The Watershed Project
The Watershed Project is a 30-year-old Bay Area nonprofit that delivers K-12 environmental education, green workforce development, nature-based stormwater infrastructure, community-science water quality monitoring, and climate adaptation services to communities, school districts, and municipalities across Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco Counties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Watershed Project does
The Watershed Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at 1327 South 46th Street, Building 155, Richmond, CA. It operates five interconnected programs — K-12 Environmental Education and Workforce Development (which houses the Green Collar Corps paid youth internship), Greening Urban Watersheds, Healthy Watersheds and Community Science, Climate Ready Communities, and Public Education/Storytelling and Art — focused on inspiring San Francisco Bay Area communities to understand, appreciate, and protect local watersheds. Its work spans nature-based green infrastructure implementation (bioswales, rain gardens, creek restoration, living shorelines, urban forestry), place-based K-12 curriculum delivery aligned with California standards, community-science water quality monitoring across 57 sites with six partner organizations, paid green-career workforce development for transitional-age youth, and community-led climate adaptation planning through five Community Advisory Groups.
Technically, the organization combines field-based environmental restoration and monitoring with a modest digital footprint: an interactive Water Quality App, an interactive Tree Map, a guided Urban Nature Loop mobile tour, bilingual children's storybooks ("Kiyana & the Wildcat Creek" in English/Spanish, "The Story of Rheem Creek," "Native Plants of Wildcat & San Pablo Creek Watersheds"), and standards-aligned K-12 curriculum assets. Its "slow it, sink it, spread it" stormwater methodology and Community Advisory Group participatory model are the operating technical frameworks. Workforce totals approximately 17 core staff plus 30+ community members and 10 youth interns each year; cumulative reach since 1997 is 30,000 students, 7,000 educators trained, and 50,000 volunteers engaged, with 953 K-12 students served in the 2024-2025 school year.
The Watershed Project does not sell products or services. Revenue is generated exclusively through tax-deductible donations (one-time gifts and a $19/month Sustainers Circle "Rainmaker" subscription), grants from foundations (Clif Family, Gerbode, Hellman, Kimball, Rose, Resources Legacy), and contracts with state, regional, and municipal agencies (California Coastal Commission, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Natural Resources Agency, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Contra Costa County and its Flood Control District, Cities of Richmond and San Pablo). Customer segments are effectively funder segments and program beneficiaries: K-12 students and educators (especially Title I schools in West Contra Costa, Oakland, San Francisco), youth aged 17-24 entering green careers, Bay Area residents engaged as volunteers, and local governments purchasing nature-based climate adaptation services.
The Watershed Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Watershed Project
- Legal name
- The Watershed Project
- Website
- https://thewatershedproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Watershed Project is a 30-year-old Bay Area nonprofit that delivers K-12 environmental education, green workforce development, nature-based stormwater infrastructure, community-science water quality monitoring, and climate adaptation services to communities, school districts, and municipalities across Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco Counties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Watershed Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions) (EUANAEAJ), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)
Keywords
Where The Watershed Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Watershed Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, including one-time gifts and monthly recurring contributions through the Sustainers Circle (Rainmakers) program. Suggested amounts of $50, $100, $250, $500 or custom amounts.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from foundations (Clif Family Foundation, Gerbode Foundation, Hellman Foundation, Kimball Foundation, Rose Foundation, etc.) and government agencies (California Coastal Commission, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Natural Resources Agency, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Contra Costa County, Cities of Richmond and San Pablo).
- Monthly Sustainer Program: Recurring monthly donations through Sustainers Circle offering 'Rainmaker' membership with $19/month suggested contribution providing steady funding for operations and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-Time Donation - Suggested amounts for single contributions |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustainers Circle Monthly Giving - Recurring Rainmaker membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Watershed Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Watershed Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides environmental education, watershed restoration, and green workforce development programs across the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core services include K-12 environmental education delivered in schools, green infrastructure design and implementation (bioswales, rain gardens, creek restoration), community-based water quality monitoring, climate adaptation planning, and the Green Collar Corps paid youth employment program. Programs are delivered free to participants through grants and donations, with services contracted by municipalities, school districts, and foundations.
