Sun Foundation

What Sun Foundation does

Sun Foundation, legally 'The Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Art,' is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 by Joan Root Ericksen and Robert C. Ericksen and headquartered on an 800-acre property (Blue Heron Farm) at 1276 Sun Road, Washburn, Illinois. The organization delivers hands-on environmental science and arts education programs for youth ages 6–18, families, schools, and the general public in Central Illinois, anchored by three core programs: Art & Science in the Woods (a week-long summer day camp serving 385 students in 2025, with 94 receiving full financial scholarships), the Clean Water Celebration (an annual free environmental education event at Peoria Civic Center that the organization describes as the largest of its kind in the world, with 1,200+ attendees at the 33rd edition in April 2026), and Regional Arts Partners Grants (a regranting program with the Illinois Arts Council and NEA that distributed $16,500 to 12 organizations in 2024). Supporting offerings include the year-round Art & Nature Center, the Clean Water Champions video series (50+ YouTube episodes aligned to Illinois Learning Standards), a Virtual Environmental Classroom developed with Interactiva Studios, environmental field trips, the Making Waves Awards, and fundraising events such as The Long Table dinner.

The organization operates on a community-led, grant- and donation-funded nonprofit revenue model. Income is sourced from individual and corporate donations, program and event fees, corporate STEM grants (notably $35,000 from American Water Charitable Foundation in 2023), government and foundation grants (Illinois Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts), merchandise and gift card sales (denominations up to $900), and retail partner percentage-donation programs (Kroger Community Rewards, Schnucks Bags 4 My Cause, AmazonSmile). Its GTM motion is community-led, relying on 420+ volunteers, board members, program committees, and partnerships with schools, corporate sponsors (Illinois American Water since 1994), and government agencies to deliver programming at low or no cost to participants.

The technology footprint is non-proprietary and modest: a Virtual Environmental Classroom interactive web platform hosted by an external studio partner, a Clean Water Celebration mobile app, the YouTube-hosted Clean Water Champions series, and a Squarespace-based public website maintained by Concentric Design. The foundation is not technology-product-led; its primary assets are the physical Blue Heron Farm, the program content library, and the institutional relationships built over 50+ years. Two leadership losses in 2025–2026 — founding executive director Robert C. Ericksen (January 29, 2025) and board chair/treasurer Lorraine Schwass (April 14, 2026) — represent the most significant governance transitions in the organization's history.

Name

Sun Foundation

Legal name

The Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Art

Website

https://sunfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sun Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 that delivers environmental science and arts education programs to youth, families, and schools in Central Illinois via its 800-acre Blue Heron Farm, the annual Clean Water Celebration, and regranting partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible financial contributions from individuals and organizations supporting Sun Foundation programs
2. Program Fees: Fees for programs and events including summer camp registrations, field trips, workshops, and The Long Table fundraising dinner
3. Corporate Grants: STEM education grants from corporate foundations such as American Water Charitable Foundation
4. Merchandise Sales: Gift card sales and merchandise available through the website
5. Retail Partner Programs: Percentage donations from Kroger Community Rewards, Schnucks Bags 4 My Cause, AmazonSmile shopping programs
6. Government and Foundation Grants: Grants from Illinois Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and other foundations for arts and environmental education programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sun Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers environmental science and arts education programs to youth and the community in Central Illinois. Its core offerings include a week-long summer day camp (Art & Science in the Woods), an annual water-focused environmental education event (Clean Water Celebration), regranting programs for schools and arts organizations, and year-round hands-on programming at its Art & Nature Center on an 800-acre property.

