The Offset Project
The Offset Project is a Monterey, California-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides environmental consulting, zero-waste event greening, and a local carbon offset fund (Monterey Bay Carbon Fund) to municipalities, businesses, schools, and event organizers across the Monterey Bay region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMonterey, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Offset Project does
The Offset Project (TOP) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Kristin Cushman and headquartered in Monterey, California. TOP provides environmental consulting, event greening, and localized carbon offset services to municipalities, businesses, schools, and special event organizers across the Monterey Bay region of California. Its core offerings include Sustainable Events (zero-waste event management with carbon emissions analysis and Council for Responsible Sport certification support), TOP Down Management Consulting (corporate social responsibility advisory and sustainability training), the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund (California's first local community carbon fund, launched 2011 in partnership with the Climate Action Compact, directing donations to renewable energy projects at local schools and nonprofits), and quarterly workshops on waste diversion, GHG reduction, and sustainable purchasing.
The organization operates with minimal proprietary technology — service delivery is human-led and volunteer-supported. Core technical assets are limited to an online carbon footprint calculator that feeds the Carbon Fund and a free library of zero-waste signage and event planning resources. Operating with one full-time employee, two part-time staff, and 121+ volunteers contributing over 1,000 hours annually, TOP has documented outcomes including 93–97% waste diversion at major events (including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Big Sur International Marathon), a 30 kW solar PV installation at Bonny Doon Elementary School, and over $75,000 granted to local community groups since founding.
Revenue is derived from three streams: (1) donations and grants (including monthly recurring donor tiers of $10, $25, and $50 and one-time Carbon Fund contributions), (2) management and sustainability consulting fees to businesses and municipalities, and (3) event greening service fees. Distribution is regional, with marquee recurring clients including Pebble Beach Resorts, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and Portola Hotel & Spa, alongside municipal relationships with the City of Monterey, Pebble Beach Community Services District, and Monterey Regional Waste Management District. Marketing is community-led, relying on volunteer networks, partner referrals, earned media, and event participation rather than paid channels.
The Offset Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Offset Project
- Legal name
- The Offset Project
- Website
- https://theoffsetproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Offset Project is a Monterey, California-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides environmental consulting, zero-waste event greening, and a local carbon offset fund (Monterey Bay Carbon Fund) to municipalities, businesses, schools, and event organizers across the Monterey Bay region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Offset Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Business Support Services (5614)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Offset & Insetting Programs (Credits, Portfolios, Project Development) (THAAANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training) (THAAANAL), Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site) (BPABALAK), Energy, Utilities & Sustainability Shows Organizers (THAHABAK), Sustainability & Carbon Management for Business Travel (THACAMAJ)
Keywords
Where The Offset Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Monterey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Offset Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: TOP receives 100% of revenue from donations and grant funding. The Monterey Bay Carbon Fund receives donations that go back into the community to build renewable energy projects. Monthly donation tiers include $10 (Eco Achiever), $25 (Sustainability Master), and $50 (Zero Waste Hero).
- Consulting Services: TOP provides management consulting services to businesses and municipalities on corporate social responsibility, sustainability policies, event greening, and environmental stewardship programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Eco Achiever: $10/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustainability Master: $25/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Zero Waste Hero: $50/month |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Carbon Offset Donations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Offset Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Offset Project (TOP) provides environmental consulting, sustainable event greening services, and the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund to help businesses, municipalities, event organizers, and individuals reduce their environmental impact. Core offerings include corporate social responsibility consulting (TOP Down Management Consulting), zero-waste event management with carbon emissions analysis (Sustainable Events), a localized carbon offset program funding renewable energy projects at Monterey Bay schools and nonprofits (Monterey Bay Carbon Fund), and environmental stewardship workshops and trainings.
