Blacks in Green
Blacks in Green is a Chicago-based nonprofit operating the Sustainable Square Mile™ system to build walkable, climate-resilient, environmentally just villages in Black neighborhoods, delivering heritage tourism, community solar and geothermal infrastructure, and EPA-funded technical assistance across the U.S. Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Blacks in Green does
Blacks in Green (BIG) is a Chicago-based 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2007 by attorney Naomi Davis that operates the Sustainable Square Mile™ system — a trademarked methodology implementing 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building™ to cultivate walk-to-work, walk-to-shop, walk-to-learn, walk-to-play villages in Black neighborhoods, starting with West Woodlawn on Chicago's South Side. The organization runs a portfolio of nine programs including the landmarked Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley House Museum (under net-zero restoration to PHIUS and Living Building Challenge standards), the Great Migration Guest House (a three-bedroom Airbnb vacation rental inspired by the Green Book legacy), the Green Living Room (an Afro-centric event venue), the BIG Justice TCTAC (a $10M EPA-funded technical assistance center covering six states and 35 tribal lands), the Green Energy Justice Cooperative (a consumer-owned solar cooperative developing 9MW across Illinois), and the Sustainable Chicago Geothermal Project ($9.9M DOE-funded community geothermal heating/cooling network for 200+ households).
BIG generates revenue through a hybrid nonprofit model: government and foundation grants are the primary capital source (cumulative identified grants of approximately $36M+ since 2020, including EPA, DOE, Illinois Power Agency, and Bezos Earth Fund awards), supplemented by corporate donations (ADT), transactional tourism revenue (Airbnb bookings, Eventbrite-ticketed Juneteenth and heritage tours), and program-related fees. The organization's GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: BIG reaches constituents through grassroots block clubs, neighborhood organizing, cultural heritage tourism, coalition advocacy via its wholly-owned lobbying affiliate Green Power Alliance, and direct service delivery through the EPA Region 5 TCTAC alliance with MTERA, BEL, EHW, and UIC School of Public Health.
The organization's competitive positioning rests on three pillars: (1) the Sustainable Square Mile™ methodology and trademarked intellectual property, (2) the landmarked Emmett Till heritage asset (a singular narrative anchor for Black heritage tourism), and (3) an unprecedented regulatory and grant track record — including a historic Illinois Commerce Commission low-income discount rate decision (November 2023) and first, second, and fourth rankings in the Illinois Shines solar competitive process — that reflects outsized influence relative to its 1-10 person staff. Forward-looking risks center on federal-policy continuity under changing administrations and concentration of capital in a small number of large institutional funders.
Blacks in Green firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blacks in Green
- Legal name
- Blacks in Green
- Website
- https://blacksingreen.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Blacks in Green is a Chicago-based nonprofit operating the Sustainable Square Mile™ system to build walkable, climate-resilient, environmentally just villages in Black neighborhoods, delivering heritage tourism, community solar and geothermal infrastructure, and EPA-funded technical assistance across the U.S. Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blacks in Green industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Justice and Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO)
Keywords
Where Blacks in Green is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Blacks in Green business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tourism and Experience Economy: BIG generates revenue through tourism experiences including walking tours, bike tours, culinary bus tours, and event venue rentals (Green Living Room, Great Migration Guest House). The Sustainable Square Mile tourism economy is inspired by the Green Book legacy.
- Foundations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from major grants including $1.5M from Bezos Earth Fund, $10M EPA TCTAC grant, $150K from Telling the Full History Preservation Fund, and various government grants for energy justice initiatives.
- Corporate Partnerships and Donations: Revenue from corporate gifts and donations such as the $100K from ADT, with associated smart security system donations. Ongoing relationship-based philanthropy.
- Vacation Rental Income: The Great Migration Guest House generates income through Airbnb bookings for individual suites or entire property rental, accommodating up to six guests with three bedrooms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Great Migration Guest House - Entire Property |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Great Migration Guest House - Individual Suites |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Blacks in Green product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blacks in Green (BIG) is a nonprofit organization that designs and implements community-owned environmental infrastructure and economic development programs in Black neighborhoods, with its pilot in Chicago's West Woodlawn. Its flagship is the Sustainable Square Mile™ system, which deploys community-owned geothermal heating and cooling networks, community solar cooperatives, heritage tourism experiences, horticultural economies, and event venues to build walkable villages. The portfolio includes the Emmett Till House Museum, the Great Migration Guest House vacation rental, the Green Living Room event venue, and a $10M EPA-funded technical assistance center serving EPA Region 5.
