ECO-Action

What ECO-Action does

ECO-Action (Environmental Community Action, Inc.) is a Georgia-based nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to assist vulnerable low-income communities and communities of color in organizing against environmental health threats. The organization provides community organizing, technical assistance, and environmental education across more than 140 community groups in 95 of Georgia's 159 counties, with core programs including the Atlanta Watershed Learning Network (AWLN) for both adult and youth cohorts, the Brunswick AWLN Youth Summer Program, the Metro-Atlanta Clean Air Initiative (MACAI) which deploys 7 air quality monitors, the Green Infrastructure Initiative in partnership with Atlanta University Center schools, and newer climate-and-health research centers CHART and REACH-ATL developed in partnership with Emory University. Its service model combines grassroots organizing, youth stipended training programs ($15/hour for youth interns, $700 for AWLN Adult Program completers), and coalition-building across a 40+ partner network spanning federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and community-based organizations.

ECO-Action is funded primarily through a mix of government grants (notably US EPA Region 4), foundation grants (Annie E. Casey, Kresge, Turner), individual donations, and fundraising events; the organization does not charge for most of its services. Its distribution relies on direct field delivery in Georgia communities, supplemented by digital channels including the eco-act.org website, monthly ECO-Action News newsletter, The Equity Lens podcast, and active social media presence. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Frank Bove (CDC senior epidemiologist) and has been led since October 2021 by Executive Director Carla Y. Lewis, who succeeded founder-era leader Dr. Yomi Noibi. ECO-Action has a documented track record of environmental justice policy outcomes dating to its earliest work halting a 3,000-acre hazardous waste incineration facility in Middle Georgia (1989-1993).

Technically, ECO-Action does not operate a commercial product or software platform. Its "core technology" is its community-organizing methodology, environmental health education curriculum, and the data-collection footprint of programs like MACAI's air quality monitoring network. The organization maintains a small core staff (1-10 employees) supplemented by academic and partner-organization personnel, and runs an in-person plus digital go-to-market focused on community engagement, donor cultivation, and funder relations rather than commercial sales.

Name

ECO-Action

Legal name

Environmental Community Action, Inc.

Website

https://eco-act.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ECO-Action is a 1989-founded Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps vulnerable Georgia communities—especially low-income residents and people of color—organize against environmental health threats through community organizing, youth and adult environmental education programs, climate-and-health research, and a 40+ partner coalition network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Justice / Community Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

Keywords

• Environmental justice services
• Community organizing programs
• Watershed education
• Climate resilience research
• Air quality monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: ECO-Action accepts online donations through their website, phone donations via text, Cash App, and Zelle, and mailed checks or money orders.
2. Grants and Government Funding: The organization receives funding from government agencies including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and foundations such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and Turner Foundation.
3. Youth Program Stipends: Youth program participants receive stipends for completing programs; AWLN Adult Program participants receive $700 upon completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ECO-Action (Environmental Community Action, Inc.) is a Georgia-based nonprofit that provides community organizing and technical assistance to vulnerable, low-income communities and communities of color confronting environmental health threats. The organization delivers a portfolio of programs including watershed education (AWLN), climate and health research (CHART, REACH-ATL), air quality monitoring (MACAI), green infrastructure planning, youth development, and coalition-building across 95 of 159 Georgia counties.

