Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc.

What Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc. does

Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc. (GVLT) is a Bozeman, Montana-based nonprofit land trust founded in 1990 that conserves working agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, and scenic open space while developing and maintaining a public trail network across Gallatin, Park, and Madison counties in Southwest Montana. The organization has completed 137 voluntary conservation easements protecting 75,000 acres as of March 2026, achieved two years ahead of a stated five-year goal, and operates the Main Street to the Mountains trail system spanning nearly 100 miles linking downtown Bozeman to mountain trailheads including Peets Hill, the Gallagator Trail, and Sourdough Canyon. GVLT extends its Park County work through the Northern Yellowstone Open Lands initiative launched in 2022 with a Livingston satellite office.

GVLT's revenue model is characteristic of a community-supported nonprofit: individual donations (including the Gallaguardian monthly giving program and Conservators Circle annual giving tiers from $1,000 to $25,000+), corporate sponsorships (40+ local businesses back the Summer Trails Challenge), private foundation grants, and federal/county program funding including USDA NRCS ACEP and RCPP grants alongside the voter-approved Gallatin County Open Lands Program. Major projects include the 8,800-acre Arthur Blank conservation easement in Paradise Valley, the Bikefill 66-acre community bike park partnership with the City of Bozeman and SWMMBA, and the East-West Connector Trail. The organization is nationally accredited through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, is a founding member of the Montana Association of Land Trusts, and is governed by a volunteer board that recently added technology-sector directors (former Google, onX, and startup executives).

Name

Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc.

Legal name

Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc.

Website

https://www.gvlt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gallatin Valley Land Trust is a 1990-founded Montana nonprofit that conserves working lands and public trails across Gallatin, Park, and Madison counties through voluntary conservation easements and a 100-mile trail network serving Southwest Montana communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation and Trail Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG), Conservation & Protected Land Brokerage (Easements, Land Trust Sales) (BPAJADAH)

Keywords

• Land conservation easements
• Trail system development
• Nonprofit land trust
• Open space preservation
• Community outdoor recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute to GVLT through one-time donations, monthly giving (Gallaguardian program), and annual giving at various levels including Conservators Circle ($1,000+). The organization runs fundraising campaigns like Give Big Gallatin Valley and the Summer Trails Challenge where sponsors donate per mile logged by participants.
2. Conservation Easement Transactions: GVLT facilitates conservation easements where landowners donate or sell conservation rights. Some easements are fully donated (landowners receive tax benefits), while others involve payment from funding sources including NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Gallatin County Open Lands Program, and private foundations.
3. Federal and State Grants: The organization receives funding from government programs including the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and Gallatin County voter-approved Open Lands Program. A $7.8 million NRCS grant was awarded for Northern Yellowstone Open Lands initiative; a $25 million grant was later rescinded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gallatin Valley Land Trust is a nonprofit land trust that partners with landowners to place voluntary conservation easements on farms, ranches, wildlife habitat, and scenic open space, and develops and maintains the Main Street to the Mountains, a nearly 100-mile public trail network in southwest Montana. It also operates community programs including the Summer Trails Challenge, Trail Ambassador volunteer engagement, and donor membership programs (Gallaguardian monthly giving and Conservators Circle annual giving). Its Northern Yellowstone Open Lands initiative extends these services to Park County through a dedicated local office in Livingston.

Product overview

Gallatin Valley Land Trust operates as a nonprofit land trust organization offering a portfolio of conservation and recreation programs rather than a unified software platform. The core offering is the Land Conservation Program enabling voluntary conservation easements, supported by trail systems development and maintenance. The Main Street to the Mountains trail network provides recreational access across nearly 100 miles. The Northern Yellowstone Open Lands initiative extends Park County conservation services with dedicated local staff. Supplementary programs include the Gallaguardian monthly giving and Conservators Circle donor recognition tiers, the Summer Trails Challenge community event, and Trail Ambassador volunteer engagement. The organization does not offer software products or digital platforms but provides physical trail maps and conservation stewardship services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northern Yellowstone Open Lands: A regional initiative of GVLT serving Park County, Montana landowners and communities committed to preserving the region's natural landscapes and working lands through conservation easements.

Products and services

• Land Conservation Program Voluntary conservation easements partnering with landowners to permanently protect farms, ranches, wildlife habitat, and scenic open space in Gallatin, Park, and Madison counties. Since 1990 GVLT has completed 137 easements protecting 75,000 acres.
• Main Street to the Mountains Trail System A nearly 100-mile public trail network connecting downtown Bozeman to mountain trailheads, including Peets Hill, Gallagator Trail, Sourdough Canyon, College M, and Bridger Ridge. Includes gravel paths, singletrack, and paved shared-use pathways.
• Conservation Stewardship Services Ongoing post-easement support for landowners including annual monitoring, resource management guidance, and connections to funding sources for habitat enhancement, forest health, and water resources.
• Northern Yellowstone Open Lands Initiative A regional initiative of GVLT focused on Park County land conservation, providing local resources for landowners and communities committed to preserving natural landscapes and working lands; has completed 21 easements protecting 20,000+ acres in Park County since 1995.
• Bikefill Community Bike Park A 66-acre public bike park adjacent to the Snowfill Recreation Area developed in collaboration with the City of Bozeman and Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association; includes pump tracks, dirt features, and beginner-to-expert progression areas.
• East-West Connector Trail Project A 5.5-mile trail network connecting the farthest west Bozeman subdivision east to the M and Drinking Horse trails, with signage, safe crossings, and short connector trails augmenting the existing system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,000 acres permanently protected across three counties
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