Product overview
Blacks in Green (BIG) is an environmental justice and economic development nonprofit, not a traditional technology product company. Its core offering is the Sustainable Square Mile™ System — a whole-system methodology implementing 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building — centered on building walkable, self-sustaining villages in Black neighborhoods. The portfolio includes physical assets and programs: the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley House Museum (a landmarked heritage site undergoing net-zero restoration), the Great Migration Guest House (a Green Book-inspired vacation rental), the Green Living Room (an Afro-centric event and community gathering space), the BIG Justice TCTAC (a $10M EPA-funded environmental justice technical assistance center), the Green Energy Justice Cooperative (a community-owned 9MW solar cooperative), the Sustainable Chicago Geothermal Project ($9.9M DOE-funded geothermal heating/cooling network), the Lead-Free Water For All program, Sustainable Square Mile Block Clubs, the Sustainable Square Mile Handbook, and the Community Voices in Energy civic engagement platform developed with EDF. BIG also leads the Campaign to End Energy Poverty, which produced the People's Utility Rate Relief Act (PURR Act) advocacy and discount rate reforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sustainable Square Mile™: BIG's flagship system implementing 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building for sustainable community development
- Till House Museum
- Great Migration Guest House
- Green Living Room
- West Woodlawn Botanic Garden, Village Farm and Arboretum
- BIG Justice TCTAC
- Campaign to End Energy Poverty
- Community Voices in Energy
- 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building™
- GOD: Garden Oriented Development
Products and services
- Sustainable Square Mile™ System
- Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley House Museum
- Great Migration Guest House
- Green Living Room Venue Rental
- Heritage Tours (Walking, Bike, Culinary Bus)
- BIG Justice TCTAC (Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center)
- Green Energy Justice Cooperative (GEJC) Community Solar
- Sustainable Chicago Geothermal Project
- Lead-Free Water For All
Quantifiable outcome
- Historic ICC decision adopted pioneering discount rate structure for low-income gas utility customers in Illinois (November 2023)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Blacks in Green
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Blacks in Green technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Blacks in Green partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- City of Chicago Department of EnvironmentcoreEssential partner in Sustainable Chicago Geothermal project, providing affirmative support as global leader in fighting climate change for community geothermal network development.
- The Accelerate GroupcoreCoalition partner serving as Principal Investigator for geothermal project with President Andrew Barbeau leading design and analysis.
- Citizens Utility BoardminorCoalition partner in geothermal initiative representing consumer interests.
- Climate Jobs IllinoisminorCoalition partner providing workforce connections for geothermal installation and decarbonization jobs.
- Illinois AFL-CIOminorLabor federation partner supporting workforce development and training for geothermal installation.
- PrologisminorGlobal logistics real estate company partnering on renewable energy projects in Aurora and Romeoville, focused on sustainable economy with local governments and partners like BIG.
- Green Energy Justice Cooperative (GEJC) Coalition PartnerscoreCoalition including Grow Greater Englewood, People for Community Recovery, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Imani Village, Community Transformation Ministries/Sun Bright Energy, Claretian Associates, North Lawndale Employment Network, Urban Juncture, Greenleaf Advisors working on community solar development.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)coreLaunched Community Voices in Energy website helping people get involved in energy decisions. EDF creates transformational solutions to environmental problems with 3+ million members worldwide.
- Trust for Public LandminorPlayed role in BIG's success and continues partnership on urban greening initiatives.
- Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA)coreNon-profit intertribal organization serving as pivotal partner in Region 5 EJ TCTAC Alliance, bringing nearly a decade of experience focused on material social, economic, and environmental improvements for Tribes.
- Black Environmental Leaders Association (BEL)coreNetwork of environmental information, resources and data relevant to communities of color. BEL's value proposition is to Advocate, Incubate and Inform (AI2) for equitable and sustainable future.
- Environmental Health Watch (EHW)coreCleveland-based organization creating healthy, regenerative communities by justly enriching environments and respecting value of people and place.
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public HealthcoreUIC's Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) and ChicAgo Center for Health and EnvironmenT (CACHET) committed to advancing environmental justice and providing technical assistance.
- Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) - University of IllinoiscoreApplied research program and technical assistance center with mission to decrease energy footprint of Illinois, having educated and trained more than 2,700 facilities and 25,000 individuals since 2004.
- National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)coreLead coalition partner in Campaign to End Energy Poverty and PURR Act advocacy. NCLC works for consumer justice and economic security for low-income Americans since 1969.
- Green Power AlliancecoreBIG's lobbying affiliate leading coalition advocacy for utility regulatory reform and energy affordability legislation in Illinois.
