Emerald Cities Collaborative
Emerald Cities Collaborative is a national nonprofit founded in 2009 that implements place-based strategies across five U.S. regions to advance climate, racial, and economic justice through workforce training, contractor capacity building, affordable housing retrofits, and policy advocacy for frontline communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Emerald Cities Collaborative does
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization advances racial, economic, and climate justice through place-based strategies implemented across five regional offices (Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Northeast, and DMV/DC-Maryland-Virginia) plus a national civic infrastructure function. ECC's programs are organized into four pillars: Community & Worker Powerbuilding (Energy Democracy, ECCB, People's Justice40+ Playbook), Economic Inclusion (E-Contractor Academy, ACES, Green Path Careers, HVAC/R Training, Just Transition PowerForce), Climate Interventions (RENEW Multi-Family Housing, Emerald Connections, Water Equity & Technology, ARC), and Climate Justice Movement Support.
The organization's core offerings are programs, technical assistance, and proprietary content rather than software products. Key resources include the Energy Democracy Scorecard, the People's Justice40+ Community Benefit Playbook, and a suite of toolkits covering climate equity, building decarbonization, and utility justice. ECC serves frontline BIPOC and low-income communities, MWDBE contractors, Title I high school students, affordable housing developers, and anchor institutions (hospitals, universities, local governments). Outcomes to date include 260 MWDBE contractors trained through the E-Contractor Academy, $19 million in energy efficiency and green infrastructure contracts awarded to MWDBE contractors, and 80% of ECC projects paying union or prevailing wages.
ECC's revenue model is foundation and government grant-funded, with disclosed support from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, Tribal Energy Fund, Kendeda Fund, JPB Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Broad Foundation, Russell Family Foundation, Greater Washington Community Foundation, and others. The organization operates with 11-50 employees and no parent company or private equity backing. Notable partnerships include co-convened initiatives with Healthcare Without Harm (ARC), NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program (Just Transition PowerForce), Community Learning Partnership (12 community college training programs), and the Obama Foundation (Chicago economic development). Leadership is in transition as of November 2025 with Adetola Shabi appointed Interim CEO.
Emerald Cities Collaborative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Emerald Cities Collaborative
- Legal name
- Emerald Cities Collaborative
- Website
- https://emeraldcities.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Emerald Cities Collaborative is a national nonprofit founded in 2009 that implements place-based strategies across five U.S. regions to advance climate, racial, and economic justice through workforce training, contractor capacity building, affordable housing retrofits, and policy advocacy for frontline communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Emerald Cities Collaborative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Emerald Cities Collaborative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Grant Funding: ECC operates as a nonprofit organization funded through grants and donations from foundations, government agencies, and individual donors. The organization runs fundraising campaigns such as the $15K Invest in Impact campaign.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Emerald Cities Collaborative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit that designs and implements place-based programs at the intersection of climate, economic, and racial justice. It delivers training academies, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs (e.g., E-Contractor Academy, RENEW Multi-Family Housing, Energy Communities Capacity Building, Green Path Careers) to community-based organizations, MWDBE contractors, affordable housing developers, anchor institutions, and frontline communities across five U.S. regions. ECC supplements direct service delivery with policy advocacy, playbooks, toolkits, and coalition-building resources that help historically underserved communities access federal climate investments.
Product overview
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and resources focused on advancing racial, economic, and climate justice. Rather than a unified software product, ECC provides place-based strategies organized into four main areas: Community & Worker Powerbuilding (including Energy Democracy, ECCB, and People's J40+ Playbook), Economic Inclusion (including E-Contractor Academy, ACES, Green Path Careers, HVAC/R Training, and Just Transition PowerForce), Climate Interventions (including RENEW Multi-Family Housing, Emerald Connections, Water Equity & Technology, and ARC), and Climate Justice Movement Support. These programs are complemented by toolkits and playbooks including the DC Economic Empowerment Playbook, Justice40 Implementation Guide, and various community engagement resources. ECC's offerings combine direct service delivery (training, technical assistance), policy advocacy, and resource development to build community capacity for equitable climate action.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ECCB (Energy Communities Capacity Building): Training, funding, and technical assistance program for community-based organizations and frontline communities to understand, organize, design, and implement Energy Democracy policies and projects
- ARC (Anchors in Resilient Communities)
- E-Contractor Academy
- RENEW Multi-Family Housing
- Green Path Careers (GPC)
- Just Transition PowerForce
- ACES (Architecture Construction Engineering Students)
Products and services
- Energy Democracy Program Introduces communities and policy makers to the Energy Democracy framework and supports local efforts to transition from extractive energy systems to renewable, community-controlled ones, including the Energy Democracy Scorecard and Energy Democracy Flipbook tools.
