Coalition for Clean

What Coalition for Clean does

Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is a California-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Los Angeles, with programs and advocacy extending across the state including Sacramento. It is the only statewide organization in California exclusively dedicated to protecting public health, improving air quality, and preventing climate change, and it operates via policy advocacy, community organizing, and public education rather than as a technology product company. Its core deliverables are programs and initiatives, not software products: community air-quality monitoring through AirAware – YMCAs and an Air Quality Monitoring Network, public education via Air Quality Bootcamps and a STEM program, targeted Community Air Protection Projects in Del Amo, Pacoima, Southeast LA, Wilmington-Carson-West Long Beach, and Maywood, and a Hydrogen & Electric Vehicle Workforce Initiative, alongside strategic initiatives such as the OMEGA Project and the SPARC Blueprint Project. Advocacy priorities include clean cars, ports and freight, climate equity, vehicle miles traveled, and building decarbonization, supported by annual convenings including California Clean Air Day, the California Air Quality Awards, the Solutions Celebration, and the Toast to Clearing The Air.

CCA makes money as a member-supported nonprofit through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors, program-specific grants (including a documented $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency award in October 2023), and event revenue tied to its annual celebrations and awards. It has no published pricing because it does not sell products or services; it holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (EIN 23-7120567) and earns a Charity Navigator 4-star rating plus a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency 2026. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on grassroots campaigns, public education bootcamps, content marketing via ccair.org, an email newsletter, multi-platform social media (X/Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), and direct engagement with California legislators and regulatory bodies such as CARB and South Coast AQMD. Its served audiences are California residents and the general public, disadvantaged and environmental justice communities, California state policymakers and agencies, and California businesses affected by emissions regulations.

The organization has been a primary author or co-author of several landmark California policies, including the Smog Check program (estimated to reduce 400 tons of smog-forming emissions daily), the Carl Moyer Program for heavy-duty truck alternative fuel funding, SB 535 (requiring at least 10% of AB 32 revenues to flow to the most polluted communities, with 25% for direct benefit), and AB 126 (reauthorizing $173 million per year for ten years for equitable clean transportation with 50% to underserved communities). It is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Erik Neandross and led operationally by President & CEO Dr. Joe Lyou, who also serves on the South Coast Air Quality Management District board, with a small senior team including Policy Director Bill Magavern, Deputy Policy Directors Chris Chavez and Fabiola P. Lao, and Development Director Brian Sheridan.

Name

Coalition for Clean

Legal name

Coalition for Clean Air

Website

https://ccair.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coalition for Clean Air is a California-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, founded in 1971, that advances clean-air and climate policy through legislative advocacy, community organizing, and public education programs. It serves California residents, disadvantaged communities, state policymakers, and businesses via campaigns like California Clean Air Day and projects like AirAware and the Hydrogen & EV Workforce Initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (Criteria Pollutants & Air Toxics) (EUAHACAA)

Keywords

• Clean air advocacy
• Environmental policy
• Air quality programs
• Climate protection
• Community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CCA is funded through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization also receives grants for specific programs and initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coalition for Clean Air is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that drives clean air and climate policy in California through legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, community education programs, and statewide events. It funds and delivers named programs including the AirAware YMCA air quality monitoring program, Air Quality Bootcamps, Community Air Protection Projects, the Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle Workforce Initiative, the OMEGA Project, and the SPARC Blueprint Project, and runs the annual California Clean Air Day campaign and Air Quality Awards.

