Student Conservation Association
“Build the next generation of conservation leaders through hands-on service to the land.”
The work
What they do
Youth conservation corps placing thousands of young people annually in conservation internships and crew programs on federal lands. Major volunteer workforce for NPS, USFS, and other agencies.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS...SEE FULL MISSION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE OTO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS AND INSPIRE LIFELONG STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES BY ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH HANDS-ON SERVICE PROJECTS.”
Where the money went, FY2025
The work, and what it cost
Keeping the wild alive
$10.2MCAREER-SHAPING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, PRIMARILY HOSTED BY GOVERNMENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES.
Including $6,524,765 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
CONSERVATION INTERNS: CAREER-SHAPING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, PRIMARILY HOSTED BY GOVERNMENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. INTERNSHIPS SPAN 2-12 MONTHS IN LENGTH AND COVER A WIDE RANGE OF PRACTICES INCLUDING RECREATION MANAGEMENT, WILDLAND FIRE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND HABITAT IMPROVEMENT.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Keeping the wild alive
$9.1MTEAMS OF YOUNG ADULTS (PRIMARILY 18-25 YEARS OF AGE) LED BY SCA STAFF SPEND 3-10 MONTHS ADDRESSING NEEDS ON FEDERAL AND STATE PUBLIC LANDS INCLUDING HABITAT RESTORATION, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION, W...
Including $2,713,252 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
CONSERVATION CORPS: TEAMS OF YOUNG ADULTS (PRIMARILY 18-25 YEARS OF AGE) LED BY SCA STAFF SPEND 3-10 MONTHS ADDRESSING NEEDS ON FEDERAL AND STATE PUBLIC LANDS INCLUDING HABITAT RESTORATION, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION, WILDFIRE MITIGATION, AND MORE. PARTICIPANT S GAIN IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Keeping the wild alive
$5.8MCITY-BASED JOBS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AGED 15-25. SCA-LED SUMMER AND SCHOOL-YEAR CREWS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN IMPROVING URBAN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THROUGH TRAIL WORK, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE.
Including $2,007,280 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
COMMUNITY CREWS: CITY-BASED JOBS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AGED 15-25. SCA-LED SUMMER AND SCHOOL-YEAR CREWS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN IMPROVING URBAN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THROUGH TRAIL WORK, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS AS WELL AS CAREER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
72 cents of every dollar goes to the work
Read it as a snapshot, not a scorecard. Splits move year to year with grants and campaigns, and healthy shops live all across this range.
$35,780,564 programs, $10,972,014 management, $3,287,608 fundraising. Form 990, FY2025.
The people
Who does the work
Took the helm from Lidia Soto-Harmon, who drew $411,655 in the final year on file.
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. This one caught a changing of the guard in the act: the FY2025 officer table lists Lidia Soto-Harmon, the return itself is signed by Kelly Runzel. Orgs that claim their page can update it same-day. Work at SCA? Claim this page.
Those 6,784 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If SCA is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Make it 6,785The filings
15 years of filings
15 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $12,902,797 |
| 2012 | $34,545,866 |
| 2013 | $35,132,105 |
| 2014 | $38,090,389 |
| 2015 | $34,185,896 |
| 2016 | $38,066,743 |
| 2017 | $51,007,381 |
| 2018 | $41,970,851 |
| 2019 | $38,189,060 |
| 2020 | $37,357,144 |
| 2021 | $28,489,804 |
| 2022 | $38,897,444 |
| 2023 | $40,838,998 |
| 2024 | $47,260,620 |
| 2025 | $48,435,405 |
From $12.9M in 2011 to $48.4M in FY25, with no missed filing in 15 years.
Ways in
How to help
72 cents of your dollar goes straight to the work above.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
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Public Lands Action NetworkFollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with Student Conservation Association
69 years on the ground, 6,784 volunteers, 72 cents of every dollar on the line. That is who is holding it. There is room for one more.