Earthworks
Earthworks is a 501c3 environmental nonprofit that uses Optical Gas Imaging field investigations, satellite data integration, and policy advocacy to protect frontline communities from oil, gas, and mining extraction impacts across 20 U.S. states and 7+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersClaverack, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Earthworks does
Earthworks is a U.S. 501c3 environmental advocacy nonprofit founded in 1988 (formed from the merger of the Mineral Policy Center and the Oil & Gas Accountability Project), headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a second office in Berkeley, California. It is the only national organization in the United States focused exclusively on preventing the destructive impacts of oil, gas, and mineral extraction, serving frontline communities, Indigenous nations (including the Navajo Nation and Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe), and the broader public affected by extractive industry pollution across 20 U.S. states and at least 7 international markets.
The organization's core technical asset is its Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) field investigation program, which deploys FLIR GasFinder 320 cameras operated by ITC-certified thermographers to detect and document 20 normally invisible volatile organic compounds (including benzene, toluene, and methane) at oil and gas facilities. To date the program has logged 1,971 site visits, produced 700+ videos, filmed 429 operators, and generated 398 regulatory complaints across 22 states and countries. Earthworks packages this evidence in the publicly accessible Oil and Gas Threat Map and, as of 2024, integrates OGI ground truth with Carbon Mapper's Tanager 1 satellite data to attribute emissions to specific operators. Complementary products include the BigGasPolluters.org corporate watchdog platform, policy advocacy at federal and state levels, and international engagement on mining standards (IRMA, IRMA, Global Tailings Management Institute, International Seabed Authority).
Earthworks is funded approximately 80% by leading environmental foundations and philanthropies and ~20% by thousands of individual donors (including a $2,500+ annual Defenders' Circle tier and a planned-giving Legacy Circle). The organization explicitly does not accept government funding or donations from non-green companies. It generates no product or service revenue; its 50+ staff are distributed across energy program, mining program, policy, communications, philanthropy, and field organizing functions.
Earthworks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Earthworks
- Legal name
- Earthworks
- Website
- https://earthworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Earthworks is a 501c3 environmental nonprofit that uses Optical Gas Imaging field investigations, satellite data integration, and policy advocacy to protect frontline communities from oil, gas, and mining extraction impacts across 20 U.S. states and 7+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Earthworks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Methane Abatement Projects (Landfill Gas, Manure, Coal Mine Methane, O&G Methane) (EUABABAL)
Keywords
Where Earthworks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Claverack
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Earthworks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Approximately 20% of budget comes from thousands of individual donors who contribute one-time or recurring donations. Various giving options include monthly giving, Defenders' Circle ($2,500+ annual commitment), legacy circle/will bequests, and stock donations.
- Foundation Grants: Nearly 80% of Earthworks' budget comes from leading foundations and philanthropies. Earthworks does not accept funding from governments and accepts donations only from socially responsible and green companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Giving (Sustainability Circle) |
| Subscription | Annual | Defenders' Circle - Annual Commitment $2,500+ |
| Other | Other | Legacy Circle - Planned Giving |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Earthworks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Earthworks is a national nonprofit that advocates to stop the destructive impacts of oil, gas, and minerals extraction while promoting a just and clean energy future. The organization conducts Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) field investigations to document methane and other pollution from extraction sites, partners with frontline and Indigenous communities to amplify their campaigns, and engages in federal and state policy advocacy and litigation to hold polluters and regulators accountable.
Product overview
Earthworks is an environmental nonprofit organization (501c3) that operates programs focused on ending oil and gas expansion and fighting mining injustice rather than selling commercial products. Its core offerings include Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) field investigations using FLIR GasFinder 320 cameras to document pollution, the Oil and Gas Threat Map platform for tracking facilities and complaints, and the BigGasPolluters.org watchdog database. Earthworks also produces research reports, policy advocacy, and community empowerment services as part of its nonprofit mission to protect communities and the environment from extractive industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) Field Investigations
- Oil and Gas Threat Map
- BigGasPolluters.org Watchdog Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,971 site visits conducted, 398 regulatory complaints filed, 429 operators filmed across 22 states and countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Earthworks
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Earthworks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Earthworks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)coreIRMA offers independent, third-party auditing and transparency at mine sites against its 400-page Standard. Earthworks has been critical of many voluntary certification systems and views IRMA's multi-sector governance and independent oversight as differentiated from industry-led systems.
- SIRGE CoalitioncoreCoalition aiming to ensure Indigenous Peoples rights, especially the right to self-determination, are respected in the global transition to a green economy.
- Lead the ChargecoreInternational coalition of human rights and environmental organizations that ranks companies' environmental and human rights performance to drive improvements across supply chain.
- Break Free From PlasticminorNational coalition working to oppose petrochemical plants by highlighting health risks and advocating for alternatives to plastics.
