Climate Action Pathways For Schools
Climate Action Pathways for Schools is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with K-12 school districts to deliver paid student internships, registered apprenticeships, and student-led climate action projects across transportation, buildings decarbonization, water, waste, and food systems. Founded in 2019 in Oakland, it operates in seven California districts with grant and corporate partnership funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Climate Action Pathways For Schools does
Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 and headquartered in Oakland that partners with K-12 school districts to deliver paid student internships, registered apprenticeships, and student-led climate action projects. Its core program stack includes the Paid Internship Program (200-400 hours per student), the CAPS Apprenticeship Program (launched 2024-2026 for Sustainability Specialist and Energy Auditor roles), Student-Led Climate Action Projects across five focus areas (transportation, buildings decarbonization, water conservation, zero waste, sustainable food), an Industry Partnership Program, Green Career Training, and School District Climate Action Planning consulting. The methodology relies on ASHRAE Level 1 energy audits executed by high school students to generate the baseline data that supports multi-million-dollar infrastructure grants. CAPS does not operate a software platform; the "technology" is its project-based learning curriculum, standardized audit protocols, and partnership orchestration across districts, utilities (Southern California Edison), clean transport firms (CALSTART, The Mobility House), and corporate sponsors (3M, Accenture, EMCOR Services Mesa Energy).
The organization serves two primary segments: under-resourced California K-12 school districts pursuing climate action plans and workforce pathways, and high school students from those districts seeking paid green-economy career exposure. Revenue is grant- and donation-based rather than transactional — including a $500,000 California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grant, pass-through facilitation of a $5.8M DOE Renew America's Schools grant and a $13.9M California clean transportation grant (both awarded to partner district PUSD), corporate partnership contributions, and individual donations (currently a $20,000 campaign with six-donor dollar-for-dollar matching). Growth has occurred through direct district partnership outreach, industry partner referrals, alumni-driven word-of-mouth, and earned media (SF Climate Week, CalMatters, edSource, Grist.org). CAPS currently operates across seven California school districts and has no public app, API, or software product.
Climate Action Pathways For Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Climate Action Pathways For Schools
- Legal name
- Climate Action Pathways for Schools
- Website
- https://climateactionpathways.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Climate Action Pathways for Schools is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with K-12 school districts to deliver paid student internships, registered apprenticeships, and student-led climate action projects across transportation, buildings decarbonization, water, waste, and food systems. Founded in 2019 in Oakland, it operates in seven California districts with grant and corporate partnership funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Climate Action Pathways For Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Climate Education and Green Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Mitigation Programs (Energy, Industry, Transport) (BPADALAC)
Keywords
Where Climate Action Pathways For Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Climate Action Pathways For Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grants: CAPS receives funding from government grants (DOE, California state agencies), foundation grants, and public-sector funding. Major grants include $500,000 COYA grant, $5.8M DOE Renew America's Schools grant (passed through to PUSD), and helped PUSD secure $13.9M clean transportation grant.
- Corporate Partnerships: Industry partners provide funding support, mentorship, hands-on training opportunities, and help inform CAPS training modules. Partners include 3M, Accenture, The Mobility House, and others.
- Individual Donations: CAPS accepts donations from individuals through its website, with a current $20,000 fundraising campaign featuring dollar-for-dollar matching from six donors.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Climate Action Pathways For Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAPS partners with K-12 school districts to deliver paid, project-based internships and registered apprenticeships for high school students who conduct climate action projects across five focus areas (transportation, buildings decarbonization, water conservation, zero waste, sustainable food systems). The organization provides consulting services to help districts develop climate action plans, conduct ASHRAE Level 1 energy audits, and secure grant funding for infrastructure improvements. Services are delivered free to districts and students, funded through grants, corporate partnerships, and donations.
Product overview
Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS) operates as a unified nonprofit education program rather than a technology platform. The organization delivers its mission through integrated service offerings: the core Paid Internship Program provides project-based learning where students earn paid positions working on real climate action projects; the Apprenticeship Program expands this model with formal registered apprenticeships for Sustainability Specialists and Energy Auditors; Student-Led Climate Action Projects engage students in five focus areas (Transportation, Buildings Decarbonization, Water Conservation, Zero Waste, and Sustainable Food Systems); the Industry Partnership Program connects students with industry mentors and training opportunities; Green Career Training provides career development and connections to green sector professionals; and School District Climate Action Planning offers consulting to help districts develop and implement climate strategies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CAPS Paid Internship Program A project-based learning program providing high school students with paid internships in green career training, enabling them to develop and execute climate action projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their school districts.
