Northern Prairies Land Trust

What Northern Prairies Land Trust does

Northern Prairies Land Trust (NPLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 2000 by natural resources law professor John H. Davidson, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Its core offering is the conservation easement—a perpetual voluntary legal agreement under which private landowners retain ownership while permanently restricting subdivision, commercial development, and activities harmful to soil, water, or wildlife habitat. NPLT complements easements with stewardship services (annual monitoring and enforcement funded by The John H. Davidson Stewardship Fund), prescribed fire assistance, oak woodland and grassland restoration programs, and a conservation toolkit covering federal Farm Bill programs, tax incentives, and state law considerations. The organization's primary customer segment is conservation-minded private landowners—predominantly farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and Nebraska—with secondary engagement of tribal nations (e.g., Santee Sioux Nation) and government/conservation organizations.

NPLT monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model: tax-deductible individual donations, restricted stewardship endowments accompanying each easement, project grants from entities such as the Nebraska Environmental Trust (a $225,000 award in 2021 for oak woodland restoration with $460,000 in partner/landowner match), the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Landowner Incentive Program, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, and modest conservation easement processing fees. There is no software product, API, or platform; all services are delivered via direct, one-on-one landowner engagement and field offices in South Dakota (Watertown, opened 2004) and Nebraska (Royal, Beatrice, Valentine). GTM motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on word-of-mouth referrals and partner referrals from agencies such as Ducks Unlimited, USDA NRCS, Pheasants Forever, and The Nature Conservancy.

Operationally, NPLT has secured 36 conservation easements totaling over 7,000 acres (28 in South Dakota, 8 in Nebraska) and, through associated restoration programs, has enhanced roughly 90,000 acres of grassland and over 5,000 acres of oak woodland. Cumulative dollars raised since inception exceed $1.5 million. The organization played a key role in a complex land exchange that added 30,000 acres of bison range to Badlands National Park (2014) and co-founded the Nebraska Oak Woodland Alliance (2014) and a formal partnership with Friends of the Big Sioux River (2019). Leadership transitioned following founder Davidson's death in November 2019; the organization is now led by Executive Director Travis Entenman, supported by a board of practicing attorneys and conservation advocates.

Name

Northern Prairies Land Trust

Legal name

Northern Prairies Land Trust

Website

https://northernprairies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northern Prairies Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that helps private landowners in South Dakota and Nebraska protect their land through perpetual conservation easements, stewardship, and habitat restoration services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Conservation easements
• Land stewardship
• Habitat restoration
• Prairie preservation
• Landowner conservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and the public supporting day-to-day land conservation and stewardship operations.
2. Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as Nebraska Environmental Trust ($225,000 awarded with potential 2nd year of $165,000 and 3rd year of $0), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, US Fish and Wildlife Service (Landowner Incentive Program), and other government conservation programs.
3. Stewardship Fund Endowments: Conservation-minded landowners accompany their donated conservation easement with a gift to The John H. Davidson Stewardship Fund to ensure their conservation goals are fulfilled in perpetuity. Endowment monies are pooled in a restricted fund used exclusively for easement monitoring and enforcement.
4. Conservation Easement Services: Fees associated with legal document preparation and processing of conservation easements. The process typically takes three to nine months to complete.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northern Prairies Land Trust helps private landowners in South Dakota and Nebraska permanently protect their land through conservation easements, which are voluntary legal agreements that restrict development while allowing continued ownership and agricultural use. The trust also provides perpetual stewardship services through The John H. Davidson Stewardship Fund, oak woodland and prairie restoration programs, prescribed fire assistance, and a conservation toolkit covering federal Farm Bill programs and tax incentives.

