Second Nature

Higher Education Sustainability Servicessecondnature.org

Second Nature is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Climate Leadership Network of over 400 U.S. higher education institutions committed to decarbonization and climate resilience, providing commitment frameworks, grants, consulting, and peer coordination.

Company typePrivate
Founded1993
HeadquartersCambridge, United States
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Second Nature does

Second Nature is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1993 with 51-100 employees, whose mission is to accelerate climate action in and through higher education. The organization operates the Climate Leadership Network, a membership platform comprising over 400 signatory institutions that have made public commitments to decarbonization and/or climate resilience, with 525 Climate Action Plans submitted and 17 million+ metric tons of CO2e in committed reductions across the network. The network is anchored by the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) of 23 leading research universities representing 187 campuses, 2 million students, 700,000 faculty and staff, and $99 billion in combined operating budgets.

The organization's core offerings include three commitment frameworks (Climate Commitment, Carbon Commitment, and Resilience Commitment) signed by presidents and chancellors, the Solutions Center tool for identifying carbon-reduction activities, Catalyst Grants of up to $5,000 per campus project, Pro Bono Consulting services valued at over $675,000 annually, the Climate Luminary Honors award program, and resource libraries covering climate justice, climate resilience, and carbon offsets (including free Calyx offset ratings valued at $8,000). The organization runs the annual Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, working groups, webinars, and policy advocacy. It does not sell a software product; rather, it provides coordination, frameworks, grants, and peer connectivity for institutional climate action.

Second Nature's revenue is generated through two streams: recurring membership dues from the 400+ signatory institutions and 4,100-eligible affiliate higher education schools, plus strategic foundation and corporate partnerships that fund network capacity and programs. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is via direct institutional engagement with senior leadership (presidents, chancellors, sustainability officers) and through a partner and funder network. The organization operates exclusively in the United States and has no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, parent company, or M&A activity.

Second Nature firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Second Nature
Legal name: Second Nature Inc.
Website: https://secondnature.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1993
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: Second Nature is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Climate Leadership Network of over 400 U.S. higher education institutions committed to decarbonization and climate resilience, providing commitment frameworks, grants, consulting, and peer coordination.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Second Nature industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education Sustainability Services
NAICS: Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
akta.pro primary industry: Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
akta.pro secondary industries: Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk) (EUABAKAK), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH)

Keywords

Higher education climate action
Climate leadership network
Carbon neutrality planning
Campus sustainability programs
Climate resilience frameworks

Where Second Nature is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Cambridge
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Second Nature business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Membership Dues: Colleges and universities pay membership dues to participate in the Climate Leadership Network, with benefits including access to exclusive resources, pro bono consulting services, catalyst grants up to $5K, and carbon offset ratings.
Foundation and Corporate Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with foundations and corporate partners who provide funding to support climate action across the network of 400+ higher education institutions.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Membership with tiered benefits based on institution type and commitment level

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Second Nature product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Second Nature operates a membership-based network for higher education institutions to commit to and execute climate action. The Climate Leadership Network serves over 400 signatory institutions, providing commitment frameworks for carbon neutrality and climate resilience, the Solutions Center for identifying carbon-reduction strategies, Catalyst Grants (up to $5K), Pro Bono Consulting services, and coordination through working groups and an annual summit.

Product overview

Second Nature operates as a nonprofit focused on accelerating climate action in and through higher education. Its core product is the Climate Leadership Network—a membership platform comprising over 400 signatory institutions that have made public commitments to decarbonization, climate resilience, or both. The network offers commitment frameworks (Climate Commitment, Carbon Commitment, Resilience Commitment), the Solutions Center for identifying carbon-reduction strategies, Catalyst Grants (up to $5K for campus projects), Pro Bono Consulting services, Climate Luminary Honors awards, and resources on climate justice, offsets, and resilience. The network is anchored by the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) of 23 research universities representing 187 campuses. Second Nature does not sell a software product but rather provides coordination, guidance, grants, and peer connectivity for institutional climate action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Climate Leadership Network A membership network for higher education institutions making public commitments to decarbonization and climate resilience, providing signatories with commitment frameworks, reporting guidance, and peer connectivity.
Commitment Frameworks (Climate, Carbon, Resilience) Three formal commitment options (Climate Commitment, Carbon Commitment, Resilience Commitment) that institutional leaders sign to join the Climate Leadership Network, each with specific requirements.
Solutions Center An online resource that identifies carbon and energy-reducing activities to help campuses assess and prioritize decisions to accelerate climate action.
Catalyst Grants Grant awards of up to $5,000 for projects that jumpstart climate action on member campuses.
Climate Luminary Honors Annual recognition program honoring higher education institutions that are advancing impactful climate action.
Pro Bono Consulting Pro bono consulting services delivered to Climate Leadership Network members to support climate action planning and implementation.
Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit Annual summit convening climate leadership network members to connect, share knowledge, and advance climate action in the higher education sector.