- CAPS Apprenticeship Program A registered youth apprenticeship program for students aged 16-24 providing structured industry training and certifications to help transition from high school to careers in the green economy, including roles as Sustainability Specialists and Energy Auditors.
- Student-Led Climate Action Projects Student-led sustainability projects implemented in five key areas: Transportation, Buildings Decarbonization, Water Conservation, Zero Waste, and Sustainable Food Systems, designed in collaboration with school districts to achieve measurable environmental outcomes.
- Industry Partnership Program A program connecting industry partners with CAPS to provide mentorship, hands-on training opportunities, funding support, and career-connected learning experiences for student interns in sustainability fields.
- Green Career Training & Development Career development services including career panels, career fairs, and connections to professionals in green sector careers, helping students explore career pathways in the rapidly growing green economy.
- School District Climate Action Planning Consulting services for school districts to develop climate action plans that reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions while advancing climate literacy and student learning outcomes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% emission reduction target by 2030 for partner districts (vs. state target of 40%)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Climate Action Pathways For Schools
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Climate Action Pathways For Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Climate Action Pathways For Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Environmental Charter SchoolscoreFirst-of-its-kind partnership connecting high school students to paid, project-based work experiences focused on decarbonization, energy efficiency, and school facilities. Initial cohort of 10 students with plans to expand to 60 students across both high schools through Environmental Leadership Pathway.
- Twin Rivers Unified School DistrictcoreInternship program supporting transition to electric school buses, calculating greenhouse gas reductions, and engaging community in climate action. District is national trailblazer in zero-emission transportation.
- Lindsay Unified School DistrictsecondaryInternship program launched with nine students conducting walk audits at five campuses. Supported by SoCalGas Climate Champions initiative with four-week summer intensive.
- Petaluma City SchoolscoreSecond-year partnership with 15 student interns analyzing energy usage, designing plastic reduction pilots, and leading waste-sorting campaigns across 12 school sites serving ~7,000 students.
- EMCOR Services Mesa EnergycoreProvides HVAC and automation solutions. Opened facilities to CAPS interns for tours, provided mentorship, and implemented building upgrades at PUSD schools including West Putnam Elementary.
- Porterville Unified School DistrictcorePilot district since 2019, creating 10-year climate action roadmap. Students conduct energy audits and implement building decarbonization projects across 21 school sites. District aims to reduce emissions by 80% by 2030.
- Morgan Hill Unified School DistrictcoreThree-year partnership to recruit, hire, and train MHUSD high school students to lead sustainability projects encompassing environmental justice and city planning work.
- Modesto City SchoolscorePartnership with 13+ student interns monitoring energy usage, creating sustainability strategies. Focus areas include clean transportation, building decarbonization, food systems, water conservation across 34 schools.
- 3MsecondaryIndustry partner providing mentorship, training, and funding support. Featured CAPS in 3M's 'Green Works' docuseries showcasing green jobs education.
- AccenturesecondaryIndustry partner supporting CAPS programs and student development initiatives.
- The Mobility HousesecondaryConverting school bus fleets to zero-emission operations while providing students inside look at large-scale EV charging infrastructure.
- CALSTARTsecondaryClean transportation industry partner working with PUSD on 'Striving to Be 1st to 0' project for zero-emission fleet transformation.
- The Energy CoalitionsecondaryPartner in PUSD clean energy initiatives supporting emission reduction goals.
- Southern California EdisonsecondaryUtility partner in PUSD clean energy and zero-emission transportation initiatives.
- CenergisticsecondaryEnergy efficiency firm that helped MCS achieve $1M+ savings through energy monitoring software and optimization programs.
- UC MercedsecondaryAcademic partner in air quality monitoring project with Modesto City Schools and San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District.
