Sound Rivers

Name

Sound Rivers

Legal name

Sound Rivers, Inc.

Website

https://soundrivers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sound Rivers is a North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit that monitors and protects the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds covering nearly a quarter of the state, operating Riverkeeper advocacy, weekly water-quality testing at 50+ sites, community-science monitoring, and a network of 13 trash traps in partnership with eight municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Watershed protection services
• Water quality monitoring
• River conservation advocacy
• Environmental nonprofit
• Community science programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual and organizational memberships ranging from $30 (Kingfisher) to $5,000 (Captain's Circle), plus general donations. Tax-deductible charitable contributions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Tar-Pamlico Water Trail Camping Platform Rentals: Rental of 11 camping platforms along the 180-mile Tar-Pamlico River Water Trail at $20 per night per platform.
3. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests and planned gifts from members who name Sound Rivers in their will or estate plan.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, stickers) through Printify, with proceeds supporting Sound Rivers' programs.
5. Stock Gifts and IRA Distributions: Accepts appreciated stock gifts and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for donors 70.5+.
6. Donor Advised Fund Grants: Accepts grants directly from donor advised funds (DAFs) from Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon.
7. State Employees Combined Campaign: North Carolina state employees can give through the SECC workplace campaign (SECC number 1116).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sound Rivers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that monitors and protects the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River watersheds covering nearly one-quarter of North Carolina. It operates two full-time Riverkeeper advocacy positions that conduct water-quality monitoring, pollution investigations, and regulatory advocacy, supported by programs including Swim Guide (weekly recreational water-quality testing), Water Watch (volunteer community science), Litter-Free Rivers (trash-trap deployment), Campus Stormwater (school-based green infrastructure), and the 180-mile Tar-Pamlico Water Trail with camping platforms.

Product overview

Sound Rivers is a nonprofit environmental organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on monitoring and protecting the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico river watersheds covering nearly one-quarter of North Carolina. The core offerings include: Riverkeeper advocacy services (Neuse Riverkeeper and Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper) providing direct water quality monitoring and pollution investigation; Swim Guide providing weekly bacterial testing at 50+ recreational sites; Water Watch enabling community science volunteers to report observations; Litter-Free Rivers deploying trash traps across urban waterways; and the Campus Stormwater Program implementing green infrastructure at schools. Additional services include the Tar-Pamlico Water Trail for recreation, educational programs for schools, the Sound Rivers Podcast for advocacy storytelling, and an online merchandise store. The organization also maintains Currents, a quarterly newsletter archive spanning 2018-2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Litter-Free Rivers: Program launched in 2023 addressing trash and plastic pollution in Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers through trash trap installation and maintenance on urban waterways.
• Swim Guide
• Water Watch
• Tar-Pamlico Water Trail
• Campus Stormwater Program