- Energy Communities Capacity Building (ECCB) Program Provides training, funding, and technical assistance to community-based organizations and frontline communities nationwide to understand, organize, design, and implement Energy Democracy policies and projects, with emphasis on leveraging federal funding opportunities.
- People's Justice40+ Community Benefit Playbook Guidance playbook for low-income, rural, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), frontline, and fenceline communities to develop Community Benefit Plans that leverage the Justice40 Initiative and federal climate investments.
- RENEW Multi-Family Housing End-to-end technical support for affordable housing developers to achieve energy and water efficiency savings in multi-family rental housing, including tracking energy/water usage, planning cost-saving measures, integrating utility incentives, and facilitating financing for retrofit projects.
- Emerald Connections Program offering home repairs, energy upgrades, and healthy home improvements at no cost to income-eligible residents in Beacon Hill, Seattle and Lynn, Massachusetts, combining weatherization services with health-related improvements.
- E-Contractor Academy Seven-week training program where small, WMDBE contractors learn to perform energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofit projects, including strategic business support, procurement assistance, and mentoring.
- Just Transition PowerForce Collaborative initiative bringing together environmental and climate justice leaders to align corporate climate commitments toward deep investments in sustainability and climate resilience of frontline communities.
- Architecture Construction Engineering Students (ACES) Secondary through postsecondary education program designed to train a new generation of workers, enabling students to earn high school diplomas, skills certificates, and associate degrees to jumpstart STEAM careers in architecture, engineering, energy, and construction.
- Green Path Careers (GPC) Program helping Opportunity Youth (18+ who are homeless, transitioning from foster care, justice impacted, or low income) work toward rewarding careers in the sustainable economy through personal enrichment training, BPI certification, employment referrals, and work experience.
- HVAC/R Training and Career Preparation Academy Twelve-week program delivering evening lectures, demonstrations, and weekend hands-on laboratory training to create opportunities in HVAC/R trades for women, veterans, low-income individuals, and Black and brown community members.
- Water Equity & Technology Initiative finding high-road solutions to Greater L.A.'s water needs with specific focus on school-based solutions, developing career pathway programs for students in South and Southeast L.A. in hydro science, technology, and environmental conservation.
- Anchors in Resilient Communities (ARC) Multi-stakeholder initiative co-convened with Healthcare Without Harm that leverages the assets of large anchor institutions (hospitals, universities, local governments) to improve health, economies, and climate resilience of low-income communities of color.
- DC Economic Empowerment Playbook Playbook developed to support minority and women contractors seeking to enter and grow in Washington, D.C.'s sustainable building sector, providing overviews of DC's sustainable building policies and identifying core business competencies essential for growing a business.
Quantifiable outcome
- 260 MWDBE contractors completed E-Contractor Academy
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Emerald Cities Collaborative
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Emerald Cities Collaborative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Emerald Cities Collaborative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Healthcare Without HarmcoreARC (Anchors in Resilient Communities) is co-convened by Emerald Cities Collaborative and Healthcare Without Harm. The program leverages assets and capacities of large place-based anchor institutions to improve health, economies, and climate resilience of low-income communities of color.
- NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice ProgramcoreLaunched the Just Transition PowerForce together with NAACP, bringing together environmental and climate justice leaders to align corporate climate commitments toward deep investments in frontline communities
- Microsoft Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I)minorRelationship with Microsoft datacenter operations team for the Just Transition PowerForce initiative
- WSP USAminorCollaborators on the Just Transition PowerForce providing sustainability, energy and climate change expertise
- Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN)coreCollaboration for the Green Path Careers (GPC) program helping opportunity youth work toward careers in the sustainable economy
- LISC MassachusettscoreCollaboration for the Northeast E-Contractor Academy program
- El Centro de la RazacoreCommunity partner for Emerald Connections program in Washington state, building the Beloved Community through unifying racial and economic sectors
- Latino Support NetworkcoreCommunity partner for Emerald Connections program in Massachusetts, working to create affordable housing and pathways to homeownership in Lynn
- Action Inc.coreWeatherization and healthy homes partner for Emerald Connections program
- City of Seattle Office of HousingcoreWeatherization and healthy homes partner for Emerald Connections program, creating affordable housing and preventing displacement
- Cadeo GroupminorTechnical partner for Emerald Connections, a clean energy consulting firm focusing on transforming energy use, generation, and management
- Center for EcoTechnology (CET)minorTechnical partner for Emerald Connections, offering resilient climate solutions for people and businesses
- Obama FoundationcoreEmerald South Economic Development Collaborative is the Obama Foundation's economic development partner and has expanded its Shared Purchasing Network for Chicago small businesses in anticipation of the Obama Presidential Center opening
- San Francisco Department of the EnvironmentminorFunding source for demonstration projects under the Healthy Resilient Homes Initiative, testing building decarbonization in low-income rental housing
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegecoreCollaborated with LATTC to pilot a water equity and technology course for high school students in South and Southeast LA
- ElevateminorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- Building Electrification InstituteminorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- The Greenlining InstituteminorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- Greenlink AnalyticsminorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- Rising Sun Center for OpportunityminorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)minorCo-created guidelines for maximizing benefits of federal investments in buildings
- Community Learning PartnershipcoreCo-sponsor of 12 community college training programs in community organizing preparing the next generation of community change agents
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Emerald Cities Collaborative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Elevate: Nonprofit designing and implementing programs that reduce energy burden, decarbonize buildings, and build workforce in underinvested communities. Direct overlap with ECC's energy efficiency, weatherization, and J40 implementation work.
- BlocPower: Building electrification and energy efficiency platform with explicit focus on disadvantaged communities. Comparable to ECC's RENEW Multi-Family Housing and Emerald Connections building retrofit work.
- GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit delivering solar workforce training and clean energy access for low-income and BIPOC communities. Closely comparable to ECC's E-Contractor Academy, ACES, and energy democracy mission.
- Greenlining Institute: Racial equity and climate justice policy and capacity-building organization. Collaborator on ECC's federal building investment guidelines and a direct peer in equity-centered climate policy advocacy.
- Healthcare Without Harm: Global health and climate nonprofit that co-convenes the Anchors in Resilient Communities (ARC) program with ECC. Comparable in anchor-institution strategy and climate-health intersection work.
- Center for EcoTechnology (CET): Climate solutions nonprofit delivering weatherization, energy efficiency, and clean economy programs. Co-technical partner with ECC on the Emerald Connections program and a direct peer in residential energy upgrades.
- NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program: National civil rights climate program and ECC's co-convener on the Just Transition PowerForce. Highly comparable mission (frontline-community investment and corporate climate alignment) and overlapping donor base.
Regional players
- Energy Trust of Oregon: Regional nonprofit delivering energy efficiency, renewable energy, and workforce programs in Oregon. Comparable mission to ECC's energy efficiency and clean economy work, but geographically bounded to Oregon.
Emerging players
- Building Electrification Institute: Organization advancing equitable building electrification policy. Co-collaborator with ECC on federal building investment guidelines; comparable in building decarbonization focus.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large environmental advocacy organization with broad climate, energy, and equity work. Collaborator with ECC on federal building investment guidelines; broader in scope but overlapping in energy democracy and J40 advocacy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Emerald Cities Collaborative social profiles
Digital presenceEmerald Cities Collaborative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Emerald Cities Collaborative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Emerald Cities Collaborative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Emerald Cities Collaborative 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 Emerald Cities Collaborative
What does Emerald Cities Collaborative do?
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit that designs and implements place-based programs at the intersection of climate, economic, and racial justice. It delivers training academies, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs (e.g., E-Contractor Academy, RENEW Multi-Family Housing, Energy Communities Capacity Building, Green Path Careers) to community-based organizations, MWDBE contractors, affordable housing developers, anchor institutions, and frontline communities across five U.S. regions. ECC supplements direct service delivery with policy advocacy, playbooks, toolkits, and coalition-building resources that help historically underserved communities access federal climate investments.
Is Emerald Cities Collaborative a public or private company?
Emerald Cities Collaborative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Emerald Cities Collaborative founded?
Emerald Cities Collaborative was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Emerald Cities Collaborative based?
Emerald Cities Collaborative is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Emerald Cities Collaborative make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation and Grant Funding.
Who are Emerald Cities Collaborative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Elevate, BlocPower, GRID Alternatives, Greenlining Institute, Healthcare Without Harm, Center for EcoTechnology (CET) and NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. Energy Trust of Oregon is listed as a regional player. Building Electrification Institute is listed as an emerging player. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Emerald Cities Collaborative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Emerald Cities Collaborative.