Kulshan Carbon Trust
Kulshan Carbon Trust is a Bellingham, Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conserves and sequesters carbon through biochar production, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry across northwest Washington, serving local landholders, farmers, conservation districts, and tribal nations via grants, donations, and ecosystem service credits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBellingham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kulshan Carbon Trust does
Kulshan Carbon Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 and headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. It conserves and sequesters carbon through collaborative natural climate solutions in northwest Washington, operating across Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish, and King Counties. Its core work centers on biochar production via low-tech pyrolysis (Ring of Fire kilns), biochar-enhanced compost (COMBI, co-manufactured with Skagit Soils), and the development of place-based ecosystem service credits through the Regen Network using Verra VM0044 accounting standards. Adjacent practice areas include agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and ecological forestry, with the organization explicitly expanding into agroforestry in 2025.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit construct combining tax-deductible donations, foundation grants, and emerging carbon/eco-credit sales. Major disclosed funding includes a $100,000 two-year grant from the Russell Family Foundation (2024) and an earlier $70,000 grant (2023). Revenue from eco-credits is in an early stage: North Cascades Institute is the only disclosed institutional credit buyer, with credits listed on the Regen Marketplace. KCT does not sell products directly; it functions as a regional hub connecting landholders, conservation districts, tribal nations, farmers, recyclers, and local governments with technical assistance, equipment (kilns, training), and emerging carbon markets. Demonstrated outcomes to date include 115+ tons of CO2eq sequestered in the 2022 Biochar Pilot Project and field trials with 10+ participating farms across five counties.
Kulshan Carbon Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kulshan Carbon Trust
- Legal name
- Kulshan Carbon Trust
- Website
- https://kulshancarbontrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kulshan Carbon Trust is a Bellingham, Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conserves and sequesters carbon through biochar production, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry across northwest Washington, serving local landholders, farmers, conservation districts, and tribal nations via grants, donations, and ecosystem service credits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kulshan Carbon Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Climate Solutions & Carbon Sequestration Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR) (EUABACAA), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) (EUABABAE), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Kulshan Carbon Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kulshan Carbon Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: KCT accepts tax-deductible donations through givebutter.com platform, with options for one-time, quarterly, or annual donations. The organization runs fundraising events including trivia bingo nights and pint nights at local breweries.
- Foundation Grants: Major grant funding from foundations including Russell Family Foundation ($100,000 two-year grant) to support Biochar Scale-Up Project and organizational capacity building.
- Carbon and Eco-Credits: Sale of carbon removal credits from biochar projects through Regen Marketplace and eco-credits for ecosystem services. North Cascades Institute purchased credits from the Biochar Pilot Project.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kulshan Carbon Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kulshan Carbon Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and implements collaborative natural climate solutions in Northwest Washington. Its core offerings include community biochar production programs, biochar-enhanced compost (COMBI), and place-based ecosystem service eco-credits developed through Regen Network. The organization acts as a community hub connecting landholders, conservation districts, tribal nations, farmers, and other stakeholders with technical assistance, training, and carbon market access.
Product overview
Kulshan Carbon Trust operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected natural climate solution programs. The core offerings include: the Biochar Scale-Up Project (expanding biochar-enhanced compost adoption in agriculture), the Community Biochar Program (training and equipment for local biochar production using Ring-of-Fire kilns), the Biochar Pilot Project (completed proof-of-concept), and Ecosystem Service Credits (eco-credits for valuing biochar's ecosystem benefits). Products include biochar-enhanced compost produced in partnership with Skagit Soils. The organization acts as a hub connecting landholders with resources, technical assistance, and carbon markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 115+ tons CO2eq sequestered through 2022 Biochar Pilot Project
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kulshan Carbon Trust
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kulshan Carbon Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kulshan Carbon Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.
- North Cascades InstitutenotablePurchased and retired biochar eco-credits from KCT's Biochar Pilot Project to offset institutional climate impact. Represents first eco-credit buyer relationship.
- Regen NetworkcoreKCT developed biochar credit class through Regen Network utilizing Verra VM0044 methodology adapted to local conditions. Eco-credits listed on Regen Marketplace.
- Skagit Soils Inc.corePartnership to produce biochar-enhanced compost (COMBI). Skagit Soils manufactures the product while KCT supports demand generation through field trials and farmer outreach. Tevon Lautenbach serves as KCT Board Secretary and General Manager at Skagit Soils.
- Whatcom Conservation DistrictcoreLong-standing partnership for community biochar program delivery, wildfire preparedness workshops, and riparian restoration projects. Co-hosts events and shares technical expertise.
- Skagit Conservation DistrictcoreManages free Ring of Fire biochar kiln lending program for Skagit County residents. Co-hosts biochar demonstrations including events at Padilla Bay Reserve and River Farms.
- Lautenbach RecyclingnotablePartnered with KCT to process clean construction and demolition waste into biochar feedstock, demonstrating waste-to-carbon value chain.
- Rake ForcenotableProvided Ring of Fire biochar kilns and expertise to lead burns at Lautenbach Recycling site, supporting biochar production from C&D waste.
- Circular SpringnotableCollaborated with Korina Stark of Circular Spring to demonstrate innovative recreational fire pit biochar kiln at inaugural Cascadia BioFi Conference in Seattle.
