Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit land conservancy founded in 1993 that preserves and stewards over 4,000 acres of natural areas and Native American cultural sites across Northwest Illinois through public preserves, educational programming, and tribal partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersElizabeth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. does
The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) is a nonprofit land conservancy founded in 1993 in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, that preserves natural areas and Native American cultural sites across Northwest Illinois. The organization manages over 4,000 acres across at least eight public nature preserves—most notably the 900-acre Big Sky Nature Reserve (formed from the 2017 Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary and the 2022 Home Farm donation), Casper Bluff Nature Preserve, Horseshoe Mound Preserve, Mąą Pįį (Good Earth) Preserve, Rutherford Refuge at Twin Bridges, Buehler Preserve, Schurmeier Forest, and Wapello Land & Water Reserve—offering free dawn-to-dusk public access for passive recreation and environmental education. JDCF combines land acquisition and stewardship with educational programming through the Hess House Center for Science and Culture (opened 2024), the Mighty Acorns outdoor education program delivered in partnership with the Chicago Field Museum, and citizen science initiatives including a 30-year Bluebird Recovery Program that has fledged over 30,000 eastern bluebirds, monarch butterfly tagging, and rusty-patched bumblebee surveys using USFWS and iNaturalist protocols.
JDCF operates a community-led, donation-funded nonprofit model. Revenue streams include individual donations and memberships with preset tiers of $25, $50, or $100 (monthly or one-time), planned giving through estate bequests, foundation grants (notably 33 awards totaling nearly $5.8 million from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation since 2006, protecting over 1,672 acres), fee-based professional training such as SAWW chainsaw safety courses priced at $160–$320 per person, suggested-donation public events ($10/person or $25/family for dark sky programs), and branded merchandise via an EnvisionTees online storefront. The organization serves three primary constituencies: conservation-minded landowners donating land or conservation easements, the general public and families seeking outdoor access and environmental education, and Indigenous partners—the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma—with whom JDCF collaborates on cultural heritage preservation at ancestral burial mounds and sacred sites.
JDCF is differentiated by Land Trust Accreditation Commission reaccreditation (2023, with commendations), Illinois Nature Preserve designations by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission providing the highest legal protection in the state, and operation of Casper Creek Natural Cemetery—the first Conservation Burial Ground in the Midwest, opened in 2020. Recent strategic actions include the first co-ownership partnership with The Archaeological Conservancy for the 40-acre Thomson Bluffs preserve in Carroll County (2025), marking JDCF's first project outside Jo Daviess County; the Casper Bluff Nature Preserve dedication in January 2025 with Ho-Chunk Nation testimony before the INPC—a first in the commission's 62-year history; and a leadership transition in June 2026 with Nathan Aaberg succeeding retiring Executive Director Steve Barg after a six-month executive search.
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.
- Legal name
- Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.
- Website
- https://jdcf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit land conservancy founded in 1993 that preserves and stewards over 4,000 acres of natural areas and Native American cultural sites across Northwest Illinois through public preserves, educational programming, and tribal partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Land Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)
Keywords
Where Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elizabeth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Memberships: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, members, and supporters. The organization accepts one-time and monthly donations through its website, offers membership tiers, and operates a donor bill of rights program.
- Planned Giving: Bequests and planned giving programs allow donors to include JDCF in their estate planning, providing long-term sustainable funding.
- Grants and Foundation Support: JDCF receives grants from foundations including The Foundation for Northwest Illinois, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and other conservation-focused funders for land protection, restoration, and education programs.
- Event Fees: Some educational and training events charge fees, such as SAWW chainsaw training ($160-$320 per person) and nature workshops.
- Online Store: Merchandise sales through an online store partnership (EnvisionTees) for branded apparel and items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Donation amounts of $25, $50, $100 or custom |
| Unit Pricing | One time | SAWW Training Level 101 - $320/person |
| Unit Pricing | One time | SAWW Training Level 1 and Level 2 - $160/person each |
| Other | One time | Dark Sky Events - Suggested donation $10/person or $25/family |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Most preserves - Free admission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JDCF is a nonprofit land conservancy that acquires and stewards natural areas and Native American cultural sites in Northwest Illinois, operating multiple public nature preserves (including the 900-acre Big Sky Nature Reserve), conservation easements, and stewardship programs. The foundation runs environmental education programs (Mighty Acorns, Bluebird Recovery, SAWW training, citizen science, nature journaling), manages the first Conservation Burial Ground in the Midwest at Casper Creek Natural Cemetery, and partners with Indigenous nations for cultural heritage preservation.
Product overview
The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) is a nonprofit land conservancy offering a portfolio of conservation-focused products and services centered on land preservation, stewardship, and environmental education in Northwest Illinois. Its core offerings include management of multiple nature preserves (Big Sky Nature Reserve, Casper Bluff, Horseshoe Mound, Mąą Pįį Preserve, and others) open for public recreation; educational programs like the Mighty Acorns outdoor education program for schoolchildren; the Bluebird Recovery Program; Safety & Woods Working chainsaw training; and the Hess House Center for Science & Culture as a cultural/educational hub. JDCF also offers volunteer programs, citizen science initiatives (bird monitoring, monarch tagging, bumblebee surveys), and membership/donation opportunities. The organization operates as a single unified nonprofit with interconnected conservation, education, and community engagement programs rather than a modular software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Casper Creek Natural Cemetery: A conservation burial ground and natural cemetery operated by JDCF, the first Conservation Burial Ground in the Midwest, opened in 2020.