Product overview
The Offset Project (TOP) offers a suite of environmental sustainability services focused on helping businesses, municipalities, events, and communities reduce their environmental impact. The core offerings include TOP Down Management Consulting (corporate social responsibility advisory), Sustainable Events (zero-waste event greening with carbon emissions analysis), the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund (localized carbon offset program supporting renewable energy projects at schools and nonprofits), and Workshops/Trainings on environmental stewardship topics. Supporting resources include free Zero Waste Resources and Signage templates. The organization primarily serves the Monterey Bay region of California and partners with events including marathons, golf tournaments, and festivals to achieve high waste diversion rates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Monterey Bay Carbon Fund (MBCF): A nonprofit fund that directs money to renewable energy projects at Monterey Bay schools and nonprofits, as well as other local GHG emission reduction projects. It is a program of The Offset Project in partnership with the Climate Action Compact.
Products and services
- TOP Down Management Consulting Corporate social responsibility consulting service that provides on-the-ground, realistic and sustainable approaches for businesses to implement sustainability practices. Includes building social responsibility programs, developing training and curriculum, leading workshops, and creating green tag programs for business clients.
- Sustainable Events Event greening service that helps events reduce energy consumption, mitigate waste, institute recycling and composting programs, enhance transportation solutions, and offset carbon emissions. Includes detailed carbon emissions analysis for major events and has achieved 93-97% waste diversion at clients such as the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Big Sur International Marathon.
- Monterey Bay Carbon Fund (MBCF) Localized carbon fund that directs money to renewable energy projects at Monterey Bay schools and nonprofits. Enables individuals and organizations to invest in community projects while addressing their carbon emissions. Supports solar PV installations, EV charging stations, and other GHG emission reduction projects. Includes an online carbon footprint calculator for variable donations.
- Workshops and Trainings Quarterly workshops and training programs focusing on environmental stewardship topics such as waste diversion, reducing greenhouse gases, and environmentally-conscious purchasing. Topics include carbon offsets, sustainable purchasing, zero-waste practices, renewable energy, and environmental certification. Delivered to businesses, municipalities, and community members.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93-97% waste diversion achieved at events
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Offset Project
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Offset Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Offset Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Monterey Peninsula FoundationcoreEvent promoter and partner for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament. Together achieved 93% waste diversion and Gold certification from Council for Responsible Sport.
- Pebble Beach CompanycoreOwner-operator of world-famous resorts and golf courses. Partner in waste diversion initiatives and environmental programs at Pebble Beach events.
- Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action CompactcoreEstablished July 2011 partnership to manage the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund. Strengthens accessibility and marketability of localized carbon fund in the community.
- Pebble Beach Community Services District (PBCSD)coreProvides solid waste and recycling services. Partner in collaborative waste diversion efforts since 2008, including the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
- Monterey Regional Waste Management DistrictcoreOperational partner providing composting facilities, Last Chance Mercantile, and materials recovery. Partner in anaerobic digestion and organics recycling programs.
- Rancho Cielo Youth CampuscoreLocal at-risk youth campus. Partner in Solar PV Installation Training program and workforce development. TOP helping subsidize solar installations at the campus.
- RC CubedsupportingSolar financing and development partner for Bonny Doon Elementary School solar installation and Rancho Cielo projects.
- Cabrillo CollegesupportingEducational partner providing job training in solar installation and financing. One Cabrillo student received training while earning college credit.
- First SolarsupportingDonated solar training system for Rancho Cielo Solar PV Installation Training program.
- Applied Solar EnergysupportingProvides installation instruction and expertise for the Rancho Cielo solar training program.
- Republic ServicessupportingSolid waste services partner. Referenced as supporting event waste diversion programs in Salinas.
- Green Waste RecoverysupportingSolid waste and recycling franchise holder. Partner in waste diversion and recycling programs.
- Waste ManagementsupportingWaste hauler partner for strategic dumpster placement and transportation. Partner in event waste diversion.
- City of MontereysupportingMunicipal partner. EV charging station installed at city parking garage in downtown Monterey.
