Student Conservation Association
“Build the next generation of conservation leaders through hands-on service to the land.”
69 years on the ground, 72 cents of every dollar to the work.
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.
Where the money went, FY2025
The work, and what it cost
Conservation Interns
$10.2M, 20% of spendingCareer-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.
Conservation Corps
$9.1M, 18% of spendingTeams 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…
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.
Community Crews
$5.8M, 12% of spendingCity-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. If it’s out of date, tell us. 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.
Find your way inThe filings
15 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at or tap 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.
Their ground
SCA is not on our editors’ record for a threatened place yet. See every threatened place on one map, and who stands for each.
Ways in
How to help
Straight to their own donation page. Your dollar never passes through us.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗FollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with the Student Conservation Association
The mission is theirs. The backing is yours.