Zender Environmental Health And Research Group
Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is an Alaska-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2007 that provides free environmental health technical assistance, job training, and hazardous waste backhaul services to 50-100 remote small communities and tribes annually, funded primarily through federal grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersAnchorage, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Zender Environmental Health And Research Group does
Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is an Alaska-based non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 2007 to address waste and water quality challenges in remote small communities and tribes, with a particular focus on off-road-system Alaska Native Villages. The organization employs approximately 17 scientists and technical experts, many drawn from rural Alaska, and delivers a portfolio of free programs: the Community Assistance Program providing technical support for waste and water quality programs; RACEJT, a 260-hour environmental technician job training program with over 91% job placement; the Backhaul Alaska program coordinating hazardous waste removal from rural communities; Water Quality Services including Qualified Sampler training; Refrigerant Recovery Training; Arctic and Remote Community Research; and Tribal Toxics Exposure Work supporting the National Tribal Toxics Council. The organization also publishes an A-Z Topic Help factsheet library covering 100+ environmental topics.
All services are provided free of charge to communities, with funding drawn primarily from federal and state grants (USDA Rural Development, EPA, WIOA, BIA, US DOT PHMSA) and donations. The business model is grant-dependent and partnership-rich, with strategic relationships spanning the University of Alaska Fairbanks, ANTHC, SWAT, Kawerak Inc., Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the Association of Village Council Presidents. Technology assets include a proprietary Alaska Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) Template for tribal communities, portable satellite hotspot devices for remote field video support, state-approved Qualified Sampler training, and a quarterly Alaska Solid Waste Newsletter published since 2010.
The organization reaches 50 to nearly 100 different communities annually, with RACEJT having graduated 187 Environmental Technicians representing 84 communities across 10 ANCSA regions since its first training in 2012. Its technical reach extends to international research through Arctic Council collaborations and a 2019-2021 partnership with Hokkaido University. There is no indication of revenue generation through commercial pricing; the entity is a mission-driven non-profit with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed equity ownership.
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zender Environmental Health And Research Group
- Legal name
- Zender Environmental Health and Research Group
- Website
- https://zendergroup.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is an Alaska-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2007 that provides free environmental health technical assistance, job training, and hazardous waste backhaul services to 50-100 remote small communities and tribes annually, funded primarily through federal grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Health Services for Rural Communities
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where Zender Environmental Health And Research Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Anchorage
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: Funded primarily through grants from EPA, USDA Rural Development, Alaska State Department of Labor (WIOA), Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other government sources. Also receives donations. All community assistance and training programs are provided free of charge to communities.
- Fiscal Sponsorship: Acts as fiscal sponsor for Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce projects including Backhaul Alaska.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Community Assistance - Free |
| Freemium | Annual | RACEJT Training - Free |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that delivers free environmental health services to remote small communities and Alaska Native tribes, focusing on waste management, water quality, backhaul of hazardous materials, and capacity-building training. Its core offerings include the Community Assistance Program, RACEJT job training, the Backhaul Alaska program, and Water Quality Services including Qualified Sampler training and QAPP development.
Product overview
Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering a portfolio of free environmental health services for remote Alaska communities and tribes. The core offerings include: Community Assistance Program providing direct technical support for waste and water quality programs; Water Quality Services with Qualified Sampler training and QAPP development assistance; the Backhaul Alaska Program coordinating hazardous waste removal from rural communities; RACEJT (Rural Alaska Community Environmental Job Training) providing 260-hour certification programs with over 91% job placement; Refrigerant Recovery Training; Professional Training Programs covering HAZWOPER, backhaul regulations, and environmental sampling; Arctic and Remote Community Research collaborating on regional and international environmental studies; Tribal Toxics Exposure Work supporting National Tribal Toxics Council initiatives; and an A-Z Topic Help Resource Library with 100+ factsheets. The organization was founded in 2007 and employs scientists and experts from rural Alaska communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RACEJT (Rural Alaska Community Environmental Job Training): An environmental technician job training program for rural Alaska residents that offers certifications, job readiness skills, and connections to employment in environmental health fields.
- Backhaul Alaska
- SWAT (Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce)
Products and services
- Community Assistance Program Free technical assistance program helping remote small communities and tribes develop, enhance, and evaluate waste and water quality programs, including skills building, planning, landfill operations, water quality programs, backhaul, community involvement, education, and funding assistance.
- Water Quality Services Comprehensive water and soil quality support including Qualified Sampler training with equipment instruction (YSI, Hanna Combo Meter, Turbidity Meter), free technical assistance for sampling, and QAPP development assistance for EPA-required quality assurance project plans.
- Backhaul Alaska Program Statewide program administered by Zender on behalf of SWAT that coordinates the hauling of hazardous wastes out of rural Alaska communities, including electronic waste, batteries, mercury items, scrap metal, liquid hazardous wastes, and recyclables.
