What Earth Conservation Corps does

Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 as a George H.W. Bush White House initiative to empower opportunity youth (ages 16-24) through hands-on environmental restoration, raptor rehabilitation, and conservation education. The organization operates four physical education centers in D.C. and Maryland—the Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center (flagship HQ at the historic 1906 Capitol Pump House), the Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center (with the first green roof in D.C., in-building fish hatcheries, and a USGS ecological monitoring station), Diamond Teague Park (memorial public park), and the Wings Campus & Bio Reserve in Laurel, MD (raptor rehabilitation facility and eagle aviary under construction). Programs span Youth Media Arts (award-winning documentaries), Citizen Science (Friday Night Fish Lab, Roots and Shoots, Junior Duck Stamp), Environmental Restoration (habitat cleanup, invasive species removal, species reintroduction including Sturgeon and bald eagles), and workforce training (Guns to Roses metalworking, Wood from the Hood carpentry).

Revenue is grant- and donation-dependent. Recent and historical inflows include a $7.4M joint USFWS/National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant (2023) for Chesapeake Bay watershed projects leveraging $19.4M total impact, a $342,000 AmeriCorps 'opportunity youth' grant with $118K foundation matches (2024), $300,000 from the National Geographic Society for Youth Media Arts, an $800,000 Florida Rock Properties contribution for Diamond Teague Park, and a $600,000 HUD Brownfields Redevelopment Grant. Education center rentals ($40-$2,100 per event tiered by group size and nonprofit/corporate status) and individual donations via PayPal/Venmo/CashApp provide secondary revenue. Customer and partner ecosystems are deeply diversified across federal agencies (USFWS, NFWF, EPA, NPS, USGS, AmeriCorps, HUD), DC government (DYRS, DHCD, Mayor Bowser), private sector (PEPCO, Florida Rock), and academia (Smithsonian, Cornell Lab of Ornithology). ECC is a member of The Corps Network, an alliance of 130 conservation corps nationwide.

Name

Earth Conservation Corps

Legal name

Earth Conservation Corps

Website

https://earthconservationcorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Earth Conservation Corps is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that empowers opportunity youth and adjudicated youth through hands-on conservation work, raptor rehabilitation, environmental education, and youth media arts across four centers in D.C. and Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Environmental Conservation and Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Youth conservation programs
• Environmental education services
• Raptor rehabilitation
• Habitat restoration
• Watershed conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations from supporters, including monetary contributions through PayPal, Venmo, CashApp. The organization relies on generous donations from community and area businesses.
2. Education Center Rentals: Revenue from renting out education centers for events including corporate/private events and nonprofit/public gatherings. Rental rates vary by group size and duration.
3. Government Grants: AmeriCorps grants including a $342,000 opportunity youth grant to enroll 18 youth. Also receives federal grants from USFWS and NFWF for Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation projects.
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Shields, Murray & SuPau Foundations totaling $118,000 toward AmeriCorps matching grant requirements.
5. National Geographic Society Grants: Received $300,000 in grants from National Geographic Society for Youth Media Arts programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Earth Conservation Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth-empowerment programs centered on environmental conservation. Its core offerings include hands-on raptor care and education, habitat restoration of the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay watershed, citizen-science initiatives (e.g., Friday Night Fish Lab, wildlife monitoring), youth media-arts production, and environmental education delivered through four physical education centers in Washington, D.C. and Laurel, Maryland. Funding is sourced from individual donations, government and foundation grants, and facility-rental revenue.

