The Urban Conservancy
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Urban Conservancy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Urban Conservancy
- Legal name
- The Urban Conservancy
- Website
- https://urbanconservancy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Urban Conservancy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Environmental Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions) (EUANAEAJ), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)
Keywords
Where The Urban Conservancy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Urban Conservancy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: Primary funding from philanthropic foundations including Greater New Orleans Foundation, Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation, Southeastern Sustainable Communities Fund, and others supporting environmental programs.
- Corporate/Institutional Funding: Support from Entergy Environmental Initiatives Fund, Wisner Donor Fund, and other corporate sponsors for specific programs like Front Yard Initiative.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting UC's mission, including appreciated stock transfers, donor-advised fund contributions, and IRA charitable rollovers.
- Sponsorships and Event Revenue: Urban Heroes annual awards luncheon generates sponsorship revenue at Ecosystem ($5,000), Cypress Tree ($2,000), Coral Honeysuckle ($1,000), and Stokes' Aster ($500) levels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | FYI Incentive: $2.50/sq ft paving removal reimbursement (sunsetted 2026) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Urban Conservancy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Urban Conservancy delivers community-based programs that promote urban environmental resilience in New Orleans. Its flagship Front Yard Initiative (FYI) provides technical assistance and (historically) financial incentives to homeowners to remove excessive paving and install green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens and permeable paving. The organization also operates the BASIN K-12 environmental literacy curriculum, the StayLocal independent business network, and the annual Urban Heroes community recognition program.
Product overview
The Urban Conservancy is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that operates several interconnected environmental and community programs rather than a traditional technology product. Its core programs include: the Front Yard Initiative (FYI), an incentive program for residential green infrastructure; BASIN, a youth environmental literacy curriculum; StayLocal, supporting independent businesses; and Urban Heroes, an annual awards celebration. These programs work collectively toward the organization's mission of strengthening the urban environment and local economy through equitable practices, policies, and programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Front Yard Initiative (FYI): UC's response to excessive yard paving; an incentive program reimbursing homeowners for removing paving and installing green stormwater infrastructure. Since 2015, FYI has helped 168 homeowners remove over 93,000 square feet of paving.
- StayLocal
- BASIN
- Urban Heroes
Products and services
- Front Yard Initiative (FYI) A residential green infrastructure incentive and technical assistance program for New Orleans homeowners that (historically) reimbursed eligible participants $2.50 per square foot of paving removed (up to 500 sq ft, max $1,250) and provides free technical guidance on rain garden, permeable paving, and bioswale installations. Since 2015 it has served 168 homeowners and removed over 93,000 square feet of paving. As of 2026, the financial incentive portion has been sunsetted and the program now focuses on policy advocacy and continued technical assistance.
- FYI Direct A fully-funded variant of the Front Yard Initiative for income-qualified households that experience the worst flooding consequences. The Urban Conservancy directly hires local Black-owned and women-owned businesses to design and build green infrastructure installations, removing cost as a barrier for vulnerable residents.
- BASIN (Building Active Stewardship in New Orleans) A K-12 youth environmental literacy curriculum teaching students about urban habitat, green infrastructure, urban planning, and climate resilience through field trips, project-based learning, and culminating presentations to local decision-makers. Delivered in partnership with the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans and the Office of Resilience and Sustainability.
- StayLocal An Urban Conservancy initiative that supports a strong network of local independent businesses in New Orleans through advocacy, resources, networking, and the B.Alert disaster preparedness communication service, strengthening the local independent economy.
- Urban Heroes An annual awards luncheon (held since 2011) that honors individuals for exceptional contributions to New Orleans' environmental, economic, and community resilience. Sponsorships are available at Ecosystem ($5,000), Cypress Tree ($2,000), Coral Honeysuckle ($1,000), and Stokes' Aster ($500) levels.
- Nature-Based Solutions An Urban Conservancy program area addressing tree canopy protection, native plant resources, and residential green infrastructure to improve New Orleans' urban environment and climate resilience. Includes the Native Plant Resources resource library for homeowners.
- StayLocal B.Alert Disaster Communication Service A disaster preparedness communication service operated under the StayLocal initiative that provides local independent businesses in New Orleans with coordinated alerts and communications during emergencies.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96,000 square feet of paving removed resulting in 4 million gallons of stormwater diverted annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Urban Conservancy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Urban Conservancy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Urban Conservancy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Mastodonte, LLCcoreBlack woman-owned green infrastructure contractor designing and installing residential rain gardens, permeable systems, and stormwater solutions. Installed projects for FYI and FYI Direct participants.
