Resource Renewal Institute

What Resource Renewal Institute does

Resource Renewal Institute (RRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1985 by Huey Johnson and headquartered in Fairfax, California. The organization operates as a "think-and-do tank" combining science-informed policy advocacy with on-the-ground program implementation across three core program areas: Public Lands (centered on the landmark 2025 Point Reyes National Seashore settlement rezoning 17,000 acres to Scenic Landscape), Oceans and Rivers (including co-sponsorship of California AB 1056 to phase out set gillnets and AB 1319 for state-level biodiversity protection, plus the Whale-Safe Pop-Up Gear Initiative), and Working Landscapes (anchored by the Fish in the Fields rice/fish co-cultivation program, originally launched in 2012 and scaled into Arkansas via a USDA Southern SARE partnership with the University of Arkansas at Isbell Farms).

RRI's signature proprietary program, Fish in the Fields, adapts traditional rice/fish co-cultivation to modern agriculture by raising freshwater fish in winter-flooded rice fields, with peer-reviewed and field evidence indicating methane emission reductions of up to two-thirds and an additional revenue stream for participating farmers. The program won the J.M.K. Innovation Prize in 2023. Supporting programs include the Water Renaissance Plan (a 12-organization coalition launched in June 2026 proposing $44 billion in investments to secure 1.8–2 million acre-feet of drought-proof water supplies for Southern California), the California Global Biodiversity Alliance (CalGBA), and legacy projects such as the Forces of Nature documentary series and Defense of Place campaigns.

RRI employs a community-led go-to-market model funded entirely by donations, foundation grants, and corporate giving rather than product sales or fees. Revenue channels include one-time and recurring online donations (processed via Stripe), stock gifts, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund grants, and planned giving vehicles. The organization maintains a four-star Charity Navigator rating and is governed by a Board including Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. Operational reach is concentrated in California with extension into Arkansas through agricultural research, and the organization partners with the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, USA Rice Federation, the University of Arkansas, Oceana, USDA SARE, and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria among others.

Name

Resource Renewal Institute

Legal name

Resource Renewal Institute

Website

https://rri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Resource Renewal Institute is a 40-year-old California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that combines policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs to protect public lands, oceans, rivers, and working agricultural landscapes through coalition building, science-informed research, and legislative action.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAF

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAGAK

Water Resources & Watershed Protection

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Environmental conservation programs
• Rice fish co-cultivation
• Public lands advocacy
• Water policy reform
• Biodiversity protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: RRI operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate giving programs. They accept one-time donations, recurring monthly gifts, stock donations, IRA charitable distributions, donor-advised fund grants, and planned giving including charitable lead trusts and memorial/tribute gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Resource Renewal Institute is a nonprofit environmental think-and-do tank that delivers a portfolio of conservation programs and policy initiatives focused on protecting public lands, oceans, rivers, biodiversity, and water resources. Offerings include the Fish in the Fields rice/fish co-cultivation program, the Point Reyes National Seashore restoration settlement, marine biodiversity protection, free-flowing river and Bay-Delta defense campaigns, the California Global Biodiversity Alliance, and the Water Renaissance Plan policy coalition. The organization works through advocacy, coalition building, and on-the-ground partnerships with farmers, government agencies, tribal communities, and conservation groups.

