What Clean Air Council does

Clean Air Council, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Philadelphia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization operating across the Mid-Atlantic region with additional offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest environmental nonprofit in Philadelphia, predating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Earth Day, and the modern Clean Air Act. The organization's stated mission is protecting everyone's right to a healthy environment, executed through five program areas: Climate and Energy (power plants, clean energy, decarbonization policy), Industrial Air Pollution (oil and gas, petrochemicals, steelmaking, hazardous waste), Transportation (EVs, biking and walking, public transit, cleaner commute), Watershed Protection (stream protections, toxic site cleanups, NMS Watershed Alliance, Cobbs Creek Watershed Coalition), and Other Environmental Initiatives (plastics/microplastics, reporting pollution, indoor air, air monitoring, tobacco, composting, trails).

The organization's functional stack combines legal advocacy, community organizing, public education, and digital tools. It files administrative petitions and appellate litigation as a coalition partner with groups including Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Clean Air Task Force, PennFuture, EDF, NRDC, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Mountain Watershed Association, Center for Biological Diversity, and Environmental Integrity Project. Notable legal actions include D.C. Circuit challenges to the Trump EPA endangerment finding repeal and methane rule delay, Indiana County SO2 NAAQS litigation, and appeals of air permits for the Homer City and Renovo gas-fired power plants. Digital products include the GoPhillyGo interactive car-free routes map (used during the 2026 FIFA and America250 event season), The Hub weekly transportation newsletter, and the 'On Air with Clean Air Council' podcast. The organization's revenue model is recurring individual membership contributions starting at $10 with monthly, quarterly, or annual options, supplemented by foundation grants (e.g., William Penn Foundation supporting Philadelphia parks and Cobbs Creek trail work). Customers effectively comprise the general public and 9,000+ dues-paying or donating members across Pennsylvania and Delaware, with priority focus on environmental justice communities such as Chester, PA and Western PA residents affected by fossil fuel infrastructure.

Name

Clean Air Council

Legal name

Clean Air Council

Website

https://cleanair.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clean Air Council is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) environmental advocacy nonprofit founded in 1967, serving Pennsylvania and Delaware residents through legal advocacy, community organizing, and digital tools addressing air pollution, climate, transportation, watershed protection, and environmental justice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Clean Air Council operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through membership contributions and donations from individuals concerned about clean air and environmental protection. The organization encourages joining through its website, highlighting that larger membership base provides more influence with legislators and courts.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clean Air Council is a 501(c)(3) environmental advocacy nonprofit that delivers environmental protection through public education, community organizing, policy advocacy, and legal action across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. Its core offerings are organized into advocacy programs — Climate and Energy, Industrial Air Pollution, Transportation, Watershed Protection, and Environmental Justice — supplemented by the GoPhillyGo interactive car-free routes map, a weekly newsletter, and a podcast.

Product overview

Clean Air Council is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization offering a suite of programs and digital tools rather than a unified commercial product. The organization provides interactive tools like the GoPhillyGo Car-Free Routes Map for transportation planning, content platforms including The Hub newsletter and On Air podcast for environmental news, and advocacy programs covering climate and energy, industrial air pollution, transportation, watershed protection, and environmental justice. The programs work together to advance the organization's mission of protecting everyone's right to a healthy environment through public education, community organizing, and legal action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map Interactive web-based mapping tool that helps Philadelphia-area residents navigate via public transit, biking, walking, and park-and-ride options, providing car-free route alternatives for major events and daily travel.
• Climate and Energy Advocacy Program Advocacy program addressing power plant emissions, clean energy policy, and decarbonization of Pennsylvania through legal action, community organizing, and public education.
• Industrial Air Pollution Advocacy Program Advocacy program addressing air pollution from oil and gas operations, petrochemical plants, steelmaking, and hazardous waste facilities through community advocacy and legal action.
• Transportation Advocacy Program Advocacy program promoting electric vehicles, biking and walking infrastructure, public transportation, and cleaner commuting options to reduce transportation-related emissions in the Philadelphia region.
• Watershed Protection Advocacy Program Advocacy program protecting waterways through stream protections, toxic site cleanups, and watershed coalition initiatives including the NMS Watershed Alliance and Cobbs Creek Watershed Coalition.
• Environmental Justice Advocacy Advocacy program focused on the cumulative impacts of pollutants on environmental justice communities, including policy reforms such as support for House Bill 109 to establish permit review programs.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sierra ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading partner in coalition lawsuits challenging EPA actions. Clean Air Council works with Sierra Club and other environmental groups on legal challenges to environmental regulations including endangerment finding repeal and clean vehicle standards.
• EarthjusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal representation partner for environmental lawsuits. Earthjustice serves as legal counsel for Clean Air Council and partners in litigation against EPA regulations and environmental violations.
• Clean Air Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in environmental litigation representing health and environmental groups in challenges to EPA regulatory actions.
• PennFuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner in environmental legal actions including air permit appeals, pipeline challenges, and policy advocacy. Multiple joint lawsuits and campaigns documented.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coalition lawsuits challenging EPA decisions on climate protections and methane pollution regulations.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of coalition of environmental groups filing lawsuits against EPA regulatory rollbacks including endangerment finding repeal.
• Delaware Riverkeeper NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner in water protection and pipeline opposition efforts, particularly on Mariner East pipeline challenges and Delaware River Basin protections.
• Mountain Watershed AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in legal challenges to pipeline permits and compressor station air quality permits, joint litigation and policy advocacy.
• Center for Biological DiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in appeals of power plant air pollution permits and environmental justice cases including Renovo Energy Center challenge.
• Environmental Integrity ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in rulemaking petitions (no-drill zones), power plant permit challenges, and environmental policy advocacy.
• Concerned Residents of Western PA (CROW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots partner in opposing Homer City data center project and pipeline construction in Indiana County.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Biological Diversity: National environmental advocacy organization with strong legal action focus. Co-litigant with Clean Air Council on Renovo Energy Center permit appeal and environmental justice cases.
• Clean Air Task Force: National nonprofit focused on air quality science, policy, and legal advocacy. Direct litigation partner with Clean Air Council in the EPA endangerment finding and methane rule challenges.
• PennFuture: Pennsylvania-focused environmental advocacy organization with overlapping mission on air quality, climate, and water. Co-litigant with Clean Air Council on Homer City, Renovo, Indiana County SO2, and Mariner East cases.
• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization providing legal counsel to Clean Air Council and coalition partners in major federal environmental litigation.
• Delaware Riverkeeper Network: Regional environmental advocacy organization protecting the Delaware River watershed. Long-term co-partner with Clean Air Council on Mariner East pipeline opposition and Delaware River Basin protections.
• Environmental Integrity Project: Environmental accountability nonprofit focused on pollution enforcement and permitting. Coalition partner with Clean Air Council on rulemaking petitions and power plant challenges.
• Mountain Watershed Association: Western Pennsylvania-based environmental advocacy organization focused on water protection and pipeline opposition. Joint litigation partner on pipeline permit and compressor station challenges.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major national environmental advocacy organization. Coalition partner with Clean Air Council on EPA endangerment finding repeal and other climate-related federal litigation.
• Sierra Club: Largest U.S. grassroots environmental organization with a strong Pennsylvania chapter. Lead plaintiff alongside Clean Air Council in EPA endangerment finding and methane rule lawsuits, and co-litigant on Indiana County SO2 and Homer City cases.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): National environmental advocacy organization with science, policy, and legal programs. Coalition partner with Clean Air Council on climate protection and methane pollution regulation challenges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cleanaircouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-air-council
• Xx.com/CleanAirCouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Clean Air Council