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

• Northern Yellowstone Open Lands Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2022Partnership of six local organizations led by GVLT to conserve Park County lands at landscape scale. Includes local conservation groups, landowner organizations, and community foundations working together on the initiative.
• City of BozemancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partner for trail development and park management. City co-owns and maintains trails and parks including Peets Hill (Burke Park), Gallatin County Regional Park, and Story Mill Community Park. GVLT designs trails and raises funds; City provides land and infrastructure maintenance.
• Gallatin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Gallatin County Regional Park (87 acres) and various trail connections. County secured the Regional Park land; GVLT designed trails and added climbing boulders. Also voter-approved Open Lands Program provides funding for conservation easements.
• Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner with GVLT and City of Bozeman for the Bikefill Community Bike Park project. SWMMBA advises park design and provides ongoing maintenance of technical bike park features. Represents mountain biking community input.
• Integrated Trail LabmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBozeman-based trail design firm selected for Bikefill Community Bike Park project. Known for West Lake Dirt Jumps, pump tracks at Gallatin Regional Park and Copper City, and 8th Street Trail network in Boise, Idaho.
• TerraflowmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWhitefish-based trail construction firm selected for Bikefill Community Bike Park project. Known for Gnomadic Trail at Crosscut/Bridger, NeverSweat at Copper City, Mountain to Meadow in Big Sky, and Legacy Bike Park in Lakeside, Montana.
• Gallatin Watershed CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner for restoration events. Co-hosts Restoration Thursday volunteer events and Bozeman Dog Poop Cleanup initiatives to protect water quality and trail environments.
• The Dirt ConcernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's mountain bike community organization. Co-hosts Women's Dig Events with GVLT to engage women in trail maintenance and build inclusive trail community.
• Oboz FootwearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBozeman-based outdoor footwear company. Co-hosts Peets & Pals Hike events and provides sponsorship for community engagement activities. Aligns brand with local trail conservation.
• Heart of the Rockies InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization connecting landowners with resources to support carnivore conflict prevention. Partner for the Keep It Connected Program supporting Park County conservation projects.
• 40+ Local Business SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses sponsor the annual Summer Trails Challenge at various levels ($500-$5,000+). Includes Bozeman Health, Evergoods, Oboz, Toyota of Bozeman, Field & Stream Lodge, and many others. Sponsors match participant miles logged during the challenge.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Montana Land Reliance: Montana's largest private land trust, holding conservation easements across the state. Directly comparable as a state-level land trust using voluntary conservation easements to protect working lands, with overlapping donor and landowner pools in the Greater Yellowstone region.
• Open Space Institute: Conservation organization focused on protecting scenic, natural, and historic landscapes, with active projects in the Northern Rockies. Comparable easement and land acquisition work, similar funder profile (foundations, government partners), and overlapping regional focus.
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative: Conservation organization focused on connectivity from Yellowstone to Yukon, including the Paradise Valley and Northern Yellowstone region where GVLT operates. Comparable landscape-scale conservation priorities and overlapping landowner relationships in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
• Heart of the Rockies Initiative: Regional conservation collaborative operating across the Northern Rockies with a focus on connecting and protecting large landscapes. Direct collaborator on GVLT's Keep It Connected program and operates in overlapping Park County territory.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that partners with public and private stakeholders on land and water conservation, including providing bridge financing to land trusts. GVLT has direct relationship (bridge loan for Bozeman Pond Park), and the fund offers similar land-deal and easement capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that protects land for community benefit, with active Montana projects. Comparable mission (conservation + public access) and similar use of conservation easements, but operates at national scale with broader funding sources and government partnerships.
• The Nature Conservancy - Montana Chapter: Global conservation organization with significant Montana presence, working on land protection, easement transactions, and watershed conservation. Directly comparable activities (easements, ranch land protection) but at vastly greater scale and with deeper funding.
• Ducks Unlimited: Large U.S. conservation organization using conservation easements and habitat protection on private lands, including in Montana. Comparable easement-driven model and federal program expertise (NRCS partnerships), though focused on wetland and waterfowl habitat.

Others

• Montana Association of Land Trusts: Statewide membership association of land trusts, of which GVLT is a founding member. Comparable as a coordinating body in the same ecosystem; provides policy, accreditation support, and shared services to peer land trusts including Montana Land Reliance.

Emerging players

• Gallatin Watershed Council: Bozeman-based nonprofit focused on water quality and watershed health in the Gallatin Valley. GVLT already co-hosts events with this organization; comparable as a smaller, geography-specific environmental nonprofit in the same service area, but with water-quality rather than land-conservation mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gallatinvalleylandtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gallatin-valley-land-trust-gvlt-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Inc.