Product overview

Northern Prairies Land Trust (NPLT) operates as a single-service non-profit conservation organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is the perpetual conservation easement—a voluntary legal agreement that allows private landowners to permanently protect their land's natural values while retaining ownership. The organization complements this primary tool with stewardship services (monitoring and enforcement through The John H. Davidson Stewardship Fund), prescribed fire assistance, oak woodland restoration programs, landowner education, and coordination with partner organizations. NPLT does not offer a software product, platform, or digital tools; all services are delivered through direct landowner engagement and field-based conservation work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Easements Voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and Northern Prairies Land Trust that permanently protects the natural and open space values of land by transferring certain land-use rights, precluding subdivision, commercial development, and activities detrimental to soil, water, or wildlife habitat. Designed for private landowners in South Dakota and Nebraska who want to permanently protect their land while retaining ownership, agricultural use, and the ability to sell or transfer the property. Each easement is tailored to the land's unique character and the owner's conservation goals.
• Stewardship (The John H. Davidson Stewardship Fund) Ongoing monitoring and enforcement of conservation easements in perpetuity, including annual monitoring visits and a pooled, restricted endowment fund used exclusively for easement monitoring and enforcement. Conservation-minded landowners accompany their donated conservation easement with a gift to the Stewardship Fund to ensure their conservation goals are fulfilled in perpetuity.
• Conservation Toolkit and Education Expertise and information on the full range of conservation tools, including federal Farm Bill programs, conservation tax incentives, easement drafting, and state law concerns, provided to landowners, communities, and partner organizations to support informed conservation decisions.
• Oak Woodland Restoration Large-scale restoration efforts involving prescribed fire, invasive tree thinning, and weed control for oak woodlands and savannas, conducted in partnership with landowners and conservation organizations through the Nebraska Oak Woodland Alliance. Enhances habitat on privately owned oak woodlands across Nebraska.
• Prescribed Fire Assistance Organization of landowner cooperatives, participation in burn crews (including the Niobrara Valley Prescribed Burn Association), and provision of tools and equipment such as a burn trailer to help landowners safely conduct prescribed burns for invasive species control and native plant rejuvenation.
• Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) US Fish and Wildlife Service program administered in partnership with the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks providing financial support and technical assistance for habitat improvement projects on privately owned prairies, including wetland restoration, native grass seeding, and rotational grazing systems in South Dakota.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 acres conserved in perpetuity through conservation easements
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Friends of the Big Sioux RivercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2019Formal organizational partnership between two 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation entities. The organizations work together to advance common goals of land and water conservation within South Dakota and promote a conservation ethic in the region. They develop and advocate local policy, increase fundraising efforts (memberships, donations, and grants), land protection (easements and conservation toolkit), water protection projects, and overall awareness and education. Travis Entenman serves as director of both organizations while maintaining separate boards, goals, and identities.
• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization focused on wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation. Partnership supports mutual conservation goals in South Dakota.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing conservation programs and funding. Works with NPLT on Farm Bill conservation programs and private land conservation initiatives in South Dakota.
• Pheasants Forever and Quail ForevermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Oak Woodland Workshop for Women in April 2025 at Ponca State Park. Provided breakout sessions on conservation subjects with hands-on skills training. Workshop had nearly 50 female attendees including landowners and women entering the conservation field.
• Nebraska Game and Parks CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperative relationship since 2002 to implement habitat improvement projects on privately owned prairies. Ongoing partnership on Santee Sioux Nation restoration project and other conservation initiatives across Nebraska.
• Santee Sioux NationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for tallgrass prairie and oak woodland restoration on Santee Sioux Nation lands. Project includes 122 acres of cedar removal and 207 acres of woodland thinning. Also involved Bureau of Indian Affairs Fuels Program, Nebraska Forest Service, and Nebraska Indian Community College for environmental monitoring sites.