Product overview
The Watershed Project is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected environmental programs focused on watershed education and restoration in the San Francisco Bay Area. The core offerings consist of five main program areas: K-12 Environmental Education and Workforce Development (featuring the Green Collar Corps youth employment program), Greening Urban Watersheds, Healthy Watersheds and Community Science, Climate Ready Communities, and Public Education/Storytelling and Art. Additionally, the organization provides digital tools including a Water Quality App for monitoring data, an interactive Tree Map, and the Urban Nature Loop mobile app. Educational resources include children's storybooks such as 'Kiyana & The Wildcat Creek' (available in English and Spanish), 'The Story of Rheem Creek', and native plant guides. These offerings work together to fulfill the organization's mission of inspiring Bay Area communities to understand, appreciate, and protect local watersheds through education, hands-on restoration, and community engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Green Collar Corps: A 9-month paid green workforce development internship program for transitional-age youth (17-24 years old) in Richmond, San Pablo, and Oakland, providing job training and employment opportunities in environmental careers.
Products and services
- K-12 Environmental Education and Workforce Development Educational program providing K-12 environmental education in schools, educator training, field trips, and workforce development for young adults in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Greening Urban Watersheds Program that restores nature's role in the city by transforming paved, polluted, or neglected spaces into thriving green infrastructure including bioswales, rain gardens, creek restoration, and urban forestry projects.
- Healthy Watersheds and Community Science Program connecting people to local creeks and shorelines through trash cleanups, hands-on monitoring, and public science events, with data collection on water quality, trash, and pollutants.
- Climate Ready Communities Program helping San Francisco Bay Area neighborhoods adapt to climate change impacts through community engagement, climate adaptation planning, and nature-based solutions for flood resilience and sea-level rise.
- Public Education, Storytelling and Art Program bringing environmental issues to life through creative communication, community voices, interpretive signage, murals, children's storybooks, and educational multimedia content.
- Green Collar Corps Paid 9-month green workforce development internship program for transitional-age youth (17-24 years old) in Richmond, San Pablo, and Oakland, providing job training and employment opportunities in environmental careers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 7,000 educators trained in place-based environmental education since 1997
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use The Watershed Project
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Watershed Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Watershed Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- California State Coastal ConservancycoreState agency providing funding and strategic support for coastal and bay watershed restoration projects including shoreline adaptation and green infrastructure initiatives.
- San Francisco Public Utilities CommissioncoreRegional agency providing funding and technical support for watershed restoration and water quality programs in the Bay Area.
- Contra Costa County Flood Control DistrictcoreCounty agency partnering on flood risk reduction projects, stormwater management, and watershed planning in Contra Costa County.
- San Francisco Estuary PartnershipcoreRegional partnership for estuary protection and Integrated Regional Water Management Plan implementation.
- City of RichmondcorePrimary municipal partner for urban greening, creek restoration, and community climate adaptation programs. Includes Environmental & Community Investment Agreement Grant Program.
- City of San PablocoreMunicipal partner for environmental education and watershed restoration through San Pablo Community Fund Grant Program.
- Urban TilthcoreRichmond-based nonprofit partner for community greening, creek cleanups, and neighborhood beautification initiatives.
- Groundwork RichmondcoreNonprofit partner for community-led environmental restoration and green infrastructure projects in Richmond.
- San Francisco Estuary InstitutecoreTechnical partner providing scientific expertise and research support for watershed restoration and water quality monitoring.
- East Bay Regional Park DistrictcoreRegional parks agency partner for habitat restoration, environmental education, and public access to natural areas.
- East Bay Municipal Utilities DistrictcoreUtility district partner for water-related projects and environmental programs in the East Bay.
- Contra Costa Watershed ForumcoreRegional watershed organization providing coordination, awards, and recognition for watershed projects.
- Friends of San Ramon CreekminorWatershed group partner for water quality monitoring and creek restoration activities.
- Friends of Concord CreeksminorWatershed group partner for water quality monitoring support in Concord creeks.
- Trust for Public LandcoreNational nonprofit partner for public land conservation and urban greening projects.
- American RiversminorNational nonprofit partner for river restoration and watershed protection advocacy.
- Earth TeamminorEast Bay environmental education nonprofit partner engaging high school students in conservation.
- UC BerkeleyminorAcademic partner for research, student involvement, and educational programs.
