Ensia
Ensia is a nonprofit environmental media outlet publishing solutions-focused journalism across features, articles, videos, and multimedia, distributed free of charge via its website, a 50+ outlet syndication network, and translations in 12+ languages, funded by donations and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Ensia does
Ensia is a solutions-focused nonprofit media outlet founded in 2013 and published at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment in St. Paul, Minnesota. It produces environmental journalism across multiple formats — feature stories, articles, opinion commentaries (called "Voices"), interviews, photo essays, videos, infographics, and curated "Notables" — organized into themed Collections such as Carbon Zero, Troubled Waters, Land in Balance, Inundated, and Tapped Out. In 2017 the organization launched Edge, a multimedia storytelling platform for interactive environmental content, and it operates the Ensia Mentor Program that pairs emerging communicators with experienced journalists.
The underlying technology is a standard web publishing platform; there is no proprietary tech stack, API, or productized software. All content is published free of charge under Creative Commons (CC BY-ND 3.0) and distributed through the ensia.com website, a bi-weekly email newsletter, social media channels, and a syndication network of more than 50 global media outlets including The Guardian, Scientific American, Business Insider, Vox, and Quartz. Content reaches millions of readers annually and has been translated into 12+ languages.
Ensia operates as a 501(c)-style nonprofit with no paywall, subscription, or advertising revenue. Funding comes from individual tax-deductible donations, foundation grants (Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, Stanley Family Foundation), institutional support from the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, and the NewsMatch matching-gift campaign backed by Democracy Fund, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and others. Editorial decisions are insulated from donor influence per the organization's ethics statement. Primary audiences are environmentally engaged members of the general public, educators and students who use the content in courses, and policy makers who reference it in legislative briefings.
Ensia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ensia
- Legal name
- Ensia
- Website
- https://ensia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ensia is a nonprofit environmental media outlet publishing solutions-focused journalism across features, articles, videos, and multimedia, distributed free of charge via its website, a 50+ outlet syndication network, and translations in 12+ languages, funded by donations and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ensia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Environmental Journalism
- NAICS
- Information (51)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE/EHS) Publishing (MPAJACAF)
Keywords
Where Ensia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ensia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Reader donations from individuals who support solutions-focused environmental journalism. Donations are fully tax-deductible.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, Stanley Family Foundation, and others. Also supported by NewsMatch campaign partners including Democracy Fund, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and others.
- Institutional Support: Support from University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment as the host institution.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ensia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ensia is a solutions-focused nonprofit media outlet that publishes original environmental journalism covering climate change, biodiversity, water, energy, food, ecosystems, and related topics across multiple formats (features, articles, opinion pieces, interviews, photos, videos, infographics). All content is provided free to readers, distributed globally through its own website, email newsletter, social media channels, and a network of more than 50 partner media outlets that republish its content under Creative Commons licensing, with content appearing in more than a dozen languages.
Product overview
Ensia is a solutions-focused nonprofit media outlet published at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. It publishes environmental journalism including Feature Stories, Articles, Voices (opinion/commentary), Interviews, Photos, Videos, Infographics, and Notables (brief items). Content is organized into themed Collections such as Carbon Zero, Troubled Waters, Land in Balance, Inundated, and Tapped Out. Ensia also operates Edge, a multimedia storytelling platform, and runs the Ensia Mentor Program to train emerging environmental communicators. The outlet reaches millions annually with content appearing in over a dozen languages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Edge: A multimedia storytelling platform launched in 2017 for additional content and engagement.
Products and services
- Feature Stories
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches millions of people annually with environmental journalism
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ensia
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ensia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ensia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- University of Minnesota's Institute on the EnvironmentcoreHost institution for Ensia. The publication is published at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, providing institutional support and affiliation.
- Institute for Nonprofit NewscoreEnsia is a member of INN, a nationwide network of nonprofit newsrooms serving the public good, providing best practices and community support.
- Solutions Journalism NetworkcoreEnsia is a member of the Solutions Journalism Network, which supports and promotes solutions-focused journalism.