- San Joaquin Valley Air Quality DistrictsecondaryAir quality monitoring partnership providing students training in environmental data collection and technician skills.
- RecologysecondaryWaste management company collaborating on plastic reduction pilots and waste-sorting campaigns in Petaluma schools.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves1 record
Climate Action Pathways For Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NY Sun Works: NYC-based nonprofit operating school greenhouse-based STEM and sustainability programs that integrate hands-on environmental learning with career exposure. Comparable to CAPS in delivering project-based climate education inside K-12 schools with industry-aligned career pathways.
- Grades of Green: California-based nonprofit that partners with K-12 schools to run student-led environmental action programs across waste, water, energy, and air quality. Operates in the same state and vertical as CAPS with similar student-led project frameworks and district partnership model.
- EarthEcho International: Youth-focused environmental education nonprofit founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr., engaging students in environmental action projects and STEM. Comparable youth-driven environmental education mission and program design, though national rather than California-concentrated.
- Ten Strands: California nonprofit that builds infrastructure for environmental literacy in K-12 schools statewide, including supporting districts in integrating climate into curricula and operations. Closely aligned with CAPS in California-only focus, K-12 audience, and partnership with district leadership.
- ACE (Alliance for Climate Education): National nonprofit focused on climate education and youth climate leadership, with strong California presence. Comparable to CAPS in mission (youth climate engagement) though ACE leans more on media/curriculum while CAPS emphasizes paid internships and infrastructure projects.
- Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI): California-based nonprofit that builds sustainability workforce pathways and hosts the SEI Climate Corps Fellowship program, which CAPS itself draws from (Seb Morales is a 2026 SEI Climate Corps Fellow). Both organizations combine climate education, youth workforce development, and public-sector program delivery in the Bay Area.
- Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education: National nonprofit providing K-12 sustainability curriculum, professional development, and school district consulting. Comparable to CAPS' educational programming and district-engagement model, with similar focus on Education for Sustainability frameworks.
- Green Schools National Network: National nonprofit supporting K-12 schools in adopting sustainability practices across operations, curriculum, and culture. Closely comparable mission and audience (school district sustainability leaders) as CAPS, though GSNN operates at the network/policy level rather than direct student internships.
Broad incumbents
- Project Learning Tree: Long-standing national environmental education program for K-12, part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Comparable in delivering project-based environmental learning to school districts and students, but broader in topic scope and without CAPS' infrastructure-and-workforce layer.
- Eco-Schools USA (National Wildlife Federation): National K-12 sustainability program operated within the National Wildlife Federation, offering a recognized framework for schools to measure and improve sustainability. Comparable student-led project structure to CAPS, but operates as a credentialing/framework program rather than paid internship and infrastructure model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Climate Action Pathways For Schools social profiles
Digital presenceClimate Action Pathways For Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Climate Action Pathways For Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Climate Action Pathways For Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Climate Action Pathways For Schools 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 Climate Action Pathways For Schools
What does Climate Action Pathways For Schools do?
CAPS partners with K-12 school districts to deliver paid, project-based internships and registered apprenticeships for high school students who conduct climate action projects across five focus areas (transportation, buildings decarbonization, water conservation, zero waste, sustainable food systems). The organization provides consulting services to help districts develop climate action plans, conduct ASHRAE Level 1 energy audits, and secure grant funding for infrastructure improvements. Services are delivered free to districts and students, funded through grants, corporate partnerships, and donations.
Is Climate Action Pathways For Schools a public or private company?
Climate Action Pathways For Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Climate Action Pathways For Schools founded?
Climate Action Pathways For Schools was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Climate Action Pathways For Schools based?
Climate Action Pathways For Schools is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Climate Action Pathways For Schools make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and individual Donations.
Who are Climate Action Pathways For Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NY Sun Works, Grades of Green, EarthEcho International, Ten Strands, ACE (Alliance for Climate Education), Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI), Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education and Green Schools National Network. Broad incumbents are Project Learning Tree and Eco-Schools USA (National Wildlife Federation).
Does Climate Action Pathways For Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Climate Action Pathways For Schools.
What industry is Climate Action Pathways For Schools in?
Climate Action Pathways For Schools's product category is K-12 Climate Education and Green Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach, with a secondary code of BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.