• Bureau of Indian AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Santee Sioux Nation on Hazardous Fuels crew and woodland restoration. BIA Fuels Specialist provides training and oversight for conservation crews.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Prairie Coteau Habitat Partnership. Featured in August 2018 Nature Conservancy story about prairie conservation in South Dakota.
• Nebraska Forest ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Santee Sioux Nation restoration project providing training in tree identification and forest thinning to tribal Hazardous Fuels Crew.
• East Dakota Water Development DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated East Dakota Riparian Restoration and Protection Project (EDRRPP), a revival of Big Sioux River Conservation Easement Program. Sponsored by NPLT with funding through EDWDD and South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources 319 grant program.
• Moody County Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored Central Big Sioux River Watershed Project with NPLT assisting on riparian easement aspect. Project covered lower portion of Big Sioux River Watershed.
• Land Trust AllianceminorOthersNational land trust membership and advocacy organization representing land trusts across the United States.
• Nebraska Oak Woodland Alliance (NOWA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium formed in 2014 by NPLT and conservation partners to enhance Nebraska oak woodlands. Has conducted prescribed fire, invasive tree thinning, and weed control on over 15,000 acres of oak woods.
• University of South DakotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for presentations including 'The Missouri River Flood of 2011' and 'The Land and Its People' with Missouri River Institute and University of Sioux Falls.
• Niobrara Valley Prescribed Burn AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal prescribed fire association with which NPLT biologists participate in burn crews. Ranchers team up to burn complexes of oak woodland, pine savannah, and sand prairie.
• Nebraska Natural Legacy ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level conservation initiative involved in Santee Sioux Nation restoration project alongside NGPC's WILD Nebraska Habitat Program.
• Badlands National Park / National Park ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPLT played key role in complex land exchange resulting in 30,000 additional acres of bison range added to Badlands National Park. Formal 'fence-cutting' ceremony on June 11, 2014 celebrated opening of new lands.
• Clay County Historical Preservation CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored presentation on 'The Land and Its People' regarding preservation and conservation easements.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Nature Conservancy: The world's largest conservation organization; holds conservation easements, manages nature preserves, and partners with private landowners across the U.S. for habitat protection. NPLT operates the same easement and stewardship model at a much smaller regional scale, and has an existing strategic partnership via the Prairie Coteau Habitat Partnership.
• Ducks Unlimited: Waterfowl and wetland habitat conservation organization with active partnerships in the Dakotas and Nebraska. NPLT has an existing strategic partnership with DU, and both engage in habitat restoration and conservation on private lands.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on conserving land for people, including working with private landowners on conservation easements and land acquisitions. Closely mirrors NPLT's easement-based model of permanent land protection.
• National Audubon Society: Bird and habitat conservation organization that manages nature preserves and works with private landowners. Operates a similar conservation easement and habitat stewardship model, with geographic overlap in the Great Plains.
• American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit focused on protecting farmland and ranchland from development, including through conservation easements. Directly comparable easement model targeting the same private landowner segment (farmers and ranchers) as NPLT.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Habitat conservation organization focused on elk and other wildlife that funds and coordinates land conservation easements and habitat projects. Comparable easement and habitat restoration approach with private landowners in the Plains and Western U.S.
• Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever: Grassland wildlife habitat conservation organization with strong presence in the Dakotas. Co-hosted NPLT's Oak Woodland Workshop for Women in April 2025; both organizations work on grassland and woodland restoration with private landowners.

Broad incumbents

• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife conservation advocacy and habitat protection organization. Less easements-focused than NPLT, but operates comparable private lands and habitat conservation programs with a wildlife emphasis in the Great Plains region.
• National Wildlife Federation: Large national wildlife conservation organization with broader programmatic scope (policy, education, on-the-ground projects) than NPLT. Overlaps in private lands conservation, education, and habitat restoration in the Great Plains region.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership and advocacy organization representing 1,000+ land trusts across the U.S. NPLT is a member; the Alliance provides accreditation, policy advocacy, and shared services that enable and support smaller land trusts like NPLT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Northern-Prairies-Land-Trust-135874159837
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-prairies-land-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Northern Prairies Land Trust