James River Association
James River Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that serves as guardian and advocate for Virginia's 10,000-square-mile James River watershed through water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, environmental education, recreation, and community-based green-infrastructure programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What James River Association does
James River Association (JRA) is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that serves as the primary guardian and public advocate for the 10,000-square-mile James River watershed. Its mission centers on protecting and restoring the river through water quality monitoring and pollution response (via the James Riverkeeper Program and the James River Watch citizen-science platform), on-the-ground watershed restoration (Riparian Buffers, Riparian Stewards, Living Shorelines), community-based green infrastructure (River Hero Homes, Rain Barrel Workshops, Greening Public Libraries), youth and educator programming (Summer Camps in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Hampton; James River Expeditions; FLOW leadership program; Virtual Classroom), and advocacy on policy issues including migratory fish protection. Revenue is generated through individual donations and memberships, grants from government and conservation partners, fee-based programs such as rain barrel workshops ($50/participant), the Virginia Buffer Summit ($15/attendee), summer camps, and the fee-for-service James River Adventures canoe/kayak outfitter operating from Riveredge Park in Madison Heights, plus corporate sponsorships. A second operational site (James River Adventures outfitter) supports recreation programming, while partnerships with the Virginia Department of Forestry, Upper & Middle James Riparian Consortium, Madison Heights government, and library systems distribute programs across the watershed. Leadership is led by Executive Director, President, and CEO Bill Street, with a small staff of 11–50 supported by trained volunteer networks spanning stewardship, citizen science, and homeowner green-infrastructure cohorts.
James River Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- James River Association
- Legal name
- James River Association
- Website
- https://thejamesriver.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- James River Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that serves as guardian and advocate for Virginia's 10,000-square-mile James River watershed through water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, environmental education, recreation, and community-based green-infrastructure programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
James River Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI)
Keywords
Where James River Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
James River Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: James River Association is a member-supported nonprofit organization that relies on individual donations and membership contributions as a primary funding source.
- Grants and Government Funding: The organization receives grant funding for restoration projects, including riparian buffer programs and watershed restoration initiatives. They work with government agencies and conservation partners on funded restoration work.
- Program Fees and Workshops: Revenue generated from educational programs including summer camps, rain barrel workshops (at $50 per participant), and James River Adventures canoe/kayak trips.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for events and programs, including partnerships like the Richmond Flying Squirrels Earth Day appreciation day where jersey auction proceeds benefit the organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Rain Barrel Workshop - General Public |
| Freemium | One-time | Rain Barrel Workshop - Hopewell Residents |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Virginia Buffer Summit and Celebration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
James River Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
James River Association is a member-supported nonprofit organization that serves as the guardian and voice for the James River in Virginia. It delivers environmental conservation through water quality monitoring, watershed restoration (riparian buffers, living shorelines), environmental education programs, community conservation projects, river advocacy, and recreational access services such as canoe/kayak outfitter operations.
Product overview
The James River Association is a nonprofit organization offering a diverse portfolio of environmental programs and services focused on protecting the James River and connecting people to it. The organization operates various programs including Education programs (Summer Camps, James River Expeditions, FLOW, Professional Learning, Virtual Classroom), Watershed Restoration initiatives (Riparian Buffers, Living Shorelines, Riparian Stewards), Community Conservation projects (River Hero Homes, Green Infrastructure Stewards, Rain Barrel Workshops), Riverkeeper monitoring and advocacy, Recreation services (James River Adventures, Sturgeon Watching Trips), and environmental monitoring tools (James River Watch). The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- James River Adventures: Canoe and kayak outfitter service offering trips from Madison Heights, VA
- River Hero Homes
- James River Watch
- James Riverkeeper Program
- James River Buffers
Products and services
- James River Adventures An outfitter service offering canoe and kayak trips operating out of Riveredge Park in Madison Heights, Virginia. Open to public ages 10 and up, providing paddling instruction, safety talks, and opportunities to view natural and historical landmarks along the James River.
- James River Watch Water quality monitoring program that provides river conditions information to help users check river conditions before recreational activities through citizen science data collection.
- River Hero Homes Community-based program that helps homeowners reduce stormwater runoff and protect water quality through green infrastructure practices on private property.
- Summer Camps Youth outdoor adventure programs located in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Hampton offering hands-on learning and river recreation experiences across the 10,000-square-mile James River watershed.
- James River Expeditions Educational expeditions that provide students and participants immersive experiences exploring the James River watershed.
- Future Leaders of Our Waters (FLOW) Youth leadership development program focused on empowering the next generation of environmental stewards.
- Professional Learning Teacher professional development workshops including Citizen Science and Green Infrastructure and Problem-Based Learning programs.
- Riparian Buffers Program Watershed restoration initiative focused on establishing and maintaining riparian forest buffers along streams and rivers to improve water quality and habitat.
- Living Shorelines Coastal and shoreline protection program that uses natural approaches to stabilize shorelines while preserving ecosystem functions.
- James Riverkeeper Program Program that monitors the river, responds to pollution incidents, and advocates for policy changes to protect river health.
- Community Conservation Programs including Greening Richmond Public Libraries, Bellemeade Green Street Project, Greening Amherst County Public Libraries, and Petersburg's Lakemont Neighborhood focused on urban environmental improvements.
- Virtual Classroom Online educational resource providing virtual learning opportunities about the James River for students and educators.
- Sturgeon Watching Trips Wildlife observation excursions focused on viewing the Atlantic Sturgeon, part of The Great Return initiative showcasing river recovery.
- Riparian Stewards Volunteer program where trained stewards perform maintenance on riparian forest buffers including removing bird nets, straightening stakes, managing vegetation, and monitoring tree survival.
