Western Slope Conservation Center

What Western Slope Conservation Center does

The Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered at 204 Poplar Ave, Paonia, Colorado (EIN 84-0728032). It operates in Delta County, the North Fork Valley, and across the Lower Gunnison watershed in western Colorado, where roughly 60% of land is public. WSCC's mission is to build an informed and engaged community that protects and enhances the lands, air, water, and wildlife of the Western Slope through three interlocking program areas: Public Lands advocacy (GORP Act, BLM UFO RMP, USFS GMUG Forest Plan, Protect the Dolores, Jumbo Mountain campaigns), Watershed protection (River Watch volunteer monitoring with 15+ years of data, watershed assessments and plans), and the Paonia River Park (a restored riparian habitat and recreation area on a former in-stream gravel mine). Supporting programs include Mike's Hikes guided outings, Trail Stewardship Days in partnership with the USFS Paonia Ranger District, Conservation Days field trips that served 300+ fourth-grade students from all six Delta County elementary schools, and a 14-year-running annual DC Fly-In advocacy delegation whose 2026 cohort hand-delivered a letter of support signed by 112 Colorado businesses.

WSCC uses no proprietary technology platform; its technical footprint consists of community-science water quality monitoring, interactive local mapping layers (oil & gas development, roadless areas, irrigation ditches), a content website with a blog/news CMS, and a monthly email newsletter on Mailchimp-style infrastructure. The organization's ecosystem is its primary asset: it coordinates coalitions with VOGA, Fulcrum Rural Solutions, the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, Solar Energy International, Paradise Theatre (Mountainfilm on Tour), Western Colorado Conservation Corps, The Nature Connection, Delta County 50J School District, the Town of Paonia, the Heritage Foundation Round Up Riders of the Rockies, and government agencies (USFS, BLM, Delta County).

Revenue is generated through individual memberships and tax-deductible donations (primary stream), foundation and government grants, and event-based fundraising including annual gear raffles (e.g., a 2021 Seek Outside + Welfelt Fabrication package valued at $2,821), Mountainfilm on Tour screenings, Float Fest, and the annual meeting. GTM is community-led: programmatic outreach via blog/newsletter, in-person events, volunteer stewardship days, and annual DC fly-ins rather than paid distribution. Tangible regulatory and conservation outcomes to date include over 10,000 acres permanently protected through the Conservation Assistance Program, 225,000+ acres protected via the Thompson Divide Administrative Mineral Withdrawal, nearly 200,000 annual visitors supported in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, and a GORP Act proposal covering 730,000+ acres. The organization operates with a small staff (Executive Director Hannah Stevens, Advocacy Coordinator Melissa Newell) supplemented by extensive volunteers and a board of directors, and is currently hiring per its homepage.

Name

Western Slope Conservation Center

Legal name

Western Slope Conservation Center

Website

https://westernslopeconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Western Slope Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) grassroots conservation nonprofit founded in 1977 in Paonia, Colorado, that protects public lands, watersheds, and wildlife habitat across Delta County and the North Fork Valley through community-led advocacy, volunteer stewardship, watershed monitoring, and youth education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental conservation services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Watershed stewardship programs
• Environmental advocacy
• Public lands protection
• Community conservation nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Paonia

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. Memberships and Individual Donations: WSCC relies on memberships and individual donations as its primary revenue source. The organization encourages monthly mailing list subscribers and website visitors to become members and make tax-deductible contributions. EIN: 84-0728032.
2. Grants and Foundation Support: WSCC pursues grant funding from foundations and government programs. Recent examples include support from Heritage Foundation Round Up Riders of the Rockies for trail stewardship and grants for river restoration projects.
3. Raffles and Special Events: WSCC conducts annual raffles (e.g., Seek Outside tent and camp gear raffle valued at $2,821) and community events including Float Fest, Mountainfilm screenings, and educational workshops as fundraising mechanisms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WSCC is a grassroots nonprofit conservation organization that protects and enhances the lands, air, water, and wildlife of Western Colorado through public lands advocacy, watershed stewardship, volunteer-driven trail and habitat restoration at Paonia River Park, community water quality monitoring (River Watch), youth environmental education, and an annual DC fly-in advocacy delegation. The organization mobilizes volunteers, members, and donors to support these programs rather than selling commercial products.