Product overview

ECO-Action (Environmental Community Action, Inc.) is a non-profit organization that provides community organizing and technical assistance to Georgia communities facing environmental health threats. Rather than a commercial product company, ECO-Action offers a portfolio of community programs and services focused on environmental justice, including watershed education (AWLN), climate and health research (CHART, REACH-ATL), green infrastructure initiatives, air quality monitoring (MACAI), youth development programs, and community organizing services. Their core offerings are community capacity building, leadership development, and advocacy support rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Atlanta Watershed Learning Network (AWLN) Adult Program Adult watershed education program for Georgia community members that provides training on local watersheds, environmental health, and community organizing. Adult participants who complete all sessions and homework receive a $700 stipend paid in two installments.
• Atlanta Watershed Learning Network (AWLN) Youth Program Six-week summer environmental education program for youth ages 15-19 that provides watershed and leadership training, with interns compensated at $15/hr and lunch provided daily.
• Brunswick AWLN Youth Summer Program Summer youth environmental program in Brunswick, Georgia with Youth Interns compensated at $15/hr and Program Coordinators at $25/hr; the 2023 program ran from June 12 to July 21.
• Climate & Health Actionable Research and Translation (CHART) Center Research and translation program, in partnership with Emory University, that studies and addresses climate-related disease burdens, heat exposure, and health disparities in under-resourced urban Atlanta communities.
• Resilience, Equity and Adaptation for Climate and Health (REACH-ATL) Community-oriented climate resilience program that builds resilience, equity, and adaptation for climate change and health impacts among vulnerable individuals and communities of color in Atlanta.
• Metro-Atlanta Clean Air Initiative (MACAI) Community air quality program that deploys 7 air quality monitors across five underserved Metro-Atlanta African-American communities and provides 8-10 training sessions to a minimum of 75 people.
• Green Infrastructure Initiative Green infrastructure planning and education program partnering with Atlanta University Center schools, Atlanta Housing Authority, Engineers without Borders, and Earth Economics to develop conceptual plans for green spaces in AUC and Castleberry Village communities.
• Georgia Grassroots Environmental Network (GGEN) Statewide coalition of community-based environmental groups in Georgia organized by ECO-Action to advocate for regulations requiring community notification on Consent Orders and other environmental protections.
• Moving from Surviving to Thriving in the Face of Climate Change EPA-funded climate resilience project that engages Intrenchment Creek and Proctor Creek Watershed residents in education and community resiliency planning.
• Community Organizing and Technical Assistance Core ECO-Action service providing community organizing and technical assistance to vulnerable, low-income communities and communities of color in Georgia, including Community Assistance Request intake and Community Rapid Response Kit resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140+ community-based organizations organized across 95 Georgia counties
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Emory University (Dept. of Environmental Studies, School of Public Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for climate and health research through the CHART Center and REACH-ATL programs; Emory faculty serve on core research teams alongside ECO-Action staff; joint research on heat exposure, climate-related disease burdens, and health disparities in under-resourced urban communities.
• United States EPA (Region 4)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funder for multiple programs including Green Infrastructure at AUC (Urban Waters Program), Moving from Surviving to Thriving climate resilience project, and Metro-Atlanta Clean Air Initiative; provides regulatory oversight and technical support.
• West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding environmental justice partner working on Proctor Creek and watershed issues; joint advocacy for green infrastructure and environmental health in Atlanta's Westside communities.
• Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morris Brown College, ITCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Infrastructure at Atlanta University Center (AUC) partnership with AUC schools and Atlanta Housing Authority; student involvement in conceptual planning for green spaces; service learning and coursework integration.
• Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental agency partner for regulatory compliance, community assistance referrals, and environmental protection initiatives across Georgia.
• Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner for environmental health and justice; BE SAFE campaign collaboration; provides organizing and technical assistance resources.
• Atlanta Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Green Infrastructure at AUC Initiative; collaborative work on green spaces on housing authority properties.
• Metro Atlanta Urban Watershed Institute (MAUWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Proctor Creek stewardship and green infrastructure initiatives; joint conferences and community forums.
• Engineers without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner collaborating to advance green infrastructure project implementation at AUC schools and Castleberry Village Communities.
• Earth EconomicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for monetizing the value of stormwater resources and green infrastructure services at AUC.
• HEALing Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for mobile clinic outreach providing health screenings (diabetes, hypertension, depression, asthma, mammograms) in underserved Atlanta communities.
• Chattahoochee RiverkeepercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner focused on watershed protection and water quality in the Chattahoochee River basin.
• Glynn Environmental CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental justice partner in Brunswick, GA working on air and water quality issues related to industrial pollution.
• Sierra Club, Georgia ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState chapter partner for environmental advocacy and clean energy initiatives.
• Southern Alliance for Clean EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for clean energy advocacy and climate action.
• Project South: Institution for the Elimination of Poverty and GenocidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial justice partner for economic and environmental equity initiatives.
• Fulton County Department of Health and WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty health partner for community health initiatives and mobile clinic collaborations.
• Georgia State University (Georgia Health Policy Center, Center of Excellence on Health Disparities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for health disparities research and policy analysis.
• Conservation FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partner for environmental protection initiatives.
• Georgia Water CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition partner for water protection and quality initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WE ACT for Environmental Justice: National environmental justice organization that pioneered community-based organizing for low-income communities and communities of color; closely comparable in mission and EJ-community focus.
• Deep South Center for Environmental Justice: New Orleans-based EJ organization with research, training, and community organizing arms; comparable in Gulf/Southeast environmental justice focus and workforce development pipeline approach.
• Glynn Environmental Coalition: Brunswick, GA environmental justice partner working on industrial pollution and air/water quality — directly comparable in mission, geographic focus, and community-based approach.
• Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ): National environmental health nonprofit that collaborates with ECO-Action on the BE SAFE campaign; comparable in community-organizing approach and grassroots capacity-building focus.
• Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: Georgia-based watershed protection organization partnered with ECO-Action; comparable in water-quality advocacy and Georgia geographic focus, though more focused on river stewardship than environmental justice.
• Georgia Conservation Voters: Georgia-based environmental advocacy organization with overlapping board connections to ECO-Action; comparable in Georgia-focused environmental policy advocacy and coalition building.
• Georgia Water Coalition: Statewide coalition of which ECO-Action is a member; comparable in water protection advocacy and coalition-building across Georgia.
• Project South: Atlanta-based social justice partner of ECO-Action; comparable in economic and environmental equity organizing in the Southeast, with a similarly grassroots-led model.
• West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA): Long-standing ECO-Action partner focused on Proctor Creek and West Atlanta watershed environmental justice — directly comparable in mission, geography, and community-organizing model.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club (Georgia Chapter): Major national environmental organization with an active Georgia chapter that partners with ECO-Action; comparable in clean energy and conservation advocacy, but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ecoactga
• YouTubeinstagram.com/ecoactionga
• Facebookfacebook.com/ECOActionGA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoactionga

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECO-Action