- Rain Barrel Workshops Educational workshops teaching participants how to assemble and install rain barrels at home to reduce stormwater runoff, with 55-gallon drums and DIY installation kits provided at $50 per registration.
Quantifiable outcome
- 420 Acres of Riparian Forest Buffers Assessed in the last year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use James River Association
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
James River Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
James River Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Madison Heights (Riveredge Park)coreLocal government partnership providing the venue for James River Adventures outfitter service operating from Riveredge Park in Madison Heights. Offers canoe and kayak trips passing Percival's Island.
- James River Park System Invasive Species Task ForcecoreOngoing collaborative partnership for habitat restoration at Chapel Island. Volunteers work together on invasive species removal and native ecosystem restoration. Regular volunteer events are coordinated through this partnership.
- Richmond Flying SquirrelsminorMinor league baseball team partnership for Earth Day appreciation day events. Fans bid on game-worn River City jerseys to benefit the organization. Gates open 5:30pm with first pitch at 7:05pm.
- Upper & Middle James Riparian ConsortiumcoreMulti-organization consortium focused on restoring riparian forest buffers across the Upper and Middle James River watershed. Jointly hosts the annual Virginia Buffer Summit and coordinates live stakes collection volunteer events.
- Virginia Department of ForestrycoreGovernment partner for the Virginia Buffer Summit and broader riparian restoration initiatives across the Commonwealth.
- Clinch River Soil & Water Conservation DistrictminorConservation district partner for the Virginia Buffer Summit, focused on riparian restoration and soil health initiatives.
- Rappahannock River RoundtableminorRegional conservation partner for the Virginia Buffer Summit focused on river protection and watershed stewardship.
- Shenandoah Valley Conservation CollaborativeminorRegional conservation collaborative partner for the Virginia Buffer Summit focused on watershed protection in Virginia.
- Crater Planning District CommissionminorPlanning district partner for the Virginia Buffer Summit, supporting regional conservation planning efforts.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
James River Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is the largest regional conservation nonprofit dedicated to restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which the James River feeds into. Both organizations share mission alignment (watershed restoration, education, advocacy), an overlapping donor base in Virginia, and comparable program models (Riverkeeper-style advocacy, school programs, restoration projects).
- Waterkeeper Alliance: Waterkeeper Alliance is the umbrella organization for the global Waterkeeper movement; JRA's James Riverkeeper Program is a member. Comparable in mission (clean water advocacy and on-the-water monitoring) and provides strategic/technical support to JRA's advocacy arm.
- Sierra Club - Virginia Chapter: The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club engages in conservation advocacy, education, and outings programs across the state, overlapping with JRA on policy advocacy, volunteer-led outings (canoe/kayak), and grassroots conservation organizing.
- The Nature Conservancy - Virginia Chapter: The Nature Conservancy operates a major Virginia program doing land and watershed conservation, restoration, and policy advocacy across the same geographies as JRA. It is a much larger, broader incumbent with overlapping donor pools and parallel restoration and education programs.
Direct peers
- Potomac Conservancy: Potomac Conservancy is a regional nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Potomac River watershed, with programs in water quality monitoring, restoration, advocacy, and volunteer engagement that closely mirror JRA's portfolio. Both serve as the dedicated voice/guardian for a major Mid-Atlantic watershed with education, community conservation, and policy advocacy pillars.
- Anacostia Riverkeeper: Anacostia Riverkeeper is a Waterkeeper-affiliated nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring the Anacostia River through water quality monitoring, pollution response, and advocacy. It mirrors JRA's James Riverkeeper Program model and is a directly comparable single-watershed advocacy organization.
- Friends of the Rappahannock: Friends of the Rappahannock is a Virginia-based river conservation nonprofit that protects the Rappahannock River through advocacy, restoration, education, and recreation programs — a near-identical operating model to JRA's, serving as a directly comparable regional peer.
Regional players
- Shenandoah Valley Conservancy: A regional land trust and watershed stewardship nonprofit operating in Virginia, with overlapping programs in riparian protection, conservation easements, and community education. Comparable in scale and mission to JRA, with some overlap in geographic service area around the Shenandoah Valley.
- Virginia Conservation Network: Virginia Conservation Network is a statewide coalition of conservation organizations in Virginia, including JRA as a member. It operates in the same advocacy, policy, and grant-making ecosystem and competes for similar state-level conservation funding streams and policy influence.
- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is a regional nonprofit working on Chesapeake watershed restoration, riparian buffers, and community engagement across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and DC. JRA is a frequent collaborator, and the two compete for similar grant funding and policy outcomes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
James River Association social profiles
Digital presenceJames River Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
James River Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
James River Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
James River Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
James River Association 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 James River Association
What does James River Association do?
James River Association is a member-supported nonprofit organization that serves as the guardian and voice for the James River in Virginia. It delivers environmental conservation through water quality monitoring, watershed restoration (riparian buffers, living shorelines), environmental education programs, community conservation projects, river advocacy, and recreational access services such as canoe/kayak outfitter operations.
Is James River Association a public or private company?
James River Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was James River Association founded?
James River Association was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is James River Association based?
James River Association is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does James River Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants and Government Funding, program Fees and Workshops and corporate Sponsorship.
Who are James River Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Waterkeeper Alliance, Sierra Club - Virginia Chapter and The Nature Conservancy - Virginia Chapter. Direct peers are Potomac Conservancy, Anacostia Riverkeeper and Friends of the Rappahannock. Regional players are Shenandoah Valley Conservancy, Virginia Conservation Network and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
Does James River Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for James River Association.
What industry is James River Association in?
James River Association's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection, with a secondary code of AFAMAMAB, Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.