What Clean Memphis does

Clean Memphis is a Memphis, Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit founded in 2008, employing 11-50 staff and focused on community cleanliness, recycling, and environmental education across the Memphis metro. Its programmatic portfolio spans Community Engagement, Environmental Education, Project Green Fork (a restaurant sustainability program), Choose to Reuse, the Sustainable Schools Challenge directed at K-12 students, and the more recently launched Circular Mid-South Summit, which together position the organization as both a neighborhood-level operator and a regional convener on circular economy topics.

The organization's primary customers and stakeholders are Memphis and Shelby County Schools and Memphis Parks, with secondary reach into neighborhood-level community residents through partnerships with groups such as the Binghampton Development Corporation. The Circular Supply Chain Coalition, along with partnerships with FedEx Cares, PGA TOUR, and GAME Change, indicates a deliberate expansion of the stakeholder set from schools and residents to include corporate supply-chain actors and event-based volunteer networks.

The business model is that of a mid-sized U.S. community nonprofit: revenue is sourced from institutional grants (notably a $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded in 2023-09 and a Hilton Global Foundation grant dated 2024-10-16), corporate contributions through partner programs, and individual donations. Programs are delivered largely free-of-charge to end beneficiaries, with the organization monetizing impact through funded programming rather than fee-for-service. The technical platform is operational rather than software-based: program delivery, partner coordination, and event convening, with no disclosed proprietary technology stack or data infrastructure in the available record.

Name

Clean Memphis

Legal name

Clean Memphis

Website

https://cleanmemphis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clean Memphis is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit founded in 2008 that delivers community cleanliness, recycling education, and circular-economy programming to Memphis and Shelby County Schools, Memphis Parks, and local residents through grant-funded programs and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Nonprofit / Community Sustainability Services

NAICS

Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Community sustainability initiatives
• Circular economy programs
• Waste reduction services
• Nonprofit community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Tennessee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Clean Memphis generates revenue primarily through grants, including a $500,000 EPA grant for water refill stations and plastic waste reduction initiatives.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clean Memphis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free environmental sustainability programs across Memphis and Shelby County, including Community Engagement, Environmental Education for K-12 students, Project Green Fork for sustainable food systems, the Choose to Reuse plastic-waste-reduction initiative featuring water refill stations in schools and parks, and the Sustainable Schools Challenge. The organization also hosts events such as the Circular Mid-South Summit and Reharvest Memphis, and partners with local stakeholders on circular economy initiatives.

Product overview

Clean Memphis is a nonprofit environmental organization offering multiple interconnected programs focused on environmental sustainability. The core programs include Community Engagement for resident empowerment, Environmental Education providing free K-12 instruction, Project Green Fork for sustainable food systems, and the Choose to Reuse initiative featuring water refill stations. These programs work together to build a cleaner, more resilient Memphis through education, community action, and waste reduction initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Green Fork: A program developing a sustainable food system for all Memphians by reducing food waste, connecting local partners, and socializing green dining practices.
• Choose to Reuse
• Sustainable Schools Challenge

Products and services

• Community Engagement Program that fosters a cleaner, more resilient Memphis by empowering residents and facilitating collaborations to implement community education initiatives and partnerships.
• Environmental Education Free, hands-on, standards-based environmental education instruction delivered to K-12 students in Memphis and Shelby County, transforming abstract concepts into actionable environmental stewardship.
• Project Green Fork Program developing a sustainable food system for Memphians by reducing food waste, connecting local partners, and promoting green dining practices.
• Choose to Reuse Plastic-waste-reduction initiative that installs water refill stations in schools and parks and promotes the reuse of bottles to decrease plastic pollution in waterways.
• Sustainable Schools Challenge Environmental challenge program for schools promoting sustainability practices among students and staff.
• Circular Mid-South Summit Annual regional summit hosted by Clean Memphis bringing together leaders from across the Mid-South region to discuss and advance collaborative circular economy initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 180 people employed through circular economy programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Binghampton Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaborating on circular economy initiatives including waste reduction, food rescue, and recycling programs that have created employment for over 180 people and diverted thousands of tons of materials from landfills.
• FedEx CarescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026FedEx positions itself as a key logistics partner connecting community sustainability efforts through in-kind shipping, supply chain expertise, and support for the Circular Supply Chain Coalition's projects.
• PGA TOURminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Participating in collaborative circular economy initiatives including waste reduction and recycling programs.
• GAME ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted an event in April 2026 bringing together leaders from across the Mid-South region to discuss collaborative circular economy initiatives.
• Circular Supply Chain CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition co-hosting regional events to advance circular economy initiatives with Clean Memphis and other regional partners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Keep America Beautiful: The largest US community-based environmental nonprofit focused on litter prevention, recycling, and community beautification. Directly comparable to Clean Memphis as a community-driven nonprofit that operates similar education, cleanup, and recycling programs at significantly greater scale.
• Recycle Across America: A nonprofit that creates standardized recycling labeling and runs national recycling awareness campaigns. Comparable to Clean Memphis in providing public-education infrastructure for waste reduction at schools and public facilities.
• Clean Water Action: A national nonprofit advocating for clean water and zero-waste policy. Comparable to Clean Memphis in linking water-quality and waste-reduction advocacy with community engagement, though operating at a national scale with policy as a primary lever.
• The Recycling Partnership: A national nonprofit that works with cities, companies, and communities to improve recycling programs. Closely comparable to Clean Memphis in mission (waste reduction, recycling infrastructure deployment) and in operating model (public-private partnerships, programmatic grants).
• Surfrider Foundation: A grassroots nonprofit focused on protecting oceans and waterways, including plastic-pollution reduction. Comparable in its volunteer-driven, chapter-based model and emphasis on reducing single-use plastic, which directly mirrors Clean Memphis's mission.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: A global nonprofit coalition working to end plastic pollution, including promotion of reusable-bottle and refill infrastructure. Directly comparable in advocating against single-use plastic — the same problem Clean Memphis's 'Choose to Reuse' program targets.

Emerging players

• ReFED: A national nonprofit working to reduce food waste across the U.S. value chain. Comparable to Clean Memphis's Project Green Fork sub-brand, which similarly targets food waste reduction and sustainable food systems at the community level.
• Closed Loop Partners: An investment firm and innovation platform focused on building the circular economy, including food waste, recycling, and supply-chain sustainability. Comparable in the circular-economy and waste-diversion mission, though operating as a for-profit investment platform rather than a nonprofit.

Regional players

• US Composting Council: A national nonprofit promoting composting and organics recycling. Comparable to Clean Memphis in advancing organics diversion and circular-economy infrastructure, though with a more narrowly focused mandate on composting rather than general waste reduction.
• Greenest City: A Toronto-based environmental nonprofit focused on citywide sustainability through education and engagement programs. Comparable in being a city-level environmental nonprofit with education and community-program offerings similar to Clean Memphis's structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cleanmemphis
• Facebookfacebook.com/CleanMemphis
• Instagraminstagram.com/1101480307
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-memphis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Clean Memphis