Product overview

The Sun Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of environmental science and arts education programs. The core offerings include Art & Science in the Woods (a week-long residential summer camp), the Clean Water Celebration (the world's largest water-focused environmental education event), and Regional Arts Partners Grants. Supporting programs include the Art & Nature Center with year-round activities, the Clean Water Champions video series, Virtual Environmental Classroom, environmental field trips, field science programs, and the Making Waves Awards. The organization also operates a gift card program and hosts The Long Table fundraising event. Founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1973 with 501(c)(3) status obtained in 1974, the foundation has impacted over 6 million people since its inception.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art & Science in the Woods
• Clean Water Celebration
• Regional Arts Partners Grants
• Art & Nature Center Programs
• The Long Table
• Ornithology for Everyone
• Environmental Field Trips

Quantifiable outcome

• 385 students attended Art & Science in the Woods 2025 with 94 receiving full financial scholarships
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois American WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 1994 for Clean Water Celebration. Company provides ongoing partnership for the annual environmental education event at Peoria Civic Center. Illinois American Water supports student education through the Clean Water Champion video series.
• Illinois Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Regional Arts Partners Grants. The Illinois Arts Council provides matching grant funding that Sun Foundation regrants to schools, libraries, artists, and art organizations.
• Klean KanteenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Call to Action challenge encouraging students to reduce plastic footprint. Company donated water bottles as prizes for the challenge at Clean Water Celebration.
• IVY Club (Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Cocktails for a Cause fundraising events benefiting Sun Foundation. Non-profit boating and social club with long-standing history of supporting local non-profits.
• EILEEN FISHERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 10% of day's sales from Michigan Avenue store to Sun Foundation. Shared core value of working to create a sustainable future and healthy planet.
• Peoria Civic CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual venue for Clean Water Celebration free environmental education event. Staff facilitates events, provides food service, and ensures safety for thousands of student attendees.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ijams Nature Center: A Knoxville, Tennessee-based nonprofit nature center offering hands-on environmental education, field science programs, and outdoor recreation on a similar natural-campus model. Compares directly to Sun Foundation's Art & Nature Center at Blue Heron Farm in terms of programming mix and audience.
• Tinkergarten: An outdoor learning program for young children focused on nature-based, hands-on curricula led by trained educators. Highly comparable to Sun Foundation's Art & Science in the Woods youth programming in target audience (children), delivery model (experiential outdoor learning), and educational mission.
• Illinois RiverWatch: A volunteer water-quality monitoring and citizen-science program stewarded by National Great Rivers (a Sun Foundation partner) that trains Illinois residents on stream ecology. Closely aligned with Sun Foundation's water-stewardship programming and Clean Water Celebration mission.

Broad incumbents

• Morton Arboretum: A large Illinois-based tree-focused botanical garden and research institution running extensive environmental education programming for schoolchildren. Comparable mission (nature-based education in Illinois) but operates at much larger scale with professional research staff.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: A major Illinois institution operating nature-based education programs, conservation science, and youth programming. Overlaps with Sun Foundation on environmental science education for children and families but serves a much broader regional audience.
• Shedd Aquarium: A Chicago-based aquarium running water-stewardship and aquatic environmental education programs for Illinois schools. Direct topical overlap with Sun Foundation's Clean Water Celebration, though at significantly larger institutional scale.
• The Nature Conservancy (Illinois): A global conservation nonprofit with an active Illinois chapter running land stewardship and environmental education initiatives. Comparable environmental conservation mission and Illinois footprint, but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic remit.
• National Audubon Society: A national nonprofit running bird and habitat conservation education, including local chapters delivering youth programming. Overlaps with Sun Foundation's ornithology courses and Clean Water Champions content on ecosystem education.
• The Field Museum: A major Chicago natural history museum with extensive school programming in environmental science and biology. Overlaps with Sun Foundation's STEM education and field science offerings, but operates as a much larger institution with paid staff scientists.

Regional players

• Forest Preserve District of Cook County: A government entity managing nature preserves and running environmental education programs for Illinois schools and families. Shares the Illinois geography and the educational mission around nature exposure for youth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCedxWtzXdjvYbGqskX5YijA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SunFoundationIL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Sun Foundation