- RACEJT (Rural Alaska Community Environmental Job Training) 260-hour in-residence job training program offering an Occupational Endorsement from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, 10+ college credits, and 15+ state and national certifications including HAZWOPER, CPR/First Aid, DOT HAZmat, and State of Alaska Qualified Water & Soil Sampler Training, with over 91% job placement rate.
- Refrigerant Recovery (Freon) Training
Quantifiable outcome
- 91% job placement rate for RACEJT graduates
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Zender Environmental Health And Research Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- University of Alaska FairbankscorePartnership for RACEJT program providing 260-hour Rural Environmental & Spill Response Technician training with UAF Occupational Endorsement, 10-11 college credits, and certifications. Also collaborates on permafrost landfill redesign.
- Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce (SWAT)coreAdminister Backhaul Alaska program on behalf of SWAT. Collaborative group including ANTHC, ADEC, Kawerak, Inc. working on statewide solid waste solutions.
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)coreSWAT member and partner in solid waste management initiatives. Provides support for RACEJT program.
- Kawerak, Inc.majorRegional ANCSA non-profit providing backhaul models used statewide. SWAT member and Backhaul Alaska funding partner.
- Tanana Chiefs ConferencemajorRACEJT sponsor and partner supporting tribal solid waste programs for 38 affiliated tribes.
- Arctic CouncilminorCollaborated on 2019 desk study of best waste management practices in remote Arctic communities in Alaska, Canada, and Finland for Aleut International Association and Government of Canada.
- Hokkaido Universityminor2019-2021 collaboration on human-waste relations in Arctic society from cultural anthropological perspective.
- National Tribal Toxics CouncilcoreWorks with NTTC, Tribal Partnership Group for EPA OPPT, to embed tribal-specific parameters in toxic chemical risk assessments under TSCA.
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease RegistryminorRACEJT sponsor providing health-related training and expertise.
- Cold Climate/High Altitudes International Anaerobic Digestion GroupminorInternational consortium focused on developing anaerobic digestion systems for rural Arctic/sub-Arctic areas.
- Association of Village Council PresidentsmajorRACEJT sponsor and regional tribal partner.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC): Alaska Native tribal nonprofit providing statewide environmental health, water/sanitation, and health services to rural Alaska Native communities; directly comparable as a tribal environmental health organization and SWAT/Backhaul Alaska partner.
- Kawerak, Inc. Bering Strait regional ANCSA nonprofit that develops backhaul models used statewide and is a SWAT member; comparable as a regional Alaska Native nonprofit providing environmental health capacity building to villages.
- Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC): Interior Alaska tribal consortium serving 38 tribes and a RACEJT sponsor; comparable as an Alaska tribal organization delivering environmental health programs to off-road-system Native villages.
- Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP): Western Alaska tribal consortium providing services including IGAP-funded environmental programs to 56 villages; comparable as a regional tribal environmental services organization operating in the same Alaskan geography.
- Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP): Northern Arizona University-based tribal environmental training and technical assistance organization; comparable as a tribal-focused nonprofit delivering environmental training, resources, and capacity building across multiple states.
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP): National network of nonprofit rural water/wastewater technical assistance providers; comparable as a rural-environmental-infrastructure capacity-building nonprofit offering technical assistance and training to small communities.
- Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA): Southeast Alaska tribal government and original Zender partner from the 1998 statewide solid waste baseline assessment; comparable as an Alaska Native tribal entity delivering environmental services including solid waste to member communities.
Emerging players
- National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC): Tribal advocacy and technical organization embedded in EPA OPPT chemical risk reviews under TSCA, of which Zender is a direct technical partner; comparable as a tribal environmental advocacy/technical nonprofit operating at the federal-tribal interface.
Broad incumbents
- Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA): Broad solid waste industry association serving the entire North American waste management sector; comparable as a solid waste professional/technical organization, but operating at industry-wide scope rather than Alaska rural-tribal niche.
- National Indian Health Board (NIHB): National tribal health advocacy organization; comparable as a tribal advocacy and capacity-building nonprofit at the federal policy interface, including environmental health determinants affecting Native communities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group social profiles
Digital presenceZender Environmental Health And Research Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group 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 Zender Environmental Health And Research Group
What does Zender Environmental Health And Research Group do?
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that delivers free environmental health services to remote small communities and Alaska Native tribes, focusing on waste management, water quality, backhaul of hazardous materials, and capacity-building training. Its core offerings include the Community Assistance Program, RACEJT job training, the Backhaul Alaska program, and Water Quality Services including Qualified Sampler training and QAPP development.
Is Zender Environmental Health And Research Group a public or private company?
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Zender Environmental Health And Research Group founded?
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zender Environmental Health And Research Group based?
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group is headquartered in Anchorage, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zender Environmental Health And Research Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grants and Donations are the primary driver. The others are fiscal Sponsorship.
Who are Zender Environmental Health And Research Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), Kawerak, Inc., Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA). National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and National Indian Health Board (NIHB).
Does Zender Environmental Health And Research Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zender Environmental Health And Research Group.
What industry is Zender Environmental Health And Research Group in?
Zender Environmental Health And Research Group's product category is Environmental Health Services for Rural Communities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 4953.