Alliance for the Great Lakes
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that protects the Great Lakes through volunteer shoreline cleanups, water-quality sensor monitoring, policy advocacy, and education programs serving 40 million regional residents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Alliance for the Great Lakes does
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1970 and headquartered at 150 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a nonpartisan environmental advocacy and research body focused on protecting the fresh water of the Great Lakes basin, which supplies drinking water to roughly 40 million people. The organization serves three constituencies: individual advocates and volunteers who take action on Great Lakes protection, environmental advocates who use its research and analysis, and Great Lakes region residents concerned about water quality and pollution. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees.
The organization's core products are programs and advocacy resources rather than commercial offerings. Flagship programs include the Adopt-a-Beach volunteer shoreline cleanup initiative (which has removed 10 million pieces of litter from Great Lakes shorelines), the Alliance Ambassadors volunteer training and advocacy network, the Great Lakes in Your Classroom K–12 education program, and the Watermarks Newsletter. Research and analysis services are supported by a network of 200+ water-quality sensors in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Advocacy resources include the newly launched Data Center Playbook (March 2026) and a petitions and toolkits library that supported 13,000+ messages to federal and state decision-makers in the last reporting year.
The revenue model is donation- and grant-based, drawing from individual donations, business partnerships, foundation partnerships, and legacy giving. There is no product pricing; the organization is funded through tax-deductible contributions and grants. Distribution is delivered through a multi-channel grassroots model spanning the organization's website, social platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky), email newsletters, action alerts, field volunteer cleanups, and webinars. Recognition includes a Charity Navigator four-star rating, Great Nonprofits top-rated designation, and 1% For The Planet Environmental Partner status.
Alliance for the Great Lakes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alliance for the Great Lakes
- Legal name
- Alliance for the Great Lakes
- Website
- https://greatlakes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Alliance for the Great Lakes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that protects the Great Lakes through volunteer shoreline cleanups, water-quality sensor monitoring, policy advocacy, and education programs serving 40 million regional residents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alliance for the Great Lakes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental conservation and Great Lakes protection services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Alliance for the Great Lakes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alliance for the Great Lakes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting Great Lakes protection. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Business Partnerships: Corporate giving programs allowing businesses to support Great Lakes protection.
- Foundation Partnerships: Grant funding from foundations supporting environmental conservation and Great Lakes protection.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Alliance for the Great Lakes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers Great Lakes protection through three integrated lines of work: grassroots volunteer action (Adopt-a-Beach cleanups and Alliance Ambassadors), original research and water quality monitoring, and policy advocacy directed at federal and state decision-makers. The organization provides educational resources such as Great Lakes in Your Classroom and produces advocacy materials including the Data Center Playbook and supporter toolkits, all funded by individual donations, business partnerships, and foundation grants.
Product overview
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of environmental programs rather than a commercial product platform. Its core offerings include the Adopt-a-Beach volunteer cleanup program, Alliance Ambassadors volunteer advocacy network, Great Lakes in Your Classroom educational resources, and the Watermarks Newsletter for community engagement. The organization also produces advocacy resources including the Data Center Playbook (a guide on data center water impacts) and petitions/toolkits for policy engagement. Research and analysis services inform community leaders and policymakers on Great Lakes protection, supported by water quality monitoring infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adopt-a-Beach Program Volunteer shoreline cleanup program enabling community members to lead beach cleanups and remove litter from Great Lakes shorelines; over 10 million pieces of litter have been removed through this initiative. Open to individuals across the Great Lakes region.
- Alliance Ambassadors Volunteer ambassador program that trains and equips individuals to advocate for Great Lakes protection and engage their communities in environmental action and policy outreach.
- Great Lakes in Your Classroom Educational program providing standards-aligned curriculum and resources for educators to teach K-12 students about Great Lakes conservation, water quality, plastic pollution, and environmental stewardship.
- Research and Analysis Services Original environmental research and data analysis that informs community leaders and guides Great Lakes protection policy, including water quality monitoring via 200+ sensors deployed in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Delivered as reports, briefings, and policy recommendations for decision-makers and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 million pieces of litter removed from Great Lakes shorelines by Adopt-a-Beach volunteers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Alliance for the Great Lakes
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alliance for the Great Lakes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Alliance for the Great Lakes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alliance for the Great Lakes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): National environmental nonprofit using science, economics, and partnerships to drive policy outcomes. Comparable on data-driven advocacy and policy research approach to environmental protection.
- Earthjustice: Nonprofit environmental law organization. Adjacent comparator because AGL's policy and advocacy work occasionally intersects with Earthjustice's litigation-driven approach to water and pollution issues.
- National Wildlife Federation: National conservation nonprofit with regional affiliate model and Great Lakes programming. Closely comparable on mission, advocacy tactics, and Great Lakes regional footprint.
- Ocean Conservancy: National ocean-focused nonprofit running the International Coastal Cleanup volunteer program and policy advocacy on plastic pollution. Comparable on volunteer cleanup scale, plastic pollution campaigns, and federal policy engagement.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Larger national environmental advocacy nonprofit combining science, policy, and litigation. Comparable because it pursues freshwater protection, climate, and pollution issues through research-driven advocacy and grassroots mobilization similar to AGL.
- Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental organizations with grassroots chapters, volunteer-led programs, and policy advocacy. Comparable on membership/donor model and community-led advocacy approach.
Direct peers
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional nonprofit dedicated to a single large U.S. waterbody with volunteer restoration, education, and advocacy programs. Most analogous operating model to AGL but focused on the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Heal the Bay: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on Santa Monica Bay water quality through volunteer cleanups, education, and policy advocacy. Direct functional analog with identical program mix of cleanups, research, and policy.
- Surfrider Foundation: Volunteer-driven coastal/water advocacy nonprofit running beach cleanup programs and policy campaigns. Strongly comparable on volunteer beach cleanup model (analogous to Adopt-a-Beach) and grassroots advocacy structure.
Regional players
- Great Lakes Commission: Binational agency representing Great Lakes state and provincial interests on water policy. Closest direct regional peer given shared Great Lakes mandate, though it operates as a governmental compact rather than a nonprofit advocate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alliance for the Great Lakes social profiles
Digital presenceAlliance for the Great Lakes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alliance for the Great Lakes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Alliance for the Great Lakes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alliance for the Great Lakes 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 Alliance for the Great Lakes
What does Alliance for the Great Lakes do?
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers Great Lakes protection through three integrated lines of work: grassroots volunteer action (Adopt-a-Beach cleanups and Alliance Ambassadors), original research and water quality monitoring, and policy advocacy directed at federal and state decision-makers. The organization provides educational resources such as Great Lakes in Your Classroom and produces advocacy materials including the Data Center Playbook and supporter toolkits, all funded by individual donations, business partnerships, and foundation grants.
Is Alliance for the Great Lakes a public or private company?
Alliance for the Great Lakes is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alliance for the Great Lakes founded?
Alliance for the Great Lakes was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alliance for the Great Lakes based?
Alliance for the Great Lakes is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alliance for the Great Lakes make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are business Partnerships and foundation Partnerships.
Who are Alliance for the Great Lakes's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Earthjustice, National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club. Direct peers are Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation. Great Lakes Commission is listed as a regional player.
Does Alliance for the Great Lakes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alliance for the Great Lakes.
What industry is Alliance for the Great Lakes in?
Alliance for the Great Lakes's product category is Environmental conservation and Great Lakes protection services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.