Airmid Institute

What Airmid Institute does

Airmid Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (EIN 84-2585041) founded in 2017 and headquartered in Alta Loma (Rancho Cucamonga), California. It is dedicated to global education, research, and sustainable management of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), with emphasis on traditional ecological knowledge, ethical sourcing, climate change impacts, and protection of Indigenous medicine practices among communities such as the Shipibo and Quechua in Peru and the Kassena in Burkina Faso. Core offerings include the Green Telegram newsletter, the Biannual List of Threatened MAPs, live and recorded webinars presented by global experts, an online membership system, the Junior Ambassador Program (ages 5-11) and School Plant Protector Program, immersive study abroad experiences (Crete's Aromatic Tapestry 2025), and applied research projects such as the Rosewood Oil Study, White Sage and Its Pollinators, Frankincense Through Art, Piripiri Project, MAPs-Kassena-PoNaSi Elephant Corridor, and the Toucan Project.

The underlying technology is a conventional web-based platform: a password-protected membership portal, webinar delivery system, and event registration infrastructure. Distribution is global, reaching 14+ countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania through partnerships with professional associations (NAHA, AIA, CAOA, IAAMA, ARTHES), business members, and a network of Global Ambassadors and Airmid Team Organizations. Airmid makes money through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model: recurring annual memberships, individual webinar sales at $40 USD, tax-deductible donations, study abroad program registration fees, and pass-through donations from affiliated art sales. No funding rounds, investors, or audited financials are disclosed, and headcount is small, consistent with a mission-driven organization of limited scale.

Strategic positioning combines domain authority (the Biannual List, ethical sourcing standards) with community ecosystem reach. Founder and Executive Director Dr. Kelly Ablard, PhD, is a certified Conservation Aromatherapist recognized with a 2022 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University. The organization has been actively broadening its product surface—adding the Junior Ambassador Program in 2023, the Crete study abroad in 2025, an updated membership system, and forthcoming ethical sourcing guidelines—while expanding partnerships with research laboratories, sustainable supply chain operators, and Indigenous communities.

Name

Airmid Institute

Legal name

Airmid Institute

Website

https://airmidinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Airmid Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates aromatherapy practitioners, herbalists, schools, and Indigenous communities on conservation, ethical sourcing, and traditional ecological knowledge of medicinal and aromatic plants via webinars, publications, study abroad programs, and applied research projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Conservation Education

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Service Learning Program Design, Accreditation & Evaluation (EDAIAGAL)

Keywords

• Botanical conservation education
• Medicinal plant research
• Aromatherapy sustainability training
• Plant biodiversity conservation
• Ethnobotanical education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rancho Cucamonga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership providing access to webinars, resources, the Green Telegram newsletter, and the Biannual List
2. Webinar Sales: Individual webinar purchases at $40 USD for non-members; members receive free unlimited access to all live and recorded webinars
3. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations supporting conservation projects
4. Event Registration Fees: Study abroad program fees covering accommodation, workshops, activities, meals for multi-day events
5. Art Sales (Frankincense Through Art): Artist Lucas Anderson sells prints and cards, donating 50% of proceeds to Airmid Institute

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Airmid Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers education, research, and conservation programs focused on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). Its sellable offerings include annual memberships that bundle the Green Telegram newsletter, the Biannual List of threatened species, and unlimited webinar access; individual webinar purchases; study abroad programs such as Crete's Aromatic Tapestry; the Junior Ambassador Program for ages 5–11; and the School Plant Protector Program.

Product overview

Airmid Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to global education, research, and sustainable management of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). The organization offers a portfolio of educational programs and publications including the Green Telegram newsletter, the Biannual List of threatened species, webinars with global speakers, and an online membership platform. Its study abroad programs (such as Crete's Aromatic Tapestry) provide immersive learning experiences, while the Junior Ambassador Program and School Plant Protector Program engage children in conservation education. The organization conducts research projects including the Rosewood Oil Study, White Sage and Its Pollinators Project, Frankincense Through Art, Piripiri Project, and Toucan Project. Upcoming offerings include ethical sourcing guidelines and sustainability principles for the aromatherapy and essential oil industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airmid Institute Annual Membership Subscription-based annual membership providing access to Green Telegram newsletter, Airmid Institute Biannual List of threatened species, unlimited live and recorded webinars with global speakers, and curated research articles, available through a password-protected online portal at tiered pricing.
• Individual Webinar Access One-off purchase of individual live or recorded webinars presented by global experts on sustainability and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants, priced at $40 USD per webinar for non-members; members receive free unlimited access to all live and recorded webinars.
• Airmid Institute Biannual List of Threatened MAPs Biannual publication listing threatened, near-threatened, and CITES-protected plants, mammals, fungi, and seaweed species used in aromatherapy, perfumery, and aromatic herbalism, refined in collaboration with botanist Ann Harman for taxonomic accuracy.
• Green Telegram Newsletter Triennial newsletter featuring global speakers, research updates, and articles on medicinal and aromatic plants, distributed to Airmid Institute members.
• Crete's Aromatic Tapestry Study Abroad Program Immersive multi-day study abroad program held in Crete, Greece, exploring sustainability, biodiversity, and medicinal and aromatic plants through lectures, hands-on workshops, and farm tours, with registration fees covering accommodation, workshops, activities, and meals.
• Junior Ambassador Program Educational program for children ages 5–11 in which schools adopt a locally threatened medicinal and aromatic plant, design age-appropriate activities across subjects, and students earn Junior Ambassador Badges upon completion.
• School Plant Protector Program School-based program working with educators to strengthen curriculum focused on conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants based on five sustainability standards and guided by IUCN and CITES conservation statuses.
• Airmid's Ethical Sourcing Guidelines and Sustainability Principles Upcoming ethical sourcing guidelines highlighting key elements of sustainability including economic, environmental, distribution, health, social, and cultural sustainability, intended to serve as a reference for aromatherapy and essential oil supply chains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 NAHA members reached through professional association partnerships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FairSource BotanicalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025Stephen Johnson, Founder of FairSource Botanicals, donates ethically sourced frankincense oils representing each species for the Frankincense Through Art project. FairSource focuses on regenerative supply chains and wild-harvested botanicals sustainability.
• Laboratoire PhytochemiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration conducting chemical analyses and olfactive analysis of rosewood essential oil samples for the Rosewood Oil Study project. Team includes Alexis St Gelais as Scientific Director.
• Roi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for Crete study abroad program. Permaculture farm in Crete dedicated to sustainable living and protection of endemic medicinal and aromatic plants. Owned by Jenny Charlton.
• Ga Mo WignacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurkina Faso NGO partner for MAPs-Kassena People-PoNaSi Elephant Corridor project. Responsible for data collection in local villages.
• Man And The EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench non-profit organization providing coordination for MAPs Kassena People project. Has experience with similar initiatives in Madagascar and Cambodia.
• Aromatics InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRoi Farm Sponsor for Crete's Aromatic Tapestry event. Family-run business in Montana providing certified organic essential oils, hydrosols, and carrier oils.
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRoots & Rest Sponsor for Crete event. 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 7,000+ members dedicated to holistic aromatherapy education and professional standards.
• Nature's Gift AromatherapyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOlive Tree Sponsor for Crete event. Woman/family-owned aromatherapy supplier since 1995, supporting the Olive Roundtable discussion.
• Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partnership promoting conservation and sustainability of threatened MAPs. AIA supports ethical sourcing and small distillers.
• Canadian Alliance of Aromatherapy (CAOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation member establishing and maintaining high professional standards for aromatherapists with focus on ethical practices and sustainability.
• International Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine Association (IAAMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian-based professional association supporting aromatherapy practitioners and advancing public knowledge of therapeutic aromatherapy.
• ARTHESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss non-profit association promoting professional and safe use of essential oils with focus on sustainability for future generations.
• Lucas Anderson (Artist)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered Aromatherapist creating paintings of nine frankincense species. 50% of art sale proceeds donated to Airmid. Based in Edmonton, Canada.
• Naturalness Essential Oil Distillery (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirmid Team Organization. Aromatic distillers creating products with beautiful aromatic plants while working respectfully with natural resources.
• Cura Co Lab (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirmid Team Organization. Product-driven business implementing conservation consciousness and sustainable practices.
• Savia Íbera (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirmid Team Organization. Small family business integrating conservation of aromatic plants with production of essential oils and hydrolats using permaculture and regenerative practices.
• Maison Aromaterii (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirmid Team Organization. Aromatherapist leading workshops on aromatherapy and DIY cosmetics with focus on ethical brands and sustainable practices.
• Artemio Pacaya (Shipibo Elder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShipibo elder and author commissioned to write ethnobotanical monograph on piripiri (Cyperus spp.). Director of Education in Ucayali region and author of multiple books on medicinal plants.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• United Plant Savers: U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of native medicinal plants. Directly comparable to Airmid in mission, nonprofit structure, and focus on at-risk medicinal and aromatic species used in herbalism.
• American Botanical Council: 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides education on herbs and medicinal plants via publications, research, and continuing education programs. Closely comparable in its nonprofit education-and-research mission serving the herbal and aromatic plant community.
• FairWild Foundation: Switzerland-based nonprofit establishing sustainability standards for wild-collected plant ingredients. Direct peer given shared focus on ethical sourcing, certification frameworks, and conservation of wild medicinal and aromatic plants.
• TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade monitoring NGO that works on CITES implementation and sustainable trade in plant and animal species. Comparable in its work on threatened aromatic and medicinal species in international trade and supply-chain monitoring.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Major global botanical research and conservation institution. Comparable through its work on plant biodiversity, threatened species databases, and conservation science, though operating at much greater scale and across all plant families rather than specializing in aromatic species.
• IUCN: Global authority on the conservation status of species and natural resources, producer of the IUCN Red List. Airmid's Biannual List draws on IUCN/CITES frameworks, and the organizations overlap in threatened-species classification methodology.
• New York Botanical Garden: Major U.S. botanical garden with extensive plant conservation, research, and education programs. Comparable in running public-facing botanical education and conservation research, though at much larger scale and broader plant taxonomy scope.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Leading U.S. botanical institution with global conservation programs and a major Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development. Shares Airmid's plant conservation and sustainability education mission at significantly larger scale.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the world's largest conservation NGOs with work spanning species, habitat, and sustainable supply chains. Comparable through its sustainable commodities and traditional knowledge programs, though vastly larger and broader in scope.
• Rainforest Alliance: International nonprofit that develops sustainability certification standards for agricultural and forest products. Comparable in developing ethical sourcing frameworks for plant-based supply chains, including aromatic and medicinal botanicals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/airmidinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airmid-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/airmid_institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Airmid Institute