In the long run, I see this software potentially being able to be helpful to the wider conservation space, particularly for land owners and other small conservation orgs that manage land. I want to be able to provide this software for them, and potentially in the future develop new software/hardware products that address other needs.

I think that starting a non-profit might be the way to go, since that would explicitly define the goals of this organization (focused on the public good, not profit), and would give me access to the non-profit grant ecosystem. However, I have heard from others that an LLC can partner with non-profits to essentially achieve the same things, without requiring the overhead and dilution of ownership. I don't know of many technology organizations that might have had to face this choice, and I was wondering if anyone had any insights on what the typical/ideal path would be for this type of organization?

I don't envision this non-profit requiring donations for the majority of its income. The income would likely be affordable subscriptions to the service or charging for setting up/maintaining the software for organizations. Additionally, direct grants to fund development or indirect grants where this org partners with other non-profits would be another source of income.

I am not looking to make this a unicorn organization or anything, I just want to use my engineering skills to help with conservation in new ways, and at least make enough money someday to be able to do this work fulltime, ideally.

Thank you in advance!