prospect heights natural resources commission

What prospect heights natural resources commission does

Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission (PHNRC) is a municipal, all-volunteer non-profit commission founded in 2014 in Prospect Heights, Illinois, that conducts ecological restoration and environmental education across the city's natural areas. The organization operates with no paid staff under a seven-member board of commissioners, including co-founder and Chairperson Agnes Wojnarski, and reports to the Prospect Heights City Council and Park District. Its core activities are invasive species removal (particularly buckthorn, teasel, and purple loosestrife), native plant restoration, wetland reclamation, greenhouse-based native seed and plant propagation, prescribed burns, and community education through the quarterly Nature Speaks speaker series, monthly Resources Journal newsletter, and a video content library.

PHNRC manages a portfolio of nature preserves and restoration sites within Prospect Heights, including the Prospect Heights Slough (wetland with 480 feet of boardwalk and 180+ documented species), the 13-acre Pollinator Park riparian buffer, the 4.79-acre ComEd Prairie Conversion, a 7-acre Remnant Prairie used as a seed collection site, a 5-acre Remnant Sedge Meadow, the 1.5-acre Public Service Commons (designed as a decompress space for first responders), and Tully Park. Underlying technology consists of manual and field-based ecological practices — native seed collection, greenhouse plant propagation, herbicide application, prescribed burn management — augmented by a content-and-events digital layer (website, newsletter, social media, video gallery) rather than any software platform.

The business model is non-commercial. PHNRC has no products or services for sale and no pricing structure; revenue, such as it is, consists of ComEd Green Regions grants (four awarded since 2014, partnered with Openlands), matching funds from the City of Prospect Heights and Prospect Heights Park District, private donations, and in-kind volunteer labor. A separate 501c3 entity, Friends of the PHNRC, was established as the charitable arm to receive tax-deductible contributions. The organization acquires community volunteers through word-of-mouth, its website, the monthly Resources Journal, calendar of events, and partnerships with the Prospect Heights Public Library (Nature Speaks series) and local schools (D-214, Girl Scout Troops). All restoration work is executed through bi-weekly Sunday volunteer workdays.

Name

prospect heights natural resources commission

Legal name

Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission

Website

https://phnrc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission is an all-volunteer municipal commission founded in 2014 that conducts ecological restoration, native plant propagation, and environmental education across Prospect Heights, Illinois natural areas, funded by grants, donations, and municipal support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Restoration Services

NAICS

Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting) (AFAMACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI), Native Species & Restoration Plant Nurseries (AFAMADAF), ROW Reforestation, Revegetation & Erosion Control (Environmental Mitigation) (EUADAOAJ)

Keywords

• Ecological restoration services
• Environmental education programs
• Native plant propagation
• Habitat conservation
• Volunteer stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Prospect Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Non-profit organization funded primarily through grants (ComEd Green Regions grants, matched by city and park district), donations, and a 501c3 affiliated organization 'Friends of the PHNRC' for tax-deductible contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that conducts ecological restoration and environmental education across multiple nature preserves and restoration sites in and around Prospect Heights, Illinois. It manages native plant propagation through a greenhouse, removes invasive species, hosts volunteer work days, and delivers free educational programming such as the Nature Speaks speaker series for residents and students.

Product overview

PHNRC operates as a volunteer environmental conservation organization offering a portfolio of nature preserves, restoration projects, and educational programs. Core offerings include prairie and wetland restoration sites (Prospect Heights Slough, Pollinator Park, Public Service Commons, ComEd Prairie Conversion, Remnant Prairie, Remnant Sedge Meadow, Tully Park), educational programming (Nature Speaks speaker series, Mary Lou Mellon birding videos, PHNRC educational videos), and community engagement opportunities (monthly Resources Journal publication, bi-weekly volunteer work days). The organization functions as an all-volunteer network focused on ecological restoration and environmental awareness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prospect Heights Slough Restoration
• Pollinator Park

