Ventura Hillsides Conservancy

What Ventura Hillsides Conservancy does

Ventura Land Trust (formerly Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, renamed in 2017) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 2003 and headquartered in Ventura, California. The organization's stated mission is to conserve open space, restore natural habitats, and provide public access and education across protected landscapes in Ventura County. It manages 3,978 acres across multiple preserves — Harmon Canyon, Ventura Hills Nature Preserve, Big Rock, Willoughby, and Hayden — all of which are open to the public free of charge on a daily basis. The organization is accredited by the Land Trust Alliance and operates with a staff of 11-50 supported by approximately 800 dues-paying members and roughly 1,000 annual volunteers.

The organization runs an outdoor education program called Ventura Wild (engaging 5,491 students to date), a river restoration initiative that has removed over 500 tons of debris from the Ventura River estuary, and volunteer programs including the VLT Ambassador, Docent, and Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP). Its technical footprint is modest and primarily third-party: it uses the iNaturalist community-science platform for biodiversity documentation and monitoring across preserves, while core operational systems are standard nonprofit web infrastructure.

Funding comes from a diversified mix of individual donations and membership dues (tiered from $60 to $1,200 annually), recurring and one-time government and foundation grants (notably a $7.2 million State of California grant awarded in 2023), corporate sponsorships, naming opportunities on benches, trees, and trails, and signature fundraising events including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and the Gear Garage Sale hosted with Topa Topa Brewing Company. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, has no parent company, and is recognized by Candid (Platinum Seal of Transparency) and Charity Navigator (4-star rating).

Name

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy

Legal name

Ventura Land Trust

Website

https://venturalandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ventura Land Trust is a Ventura County, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that conserves open space, restores habitat, and operates five publicly accessible nature preserves totaling 3,978 acres, funded primarily through donations, memberships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation and Environmental Stewardship

NAICS

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

SIC

Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation
• Open space preservation
• Habitat restoration
• Outdoor education
• Volunteer stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Ventura

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donations, membership dues, and planned giving constitute core operational funding. VLT builds a broad membership base and accepts various forms of philanthropic support including endowments and gifts.
2. Fundraising Events: Sponsors fundraising events including the Gear Garage Sale and Wild and Scenic Film Festival to raise funds and community awareness.
3. Government Grants: Pursues grants from foundations and government agencies, including a $7.2 million state grant for acquisition of Ventura Hills Nature Preserve and Harmon Canyon Preserve.
4. Naming Opportunities: Generates ongoing stewardship funding through naming opportunities such as naming benches, trees, and trails on the preserves.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Partners with businesses for event sponsorship and ongoing support.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ventura Land Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) land trust that permanently conserves open space across Ventura County by owning and stewarding 3,978 acres of nature preserves (including Harmon Canyon and Ventura Hills Nature Preserve). It provides free public access for hiking, biking, and dog-friendly recreation; delivers the Ventura Wild outdoor education program; and conducts habitat restoration, invasive species management, and river estuary cleanup through volunteer programs. The organization is funded by individual donations, tiered memberships, corporate sponsorships, naming opportunities, and government grants.