Product overview

Earth Conservation Corps is a nonprofit youth conservation organization (not a technology company) operating multiple interconnected environmental programs. The core offerings include Youth Media Arts (filmmaking), Citizen Science initiatives (Friday Night Fish Lab, Roots and Shoots, wildlife monitoring), Environmental Restoration (habitat cleanup, invasive species removal), and Youth Raptor Engagement. These programs are delivered through four physical Education Centers: Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center (green roof, outdoor classroom, species reintroduction), Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center (flagship headquarters), Diamond Teague Park (memorial site), and Wings Campus & Bio Reserve in Maryland (raptor rehabilitation). Additional workforce training programs include Guns to Roses (metalworking) and Wood from the Hood (carpentry). The organization also runs a Junior Duck Stamp education program and offers facility rentals. Programs focus on empowering youth aged 16-24 through hands-on conservation work, career development, and civic engagement in the Washington D.C. area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Media Arts A youth-led media production program where corpsmembers create films, videos, and music documenting environmental service and community impact. Has produced award-winning documentaries 'Endangered Species' and 'Anacostia Explorers'.
• Citizen Science Community science programs inviting people of all ages to join real scientific research including wildlife monitoring, environmental change documentation, and community-based research projects.
• Friday Night Fish Lab A summer citizen science program combining fishing with data collection, invasive species dissection demonstrations, and educational seminars on watershed science at the Anacostia River.
• Roots and Shoots A program inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall (founded 1991) that inspires young people to create positive change through service projects focused on people, animals, and the environment, including habitat restoration and water quality testing.
• Youth Raptor Engagement Youth education program focused on raptor research, care, and conservation featuring non-releasable raptor ambassadors including hawks, owls, and falcons to teach community members about birds of prey and environmental conservation.
• Environmental Restoration Habitat restoration activities including raptor breeding, wetland cleanup, invasive species removal, green infrastructure maintenance, and biodiversity protection for the Anacostia River ecosystem.
• Wings Campus & Bio Reserve An environmental education and falconry rehabilitation facility located in Laurel, Maryland on Department of Youth Rehabilitation Service property. Engages Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadets in raptor research and conservation through hands-on workforce experience.
• Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center Environmental education center at 2000 Half St. SW, Washington DC featuring wildlife tracking, species reintroduction programs, raptor hospital, green roof, rain gardens, and outdoor classroom.
• Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center Historic Capitol Pump House headquarters at 1520 First St. SE, Washington DC serving as community headquarters for environmental education, river restoration, and home to Youth Media Arts Program and Anacostia Raptor Watch.
• Diamond Teague Park Protected memorial park at 100 Potomac Avenue SE adjacent to the Monique Johnson Anacostia River Center, honoring former corpsmember Diamond Teague.
• Junior Duck Stamp D.C. D.C. representative program for the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, an art- and science-based curriculum teaching wetland and waterfowl conservation to K-12 students.
• Guns to Roses Workforce training program that welds discarded guns into Osprey nest platforms and other sustainability items, providing hands-on skills training and community impact in partnership with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
• Wood from the Hood Workforce training program in basic woodworking and carpentry skills through building bird and bat houses with repurposed locally-sourced wood.
• Education Center Rentals Rental program for education centers offering spaces for events and gatherings with tiered pricing based on group size and use type, ranging from $40 to $2,100.
• Raptor Ambassador Program Non-releasable raptor ambassadors including Sky (Red-tailed Hawk), Anthony (Barred Owl), Devon (Barn Owl), Hurricane (Black Vulture), Aurora (Red-tailed Hawk), Deedee (Saker Falcon), and Fluffy Ruffles (Harris Hawk) used for community education.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Federal agency partner providing $7.4 million in grants for Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation projects including habitat restoration, climate resilience, and community conservation. Grants leverage total impact of $19.4 million.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Conservation foundation partnering with USFWS to provide $7.4 million in grants for Chesapeake Bay watershed projects supporting habitat restoration and climate resilience.
• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of 130 conservation corps across the United States working to address climate change, improve quality of rivers and parks, and foster conservation leaders of the future. Earth Conservation Corps is a proud member.
• District of Columbia (Mayor Bowser)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC government partnership providing support and vision for youth conservation programs. Mayor Bowser's forward-thinking vision embraced birds as access point to engage youth with natural world.
• DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DYRS to engage adjudicated youth in conservation programs. Includes Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy and Maya Angelou Academy at New Beginnings.