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ComEd (Commonwealth Edison)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ComEd has provided multiple Green Regions grants to PHNRC since 2014. Grants have funded restoration of the Prospect Heights Slough, ComEd Prairie conversion, Pollinator Park, and Public Service Commons. ComEd provides matching funding for restoration projects under power line rights-of-way.
• OpenlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ComEd and PHNRC on Green Regions grants. Openlands is a regional conservation organization that works on land acquisition, preservation, and stewardship in northeastern Illinois.
• City of Prospect HeightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHNRC reports to City Council and works with the city on natural resource management. The city provides matching funding for restoration projects and owns portions of natural areas.
• Prospect Heights Park DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHNRC works with the Park District on restoration projects. The Park District owns portions of the Slough and other natural areas. Provides matching funding for projects.
• Prospect Heights Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Nature Speaks speaker series program. Library provides venue (AB meeting room) and Zoom platform for quarterly educational presentations on environmental topics.
• Friends of the PHNRCcoreOthersNewly established 501c3 not-for-profit organization that serves as the charitable arm of PHNRC. Accepts tax-deductible donations for the organization.
• Morton ArboretumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Native Plant Society and Morton Arboretum referenced as partner organizations in regional conservation network.
• Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency referenced as partner organization in regional conservation efforts.
• Illinois Nature Preserves CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState commission referenced as partner organization for natural area preservation.
• Cook County Forest Preserve DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional forest preserve district referenced as partner in conservation network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Openlands: Regional conservation organization covering northeastern Illinois that co-partners with PHNRC on ComEd Green Regions grants and handles land acquisition and stewardship at scale. Acts as an enabling incumbent whose mission directly overlaps PHNRC's preservation work.
• Sierra Club (Illinois Chapter): Long-standing volunteer-driven environmental organization active in Illinois with conservation advocacy, outing programming, and habitat stewardship. Comparable in volunteer-led environmental programming and advocacy for natural resource protection.
• The Nature Conservancy (Illinois): Major national conservation organization operating in Illinois on land preservation, prairie restoration, and stewardship. Comparable in core activity (ecological restoration and land stewardship) but at vastly larger scale and geographic scope than PHNRC.
• Morton Arboretum: Major regional tree and plant conservation institution referenced as a PHNRC partner; commissioners like Seth Marcus take continuing-education classes there. Comparable in native species propagation, tree science, and public environmental education in northeastern Illinois.
• Forest Preserve District of Cook County: Regional forest preserve operator referenced as a PHNRC network partner. Comparable because it manages large-scale natural area restoration, invasive species control, and volunteer stewardship programs across the same Chicago-region geography that PHNRC serves.

Direct peers

• Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards: Volunteer-driven prairie restoration organization explicitly cited in PHNRC's commissioner Jill Moskal's background (7 years volunteering, Regional Administrator, Team Leader). Operates a closely comparable model of community-led ecological restoration in the same northeastern Illinois region.
• Wild Ones: National native plant and natural landscaping organization with local chapters that run volunteer restoration events, native plant sales, and educational programming. Highly comparable to PHNRC's mission of native plant restoration and community education around natural landscaping.
• Audubon Society - local chapters (e.g., Chicago Audubon Society): Local Audubon chapter focused on birding, habitat conservation, and environmental education in the Chicago region, including volunteer-led outings and conservation programming aligned with PHNRC's Slough restoration (98+ bird species documented).
• Friends of the Forest Preserves: Volunteer-based nonprofit supporting the Forest Preserves of Cook County through restoration workdays, ecological monitoring, and community engagement. Closely comparable operational model of volunteer-driven restoration in the same region as PHNRC.
• Illinois Native Plant Society: Statewide organization focused on native plant conservation and education, explicitly referenced as a PHNRC network partner. Highly comparable in native species promotion, restoration, and educational programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/PHNRC
• Facebookfacebook.com/PHNRC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 prospect heights natural resources commission