Product overview

Resource Renewal Institute is a nonprofit environmental think-and-do tank (not a technology company) that offers a portfolio of conservation programs and initiatives rather than a unified software product. The organization's main offerings include: Fish in the Fields (rice/fish co-cultivation program), Restore Point Reyes (national seashore restoration), Protecting Marine Biodiversity, Clean Water + Free Rivers, Defending the Bay-Delta, California Global Biodiversity Alliance, and various Legacy Projects like Forces of Nature documentaries and Defense of Place campaigns. Additional programs include sponsored projects such as Ocellus Media documentaries and policy initiatives like the Water Renaissance Plan. These programs work together to advance science-informed solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and environmental advocacy through community engagement, policy reform, and collaborative partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fish in the Fields An award-winning program that adapts rice/fish co-cultivation to modern agriculture by raising freshwater fish in winter-flooded rice fields. It fosters resilience for essential foods, sustains wildlife habitat, improves nutrient and carbon cycling, reduces methane emissions, and provides rice farmers with an additional revenue stream from fish sales for feed.
• Restore Point Reyes A landmark settlement initiative to resolve decades-long disputes over commercial ranching at Point Reyes National Seashore, rezoning 17,000 acres to Scenic Landscape for ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, and public access while supporting tribal co-stewardship with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
• Protecting Marine Biodiversity An initiative to protect ocean biodiversity through policy advocacy, including co-sponsorship of AB 1056 in California to phase out set gillnets and prevent whale entanglements in fishing gear, with protections covering more than 100 different ocean animals.
• Clean Water and Free Rivers A program focused on protecting water resources and advocating for free-flowing rivers through policy solutions and community engagement, aligned with the Water Renaissance Plan vision for prioritizing local water resilience.
• Defending the Bay-Delta A coalition effort to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from destructive tunnel projects and to advocate for science-based instream flow protections that sustain native fish and the broader Bay-Delta ecosystem.
• California Global Biodiversity Alliance (CalGBA) A collaborative initiative focused on advancing biodiversity protection and conservation across California through policy advocacy and community engagement, supporting the implementation of biodiversity safeguards in the face of federal rollbacks.
• Water Renaissance Plan A coalition policy initiative, co-developed with 12 partner organizations, providing specific goals and metrics for prioritizing local water resilience in California's urban areas (especially Southern California). It recommends directing state agencies to end Delta Tunnel planning and adopt science-based instream flow protections, with a goal of securing 1.8-2 million acre-feet of drought-proof water supplies by 2045 at an estimated $44 billion investment.
• Whale-Safe Pop-Up Gear Initiative An advocacy effort supporting innovative pop-up gear as an alternative to traditional gear for the Dungeness crab fishery, achieving over 98% reliability and removing 3,760 vertical lines from April to July, thereby preventing whale entanglements while allowing fishing during seasonal closures.
• Forces of Nature: Environmental Elders Speak A documentary/video legacy project capturing the stories and wisdom of environmental leaders and elders in the conservation movement to inspire future stewards.
• Defense of Place A legacy initiative dedicated to protecting specific places and landscapes from development, including campaigns to halt expansion into state parks and other protected areas.
• Ocellus Media - Tailless Documentary A fiscally sponsored documentary film project by Daniel Dietrich documenting efforts to protect Chile's pumas, following a photographer's journey to save a tailless puma.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fish in the Fields can reduce methane emissions by up to two-thirds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Sportfishing Protection AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026One of 12 organizations in the Water Renaissance coalition co-drafting a vision for prioritizing local water resilience in California's urban areas, especially Southern California.
• Defenders of WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan, jointly developing specific goals and metrics for prioritizing local water resilience in California.
• Friends of the RivercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan advocating for science-based water policy reform in California.
• Golden State Salmon AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner working to protect salmon habitat and advocate for water policies that support fish populations.
• LA WaterkeepercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan focused on protecting water quality and advocating for sustainable water management in Southern California.
• Restore the DeltacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan, advocating against the Delta Tunnel project and for ecosystem restoration in the Bay-Delta.
• San Francisco BaykeepercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner working to protect San Francisco Bay and advocate for water quality standards.
• Sierra Club CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan advocating for environmental protection and sustainable water policy.
• Winnemem Wintu TribecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan, bringing tribal perspectives and advocating for tribal water rights.
• Yosemite Rivers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan focused on protecting river ecosystems.
• University of ArkansascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025RRI partners with Dr. Benjamin Runkle's team at the University of Arkansas to study how co-cultivating fish in winter-flooded rice fields can reduce methane emissions. Supported by a Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grant, this three-year project applies the Fish in the Fields model to large-scale rice systems.
• USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025USDA SARE featured Fish in the Fields for its success in integrating fish into rice fields, showing potential to reduce methane emissions by up to two-thirds. SARE is supporting the program through a Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grant.
• USA Rice FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2025USA Rice is a key partner in Fish in the Fields, with Director of Grower Relations & Rice Stewardship Partnership Josh Hankins participating in Harvest Day events. USA Rice provides industry connections and support for rice/fish co-cultivation research.
• Anderson MinnowsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 11 April 2025Anderson Minnows provides expertise in fish processing and harvesting for Fish in the Fields. Their skilled team operates the fish vacuum pump technology for the program.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025NPS is a key partner in implementing the landmark settlement at Point Reyes National Seashore, working with RRI and other organizations on ecological restoration of former ranching lands.
• Federated Indians of Graton RancheriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025The Tribe is engaged in strengthened tribal co-stewardship through a government-to-government partnership with NPS across the Seashore's former leased lands at Point Reyes.
• OceanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025RRI and Oceana co-sponsored AB 1056, California legislation to protect ocean biodiversity by phasing out set gillnets. RRI co-sponsored this legislation to bring greater protection to coastal marine wildlife and protect more than 100 different ocean animals from entanglement.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025TNC is a key partner in the Point Reyes settlement, administering over $10M in state restoration funding under a cooperative agreement with NPS. TNC is working with NPS on ecological restoration implementation across the former ranching lands.
• ActerraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2021Acterra awarded RRI leaders Chance Cutrano and Deborah Moskowitz the Champion of Promise Award in Food Sustainability for development of the Fish in the Fields program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/debmosk
• Xx.com/resourcerenewal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Resource Renewal Institute