Quantifiable outcome

17 Million+ MT (CO2e) Committed Reductions
+1 more outcomes

Companies that use Second Nature

Customer profile

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Second Nature technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Second Nature partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

SUNY CortlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025SUNY Cortland received a $3,500 Catalyst Grant from Second Nature to enhance campus climate action projects, supporting a new student intern position focused on analyzing sustainability efforts and strengthening collaboration with local partner Cortland ReUse.
Well Done FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025Strategic partnership designating the Well Done Foundation as a Supporting Partner. Enables colleges and universities in Second Nature's Climate Leadership Network to integrate orphan well plugging into their climate action plans, including student visits and an 'Adopt a Well' program connecting campuses with this methane emissions reduction strategy.
Cortland ReUseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner collaborating with SUNY Cortland on circular economy and waste reduction initiatives on campus, funded through Second Nature's Catalyst Grant program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Second Nature competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Ceres: Ceres is a major sustainability nonprofit working with investors, companies, and policymakers on climate. While broader in scope, it overlaps with Second Nature on climate disclosure frameworks, policy advocacy, and corporate-foundation funder networks relevant to higher-ed climate work.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): USGBC administers LEED certification widely used by universities for sustainable buildings. It serves the same higher-ed sustainability buyers with a broader portfolio of standards, overlapping with Second Nature on built-environment decarbonization guidance.

Direct peers

AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education): AASHE is the closest direct peer — a membership association for U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities working on sustainability, including the STARS rating framework. It competes for the same institutional sustainability agenda and member mindshare that Second Nature serves.
ISCN (International Sustainable Campus Network): ISCN is an international membership network of universities collaborating on sustainability, including climate action, sharing best practices across campuses globally. It directly overlaps with Second Nature's peer-learning and commitment-framing value proposition.

Emerging players

Cool Campus Network / Race to Zero Campaign: UNFCCC's Race to Zero and affiliated higher-ed coalitions aggregate university climate commitments globally. They overlap with Second Nature's signatory framework and could either compete for institutional commitments or serve as a complementary international channel.
Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and agencies supporting clean energy deployment. While focused on state programs, it intersects with Second Nature on campus decarbonization pathways and policy advocacy.

Regional players

EAUC (Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges): EAUC is the UK and international equivalent of Second Nature, coordinating climate and sustainability commitments across universities in Europe and beyond. Comparable mission and structure, but it primarily serves a different geography.

Others

Second Nature (UC3 Member Universities): The UC3 coalition itself is a sub-network of 23 research universities within Second Nature's orbit, sometimes coordinating independently on climate procurement and research. Relevant as both a customer and an adjacent convening body.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Second Nature financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Second Nature leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Second Nature funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Second Nature M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Second Nature

What does Second Nature do?

Is Second Nature a public or private company?

Second Nature is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Second Nature founded?

Second Nature was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is Second Nature based?

Second Nature is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.

How does Second Nature make money?

Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Partnerships.

Who are Second Nature's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Ceres and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Direct peers are AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) and ISCN (International Sustainable Campus Network). Emerging players are Cool Campus Network / Race to Zero Campaign and Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). EAUC (Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges) is listed as a regional player. Second Nature (UC3 Member Universities) is listed as an others.

Does Second Nature have an API?

No public API is recorded for Second Nature.

What industry is Second Nature in?

Second Nature's product category is Higher Education Sustainability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, with a secondary code of EUABAKAK, Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.