- MithunminorArchitecture and design firm providing landscape architecture and environmental design expertise for projects.
- FlowWestminorEnvironmental consulting firm providing technical expertise for watershed projects.
- West Contra Costa Unified School DistrictcoreSchool district partner for K-12 environmental education and green schoolyard programs.
- San Francisco Unified School DistrictcoreSchool district partner for Youth Watershed Stewards program and green schoolyard installations.
- Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreSchool district partner for environmental education programs.
- Pogo ParkminorRichmond-based nonprofit partner for park improvement and community recreation projects.
- Building Blocks for Kids CollaborativeminorCollaborative partner focused on children's wellness and environmental justice in Richmond.
- YES Nature to NeighborhoodsminorNonprofit partner providing nature-based programs for youth and families in Richmond.
- Urban TilthcoreRichmond-based nonprofit partner for community greening, urban agriculture, and environmental education. Co-leads Coastal Cleanup Day at Wildcat Creek.
Scale indicators22 records
Recent moves7 records
The Watershed Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Groundwork Richmond: Local chapter of the Groundwork USA urban environmental network serving Richmond, focused on community-led green infrastructure and restoration. Direct programmatic overlap with The Watershed Project's Greening Urban Watersheds program in the same service area.
- Urban Tilth: Richmond, CA-based nonprofit focused on urban agriculture, community greening, and environmental justice, and a listed partner of The Watershed Project. Operates in the same West Contra Costa geography with overlapping mission around urban environmental restoration and youth engagement.
- Earth Team: East Bay nonprofit engaging high school students in environmental stewardship and restoration, and a listed partner of The Watershed Project. Highly comparable model of K-12 environmental education combined with hands-on habitat restoration.
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership: Regional partnership administering the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the San Francisco Estuary, with which The Watershed Project has a strategic partnership and whose Board Chair sits on TWP's board. Comparable watershed-scale mission in the same geography.
Broad incumbents
- River Network: National nonprofit supporting a network of state and local watershed groups with capacity-building, advocacy, and training. Comparable watershed advocacy mission but at a national umbrella scale rather than direct local implementation.
- American Rivers: National nonprofit dedicated to river and watershed protection, and a listed partner of The Watershed Project. Comparable focus on river restoration and watershed advocacy, but operates at national scale rather than regional.
- TreePeople: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on urban forestry, watershed health, and environmental education, with comparable mission of using nature-based solutions to address urban water and climate challenges. Larger scale but operates in a different California geography.
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting public land, including urban greening initiatives, and a listed partner of The Watershed Project. Operates at much larger scale across geographies but with overlapping urban green-infrastructure capability.
Emerging players
- Grassroots Ecology: South Bay/Bay Area nonprofit focused on habitat restoration and environmental education with comparable volunteer-led restoration and education programs. A direct competitor for volunteer labor and foundation funding in the broader Bay Area.
Regional players
- Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to protecting oceans and beaches, with active Bay Area chapters doing coastal water-quality monitoring and cleanups. Comparable community-science and coastal cleanup programs, but with a coastal rather than freshwater-creek focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Watershed Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Watershed Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Watershed Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
The Watershed Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Watershed 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 Watershed Project
What does The Watershed Project do?
The Watershed Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides environmental education, watershed restoration, and green workforce development programs across the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core services include K-12 environmental education delivered in schools, green infrastructure design and implementation (bioswales, rain gardens, creek restoration), community-based water quality monitoring, climate adaptation planning, and the Green Collar Corps paid youth employment program. Programs are delivered free to participants through grants and donations, with services contracted by municipalities, school districts, and foundations.
Is The Watershed Project a public or private company?
The Watershed Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Watershed Project founded?
The Watershed Project was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Watershed Project based?
The Watershed Project is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Watershed Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Government Grants and monthly Sustainer Program.
Who are The Watershed Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Groundwork Richmond, Urban Tilth, Earth Team and San Francisco Estuary Partnership. Broad incumbents are River Network, American Rivers, TreePeople and Trust for Public Land. Grassroots Ecology is listed as an emerging player. Surfrider Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does The Watershed Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Watershed Project.
What industry is The Watershed Project in?
The Watershed Project's product category is Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAK, Water Resources & Watershed Protection, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach. Its NAICS code is 813312.