- Illinois Clean Jobs CoalitionminorCoalition partner supporting PURR Act advocacy for clean energy and equity.
- Sierra Club IllinoisminorCoalition partner supporting utility rate relief and environmental justice legislation.
- Faith in PlaceminorCoalition partner in PURR Act advocacy representing faith-based environmental perspectives.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)minorCoalition partner supporting energy affordability and environmental justice initiatives.
- Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO)minorCoalition partner representing Latine environmental justice perspectives in PURR Act advocacy.
- Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)minorCoalition partner representing family and community organizing perspectives in energy justice advocacy.
- ElevateminorPartner in Lead-Free Water For All program providing education, free testing, and filters to reduce lead in drinking water in Chatham and Woodlawn neighborhoods.
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public HealthminorResearch partner in Lead-Free Water For All program addressing Chicago's 400,000+ lead service lines.
- Cooperative Energy FuturesminorMinnesota-based member-owned clean energy cooperative supporting GEJC in bringing community-owned solar to Illinois communities, having developed similar models in their own communities.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Blacks in Green competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cooperation Jackson: Mississippi-based Black community economic development organization building cooperative-owned energy, housing, and local enterprise in Black neighborhoods - directly comparable walk-to-work village-building philosophy.
- Emerald Cities Collaborative: National coalition advancing community-owned clean energy, equitable infrastructure, and inclusive workforce development - directly comparable focus on community-owned energy, equity, and federal funding capture.
- Deep South Center for Environmental Justice: New Orleans-based EJ nonprofit led by Dr. Beverly Wright that delivers federal grants, workforce development, and community-owned energy initiatives for Black communities - comparable scope, leadership, and grant playbook.
- Rebuild Foundation: Chicago-based Black community arts and place-based nonprofit founded by Theaster Gates that converts vacant South Side properties into cultural and economic hubs - directly comparable neighborhood-rooted heritage and real-estate strategy.
- Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO): Chicago Latino EJ nonprofit delivering coalition-based energy, air quality, and policy work in partnership with BIG on the PURR Act - directly comparable city, coalition model, and Illinois regulatory advocacy.
- WE ACT for Environmental Justice: New York-based environmental justice organization with federal funding, policy advocacy, and community organizing across air quality, energy and climate - directly comparable mission and funding profile to BIG.
- Cooperative Energy Futures: Minnesota-based member-owned community solar cooperative that is partnered with BIG's GEJC and shares the same community-owned solar thesis, subscriber model, and LMI focus.
- People for Community Recovery: Chicago South Side EJ organization led by Hazel Johnson focused on environmental health, energy affordability and community organizing in predominantly Black neighborhoods - directly comparable location and EJ advocacy profile.
Broad incumbents
- Trust for Public Land: National land-conservation nonprofit and Bezos Earth Fund partner that invests in urban greening for underserved communities - directly comparable to BIG's TPL-influenced West Woodlawn Botanic Garden and urban canopy goals.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: National preservation nonprofit that jointly awarded BIG's $150K Telling the Full History grant and operates broadly on African American heritage sites - comparable heritage preservation thesis at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Blacks in Green social profiles
Digital presenceBlacks in Green financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blacks in Green leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Blacks in Green subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Blacks in Green funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blacks in Green M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blacks in Green
What does Blacks in Green do?
Blacks in Green (BIG) is a nonprofit organization that designs and implements community-owned environmental infrastructure and economic development programs in Black neighborhoods, with its pilot in Chicago's West Woodlawn. Its flagship is the Sustainable Square Mile™ system, which deploys community-owned geothermal heating and cooling networks, community solar cooperatives, heritage tourism experiences, horticultural economies, and event venues to build walkable villages. The portfolio includes the Emmett Till House Museum, the Great Migration Guest House vacation rental, the Green Living Room event venue, and a $10M EPA-funded technical assistance center serving EPA Region 5.
Is Blacks in Green a public or private company?
Blacks in Green is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Blacks in Green founded?
Blacks in Green was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Blacks in Green based?
Blacks in Green is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blacks in Green make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tourism and Experience Economy is the primary driver. The others are foundations and Grants, corporate Partnerships and Donations and vacation Rental Income.
Who are Blacks in Green's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cooperation Jackson, Emerald Cities Collaborative, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Rebuild Foundation, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Cooperative Energy Futures and People for Community Recovery. Broad incumbents are Trust for Public Land and National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Does Blacks in Green have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blacks in Green.
What industry is Blacks in Green in?
Blacks in Green's product category is Environmental Justice and Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAL, Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health, with a secondary code of AFAMACAL, Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.