Environmental Leadership Program

What Environmental Leadership Program does

Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that operates a portfolio of cohort-based fellowship programs designed to develop diverse, equity-centered environmental leadership. Its core offerings include the Regional and National Fellowship Programs (cohorts of 15–20 fellows selected through an application process and delivered via multi-day retreats, ongoing training, and community-building), the Dr. Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program (a two-year paid fellowship launched in 2016 placing emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds in conservation and clean energy host organizations), and the DDCSP Alumni Network (established in 2017 under contract with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to support 500+ alumni of the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program). Supporting programs include the Senior Fellow+ monthly giving community ($25+/month), the Leadership Lab eXchange (LLX), and an ELP Job Board that requires salary disclosure on postings.

ELP is operated by a lean team (1–10 full-time staff, including an Executive Director, Director of Programs, Senior Manager for the DDCSP Alumni Network, Outreach & Selection Manager, RAY Partnerships Manager, and Communications & Outreach Manager) and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Revenue is generated through five streams: fellowship tuition ($3,750 individual / $3,500 organizational rate for 2+ participants from the same organization, with scholarships available), a five-tier corporate sponsorship program (Bronze $2,500–$5,000 through Diamond $50,001+/year), a Senior Fellow+ monthly giving program, individual donations (one-time and recurring), and workplace giving via payroll deduction and matching gift programs. Distribution is community-led and direct: Senior Fellows nominate candidates, participate in selection committees, and host meetups, while marketing channels include the elpnet.org website, Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn/Vimeo accounts per program, and an email newsletter.

Since founding, ELP has built a network of over 1,400 environmental and social change leaders across the United States, with more than 1,200 Senior Fellows (approximately 40% identifying as individuals of color). The organization's value proposition centers on a small-cohort, cross-sectoral, intergenerational model that combines leadership skills training, mentoring, personal resilience building, and equity-centered curriculum; its differentiators are the depth of its alumni network, its focus on underrepresented leadership, and 25 years of programmatic continuity.

Name

Environmental Leadership Program

Legal name

Environmental Leadership Program, Inc.

Website

https://elpnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Environmental Leadership Program is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 2000 that runs cohort-based fellowship programs (Regional/National, RAY, DDCSP Alumni Network) and leadership training to develop diverse environmental and social change leaders across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cohort-Based Course Platforms (EDAFAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Environmental leadership development
• Fellowship programs
• Nonprofit professional development
• Conservation career training
• Leadership training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenbelt

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fellowship Tuition: Tuition fees from fellowship participants. Individual rate: $3,750 (early bird: $3,500). Organizational rate: $3,500 per person for 2+ participants from the same organization.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Five-tiered corporate sponsorship program from Bronze ($2,500-$5,000/year) to Diamond ($50,001+/year) with various benefits including visibility, access to fellows, and custom engagement opportunities.
3. Senior Fellow+ Monthly Giving: Monthly giving program ($25+/month) supporting scholarships for incoming fellows and program development.
4. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to build environmental leadership.
5. Workplace Giving: Payroll deduction donations through employer workplace giving programs, including matching gift programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ELP operates cohort-based fellowship programs that deliver intensive leadership training, skills development, mentoring, and networking to emerging and established environmental and social change leaders. Core programs include Regional and National Fellowships (15-20 fellows per cohort), the RAY two-year paid fellowship for recent graduates from underrepresented backgrounds, the DDCSP Alumni Network for 500+ conservation scholars, and the Leadership Lab eXchange (LLX). Programs are delivered through multi-day retreats, ongoing training, and community-building events, with tuition set at $3,750 per individual and $3,500 per person for organizational enrollment of 2+ participants.