- Regenerate CascadianotableCo-organized inaugural Cascadia BioFi Conference where KCT presented biochar demonstration. Partnership supports bioregional finance networking and community building.
- Agroforestry NorthwestcoreCarrie Brausieck serves as both Executive Director of KCT and Co-founder of Agroforestry Northwest. Organizations share mission alignment on agroforestry as natural climate solution. KCT plans to expand into agroforestry space leveraging this connection.
- Washington Conservation CorpsnotablePartnered with KCT on fuels reduction project in San Juan Islands, supporting invasive conifer removal and biochar conversion from cleared vegetation.
- Janicki Logging and ConstructionnotableCollaborated on Galbraith Mountain conservation burns of existing slash piles, converting logging waste to biochar using KCT-provided knowledge and support.
- Whatcom Land TrustnotableListed as participant in Riparian Lands revitalization article; organizations share interest in long-term carbon stock maintenance and ecological integrity through land protection.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kulshan Carbon Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Regen Network: Regen Network is the technology and marketplace partner where KCT's biochar credit class is registered using Verra VM0044. Both organizations develop and issue nature-based carbon and ecosystem service credits, making Regen Network the closest peer in methodology, registry infrastructure, and buyer-facing marketplace.
- Carbon180: Carbon180 is a U.S. nonprofit focused on advancing carbon removal solutions, including biochar, and convening policy and market actors. Like KCT, it operates as a mission-driven nonprofit driving awareness, partnerships, and ecosystem-building around nature-based and engineered carbon removal.
- Puro.earth: Puro.earth runs one of the leading biochar carbon removal marketplaces and methodologies globally. Puro and KCT both monetize biochar through verified removal credits and pursue durable buyer relationships with corporate offset purchasers, making Puro a direct marketplace peer.
- Carbonfuture: Carbonfuture is a carbon credit marketplace with a strong focus on biochar and engineered removal. Like KCT, Carbonfuture works with biochar producers to issue verified removal credits and connects them with corporate buyers; it serves a similar but globally scaled customer base.
Emerging players
- Mast Reforestation: Mast Reforestation combines biomass burial with post-wildfire reforestation for carbon removal (e.g., the MT1 project in Montana). Both organizations convert forest/wildfire biomass into durable carbon storage; Mast operates at meaningfully larger scale and uses a different removal pathway (burial vs. biochar).
- Pacific Forest Trust: Pacific Forest Trust develops forest carbon projects on conserved and working forests in the U.S. West. Both organizations operate at the intersection of forest stewardship, climate mitigation, and conservation finance in the Pacific Northwest/Cascadia region.
- Kiss the Ground: Kiss the Ground is a nonprofit advocating for regenerative agriculture and soil carbon as climate solutions, including biochar awareness. It is a comparable mission-driven nonprofit educating landowners and the public about soil-based carbon sequestration, though operating at much larger national scale.
- Soil Health Institute: The Soil Health Institute advances soil health science, measurement, and adoption across U.S. agriculture. Like KCT's biochar field trials, SHI runs field programs validating soil health practices, making it a comparable emerging player in soil-carbon-based climate solutions.
Regional players
- Whatcom Land Trust: Whatcom Land Trust is a Whatcom County conservation nonprofit that protects land for ecological integrity and long-term carbon storage. It is a regional peer operating in the same NW Washington geography as KCT, with overlapping conservation district and tribal partnerships.
Others
- Skagit Soils Inc. Skagit Soils is the operational partner that manufactures KCT's biochar-enhanced compost (COMBI). It is a for-profit composting/waste-to-soil business that enables KCT's distribution channel to farmers and connects KCT to biomass feedstock supply chains.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kulshan Carbon Trust social profiles
Digital presenceKulshan Carbon Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kulshan Carbon Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Kulshan Carbon Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kulshan Carbon Trust 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 Kulshan Carbon Trust
What does Kulshan Carbon Trust do?
Kulshan Carbon Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and implements collaborative natural climate solutions in Northwest Washington. Its core offerings include community biochar production programs, biochar-enhanced compost (COMBI), and place-based ecosystem service eco-credits developed through Regen Network. The organization acts as a community hub connecting landholders, conservation districts, tribal nations, farmers, and other stakeholders with technical assistance, training, and carbon market access.
Is Kulshan Carbon Trust a public or private company?
Kulshan Carbon Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kulshan Carbon Trust founded?
Kulshan Carbon Trust was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kulshan Carbon Trust based?
Kulshan Carbon Trust is headquartered in Bellingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kulshan Carbon Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and carbon and Eco-Credits.
Who are Kulshan Carbon Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Regen Network, Carbon180, Puro.earth and Carbonfuture. Emerging players are Mast Reforestation, Pacific Forest Trust, Kiss the Ground and Soil Health Institute. Whatcom Land Trust is listed as a regional player. Skagit Soils Inc. is listed as an others.
Does Kulshan Carbon Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kulshan Carbon Trust.
What industry is Kulshan Carbon Trust in?
Kulshan Carbon Trust's product category is Natural Climate Solutions & Carbon Sequestration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABABAH, Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application), with a secondary code of EUABACAA, Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR). Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.