Products and services

• Swim Guide Weekly water quality monitoring program that tests 50+ recreational sites in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds from Memorial Day through Labor Day, sharing results via website, app, Facebook, and text alerts to inform the public where it is safe to swim.
• Water Watch Community science program where trained volunteers collect monthly observational data on water quality, flooding, erosion, and habitat conditions across waterways, reporting to Riverkeepers via an ArcGIS Experience dashboard.
• Litter-Free Rivers Trash trap program deploying passive litter-collection devices on urban waterways to capture floating debris before it reaches the main rivers, including monthly staff-led cleanouts and the Adopt-a-Trash-Trap community program.
• Campus Stormwater Program On-the-ground restoration program partnering with schools to implement rain gardens, constructed wetlands, and rainwater harvesting cisterns that reduce stormwater runoff pollution entering waterways.
• Tar-Pamlico Water Trail 180-mile paddling trail with 11 camping platforms along the Tar-Pamlico River from the Piedmont to Pamlico Sound, offering overnight kayaking and canoeing opportunities for recreational users at $20 per night per platform.
• Neuse Riverkeeper Advocacy Full-time Riverkeeper position monitoring the Neuse River watershed covering tributaries from Durham to Havelock, conducting pollution investigations, surveillance, and community education and serving on the Raleigh Stormwater Advisory Commission.
• Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Advocacy Full-time Riverkeeper position monitoring the Tar-Pamlico watershed through water quality investigations, aerial surveillance of industrial facilities, and representing Sound Rivers at public hearings and community events.
• Education Programs Classroom and field-based educational programs for schools covering river ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, stormwater pollution, and coastal environments, led by Riverkeepers and program staff.
• Membership Program Annual membership program for individuals and organizations supporting Sound Rivers' mission, with tiered levels from Kingfisher ($30) through Captain's Circle ($5,000) providing tax-deductible contributions and a voice in environmental advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6+ tons of trash removed from waterways since May 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• N.C. State University ResearcherscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Research partnership on Marsh Creek trash trap in Raleigh for microplastic pollution study. Part of statewide research project to determine how plastics enter waterways, break down, and impacts on wildlife and public health.
• City of WashingtoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner city with trash trap on Jack's Creek, the first trash trap installed in 2023. City collaboration for urban waterway cleanup program.
• City of New BerncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner city with trash trap on Duffyfield Canal for plastic pollution capture in urban waterway.
• City of RaleighcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with three trash traps on Little Rock Creek, Marsh Creek, and Walnut Creek in Raleigh. Partnership with Walnut Creek Wetland Community.
• City of GreenvillecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with trash trap on Greens Mill Run, a tributary of the Tar River in Greenville. Active volunteer cleanouts with community participation.
• City of KinstoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with trash trap on Adkin Branch. Staff-led cleanouts remove dozens of pounds of trash regularly.
• Town of TarborocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with trash trap on East Tarboro Canal in Tarboro.
• Town of ClaytoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with trash trap on Little Creek in Clayton.
• Town of SmithfieldcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Litter-Free Rivers partner with trash trap on Spring Branch in Smithfield.
• The Great Raleigh CleanupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLitter-Free Rivers partner organization in Raleigh for community cleanup events and litter prevention.
• Walnut Creek Wetland Community PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for trash trap maintenance at Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh.
• Mother Earth BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewing company partnership for Litter-Free Rivers community engagement events.
• Lincoln City RisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization partner for Litter-Free Rivers program expansion.
• Water Keepers CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated network of riverkeeper organizations across the Carolinas for strategy coordination, information sharing, and collective advocacy.
• CumminsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosts annual joint cleanup events with Sound Rivers. Partnership for community engagement and environmental stewardship.
• Edgecombe Neighbors for Data Center Accountability (ENDCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organization formalized by Edgecombe County community members to advocate against data center development in the county. Sound Rivers provided technical expertise and participated in advisory group.
• Secotan AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization representing Native American communities (Machapunga-Mattamuskeet people) in the watersheds. Featured in Sound Rivers podcast 'Indigen-US' episode for Indigenous Voices series honoring culture, history, and environmental stewardship.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global umbrella organization for Riverkeeper groups including Sound Rivers' affiliation with Water Keepers Carolina. Operates the Swim Guide platform that Sound Rivers uses to publish water quality results, providing both direct infrastructure overlap and competitive grant positioning.
• American Rivers: National nonprofit focused on river and clean water protection. Broader geographic scope and larger budget but overlapping mission, methodological overlap in water quality monitoring, and competes for similar foundation grants.
• Natural Resources Defense Council: Large national environmental advocacy organization with substantial water and clean water programs. Competes for foundation grants and offers potential partnership opportunities on regional water quality issues.
• Environmental Defense Fund: Major national environmental nonprofit working on water, climate, and health issues. Overlaps in advocacy on agricultural pollution and watersheds; competes for top-tier foundation funding and donor mindshare.

Direct peers

• Yadkin Riverkeeper: North Carolina nonprofit focused on protecting the Yadkin River watershed through water quality monitoring, advocacy, and community organizing. Operates within the same state and Water Keepers Carolina network.
• Cape Fear River Watch: North Carolina-based nonprofit advocating for the Cape Fear River basin, with parallel programs in water quality monitoring, advocacy, and community engagement. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and operating model.
• Waccamaw Riverkeeper: South Carolina-based water advocacy nonprofit. Sound Rivers' Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper previously ran the Swim Guide program there, and the organizations share monitoring, advocacy, and Swim Guide publishing models.

Emerging players

• Save the Sound: Regional nonprofit focused on Long Island Sound watershed protection with water quality monitoring and advocacy programs. Comparable in program mix (water quality testing, advocacy, restoration) but operates in a different region.

Others

• River Network: National nonprofit network supporting local river and water organizations. Provides capacity-building resources that Sound Rivers could use, and represents a natural ally / peer convener in the sector.

Regional players

• MountainTrue: Western North Carolina environmental advocacy nonprofit protecting rivers, forests, and mountains. Covers a different region of NC but shares the state-level conservation nonprofit model, advocacy approach, and donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/soundriversnc
• Facebookfacebook.com/soundriversnc
• Instagraminstagram.com/soundriversnc
• Xx.com/SoundRiversNC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Sound Rivers