Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation

What Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation does

The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that operates in formal partnership with the City of San Diego (agreement since 1991) to preserve, improve, develop, and maintain Mission Trails Regional Park, an 8,000-acre urban park visited by approximately two million people annually. Its core activity is supporting one of the largest urban parks in the United States through three integrated lines of work: environmental education (free K-8 field trips aligned to NGSS, Eco Ambassador teen program, Trail Tykes, nature walks, with 30,000+ students served since 2009 and ~3,000 children educated annually); conservation (Land Acquisition Initiative funded by San Diego River Conservancy grants that has delivered 108 acres to the City of San Diego as of March 2025, plus habitat restoration); and Visitor Center operations (14,000 sq ft facility with exhibits, gift shop, theater, and event rentals). The foundation employs ~8 staff led by Executive Director Jennifer Morrissey and governed by a Board of Directors.

Revenue is generated through individual donations, grants (notably from the San Diego River Conservancy), Visitor Center gift shop sales (physical and online at mtrpstore.org), facility rentals for weddings and corporate events, commemorative bench and picnic table sponsorships, and fundraising events such as the annual Hike-a-Thon and 33rd annual Photo Contest. The technology footprint is intentionally minimal — there is no proprietary technology platform; the foundation uses the third-party iNaturalist app within one field trip program and operates a basic website (mtrp.org) and online store for commerce and donor engagement. Pricing across public-facing programs is essentially freemium: educational programs are free (with bus reimbursement up to $250 for Title 1 schools), park access is free, and revenue is captured at the margins through rentals, retail, sponsorships, and philanthropy rather than through direct fees for core services. The foundation is recognized as a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (District 78) and the California State Legislature.

Name

Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation

Legal name

Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation

Website

https://mtrp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with the City of San Diego to steward an 8,000-acre park visited by 2 million people annually, delivering K-12 environmental education, conservation land acquisition, and Visitor Center programming funded by donations, grants, rentals, and retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park Conservation and Environmental Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Park conservation
• Community fundraising
• Nature programs
• Facility rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

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 Contributions: Individual donor contributions and corporate donations to support park preservation and educational programs.
2. Grants: Grant funding from government agencies including San Diego River Conservancy for land acquisition initiatives.
3. Gift Shop Sales: Visitor Center gift shop selling merchandise including 5-Peak Challenge t-shirts, postcards, and nature-themed items.
4. Facility Rentals: 14,000-square-foot Visitor Center available for weddings, corporate events, and gatherings. All facility rental proceeds benefit the park.
5. Sponsorship Programs: Commemorative bench and picnic table sponsorship program at the park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation operates, funds, and programs a 8,000-acre regional park in San Diego in formal partnership with the City of San Diego. Its core offerings are free environmental education field trips for K-8 students, nature walks and interpretive programs for the public, a 14,000-square-foot Visitor and Interpretive Center with facility rentals, and conservation programming including land acquisition and habitat restoration.

Product overview

Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation operates a multi-faceted environmental education and conservation organization offering a unified portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include ranger-led and foundation-led field trips for students in grades K-8, the 14,000-square-foot Visitor and Interpretive Center with exhibits and theater, and facility rentals for events. Supporting programs include the Eco Ambassador teen program, Trail Tykes read-aloud program, Nature Walks, volunteer programs (Trail Maintenance, Habitat Restoration, Visitor Center), and the annual Photo Contest. Conservation initiatives include the Land Acquisition Initiative and Habitat Restoration programs. The organization also operates a gift shop. These programs collectively serve over 30,000 students annually and support the park's 8,000 acres visited by over two million people each year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ranger-Led Field Trips Interpretive Rangers lead free field trips on park trails for K-8 students, with grade-specific curricula aligned to California Next Generation Science Standards.
• Foundation-Led Field Trips Educator-led free field trips for students in 2nd-8th grade, with programs covering Habitats of Mission Trails, Kumeyaay and Mission Trails, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity and Stewardship, aligned to NGSS and Core Curriculum standards.
• Self-Guided Field Trips

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ students educated since 2009 through free field trip programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership since 1991 with the City of San Diego to preserve, improve, develop, and maintain Mission Trails Regional Park. The foundation funds major capital projects including the Visitor Center and Field Station, and supports park maintenance and improvements.
• REIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerREI donated prizes for the 5-Peak Challenge completion awards in 2015, including gift cards and hiking-related items for milestone completions.
• Adventure-16minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal outdoor retailer donated gift cards and hiking items for 5-Peak Challenge milestone celebrations, supporting the hiking community engagement initiative.
• Kumeyaay CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kumeyaay are the indigenous people whose ancestors lived in the area now known as Mission Trails Regional Park. Their cultural heritage and history are integral to the park's educational programs, including field trips focused on Kumeyaay history and the Grinding Rocks cultural site.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks in urban areas. Comparable mission overlap in land acquisition for park expansion and conservation advocacy.
• National Park Foundation: Official national nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Comparable as the macro-scale counterpart supporting park conservation, education, and visitor programs across the U.S. national park system.
• Sierra Club: Major U.S. environmental organization with roots in outdoor recreation and conservation advocacy. Comparable as a broad environmental nonprofit combining advocacy, outdoor recreation programming, and conservation funding.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global environmental nonprofit working on land and water conservation. Comparable in conservation mission, habitat protection, and large-scale land acquisition, though operating at a vastly broader geographic scale.

Direct peers

• San Diego Parks Foundation: San Diego-focused nonprofit supporting the city's broader parks system through volunteerism, fundraising, and programs. Directly comparable as a regional park-supporting nonprofit working in the same metropolitan area with a similar community-led model.
• Fairmount Park Conservancy: Philadelphia-based nonprofit supporting Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban park systems in the U.S. Comparable as a municipal-park-focused conservancy combining conservation, education programs, and donor-driven capital improvements.
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit partner of the National Park Service supporting Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Comparable as a large-urban-park conservancy providing education, volunteer engagement, and visitor services through a public-private partnership model.
• Chicago Park District Foundation: Nonprofit supporting Chicago's extensive urban park system through fundraising and programs. Comparable as a city-affiliated urban park foundation delivering education, conservation, and community engagement at scale.
• Balboa Park Conservancy: San Diego-based nonprofit conservancy supporting one of North America's largest urban cultural parks. Directly comparable as a local urban park foundation relying on donations, facility rentals, and educational programming in partnership with the City of San Diego.

Others

• iNaturalist (California Academy of Sciences): Citizen science platform integrated into MTRP Foundation's 7th/8th grade Biodiversity and Stewardship field trips. Comparable as a technology ecosystem partner enabling the foundation's education programs and biodiversity tracking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MTRPFound
• Instagraminstagram.com/missiontrailsregionalpark
• Facebookfacebook.com/missiontrailsregionalpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mission-trails-regional-park-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles29 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation