Clean Water Action
Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization that influences federal and state water, toxics, and environmental policy through grassroots organizing, regulatory comments, and litigation partnerships across 12 U.S. states plus D.C.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Clean Water Action does
Clean Water Action is a national 501(c)(4) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization pursues clean water protection through federal and state policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, community organizing, and public education, with active state programs in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and the District of Columbia. Its work spans water quality protection, oil and gas regulation, toxic chemicals, zero-waste and plastics policy, climate and clean energy, civic engagement, and environmental justice, often coordinated through joint regulatory comments and litigation partnerships with allied organizations such as the American Water Works Association, Earthjustice, and its affiliated 501(c)(3), Clean Water Fund.
The organization's operational outputs include a multi-state website and donation platform, the ReThink Disposable program supporting restaurant compliance with waste-reduction laws, a blog and publications library, a podcast series, and an active social media presence. Clean Water Action monetizes its mission exclusively through fundraising rather than fees for service. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (including monthly recurring and leadership giving), planned/estate giving, IRA and stock gifts, workplace giving and corporate matching, donor-advised funds, and institutional grants. Distribution is fundamentally community-led: the organization mobilizes supporters through email action alerts, state-based organizing staff, and grassroots campaigns designed to influence regulators and legislators at federal and state levels.
Clean Water Action firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clean Water Action
- Legal name
- Clean Water Action
- Website
- https://cleanwateraction.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization that influences federal and state water, toxics, and environmental policy through grassroots organizing, regulatory comments, and litigation partnerships across 12 U.S. states plus D.C.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clean Water Action industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)
Keywords
Where Clean Water Action is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Clean Water Action business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization generates revenue primarily through individual donations, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and leadership giving programs. Donors can give through the organization's website donation portal.
- Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Clean Water Action accepts legacy gifts through donor wills, IRA gifts, and stock gifts, providing long-term revenue streams from committed donors.
- Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts: The organization participates in workplace giving programs and corporate matching gift programs to expand donor base and contribution amounts.
- Donor-Advised Funds and Grants: Clean Water Action accepts contributions from donor-advised funds and institutional grants, diversifying its funding sources beyond individual donors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Clean Water Action product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that mobilizes grassroots action to protect clean water through policy advocacy, community organizing, and public education. It submits formal regulatory comments to federal agencies (EPA, Army Corps of Engineers), runs state-based campaigns across 12 states plus DC, and operates programs such as ReThink Disposable to reduce single-use waste. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, planned gifts, workplace giving, and grants.
Product overview
Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization operating primarily as a membership-based advocacy platform. The organization offers a website for civic engagement, campaign management, and donations; the ReThink Disposable Program for waste reduction; blog and podcast content platforms; and publications including annual reports. The organization's core activities focus on water protection, oil and gas advocacy, toxic chemicals, sustainability and zero waste, climate change and clean energy, civic engagement, and environmental justice across 12 state chapters and the District of Columbia. Clean Water Fund, a separate affiliated 501(c)(3) organization, provides technical and financial program support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clean Water Action Website The organization's primary digital platform providing advocacy resources, campaign information, donation capabilities, and environmental policy content across 12 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Designed for supporters, donors, and members seeking to engage with environmental advocacy.
- ReThink Disposable Program A sustainability initiative helping restaurants and businesses reduce single-use waste through voluntary programs, supporting compliance with New Jersey's Skip the Stuff law.
- Clean Water Action Blog Digital publication featuring advocacy content, policy responses, event announcements, and educational resources on environmental issues including plastic reduction and federal regulations.
- Clean Water Action Podcast Audio content series covering clean water issues, environmental justice, and policy advocacy.
- Clean Water Action Publications Research reports, policy papers, and educational materials on water protection, toxic chemicals, oil and gas issues, and environmental justice.
- Clean Water Fund Related 501(c)(3) organization providing technical expertise and program support for clean water initiatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved 94% reduction in cutlery and condiments distributed at compliant restaurants in Red Bank, NJ under Skip the Stuff law
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Clean Water Action
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Clean Water Action technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Clean Water Action partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Clean Water FundcoreClean Water Action and Clean Water Fund submitted joint formal comments to the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opposing a proposed rule that would revise the definition of 'Waters of the United States' under the Clean Water Act. The organizations share resources and coordinate advocacy efforts on clean water policy issues.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)coreClean Water Action and Clean Water Fund partnered with AWWA to submit joint comments to the EPA urging the agency not to extend compliance deadlines for coal-fired power plants under the Clean Water Act's 2024 effluent limitations guidelines. Both organizations expressed concern that bromide discharges from these plants create harmful disinfection byproducts in downstream drinking water systems.
- Federal Government Programs (State Revolving Funds, WIFIA)minorClean Water Action advocates for continued and increased federal investment in water infrastructure through programs like State Revolving Funds (SRFs), WIFIA, and technical assistance programs. The organization supports these federal funding mechanisms to ensure safe, affordable water access.
- EarthjusticecoreEarthjustice is mentioned as a litigation partner whose prior lawsuits contributed to the 2024 Effluent Limitation Guidelines that coal plants would have been required to follow. Clean Water Action and Earthjustice share a common interest in environmental litigation and regulatory advocacy to protect clean water.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Clean Water Action competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sierra Club: One of the oldest and largest U.S. environmental advocacy nonprofits, with parallel 501(c)(4)/501(c)(3) structures, multi-state grassroots organizing, and a comparable multi-issue platform spanning water, climate, toxics, and environmental justice. Most directly comparable in mission breadth and member-driven advocacy model.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major U.S. environmental advocacy organization with deep federal regulatory engagement, litigation capacity, and a science/policy positioning similar to Clean Water Action. Comparable in producing expert regulatory comments and mobilizing members on water, climate, and toxics issues.
- Waterkeeper Alliance: Grassroots clean water advocacy network with a member-based organizing model and federal/state policy work on Clean Water Act enforcement. Comparable in its water-centric mission and grassroots mobilization, though organized as a federation of local Waterkeeper groups.
- Earthjustice: Public-interest environmental law organization that is already a litigation partner of Clean Water Action. Highly comparable in regulatory advocacy on clean water and toxics, and provides the legal backbone for many of the campaigns Clean Water Action champions.
- League of Conservation Voters (LCV): National environmental advocacy organization focused on political engagement, elections, and federal policy. Comparable in 501(c)(4) advocacy structure, federal-level focus, and use of grassroots mobilization to influence environmental policy outcomes.
- Food & Water Watch: 501(c)(4) environmental advocacy organization with a tightly overlapping agenda on water protection, fracking/oil and gas, toxic chemicals, and plastic pollution. Closely comparable in organizational structure (c4 + affiliated c3), grassroots mobilization model, and issue mix.
- Surfrider Foundation: U.S. nonprofit advocating for clean water and healthy coasts, with chapter-based grassroots organizing in coastal states and federal advocacy on water quality. Comparable member-driven advocacy model with overlapping beach/water-quality priorities.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large environmental advocacy organization that pairs science-based policy work with corporate partnerships and federal regulatory engagement. Directly comparable to Clean Water Action on Clean Water Act advocacy and toxics regulation, though with significantly larger resources and a corporate-engagement model.
Broad incumbents
- Greenpeace USA: Major environmental advocacy nonprofit with a broader international scope but overlapping U.S. campaigns on climate, plastics, toxics, and water. Comparable in mobilizing grassroots activism and donor base, though with a more confrontational direct-action orientation.
Emerging players
- Riverkeeper: Clean water advocacy organization focused on the Hudson River watershed with comparable water quality, pollution prevention, and community organizing priorities. More geographically focused than Clean Water Action but operates on the same Clean Water Act enforcement framework.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Clean Water Action social profiles
Digital presenceClean Water Action financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clean Water Action leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Clean Water Action subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Clean Water Action funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clean Water Action 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 Clean Water Action
What does Clean Water Action do?
Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that mobilizes grassroots action to protect clean water through policy advocacy, community organizing, and public education. It submits formal regulatory comments to federal agencies (EPA, Army Corps of Engineers), runs state-based campaigns across 12 states plus DC, and operates programs such as ReThink Disposable to reduce single-use waste. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, planned gifts, workplace giving, and grants.
Is Clean Water Action a public or private company?
Clean Water Action is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Clean Water Action founded?
Clean Water Action was founded in 1972. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Clean Water Action based?
Clean Water Action is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clean Water Action make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving and Estate Gifts, workplace Giving and Matching Gifts and donor-Advised Funds and Grants.
Who are Clean Water Action's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Waterkeeper Alliance, Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Food & Water Watch, Surfrider Foundation and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Greenpeace USA is listed as a broad incumbent. Riverkeeper is listed as an emerging player.
Does Clean Water Action have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clean Water Action.
What industry is Clean Water Action in?
Clean Water Action's product category is Environmental Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAJ, Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 4900.