Ecology Project International

Name

Ecology Project International

Legal name

Ecology Project International

Website

https://ecologyproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental & Conservation Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Field-based conservation education
• Youth environmental programs
• NGSS curriculum resources
• Citizen science expeditions
• Study abroad ecology

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Students and educators pay tuition for field-based courses including travel, accommodations, meals, instruction, and activities. Enrollment deposits range from $350 to full tuition depending on timing of enrollment.
2. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting conservation and education programs. Monthly donors (Conservation All Stars) contribute starting at $10/month with exclusive benefits.
3. Symbolic Adoptions: Sea turtle hatchling adoptions starting at $40 for one hatchling, with additional benefits at higher tiers including adoption certificates, Turtle Advocate's Atlas, and digital hatchling photos.
4. EPI Gear Store: Merchandise sales through epigear.org online store, with 15% discount for Conservation All Star monthly donors.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Fiscal and in-kind donations from businesses seeking ESG impact through student scholarships, field gear, conservation equipment, water infrastructure, and program sponsorship.
6. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests, trusts, and estate planning donations through the Leadership Circle program for long-term sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ecology Project International runs immersive, field-based conservation education programs for middle school, high school, college students, and educators across five countries, including Costa Rica (Pacuare Reserve), Mexico (Baja), USA (Yellowstone), Belize, and Ecuador (Galapagos). Participants engage in real wildlife research—sea turtle monitoring, ungulate tracking, marine species surveys—paired with NGSS-aligned online classroom resources (EPI Classroom Storylines), professional development for teachers, alumni engagement, and supporting revenue from donations, corporate ESG partnerships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Ecology Project International (EPI) offers a portfolio of field-based conservation education programs centered around experiential learning in global ecosystems. The core offerings include Student & Teacher Expeditions, Individual Student Travel, and Professional Development Programs that take place across six major program sites: Pacuare Reserve (Costa Rica), Baja California Sur (Mexico), Yellowstone (USA), Galapagos (Ecuador), and Belize. These are complemented by supplementary offerings including EPI Classroom (free NGSS-aligned online storylines and curriculum), the Alumni Webinar Series, the Adopt a Hatchling symbolic sea turtle adoption program, and the Pacuare Reserve Ecolodge for eco-tourism. EPI also operates an online merchandise store (EPI Gear) and maintains a comprehensive Program Catalog for enrollment. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with multiple giving mechanisms including direct donations, monthly Conservation All Stars membership, planned giving, and business partnership programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student & Teacher Expeditions Field-based group expeditions where school cohorts of students and teachers travel to EPI conservation sites (Costa Rica, Baja, Yellowstone, Belize, Galapagos) to participate in hands-on wildlife research, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental learning activities aligned with NGSS.
• Individual Student Travel Independent travel programs for individual students seeking immersive conservation and ecology experiences in Costa Rica, Baja, Yellowstone, Belize, and Galapagos without a school group affiliation.
• Professional Development Programs Field-based training programs and workshops for educators and professionals to enhance their environmental education skills, NGSS-aligned teaching methods, and field research capacity.
• Conservation Leadership Programs Advanced programs that develop leadership skills in EPI alumni and community members to lead conservation initiatives in their local areas, including webinars, eco clubs, and student-led projects.
• Pacuare Reserve Ecolodge Eco-friendly accommodations at EPI's Pacuare Reserve on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, offering sustainable lodging for program participants and eco-tourists.
• Adopt a Hatchling Program Symbolic sea turtle adoption program with tiered giving levels ($40-$200) where donors fund hatchling protection at Pacuare Reserve and receive digital certificates, Turtle Advocate's Atlas, hatchling photos, and an exclusive sea turtle poster at higher tiers.
• EPI Gear Store Online merchandise store (epigear.org) selling EPI-branded apparel, gear, and accessories, with 15% discount for Conservation All Star monthly donors and proceeds supporting conservation programs.
• Business Partnerships Program Corporate ESG/CSR partnership program offering student scholarships, field gear donations, conservation equipment, water infrastructure support, and program sponsorship opportunities for companies such as Patagonia, Chick-fil-A, and SCHEELS.