- GristmajorCollaborative partner in the 'Inundated' project reporting on flooding and vulnerable communities in the Great Lakes region.
- GuardianmajorPartner in collaborative reporting projects including the 'Inundated' project on flooding in the Great Lakes region.
- Inside Climate NewsmajorPartner in collaborative reporting projects including the 'Inundated' project on flooding and climate impacts.
- Planet DetroitmajorLocal news partner in the 'Inundated' collaborative project focused on Great Lakes region flooding.
- Wisconsin WatchmajorPartner in the 'Inundated' project covering flooding issues in the Great Lakes region.
- Sahan JournalmajorPartner in the 'Inundated' collaborative project on flooding and vulnerable communities.
- BorderlessmajorPartner in collaborative reporting on environmental issues including the 'Inundated' project.
- The Guardian, Business Insider, Scientific American, Public Radio International, Vox, QuartzmajorNetwork of over 50 leading global media outlets that republish Ensia's content, extending reach and impact across multiple platforms and audiences worldwide.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ensia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yale Environment 360: Yale Environment 360 is a publication of the Yale School of the Environment covering global environmental issues. It is a direct peer to Ensia, publishing long-form environmental journalism for a global audience.
- Grist: Grist is a nonprofit environmental media outlet covering climate, sustainability, and justice. It directly competes with Ensia as a solutions-focused nonprofit newsroom and has been a collaborative partner on projects like 'Inundated'.
- Hakai Magazine: Hakai Magazine is a nonprofit environmental and science publication focused on coastal ecosystems and sustainability. It is a direct peer to Ensia as an independent, solutions-oriented nonprofit environmental outlet.
- Inside Climate News: Inside Climate News is a Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit newsroom dedicated to climate and environmental journalism. It is a direct peer to Ensia and has collaborated on joint reporting such as the 'Inundated' project.
- Climate Central: Climate Central is a nonprofit climate science and journalism organization that produces environmental reporting and visual assets. It is a direct peer to Ensia in nonprofit environmental media.
- Anthropocene Magazine: Anthropocene Magazine is a nonprofit environmental publication covering the Anthropocene era's challenges and solutions. It is a direct peer to Ensia in solutions-focused environmental journalism.
Others
- Solutions Journalism Network: Solutions Journalism Network is a nonprofit that supports and trains journalists in solutions-focused reporting. It is an ecosystem enabler and Ensia's membership partner, supporting the editorial model that differentiates Ensia.
Broad incumbents
- National Geographic: National Geographic is a broad incumbent in environmental, science, and nature journalism with global reach. It serves a similar environmental-curious audience as Ensia but with significantly broader scope and resources.
- Vox: Vox is a major digital media outlet that frequently covers climate and environmental topics. It is a broad incumbent that both republishes Ensia content and competes for the same general-interest environmental audience.
- The Guardian Environment: The Guardian's Environment vertical is a major broad incumbent covering global environmental issues. It is both a syndication partner and a broad competitor to Ensia in environmental journalism.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ensia social profiles
Digital presenceEnsia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ensia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ensia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ensia 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 Ensia
What does Ensia do?
Ensia is a solutions-focused nonprofit media outlet that publishes original environmental journalism covering climate change, biodiversity, water, energy, food, ecosystems, and related topics across multiple formats (features, articles, opinion pieces, interviews, photos, videos, infographics). All content is provided free to readers, distributed globally through its own website, email newsletter, social media channels, and a network of more than 50 partner media outlets that republish its content under Creative Commons licensing, with content appearing in more than a dozen languages.
Is Ensia a public or private company?
Ensia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ensia founded?
Ensia was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ensia based?
Ensia is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ensia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and institutional Support.
Who are Ensia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yale Environment 360, Grist, Hakai Magazine, Inside Climate News, Climate Central and Anthropocene Magazine. Solutions Journalism Network is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are National Geographic, Vox and The Guardian Environment.
Does Ensia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ensia.
What industry is Ensia in?
Ensia's product category is Nonprofit Environmental Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJACAF, Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE/EHS) Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51 and its SIC code is 8600.