Product overview

The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) operates as a fellowship and professional development organization offering a platform-plus-programs architecture. The core offerings include Regional and National Fellowship Programs providing intensive leadership training and networking, the RAY Fellowship for emerging conservation and clean energy leaders, and the DDCSP Alumni Network for conservation scholars. Supporting programs include the Senior Fellow+ monthly giving initiative and an ELP Job Board for the environmental sector. All programs center on developing diverse, equity-centered environmental leadership through retreats, mentoring, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAY Fellowship Program: Dr. Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program - a two-year paid fellowship supporting emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds in conservation and clean energy careers
• DDCSP Alumni Network
• Senior Fellow+ Program

Products and services

• ELP Regional & National Fellowship Programs Intensive cohort-based leadership and skill training fellowship programs for visionary environmental and social change leaders, with regional and national networking opportunities, multi-day retreats, mentoring, and a justice-centered curriculum. Cohorts of 15-20 fellows pay $3,750 per individual or $3,500 per person for organizational enrollment of 2+ participants.
• RAY (Dr. Roger Arliner Young) Fellowship Program Two-year paid fellowship program (RAY Conservation and RAY Clean Energy) that places emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds within host organizations in conservation and clean energy sectors for career entry, with $1,000 professional development stipend, mentoring, and Communities of Practice participation.
• DDCSP Alumni Network Community network supporting the ongoing networking and professional development of 500+ alumni of the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program through online programming, leadership retreats, in-person gatherings, and webinars.
• Leadership Lab eXchange (LLX) Application-based leadership development program offering training opportunities for emerging and established environmental and social change leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 environmental and social change leaders trained since 2000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Doris Duke Charitable Foundation funds the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP), an initiative to prepare the next generation of diverse environmental conservation professionals. ELP has been contracted by the Foundation since 2017 to support DDCSP alumni with community building, professional development programming, and network weaving.
• RAY Fellowship Host OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organizations where RAY Conservation Fellows and RAY Clean Energy Fellows are placed for two-year paid fellowship positions. Fellows receive substantive work experience while host organizations gain emerging talent and access to the RAY/ELP network.
• RAY Member OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organizations in the RAY Fellowship network that provide fellowship positions, professional development opportunities, and participate in Communities of Practice to create inclusive environments for emerging leaders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Corps Network: The Corps Network is a national association of Service and Conservation Corps providing young adults with conservation job opportunities and training. Comparable to ELP in developing next-generation environmental leaders through cohort-based field programs.
• Green For All: Green For All focuses on building an inclusive green economy, training leaders from impacted communities for environmental careers. Overlaps with ELP's equity-centered environmental leadership development and clean energy workforce pathways.
• Green 2.0: Green 2.0 works to increase racial diversity within environmental organizations, tracking leadership demographics and running leadership development programs. Shares ELP's explicit equity-centered environmental leadership focus and serves overlapping stakeholder communities.
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green runs fellowship programs for emerging social impact leaders, including environmental and climate-focused cohorts. It is the most direct comparable to ELP's model of cohort-based leadership development for changemakers, with similar pricing, cohort sizes, and alumni network emphasis.
• Resourceful Generation: Resourceful Generation runs paid fellowship and training programs placing young leaders in clean energy and climate justice organizations. Directly overlaps with ELP's RAY Clean Energy Fellowship program in target audience, model, and outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: Sierra Club is the largest grassroots environmental organization in the U.S., with active leadership development through its Sierra Student Coalition. Comparable as a major environmental institution where ELP alumni often serve, with overlapping staff networks.
• Earthjustice: Earthjustice is a major environmental legal nonprofit employing many ELP alumni and board members (e.g., Lindsey Streeter leads fundraising there). Operates broadly in environmental advocacy where ELP alumni land, sharing the environmental leadership talent pipeline.
• National Wildlife Federation: National Wildlife Federation is a major conservation organization with national leadership development and equity initiatives. Comparable to ELP as a large-scale environmental institution focused on conservation leadership and workforce diversification.
• The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund is a major environmental nonprofit working on conservation land and sustainable economic development. Shares ELP's environmental mission space and employs/fosters leaders in overlapping conservation career pathways.

Emerging players

• Rewiring America: Rewiring America focuses on electrifying households and works on clean energy workforce and equity issues, with several ELP alumni in leadership. Comparable emerging player in clean energy leadership development intersecting ELP's RAY Clean Energy Fellowship space.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/elpnet
• Facebookfacebook.com/elpnet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environmental-leadership-program
• Instagraminstagram.com/elpnet

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 Environmental Leadership Program