Sandy Springs Conservancy
Creating, conserving, and connecting parks, trails, and greenspace in Sandy Springs.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Sandy Springs Conservancy was established in 2001 in a grass-roots effort by citizens to preserve rapidly disappearing greenspace and recreation areas in Sandy Springs. Before Sandy Springs was even a city, there was the Sandy Springs Conservancy. Since its founding, the Conservancy has been instrumental in the founding, funding and expansion of parks in Sandy Springs. Due in part to the work of the Conservancy, Sandy Springs now has 19 parks located in neighborhoods across the city. The purpose of the Sandy Springs Conservancy (SSC) is to envision and craft win-win solutions for creating, conserving, and connecting parks and greenspace. The Conservancy brings together stakeholders, builds partnerships, and provides funding to jump-start greenspace projects throughout the city.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Thought Leaders Dinner
This annual program educates and inspires an audience of over 200 influential community, business, and political leaders across Sandy Springs and the region about the best practices and the economic, civic, and recreational benefits of park, greenspace, and trail development. Due to COVID-19, this annual event has been postponed until 2022.
Morgan Falls Overlook Park Trail & Big Trees Forest Preserve Clean-ups
The Sandy Springs Conservancy organizes clean-ups in partnership with corporate and civic groups at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Trail and Big Trees Forest Preserve. The Morgan Falls Trail is a scenic, one-mile nature path along the Chattahoochee River created in 2007 with vision and funding from our organization. Big Trees Forest Preserve is a thirty acre urban forest park with a scenic, one-mile nature trails that has been a frequent partner with SSC.
SSC Micro Projects
SSC partners with grassroots organizations, volunteers and neighborhood groups to fund small projects that add amenities to Sandy Springs' existing parks.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Sandy Springs Conservancy has been an astute and resourceful trailblazer since its founding in 2001, advancing its mission: to create great spaces, connect communities, conserve precious land, promote health and wellness, and encourage environmental stewardship. Our goal is to further the creation and expansion of parks, trails and greenspace in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Starting with the opening of Morgan Falls Overlook Park and Trails in 2007, the Conservancy has
provided educational, technical and financial support to help create 100+ acres of parks throughout Sandy
Springs, recreational assets that are used and enjoyed by children and adults in our community. We are
committed to work with public and private partners for the expansion of existing Sandy Springs parks and greenspaces and the creation of new parks, greenspace, and trails in the future.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Inspired by the primary goal of strengthening existing partnerships, while creating new relationships and partnerships, the Sandy Springs Conservancy continues to be a local and regional leader in providing educational, technical, and financial support for the creation of new parks, trails and greenspaces in Sandy Springs. We provide seed funding, education and expertise to create great public spaces in Sandy Springs. We are at an exciting juncture and now have the tangible opportunity to create a regional trail network, increase parks and greenspace, promote non-traditional transportation options, enhance the health and wellness of our constituents, and attract corporate, professional and private citizens seeking an improved quality of life all the while strengthening Sandy Springs’ reputation as a great place to live, work and play.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We Create Great Places – The Sandy Springs Conservancy has contributed over $800,000 in seed
funding, education and expertise to create great public places in Sandy Springs.
We Connect Communities – With construction of the Marsh Creek Trail and the Sandy Springs Trail
System, we strengthen physical connections to social bonds at local and regional destinations, such as
the Sandy Springs Tennis Center and the Chattahoochee River.
We Conserve Precious Land – We have applied our knowledge of neighborhoods, expertise with land
development, and passion for conservation to establish 100 acres of beloved parks and greenspace in
the community.
We Promote Health and Wellness – Parks and greenspace created by the Sandy Springs Conservancy
encourages healthy living by inspiring Sandy Springs residents, corporate employees, and visitors to
walk, jog, run, bike, and play outdoors.
We Encourage Environmental Stewardship – Our trail clean-ups at the Morgan Falls Overlook Park raise
public knowledge and appreciation for the popular one-mile nature path and make the trail more
beautiful and user-friendly.
We Believe Parks, Greenspace and Trails Have Economic Value – Parks, trails and greenspace are
economic engines that transform Sandy Springs from a place to go through to a place to go to.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
- The Sandy Springs Conservancy has contributed over $800,000 in seedfunding, education and expertise to create great public places in Sandy Springs.
- We have applied our knowledge of neighborhoods, expertise with land
development, and passion for conservation to establish 100+ acres of beloved parks and greenspace in
the community.
- Parks and greenspace created by the Sandy Springs Conservancy
encourages healthy living by inspiring Sandy Springs residents, corporate employees, and visitors to
walk, jog, run, bike, and play outdoors.
- Our trail clean-ups at the Morgan Falls Overlook Park and Big Trees Forest Preserve raise public knowledge and appreciation for these popular nature paths and make the trails safer, more beautiful and user-friendly.
We Have Connected Communities – With construction of the Marsh Creek Trail and the Sandy Springs Trail
System, we strengthen physical connections to social bonds at local and regional destinations, such as
the Sandy Springs Tennis Center and the Chattahoochee River.
We Believe Parks, Greenspace and Trails Have Economic Value – Parks, trails and greenspace are
economic engines that transform Sandy Springs from a place to go through to a place to go to.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Sandy Springs Conservancy
Board of directorsas of 02/23/2023
Jack Misiura
Sandy Springs Conservancy
Term: 2019 - 2023
Carolyn Axt
Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable/Sandy Springs Education Force
Term: 2019 - 2024
Carolyn Axt
Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable / Sandy Springs Education Force
Charles Hoag
Signature Bank
Laura Jones
Arts Sandy Springs, Leadership Sandy Springs
Steve Levetan
Immediate Past Chair, Sandy Springs Conservancy / Past Chair, Georgia Natural Resources Foundation
Kamyar 'Kamy" Molavi
Molavi Law, P.C.
Mark Moore
Alston & Bird, LLC
Cheri Morris
Morris & Fellows
Nancy Schisler
Gabriel Sterling
Georgia Secretary of State Agency
Molly Welch
ASLA W Design
Terry Morris
Morris & Fellows
Van Westmoreland
Westmoreland Company
Abigail Gross
Evan Ottaviano
Bennett Thrasher
Alex Allen
SSC
Kristen Ristino
Euro Vision
Tony Coaxum
GA Power
Mark Widener
JP Morgan
Derek Zittrauer
Kimley-Horn
Doug Morgan
Ken Dishman
Jay Schmitt
Sharron Grissom
UnitedHealthcare
Board leadership practices
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
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