- Monterey Peninsula FoundationcoreEvent promoter for 2014 Pebble Beach National Pro Am. Partner in EV charging station donation and Council for Responsible Sports certification efforts.
- John Muir Charter SchoolsupportingEducational partner providing support for solar installation training program at Rancho Cielo.
- Food Bank of Monterey CountysupportingReceived 7,184 pounds of unused food from 2014 AT&T Pro-Am event.
- Waste to WavessupportingUpcycled 130 yards of Styrofoam from events into local surfboards.
- TerracyclesupportingAccepted sixteen 32-gallon bags of wrappers and chip bags for upcycling into shopping bags.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Offset Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Council for Responsible Sport: National nonprofit that certifies sustainable sporting events (the body behind TOP's Gold certifications). Comparable because both serve the same event-sustainability buyer and overlap on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Big Sur Marathon ecosystems.
- California Resource Recovery Association: Statewide association that awarded TOP its 2014 Outstanding Practices Award. Comparable as a convening and recognition body serving the same waste-diversion and event-sustainability constituency in California.
Direct peers
- Sustainable Event Alliance: Industry association and accreditation body for sustainable event professionals (Abbie Beane, TOP's Deputy Director, is an accredited member). Directly comparable to TOP's event-greening practice and similar in scale, mission, and nonprofit structure.
- Green Sports Alliance: Nonprofit that helps sports organizations improve environmental performance. Overlaps with TOP on golf tournaments, marathons, and venue sustainability programs serving similar enterprise customers in the sports sector.
- Terrapass: Carbon offset provider serving both consumers and businesses. Comparable to the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund in offering purchasable offsets, though Terrapass operates nationally with a project-portfolio model versus TOP's hyper-local approach.
- NativeEnergy: Carbon offset and climate solutions provider for businesses. Comparable to TOP's carbon fund and consulting offerings, with broader geography and deeper enterprise channels.
- Bonneville Environmental Foundation: Oregon-based nonprofit operating carbon offset and renewable energy programs. Directly comparable to TOP's Monterey Bay Carbon Fund in mission and structure, and a likely peer for grant-maker and donor mindshare.
Regional players
- Recology: Employee-owned California waste hauler with extensive zero-waste and organics recycling programs. Comparable to TOP on waste diversion outcomes for events and municipalities, but operating at vastly greater scale and as a for-profit.
Emerging players
- Change Climate Project: Nonprofit focused on event sustainability and climate action, founded by Zero Waste Events founder Laura Sullivan. Closest direct peer in event-greening consulting; overlaps with TOP on CSR workshops and zero-waste event services.
- Cloverly: Software/API platform for purchasing verified carbon offsets and tracking emissions. Comparable to TOP's carbon fund product from the buyer side; represents the technology-led threat to bespoke nonprofit offset programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Offset Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Offset Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Offset Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
The Offset Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Offset Project 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 The Offset Project
What does The Offset Project do?
The Offset Project (TOP) provides environmental consulting, sustainable event greening services, and the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund to help businesses, municipalities, event organizers, and individuals reduce their environmental impact. Core offerings include corporate social responsibility consulting (TOP Down Management Consulting), zero-waste event management with carbon emissions analysis (Sustainable Events), a localized carbon offset program funding renewable energy projects at Monterey Bay schools and nonprofits (Monterey Bay Carbon Fund), and environmental stewardship workshops and trainings.
Is The Offset Project a public or private company?
The Offset Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Offset Project founded?
The Offset Project was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Offset Project based?
The Offset Project is headquartered in Monterey, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Offset Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services.
Who are The Offset Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Council for Responsible Sport and California Resource Recovery Association. Direct peers are Sustainable Event Alliance, Green Sports Alliance, Terrapass, NativeEnergy and Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Recology is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Change Climate Project and Cloverly.
Does The Offset Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Offset Project.
What industry is The Offset Project in?
The Offset Project's product category is Environmental Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAANAC, Carbon Offset & Insetting Programs (Credits, Portfolios, Project Development), with a secondary code of THAAANAL, Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 4950.