Product overview

Western Slope Conservation Center is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on protecting and enhancing the lands, air, water, and wildlife of the Western Slope of Colorado. The organization operates core programs including Public Lands Advocacy (campaigns for GORP Act, BLM management plans, and forest planning), Watershed Programs (River Watch monitoring, watershed assessments), Paonia River Park (restored riparian habitat and recreation area), Mike's Hikes (guided outdoor experiences), Trail Stewardship Days (volunteer trail maintenance), Conservation Days (youth environmental education), and annual DC Fly-In advocacy. The organization mobilizes community volunteers for hands-on stewardship and advocates for legislative protections of public lands and watersheds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Lands Advocacy Advocacy program focused on protecting public lands in Western Colorado through legislative campaigns (GORP Act, BLM UFO RMP, USFS GMUG Forest Plan), federal policy engagement, and the annual DC fly-in delegation.
• Watershed Programs (River Watch and Watershed Assessments) Water quality monitoring and watershed stewardship including the River Watch volunteer monitoring program (15+ years of data in the North Fork watershed), watershed assessments, and restoration planning for the Lower Gunnison watershed.
• Paonia River Park Restored riparian habitat and recreation area, formerly an in-stream gravel mine, featuring trails, wildlife viewing, pollinator habitat, and family-friendly recreation along the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
• Mike's Hikes Guided outdoor hiking experiences led by local naturalists, including birding hikes and full moon snowshoe excursions, free to community members.
• Trail Stewardship Days Volunteer trail maintenance program partnering with the USFS Paonia Ranger District for trail improvement projects in Gunnison National Forest near Kebler Pass.
• Conservation Days (youth field trips) Environmental education field trips for Delta County 4th grade students at Paonia River Park; a single event hosted 300+ students from all six Delta County elementary schools.
• Annual DC Fly-In Advocacy Delegation Annual self-directed, locally-coordinated delegation to Washington DC that advocates for conservation, public lands, farm policy, and clean energy on behalf of North Fork Valley and Delta County.
• Membership and Giving Program Tax-deductible organizational membership and donation program that funds WSCC's conservation work; sign-ups and contributions collected through the WSCC website (EIN 84-0728032).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 acres permanently protected through the Conservation Assistance Program (CAP)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Seek OutsideminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Seek Outside, based in Grand Junction, Colorado, donated a Seek Outside Redcliff 6-person tent as the grand prize for WSCC's 2021 fundraising raffle. The raffle raised funds for WSCC's conservation programs and served as a marketing partnership with a local outdoor gear manufacturer.
• Welfelt FabricationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Welfelt Fabrication in Delta, Colorado donated a custom camp stove as part of WSCC's 2021 raffle grand prize package. The partnership supported WSCC's fundraising while promoting a local metal fabrication business.
• Valley Organic Growers Association (VOGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOGA is a key partner in the annual North Fork Valley and Delta County DC fly-in, representing the sustainable agriculture sector. WSCC and VOGA collaborate annually to bring a unified rural Colorado voice to Washington DC on issues of conservation, public lands, farm policy, and clean energy.
• Fulcrum Rural SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulcrum Rural Solutions helps lead the annual DC fly-in effort, facilitating advocacy for rural Colorado communities including Delta County. Pete Kolbenschlag with Fulcrum Rural Solutions has helped lead the DC fly-in trip for over a decade.
• Colorado Farm & Food AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Colorado Farm & Food Alliance co-organizes the annual North Fork Valley DC fly-in alongside WSCC and VOGA, advocating for agriculture, conservation, and rural economic resilience at the federal level.
• Solar Energy InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar Energy International participates in the annual DC fly-in advocacy trip, representing the renewable energy sector alongside WSCC, VOGA, and other community stakeholders.
• US Forest Service — Paonia Ranger DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCC partners with the USFS Paonia Ranger District on Trail Stewardship Days, collaborating to improve trails in the Gunnison National Forest near Kebler Pass. The partnership provides volunteer labor for trail maintenance including brushing, lopping, and small tree removal.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCC engages with the BLM on public lands management issues, including the GORP Act advocacy, BLM UFO RMP campaigns, and stewardship projects in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. BLM is a key regulatory partner for public lands protection.
• Paradise Theatre (Paonia)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWSCC partners with the Paradise Theatre to host Mountainfilm on Tour in Paonia annually. This partnership serves as a key environmental education and community engagement event, promoting conservation values through documentary film to the local community.
• Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Western Colorado Conservation Corps crew has partnered with WSCC on multiple occasions to build trails at the Paonia River Park, including clearing new trail corridors and constructing a half-mile loop trail at the Paonia K-8 school.
• The Nature ConnectionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCC collaborates with The Nature Connection on the Paonia K-8 school trail project, which aligns with the school district's Flight of the Eagle Master Plan objectives.
• Town of PaoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCC partnered with the Town of Paonia on the Paonia K-8 school trail project as part of a collaborative community development initiative.
• Delta County 50J School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCC collaborated with the Delta County 50J school district on the Paonia K-8 school trail project, fulfilling an objective of the school district's Flight of the Eagle Master Plan.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-slope-conservation-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Western Slope Conservation Center