 18 months of accepting a fee.
• Threatened and Endangered Species Mitigation Program Habitat creation and protection for threatened and endangered species, including the Eastern Spotted Skunk, delivered in coordination with KDWP and private landowners.
• Landowner Assistance Program Connects landowners with local experts to address concerns about farm income, property sales, conservation placement, tax advantages, 1031 exchanges, and trespassing issues.
• Family Legacy Program Enables landowners to create permanent family legacies using legal instruments tailored to individual family needs, including examples such as the Fleming Conservancy and Satterthwaite Wildlife Preserve.
• Tax Benefits Services Assistance with tax deductions under IRS Tax Code, including Before/After appraisals to determine the value of tax donations and guidance on reducing or avoiding capital gains and estate taxes.
• Conservation Sales Services for lands with environmental assets to be conserved, including wetlands, hunting-restricted areas, windbreaks, historical sites, and view vistas.

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• City of WichitacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007City of Wichita in conjunction with Kansas Department of Transportation needed bridge replacement on State Highway 54, resulting in wetland and stream mitigation requirements fulfilled by SLT.
• Kansas Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007KDOT partnered with City of Wichita for State Highway 54 bridge replacement, requiring SLT mitigation services for wetland and stream corridor impacts.
• Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005SLT and KDWP worked out legal details of a Conservation Easement for Eastern Spotted Skunk habitat creation in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
• Episcopal Social Services' Breakthrough ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creation of Prairie Home Scattering Garden with Episcopal Social Services' Breakthrough program. Both are 501(c)(3) organizations that reinvest profits into conservation efforts (SLT) and support of low-income families or persons needing mental health assistance (Breakthrough).
• US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLT works through USACE to create Mitigation Banks and In Lieu Fee Programs. USACE issues 404 Permits for projects impacting streams or wetlands, and oversees mitigation compliance.
• Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLT works with KDWP to mitigate habitat losses for Threatened and Endangered Species and create statewide species habitat programs.
• Accredited AppraiserssupportingOthersSLT works with accredited appraisers to determine value of tax benefits through 'Before/After' appraisals that document the true value of tax donations.
• Local Experts (Team of Experts)supportingOthersSLT has assembled a team of local experts who can provide answers to landowner concerns including farm income, conservation options, tax advantages, 1031 exchanges, and trespasser management.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLT works with USFWS to monitor various wildlife species under the Threatened and Endangered Species Program.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA interfaces with other agencies to reduce project impacts on air and water quality, coordinating permits for environmental mitigation.
• Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDHE issues permits regarding local water quality issues and coordinates with other agencies for environmental protection.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that balances conservation with economic development needs, including mitigation banking and land conservation. Comparable in mission and mitigation work, but with national scope and corporate-style capacity.
• Ducks Unlimited: Wetland-focused conservation organization active in Kansas with wetland mitigation and habitat programs. Comparable to SLT in wetland and stream mitigation banking, but with national infrastructure and dedicated waterfowl-hunting funding.
• The Nature Conservancy (Kansas Chapter): The largest global conservation organization operates a Kansas chapter pursuing conservation easements, land acquisition, and habitat protection. Directly comparable mission and tools to SLT, but with vastly larger scale, multi-state reach, and institutional funding capacity.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that acquires and protects land for public use, including conservation easements and parks. Comparable mission and tools to SLT but at national scale and with much larger fundraising and policy capabilities.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership association that supports and accredits land trusts. Not a direct competitor but a key peer/enabler for SLT, providing accreditation, training, and policy advocacy that informs SLT's conservation easement and stewardship practices.

Direct peers

• Pheasants Forever: Wildlife habitat organization active in Kansas that delivers conservation easements, CRP enrollment, and working-lands programs through local chapters. Directly comparable to SLT's landowner assistance and upland habitat protection services in the same geography.
• Kansas Land Trust: A statewide Kansas land trust offering conservation easements, land protection, and stewardship services. The closest direct peer, operating in the same geography with the same core service set (easements, landowner assistance, mitigation work).

Regional players

• Grassland Heritage Foundation: Kansas-focused organization dedicated to preserving native grasslands and prairies through easements and landowner partnerships. Closely comparable to SLT's prairie and grassland preservation work and Kansas geography.
• Northern Prairies Land Trust: Regional land trust serving the northern Great Plains with conservation easements and stewardship. Comparable small-scale nonprofit model to SLT, operating in an adjacent geography with similar landowner-driven programs.
• Audubon Society – Kansas: National bird and habitat conservation organization with Kansas presence pursuing habitat preservation and landowner engagement. Comparable to SLT in conservation focus and Kansas landowner outreach, but with national donor base and brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunflower-land-trust-inc

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 Sunflower Land Trust Inc