- People Over PetrominorRegional coalition in the Ohio River basin working to oppose petrochemical infrastructure and promote alternatives.
- Permian-Gulf Coast CoalitioncoreCoalition building stronger, more connected movement across the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast region from extraction to export, opposing oil and gas export terminals.
- Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)corePartnership for optical gas imaging investigations in Colombia documenting methane pollution at Ecopetrol facilities, contributing to 'Crude Lies' report and BBC documentary.
- Protective Buffer Coalition (Pennsylvania)coreCoalition advancing campaign to expand protective buffer distances between oil and gas development and homes, schools, water sources, and streams in Pennsylvania.
- Gas LeaksminorPartnership to relaunch BigGasPolluters.org, a watchdog resource countering oil and gas industry misinformation on methane pollution.
- Safety First InitiativecoreGuidelines for responsible mine tailings management developed with coalition partners to call on companies, governments and financial institutions to improve tailings safety.
- Mining Standards Accountability Alliance (MSAA)coreGlobal network of civil society organizations, Indigenous-led groups and human rights experts formed to expose CMSI as an effort by mining industry to appear concerned while doing minimal to protect communities.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Earthworks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large U.S. environmental NGO with a long-running oil and gas methane program that combines corporate engagement, policy advocacy, and field science. Directly comparable to Earthworks on the methane-from-oil-and-gas issue but operates at much greater scale and broader scope.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major U.S. environmental advocacy organization with parallel oil and gas, methane, and mining policy work. Directly comparable in mission and tactics (policy advocacy, legal action, science-based campaigns), but operates across a broader environmental portfolio at much larger scale.
- Sierra Club: Long-standing U.S. environmental organization with active 'Beyond Dirty Fuels' and mining campaigns that overlap Earthworks' oil, gas, and mining advocacy. Comparable on grassroots organizing and policy work, though much larger and more diversified across conservation and climate.
Direct peers
- Earthjustice: Public-interest environmental law organization that frequently litigates alongside Earthworks (e.g., on the methane rule delay and Formosa Plastics permits). Highly comparable because they share legal strategy, regulatory targets, and many frontline-community clients in oil, gas, and mining cases.
- Oil Change International: Research and advocacy organization focused specifically on ending fossil fuel extraction, including methane policy, finance, and export infrastructure. Highly comparable in targeting fossil fuel expansion and engaging in the same regulatory and coalition spaces as Earthworks.
- FracTracker Alliance: Data and mapping nonprofit that documents oil and gas infrastructure, environmental and health impacts, and community proximity data. Closely comparable to Earthworks' Oil and Gas Threat Map product and shared focus on exposing fossil fuel impacts through geospatial evidence.
- Center for Biological Diversity: Environmental advocacy organization using litigation, science, and creative media to protect endangered species, habitats, and climate. Comparable on legal strategy, regulatory petitions, and media-driven campaigns on extraction impacts, though with a stronger biodiversity framing.
- Indigenous Environmental Network: Indigenous-led environmental organization working on fossil fuel infrastructure, mining, and environmental justice. Strongly comparable to Earthworks on Indigenous frontline-community partnerships (e.g., Four Corners, Fort Yuma) and shared opposition to extractive industry expansion.
- 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement focused on stopping fossil fuel expansion and funding community-led solutions. Comparable on anti-extraction advocacy, coalition-based organizing, and international campaign footprint, but operates at significantly larger global scale.
Others
- Carbon Mapper: Satellite-data nonprofit deploying the Tanager-1 satellite to detect and attribute methane and CO2 point-source emissions. Not a direct peer organizationally, but a technology partner and adjacent operator that is reshaping methane accountability and to which Earthworks aligns its OGI investigations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Earthworks social profiles
Digital presenceEarthworks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Earthworks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Earthworks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Earthworks 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 Earthworks
What does Earthworks do?
Earthworks is a national nonprofit that advocates to stop the destructive impacts of oil, gas, and minerals extraction while promoting a just and clean energy future. The organization conducts Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) field investigations to document methane and other pollution from extraction sites, partners with frontline and Indigenous communities to amplify their campaigns, and engages in federal and state policy advocacy and litigation to hold polluters and regulators accountable.
Is Earthworks a public or private company?
Earthworks is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Earthworks founded?
Earthworks was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Earthworks based?
Earthworks is headquartered in Claverack, United States, in the North America region.
How does Earthworks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants.
Who are Earthworks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club. Direct peers are Earthjustice, Oil Change International, FracTracker Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Indigenous Environmental Network and 350.org. Carbon Mapper is listed as an others.
Does Earthworks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Earthworks.
What industry is Earthworks in?
Earthworks's product category is Environmental Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABABAL, Methane Abatement Projects (Landfill Gas, Manure, Coal Mine Methane, O&G Methane). Its NAICS code is 54136.