• Planned Giving / Leadership Circle Bequests, trusts, and estate-planning donations through the Leadership Circle program for long-term organizational sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,232 students and educators engaged in 2022 field programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Conley Law GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Conley Law Group sponsors EPI's membership in the AZA Conservation Partner network, helping EPI connect with the zoo and aquarium conservation community for collaboration on conservation outcomes.
• Xplorer MapsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Xplorer Maps, creator of hand-drawn maps of cherished places, offers Costa Rica maps that directly benefit EPI's efforts at Pacuare Reserve for sea turtle habitat protection and environmental education.
• It's American PresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Partner protects endangered leatherback sea turtles. $40 from every Sea Turtle Package goes directly to EPI's conservation work in Costa Rica, funding beach patrols, nesting habitat protection, and local community engagement.
• PatagoniacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2001Patagonia, a leader in environmental and social responsibility, supports EPI's Yellowstone program. Their commitment to conservation enables transformative student experiences that inspire connection to nature and dedication to protecting the planet.
• Moody GardenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMoody Gardens, a public non-profit educational destination in Galveston, Texas, supports EPI's Pacuare Reserve field research station and conservation efforts, particularly the Agami heron program.
• SCHEELS MissoulacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSCHEELS supports EPI's Yellowstone Program through gift cards providing flexibility to purchase equipment as needed for field research and education.
• Yellowstone National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with biologists at Yellowstone National Park enables field-based research programs studying bison, wolves, ungulates, and ecosystem dynamics in one of the largest nearly-intact temperate ecosystems on earth.
• Galapagos Principal InvestigatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with principal investigators in the Galapagos enable ecosystem research, species monitoring, and conservation education on the archipelago.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Conservation NGO operating zoos and field programs with strong education and youth engagement components. Comparable in conservation + education mission and AZA-ecosystem relationships, but operates at much larger scale and with owned zoo/aquarium venues.
• Conservation International: Global environmental NGO with conservation, science, and education programs in biodiversity hotspots overlapping EPI's geographies (Galapagos, Mesoamerica). Comparable in scientific and conservation focus, but at much larger scale and scope.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation NGO with large-scale youth, education, and citizen science programming. Comparable in mission space (wildlife/conservation education), but at vastly greater scale and with a broader geographic and thematic portfolio.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation NGOs with education, volunteer, and stewardship programming. Comparable in conservation mission and donor base, though it operates a much broader land-preservation portfolio rather than youth expeditions.

Direct peers

• Where There Be Dragons: Experiential education abroad programs for high school and gap-year students. Comparable in target customer, immersive international programming, and field-based learning in biodiverse and culturally distinct regions.
• Putney Student Travel: Pre-college summer travel programs for high school students emphasizing experiential learning and community engagement. Comparable in target demographic, program structure, and emphasis on immersive educational travel.
• Earthwatch Institute: Citizen science expedition organization that pairs volunteers with researchers in the field. Closely comparable to EPI's field-based research-with-youth model and its use of citizen science (e.g., Zooniverse) to support conservation outcomes.
• Rustic Pathways: Provider of high school service-learning and travel programs in multiple countries. Directly comparable to EPI in student travel + community/conservation service-learning model and target demographic (high school and gap-year students).
• Global Citizen Year: Gap-year fellowship program for high school graduates pursuing immersive international experiences. Comparable in youth demographic, experiential learning model, and focus on leadership development through real-world engagement.
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: Student travel programs led by National Geographic experts with conservation, wildlife, and field science themes. Directly comparable product offering, target audience (high school/college students), and field-based experiential model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/EcologyProjectInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecologyproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/2035370
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecologyproject
• Xx.com/ecologyproject

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Ecology Project International