Product overview

Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is a nonprofit land trust organization (formerly Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, renamed in 2017) that operates as a single integrated conservation organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their offerings consist of land preservation services, publicly accessible nature preserves, outdoor education programs, and volunteer engagement opportunities. The core products include Harmon Canyon Preserve and Ventura Hills Nature Preserve (the organization's flagship preserves), supplemented by Ventura Wild outdoor education, volunteer programs including the VLT Ambassador and Docent programs, and the WHIP habitat improvement initiative. VLT also organizes signature events including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Gear Garage Sale fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harmon Canyon Preserve A multi-use preserve offering hiking and cycling trails, managed by Ventura Land Trust as part of its open space protection mission. Open daily to the public at no charge.
• Ventura Hills Nature Preserve A 1,645-acre preserve protecting coastal sage scrub habitat, offering approximately 5 miles of multi-use trails for human-powered recreation. Established in 2026.
• Ventura Wild Outdoor Education An outdoor education program that has engaged 5,491 students, providing environmental education and nature experiences for youth.
• Willoughby Preserve River Restoration A volunteer program removing trash and invasive species from the Ventura River Estuary, having removed over 500 tons of debris.
• VLT Ambassador Program A volunteer opportunity for individuals to represent VLT while sharing the organization's mission and managing projects.
• VLT Docent Program A volunteer program where docents serve as connections between visitors, the land, and VLT as an organization, providing information and support at preserves.
• WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program) An ongoing effort to improve wildlife habitat at Harmon Canyon through volunteer restoration activities.
• Wild & Scenic Film Festival VLT's signature annual event featuring environmental and adventure films, supported by volunteer efforts.
• Gear Garage Sale An annual spring benefit event selling second-hand outdoor gear, hosted with Topa Topa Brewing Company to raise funds for VLT.
• VLT Membership Program Tiered annual membership program (Preserve, Hike, Dog, Naturalist, Bike, Benefactor) providing guided tours, branded merchandise, event priority access, and a twice-yearly newsletter for supporters of Ventura Land Trust.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Land Trust AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLT is an accredited member of the Land Trust Alliance, the national land trust membership organization that supports, promotes, and protects land trusts. This accreditation is a key indicator of organizational credibility and adherence to best practices.
• Topa Topa Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTopa Topa Brewing Company is VLT's beer-and-gear partner for the annual Gear Garage Sale fundraiser event. The event is hosted at Topa Topa Brewing Co. (4880 Colt St, Ventura, CA 93003) as a benefit for VLT.
• Athens ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAthens Services is a sponsor of VLT's annual Gear Garage Sale fundraiser event.
• One Percent for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVLT is an environmental partner member of One Percent for the Planet, an organization connecting consumers and businesses to environmental causes.
• CAUSEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLT partnered with CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) in 2024 to connect with Spanish-speaking neighbors on the westside of Ventura for outreach and community engagement purposes.
• Ventura County Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLT works closely with Ventura County Fire Department on fire safety initiatives, including maintenance on historical fire roads and fuel load reduction efforts. The department supported VLT's use of grazing for fuel load reduction at Harmon Canyon Preserve through a FEMA grant.
• Ventura Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLT works with Ventura Fire Department on defensible space clearance duties along residential boundaries and other fire safety initiatives. The department has its own locks on preserve gates for emergency access.
• Ventura County Regional Fire Safe Council (VCRFSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLT partners with VCRFSC to promote free programs available to help residents harden their homes against wildfires.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Inland Empire Land Trust: Southern California land trust protecting open space in the Inland Empire region. Comparable to VLT in scale, mission, and California operating context, though focused on a different Southern California geography.
• Land Trust of Napa County: California county-level land trust protecting open space, agriculture, and natural resources in Napa County. Highly comparable in scale and structure to VLT, though operating in a different California county geography.

Direct peers

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit land conservation organization that protects land for public enjoyment. Directly comparable to VLT's mission of preserving open space, providing public access, and acquiring conservation lands across multiple geographies.
• Save the Redwoods League: California-focused nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting and restoring redwood forests. Comparable in mission structure (501(c)(3) land trust, preserve management, education, donor-supported acquisitions) and California operating context.
• Mojave Desert Land Trust: California-based nonprofit land trust focused on conserving the Mojave Desert. Like VLT, MDLT acquires and manages preserves, runs volunteer programs, and operates outdoor education initiatives in a defined California geography with similar scale and operating model.
• Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST): Bay Area-based nonprofit land trust that has protected over 80,000 acres on the San Francisco Peninsula. POST shares VLT's model of permanent land preservation, public access, and donor-funded acquisition of open space in California.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club Foundation: National environmental nonprofit focused on conservation, advocacy, and public lands protection. While more focused on advocacy than direct land ownership, Sierra Club's conservation mission and donor-supported funding model parallel VLT's operations.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global environmental nonprofit that protects ecologically important lands and waters. While much larger in scale and geographic scope, TNC's core mission of land acquisition and conservation easement stewardship aligns directly with VLT's activities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/venturalandtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/venturalandtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/venturalandtrust

Compliance5 records

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 Ventura Hillsides Conservancy