Products and services
- Nature Preserves Portfolio of public nature preserves in Northwest Illinois including Big Sky Nature Reserve, Buehler Preserve, Casper Bluff Nature Preserve, Horseshoe Mound Preserve, Mąą Pįį Preserve, Rutherford Refuge at Twin Bridges, Schurmeier Forest, Wapello Land & Water Reserve, and partner preserves Galena Gateway Park and Witkowsky Wildlife Area. Preserves offer free public access from dawn to dusk for passive outdoor recreation, hiking, and nature appreciation.
- Mighty Acorns Outdoor Education Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 4,000 acres of natural areas and Native American cultural sites preserved
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The Archaeological ConservancycoreFirst co-ownership partnership for JDCF, jointly acquiring 40-acre Thomson Bluffs preserve in Carroll County, IL. The property protects Native American mounds and pristine hardwood forest. This is JDCF's first land preservation project outside of Jo Daviess County.
- Ho-Chunk Nation of WisconsincoreLong-standing tribal partnership including naming ceremony for Mąą Pįį Preserve, Ho-Chunk corn cultivation (Teejop Wicawas), Green Corn Ceremony celebrations, and collaboration on heritage preservation. JDCF recognized for actively preserving sacred Native American heritage sites.
- Sac and Fox Nation of OklahomacoreTribal partners in relationship building and cultural heritage collaboration with JDCF.
- Landmarks IllinoismajorPartnered with JDCF on Bedford Hollow property, placing both a conservation easement (with JDCF) and a preservation easement (with Landmarks Illinois) to protect multiple aspects of the property's heritage including the 1854 Charles Wenner House on National Register of Historic Places.
- Apple River State Bank/First Community Bank of GalenaminorProud sponsor of multiple JDCF events including Weird & Wonderful Insects, Dark Sky Stargazing, Meteors on the Mound, Nature Journaling, Monarch Migration, and Mississippi Dialogues events.
- Field MuseummajorJDCF implements the Field Museum's Mighty Acorns outdoor education program, aligned with Illinois Next Generation Science Standards, in local schools.
- Galena Astronomical SocietyminorCo-hosting dark sky stargazing events with JDCF at Big Sky Nature Reserve and Horseshoe Mound Preserve.
- Northwest Illinois Forestry AssociationminorPartner organization that organizes SAWW (Safety & Woods Working) chainsaw training courses hosted at JDCF's Big Sky Stewardship Shop.
- Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC)coreState governmental body that dedicates highest legal protection status (Nature Preserve designation) to qualifying JDCF properties. First time in INPC's 62-year history that a federally recognized tribe (Ho-Chunk Nation) addressed the commission, approved for Casper Bluff dedication.
- Audubon Council of IllinoisminorDesignated City of Galena as Bird City of Illinois; JDCF contributed criteria including land preservation work and Bluebird Recovery Program.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Openlands: Larger Chicago-based regional conservation organization protecting land and water across northeastern Illinois. Operates the same land trust and conservation easement model at greater scale and broader geography.
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that works to protect land for public use, including parks and natural areas. Comparable model of acquiring and conserving land with public access.
- The Nature Conservancy (Illinois): Largest U.S. conservation organization operating in Illinois. Same core mission of land acquisition, conservation easements, and ecological stewardship, but at vastly greater scale and broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- The Land Connection: Illinois nonprofit focused on farmland and land stewardship where JDCF's new CEO Nathan Aaberg previously worked. Directly comparable mission around land preservation, farmer training, and conservation.
- Natural Land Institute: Illinois-based land conservancy that presented the George and Barbara Fell Award to JDCF's former executive director. Operates the same regional land trust model focused on natural area preservation in northern Illinois.
- Landmarks Illinois: Illinois statewide historic preservation organization that partnered with JDCF on the Bedford Hollow property. Operates similar easement and preservation model focused on heritage site protection.
- Heller Nature Center: Highland Park, Illinois nature center and preserve where JDCF's former executive director served as director and teaching naturalist. Directly comparable natural area preservation and outdoor education mission.
- Liberty Prairie Conservancy: Lake County, Illinois land trust where former JDCF Executive Director Steve Barg served for 12 years. Directly comparable conservation easement and preserve management model in Illinois.
- The Archaeological Conservancy: National organization that partnered with JDCF on the Thomson Bluffs acquisition. Operates the same model of acquiring and preserving culturally significant land in perpetuity.
- Lake Forest Open Lands Association: Lake Forest, Illinois land trust where JDCF's former executive director Steve Barg worked for four years as Environmental Education Director. Operates similar preserves and education programming model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceJo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. 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 Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.
What does Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. do?
JDCF is a nonprofit land conservancy that acquires and stewards natural areas and Native American cultural sites in Northwest Illinois, operating multiple public nature preserves (including the 900-acre Big Sky Nature Reserve), conservation easements, and stewardship programs. The foundation runs environmental education programs (Mighty Acorns, Bluebird Recovery, SAWW training, citizen science, nature journaling), manages the first Conservation Burial Ground in the Midwest at Casper Creek Natural Cemetery, and partners with Indigenous nations for cultural heritage preservation.
Is Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. a public or private company?
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. founded?
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. based?
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. is headquartered in Elizabeth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving, grants and Foundation Support, event Fees and online Store.
Who are Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Openlands, Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy (Illinois). Direct peers are The Land Connection, Natural Land Institute, Landmarks Illinois, Heller Nature Center, Liberty Prairie Conservancy, The Archaeological Conservancy and Lake Forest Open Lands Association.
Does Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc..
What industry is Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc. in?
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Inc.'s product category is Land Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas, with a secondary code of AFAMAMAH, Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.