• U.S. Navy SeabeesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNavy Seabees engineers led renovation of Capitol Pump House and transformed abandoned triangle of National Park into Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center living laboratory.
• National Park ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing support and collaboration on Anacostia River restoration, park conservation, and environmental education programs.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner supporting environmental restoration and conservation initiatives in the Anacostia watershed.
• PEPCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility company partner in River of Hope Partnership. Agreed to help renovate Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center and provided initial partnership enabling Capitol Pump House conversion.
• Smithsonian InstitutionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing educational support and collaboration on conservation and environmental education programming.
• Anacostia RiverkeepermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterway protection organization partnering on Friday Night Fish Lab and citizen science programs. Collaborates on data collection and water quality monitoring.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)majorTechnology or IntegrationFederal science agency providing ecological monitoring station at Matthew Henson Center and collaboration on Friday Night Fish Lab citizen science programs.
• Metropolitan Police Department (DC MPD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC police partnership including officers participating in Guns to Roses program, welding osprey nest platforms from discarded weaponry.
• Living ClassroomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation and job training organization serving youth through hands-on learning in environmental and construction fields.
• Cornell Lab of OrnithologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting bird conservation education and citizen science programming.
• Eco SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational environmental education program supporting school-based sustainability initiatives.
• ServeDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC service and volunteer coordination organization supporting youth volunteer programs.
• National Park Conservation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization supporting national park preservation and conservation efforts.
• GreenspurmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner donated time to complete eagle aviary construction at Wings Campus facility.
• Fresh Start Project DCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy programs and Wings Campus development.
• Ketrick Fishing CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal fishing community partner collaborating on Friday Night Fish Lab and Anacostia River fishing programs.
• Dian Fossey Gorilla FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization inspired by Dr. Dian Fossey whose message 'Conservation begins with the boots on your feet' founded Earth Conservation Corps philosophy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conservation Legacy: Operates multiple conservation corps programs across the U.S. engaged in watershed restoration, trails, and youth workforce development—closely comparable to ECC's youth-empowerment-through-conservation model.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit that engages youth in hands-on conservation service, AmeriCorps programming, and environmental restoration across public lands—the closest direct peer to ECC's youth-corps + habitat restoration model at a significantly larger national scale.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork Trusts running youth-led environmental restoration in urban communities—directly comparable to ECC's focus on urban river restoration, opportunity youth, and brownfield remediation in DC.
• Ducks Unlimited: Major wetland and waterfowl conservation organization that operates the Federal Junior Duck Stamp program—the same curriculum ECC delivers to DC K–12 students—creating direct programmatic overlap in wetland education and conservation.
• Anacostia Riverkeeper: Direct regional partner on the Friday Night Fish Lab citizen science program and Anacostia water quality monitoring—a focused single-watershed advocacy peer operating in the same geography and mission space.

Emerging players

• City Year: National service nonprofit engaging opportunity youth (ages 18–24) in AmeriCorps-supported service programming; comparable in target beneficiary and AmeriCorps funding model, though focused on education rather than environmental outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps NCCC: Federal national service program that funds and deploys young adults for community and environmental projects—comparable to ECC as both a funder (via ECC's $342K AmeriCorps grant) and as an incumbent providing overlapping service opportunities.
• The Corps Network: The alliance of 130 conservation corps of which ECC is a member; while not a competitor, it is the industry trade and convening body, comparable as a broader-incumbent coordinating infrastructure for the conservation service movement.
• National Audubon Society: National bird and habitat conservation nonprofit with centers, sanctuaries, and education programs; broadly overlapping with ECC on raptor/bird conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education at a much larger national scale.

Regional players

• Rock Creek Conservancy: Washington D.C.-based nonprofit focused on Rock Creek Park stewardship, volunteer-led habitat restoration, and citizen science—operating in the same metro area and overlapping with ECC's volunteer habitat restoration model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EarthCC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/EarthConservationCorps
• Facebookfacebook.com/anacostiarivercenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/earth-conservation-corps
• Instagraminstagram.com/earthconservationcorps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Earth Conservation Corps