Product overview

The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization exclusively dedicated to protecting public health, improving air quality, and preventing climate change in California. Rather than a technology product company, CCA operates as a policy advocacy and community education organization offering programs focused on air quality monitoring (AirAware, Air Quality Monitoring Network), education (Air Quality Bootcamps, STEM Program), community protection projects, and workforce development (Hydrogen & Electric Vehicle Workforce Initiative). The organization also runs annual events including California Clean Air Day, the California Air Quality Awards, Solutions Celebration, and Toast to Clearing The Air events, along with advocacy programs on clean vehicles, ports and freight, climate equity, vehicle miles traveled, and building decarbonization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• California Clean Air Day: Annual statewide campaign to inspire millions of Californians to take action for clean air, entering its 9th year with October 7, 2026 event.
• Air Quality Awards

Products and services

• AirAware – YMCAs

Quantifiable outcome

• Creation of California's Clean Truck Check program requiring pollution control equipment on heavy-duty trucks
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SB 535 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of environmental and community organizations working to implement SB 535 (2012), which requires California to invest a minimum of 10% of AB 32 revenues in the most polluted communities. Partners include Asian-Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), The Greenlining Institute, and Public Advocates. Led campaign to pass SB 535 and continues to monitor fund distribution.
• Charge Ahead California CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteering committee member of the Charge Ahead California campaign, which aims to place one million light, medium, and heavy-duty electric vehicles on California roads by 2023 and ensure all Californians benefit from zero tailpipe emissions.
• Clean Air California CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition backing the Clean Cars, Clean Air Act for the 2022 ballot to increase wildfire prevention and expand zero-emission vehicle adoption. Partners include NRDC, Public Health Advocates, California Environmental Voters, IBEW, CAL FIRE Local 2881, and Lyft.
• California Delivers CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working to continue and expand California's successful climate policies and ensure AB 32 auction revenues benefit communities.
• GRID AlternativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring solar power to disadvantaged communities using Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund proceeds. GRID Alternatives installs rooftop solar for low-income households.
• American Lung Association in CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on clean transportation and electric vehicle advocacy, including joint support letters for Low Carbon Fuel Standard and other clean air programs.
• Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint membership in Clean Air California coalition working on the Clean Cars, Clean Air Act ballot initiative.
• Public Health AdvocatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint membership in Clean Air California coalition advocating for clean transportation and wildfire prevention.
• California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Clean Air California coalition for the Clean Cars and Clean Air Act ballot measure.
• 1% For the PlanetminorOthersNonprofit member of 1% For the Planet, committing to donate 1% of sales to approved environmental nonprofits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sierra Club: One of CCA's four founding organizations in 1971; operates the largest grassroots environmental network in the U.S. with overlapping state-level clean air and climate advocacy priorities.
• Earthjustice: Public interest environmental law organization with strong California presence; uses litigation and regulatory advocacy on air quality and climate issues, directly paralleling CCA's legal and policy advocacy model.
• Greenlining Institute: California-based racial equity advocacy organization; coalition partner with CCA in the SB 535 coalition focused on directing climate investments to disadvantaged communities.
• Public Health Advocates: California-based nonprofit advocating for health equity including clean air and clean transportation; coalition partner in Clean Air California with overlapping advocacy priorities.
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN): California-based environmental justice organization; coalition partner with CCA in SB 535 implementation, focused on Asian and Pacific Islander communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution.
• California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters): California-focused environmental political and advocacy organization; coalition partner with CCA on Clean Air California and shares state-level environmental policy advocacy mission.
• Natural Resources Defense Council: National environmental advocacy organization with major California presence; direct coalition partner with CCA in Clean Air California and shared focus on air quality, climate, and clean transportation policy advocacy.
• American Lung Association: Health-focused air quality advocacy organization and co-founder of CCA in 1971; collaborates on clean transportation advocacy, including joint support for Low Carbon Fuel Standard, with overlapping mission around lung health and air pollution.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund: Major national environmental advocacy organization with significantly larger budget and California office; focuses on climate, air quality, and clean transportation with overlapping policy priorities.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: National science-based advocacy organization with California climate and clean transportation work; parallels CCA's evidence-driven advocacy approach at larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cleanairca
• Facebookfacebook.com/cleanairca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coalition-for-clean-air
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanairca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Coalition for Clean