The last several months have been an exciting period of growth for The Conservation Alliance. Our membership continues to expand to include additional businesses representing outdoor retailers, marketing companies, gear and apparel, and food/beverage brands. We also welcomed our newest Pinnacle member: Wyld. TCA member companies are at the heart of who we are and what we do – and we’re honored to welcome these new members!
We’re also incredibly proud of the momentum we’ve seen behind Brands for Public Lands – a coalition set up to specifically defend our public lands and waters from current threats. Already, more than 150 companies across 28 states — representing 62,000 employees and nearly $20 billion in annual revenue — have joined.
Of course a bigger movement means even greater impact. This past quarter we’ve leveraged our collective voice to influence key policy outcomes impacting national conservation measures. We’ve also distributed grants to 20 grassroots conservation organizations working on the ground to conserve critical landscapes. And we’re not stopping there. Read on to learn more about what we’ve been up to and what’s ahead!
Policy Updates
- Budget reconciliation – Earlier this summer, Congress worked through the budget reconciliation legislative process, which fast-tracks certain types of bills to address federal budget issues. Two proposals – one in the House and one in the Senate – were introduced to privatize public lands as a means to bring in revenue and address the nation’s deficit. Both proposals were problematic – paying for proposed tax cuts and spending reductions by selling public land sales as a revenue source would have been an unprecedented move by our national leaders. TCA, our member companies, and members of our Brands for Public Lands mobilized to push back on these proposals by creating a unified message, leveraging our brand names and customer bases, and contacting decision makers directly to ensure the business voice was heard. Although a number of dangerous items did remain in the final bill, ultimately, public land sales were withdrawn.
- Roadless Rule – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Secretary, Brooke Rollins, recently announced her agency’s intent to roll back the Roadless Rule, putting 45 million acres at risk and threatening clean water, biodiversity, recreation access, and local economies. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) make up some of the most iconic, intact landscapes in the U.S., from the Crazy Mountains in Montana to the Pisgah-Nantahala in North Carolina. The scoping comment period ends on September 19th so we have just a few days left to voice our concerns about the serious impacts that rolling back the rule will have.
Announcing our 2025 Member Collective Grant Recipients
TCA announced our 2025 Member Collective grant recipients in June and we’re proud to have awarded $720,000 to 20 organizations protecting wild places, restoring biodiversity, and supporting Indigenous and local leadership. This cycle includes projects across 12 U.S. states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming) and one in British Columbia. Seven of the organizations are BIPOC-led, and three are first-time recipients of TCA funding.
Grantee Spotlight: The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Our Grant Program Director, Kim Paymaster, visited the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP) team to witness the return of buffalo to their home. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the TTBP team, what started with fewer than 10 buffalo just five years ago has grown to a thriving herd of 40, restoring ecosystems and strengthening cultural connections. From sharing a meal with staff to watching the herd thunder across the grasslands, Kim experienced firsthand how this Indigenous-led initiative is advancing food sovereignty, youth education, and cultural healing. The Conservation Alliance is proud to support TTBP as they continue this critical work of rematriating land and culture. Learn more about TTBP here.
Upcoming Cause Marketing Opportunities
There are a number of upcoming opportunities for TCA member companies to participate in storytelling and cause marketing campaigns. These campaigns are designed to connect customers to real conservation impact and can include point of purchase programs, product collaborations, give-back sales campaigns, auctions or give-aways, and more.
They are effective year-round, but particularly powerful when tied to tentpole moments such as:
NEW THIS YEAR Winter “Give” Guide
This seasonal campaign will spotlight TCA member companies that are running promotions that give back to TCA through the holiday season (November and December).
If any of these opportunities feel like a fit for your brand, or if you would like to explore a custom idea, please email monica@conservationalliance.com.
Upcoming Events
The Conservation Alliance will be participating in a number of events in the coming months and hope to see you there!
Colorado Outdoor Leadership Industry Summit
October 1-2, 2025
Estes Park, CO
This is a three day conference that brings together professionals across Colorado’s entire outdoor industry to learn, connect, and collaborate in an organic way, creating lasting relationships that unify and strengthen our collective industry.
Outdoor Media Summit
October 27-29, 2025
Durango, CO
Outdoor Media Summit is where the brightest minds in outdoor media and marketing gather to share their secrets, forecast the future and—at the end of the day—make more money. If you are a marketer at an outdoor brand or an editor, freelancer, YouTuber, podcaster, or other creator, this is the conference for you.
The Running Event
December 2-4, 2025
San Antonio, TX
The Running Event is North America’s premier run specialty retail conference and trade show. The annual gathering brings together the brightest minds, latest trends, and most impactful conversations in the run specialty industry.
Hestival
May 1-3, 2026
Hotchkiss, CO
A family and dog-friendly weekend packed with outdoor adventures, live music, great food and drink, and nights spent camping beneath the stars and blossoming apple orchards. A portion of every ticket will be donated to The Conservation Alliance.
