We save land.
We save rivers.

The support of more than 5,000 members and 500 volunteers helps us carry out our mission to improve the health of our communities by preserving and restoring open space and natural lands, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment in northeastern Illinois. We focus our work in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties where we have helped preserve more than 35,000 acres of open space, and we also go where we are needed in LaSalle, DeKalb and Grundy Counties.
The support of more than 5,000 members and 500 volunteers helps us carry out our mission to improve the health of our communities by preserving and restoring open space and natural lands, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment in northeastern Illinois. We focus our work in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties where we have helped preserve more than 35,000 acres of open space, and we also go where we are needed in LaSalle, DeKalb and Grundy Counties.
Electrifying DuPage County: Webinar Recording & Resources
Continue reading "Electrifying DuPage County: Webinar Recording & Resources"
Conservation and the Metaverse
Celebrating 50 Years of the Clean Water Act & The Conservation Foundation
Continue reading "Celebrating 50 Years of the Clean Water Act & The Conservation Foundation"
Going With The Flow: Surprises In Stream Restoration
Continue reading "Going With The Flow: Surprises In Stream Restoration"
About Us
Simply put, we save land and we save rivers, and we’ve been at it for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972, The Conservation Foundation is one of the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations dedicated to preserving and restoring open space, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeastern Illinois.
We believe…
every person, regardless of where they live or their social-economic status, deserves clean water, clean air, and safe access to nature as a way to be healthy and happy.
the conservation foundation
In Your Neighborhood
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The Conservation Foundation’s Green Earth Harvest is an all-organic farming operation that provides healthy, organic vegetables to the community through the sale of “shares.” When you become a Green Earth Harvest shareholder, you are essentially purchasing a portion of the harvest. You’ll come to McDonald Farm in Naperville (or one of our remote pickup locations) every week or every other week and pick up your produce.
latest news & Articles
Conservation Stories

It All Comes Back To The Land
We’ve had the great honor and pleasure these past few months of sharing some huge conservation “wins” of the past year or so. If you’ve donated or supported us in

Becoming Hope In The Face Of Climate Change
Walking through donor and Conservation@Home certified member Robin LaBancz’s Bartlett oasis of a yard on a coolish day this summer, I felt my mood and energy level lift with every

Belrose Farm: A Land of Stories
This is a land that has stories. You can hear it in the soughing of the trees as you enter the shade of the forest. You can see it in

Bill Dawe, Namesake of New Gathering Space at McDonald Farm
It seems only fitting that McDonald Farm volunteer Bill Dawe should bear such a striking resemblance to Santa Claus! Though his gifts of time, humor, blood, sweat, some tears and
Shop the Rookery
Show your love for nature and our mission to preserve and restore it by purchasing these quality products for yourself or to give as gifts with purpose. A portion of your purchase will directly support our work to preserve and restore open space and natural lands, protect rivers and watersheds and promote stewardship of the environment.