- WaterWise Gulf SouthcorePartner providing funding and neighborhood champion support for residential green infrastructure in Lower Ninth Ward and other communities.
- Green Light New OrleansmajorPartner providing rain barrels and community support for stormwater management projects in collaboration with FYI program.
- Launch NOLA Green / Thrive NOLAmajorGreen sector workforce training program equipping minority-owned businesses with stormwater management skills. Graduates support FYI contractor needs.
- Sewerage & Water Board of New OrleansmajorCity utility partnering on BASIN education program and stormwater management initiatives.
- Rebuilding Together New OrleansmajorNonprofit workforce training partner collaborating on green infrastructure projects submitted for grant funding.
- Ubuntu Construction CompanymajorLocal Black-owned business hired to design and install residential green infrastructure projects under FYI Direct program.
- Dana Brown & AssociatesmajorDesign firm providing stormwater management designs for FYI Direct projects.
- Office of Resilience and SustainabilitymajorCity department participating in BASIN culminating presentations and citywide climate resilience initiatives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Urban Conservancy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and green infrastructure in cities, with active climate-resilience and urban heat island programs; competes for the same philanthropic capital and municipal partnerships in urban green infrastructure.
- WaterNow Alliance: National network of water utilities and local officials advancing sustainable water strategies including green stormwater infrastructure and equitable stormwater fees; UC's ED serves on its Equity Advisory Group, making it a closely aligned national peer.
- American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA): National umbrella organization for the local 'Independent Business Alliance' / 'Local First' movement of which UC's StayLocal program is an affiliate; directly comparable as a community-led local-economy advocacy organization.
- Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts doing place-based environmental work including green infrastructure, brownfield remediation, and community engagement; operates a structurally similar model at greater scale across multiple U.S. cities.
- The Nature Conservancy (Louisiana Chapter): Global environmental nonprofit with a strong Louisiana program focused on coastal restoration, urban resilience, and nature-based solutions; competes for the same foundation grants and policy influence in New Orleans climate work.
Others
- Center for Watershed Protection: National nonprofit providing technical expertise, research, and tools on urban watershed and stormwater management; functions as an enabling/knowledge peer whose frameworks underpin residential green-infrastructure programs like UC's FYI.
Direct peers
- WaterWise Gulf South: Regional nonprofit focused on residential rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure across the Gulf South, including Lower Ninth Ward; provides funding and neighborhood champion support to UC's FYI program and shares the residential climate-resilience mission.
- Green Light New Orleans: New Orleans-based nonprofit that installs residential and commercial energy-efficiency and stormwater management solutions including rain barrels; directly partners with UC's FYI program and shares the residential green-infrastructure mission and target homeowner base.
Emerging players
- Rebuilding Together New Orleans: New Orleans-based nonprofit doing home rehabilitation and green-infrastructure workforce training; partnered with UC on grant submissions and shares both the homeowner and contractor-development missions.
Regional players
- Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans: Regional water-focused coalition that UC's ED co-founded; operates as a cross-organizational convener on water issues in Southeast Louisiana, complementing UC's direct program delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Urban Conservancy social profiles
Digital presenceThe Urban Conservancy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Urban Conservancy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
The Urban Conservancy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Urban Conservancy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Urban Conservancy
What does The Urban Conservancy do?
The Urban Conservancy delivers community-based programs that promote urban environmental resilience in New Orleans. Its flagship Front Yard Initiative (FYI) provides technical assistance and (historically) financial incentives to homeowners to remove excessive paving and install green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens and permeable paving. The organization also operates the BASIN K-12 environmental literacy curriculum, the StayLocal independent business network, and the annual Urban Heroes community recognition program.
Is The Urban Conservancy a public or private company?
The Urban Conservancy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Urban Conservancy founded?
The Urban Conservancy was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Urban Conservancy based?
The Urban Conservancy is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Urban Conservancy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Institutional Funding, individual Donations and sponsorships and Event Revenue.
Who are The Urban Conservancy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trust for Public Land, WaterNow Alliance, American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), Groundwork USA and The Nature Conservancy (Louisiana Chapter). Center for Watershed Protection is listed as an others. Direct peers are WaterWise Gulf South and Green Light New Orleans. Rebuilding Together New Orleans is listed as an emerging player. Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans is listed as a regional player.
Does The Urban Conservancy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Urban Conservancy.
What industry is The Urban Conservancy in?
The Urban Conservancy's product category is Urban Environmental Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAL, Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure, with a secondary code of EUANAEAJ, Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 1623.