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.
Let’s Talk Science
50th Anniversary At A Glance
Native American Land Acknowledgment Statement
Continue reading "Native American Land Acknowledgment Statement"
50 Things You Can Do to Address Climate Change
Continue reading "50 Things You Can Do to Address Climate Change"
About Us
Simply put, we save land and we save rivers, and we’ve been at it for almost 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.
the conservation foundation
In Your Neighborhood
Events
Upcoming events hosted by the Conservation Foundation

Summer is in full swing, but have you heard the famous phrase “I’m bored” yet? If you have, join The Conservation Foundation’s experienced educators a...

Thursday, July 21st
6:00 - 7:00pm
Three Rivers Public Library in Minooka
...

Yorkville Litter Clean-Up Program
Donate one hour of your time and help make Yorkville brighter – participate in our clean-up program!

Wednesday, August 24th
6:00 - 7:00pm
Three Rivers Public Library in Minook...

Yorkville Litter Clean-Up Program
Donate one hour of your time and help make Yorkville brighter – participate in our clean-up program!

Yorkville Litter Clean-Up Program
Donate one hour of your time and help make Yorkville brighter – participate in our clean-up program!

Yorkville Litter Clean-Up Program
Donate one hour of your time and help make Yorkville brighter – participate in our clean-up program!

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

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,

King John of McDonald Farm
“The Farm – it feels like a new kingdom,” says John Wagner of Wheaton. John is a builder of kingdoms – he actually built Disney’s

Nourishing Gardens: The Muhammad Family’s Yard Transformation
How do supporters of The Conservation #thanknature? By bringing nature close, and enjoying and sharing its gifts. Over the last couple of years, Kyla and

Native Connections: The Dayton Bluffs
Most of the time when we at The Conservation Foundation are involved in preserving land, we end up actually owning the land for only a
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.
