Alternatives for Community & Environment

What Alternatives for Community & Environment does

Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental justice organization founded in 1994 in Massachusetts and recognized as the first environmental justice nonprofit in the state. It serves frontline communities—primarily low-income communities and communities of color in Massachusetts and Rhode Island—that bear disproportionate environmental and infrastructure burdens. ACE's work spans legal services, policy advocacy, community organizing, and education, with named programs including the Environmental Justice Legal Services (EJLS), the Environmental Justice Action Network (EJAN) of more than 600 experts, the Toxic Tours educational series, REEP, the T Riders Union, and Development Without Displacement.

ACE's operational platform combines direct legal representation with coalition-based policy campaigns and grassroots organizing, anchored by three offices: Roxbury (headquarters), Back Bay in Boston, and Providence, Rhode Island, the latter added in 2024 to extend service delivery beyond Massachusetts. In 2024, ACE was selected to oversee the allocation of $50 million in EPA Justice40 funding, a significant scaling of its role as a fiscal and programmatic intermediary for federal environmental justice dollars, and it convened a JUST TECH gathering focused on the environmental impacts of AI and data centers.

The organization's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix of foundation and government grants, donations, program fees, and speaking engagements. With an estimated 10–20 employees and leadership under Executive Director Dwaign Tyndal, ACE operates as a lean intermediary whose value proposition to funders and communities is its combination of legal capacity, policy expertise, and on-the-ground organizing in New England.

Name

Alternatives for Community & Environment

Legal name

Alternatives for Community and Environment, Inc.

Website

https://ace-ej.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) environmental justice nonprofit, founded in 1994, that delivers legal services, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing to frontline communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Justice Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Compliance & Permitting (BPAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Environmental justice advocacy
• Community organizing services
• Transit equity advocacy
• Youth leadership development
• Pro bono legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Roxbury

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: ACE receives government grants including EPA Justice40 funding ($50 million oversight role along with Health Resources in Action and New England Grassroots Environmental Fund), state environmental justice funding, and legislative budget allocations. They also advocate for environmental justice budget amendments.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations through their PowerBase platform, major donor contributions, and fundraising events including the Bhoomi: Mother Earth dance show benefit. Sliding scale donations accepted for toxic tours.
3. Program Service Fees: Toxic Tours generate revenue through sliding scale honorariums ($100-$500/hour). Services are free or reduced for EJ community residents.
4. Speaking Engagements and Workshops: ACE provides workshops, webinars, and speaking engagements on environmental justice topics for fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) is a Roxbury-based nonprofit that delivers environmental justice advocacy through community organizing, free legal services, youth leadership programs, and policy campaigns. Its core offerings include Environmental Justice Legal Services (EJLS), the Environmental Justice Assistance Network (EJAN) pro bono referral network, Toxic Tours, the Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) youth program, and the T Riders Union transit advocacy initiative.

Product overview

Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) operates as a nonprofit environmental justice organization offering a suite of interconnected programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Environmental Justice Legal Services (EJLS) which provides legal framework and representation; the Environmental Justice Assistance Network (EJAN) a pro bono referral network matching experts with communities; Toxic Tours educational walking tours; the youth-focused Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP); and the T Riders Union transit advocacy program. These programs work together to advance environmental justice through legal advocacy, community organizing, youth empowerment, and public education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Justice Legal Services (EJLS) ACE's core legal program providing legal and technical assistance to community groups and allies, anchoring organizational and coalition work with a robust legal framework grounded in federal and state civil rights and environmental law.
• Environmental Justice Assistance Network (EJAN) A pro bono capacity-building and referral network that matches legal, scientific, public health, and technical experts with communities addressing environmental justice challenges across New England; 600+ expert network members.
• Toxic Tours Walking tours of Nubian Square and the Dudley neighborhood that educate participants about environmental justice history and the development-without-displacement campaign; approximately two hours in length, with sliding-scale honorarium of $100-$500/hour.
• Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) A youth-led, adult-supported environmental justice community organizing program that develops leadership and builds youth power through campaigns and projects for youth of color from Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.
• T Riders Union An organization of transit riders fighting for first-class MBTA service in Greater Boston, serving as a voice for equitable public transportation in lower-income communities and communities of color.
• Development Without Displacement A campaign working with architects, lawyers, developers, and housing and climate activists to build sustainable solutions including energy-efficient housing, fair public transit, and community input in Boston development.
• Restore Our Civil Rights Community Dinner A monthly potluck dinner for Roxbury residents addressing public policy neglect through discussions on air pollution, development, and service needs while building community support.
• Massachusetts Environmental Justice Advocacy Network (MEJAN) A program providing legal and technical assistance to neighborhood groups in low-income communities and communities of color facing environmental, development, or public health problems; currently being restructured.
• Public Education & Speaking Engagements Workshops, webinars, and speaking engagements covering environmental justice, protected classes, housing segregation, climate change, public transit, and development without displacement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mayor Marty Walsh signed Diesel Emissions Reduction Ordinance (DERO) after 5-year ACE campaign
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and major.

• One Square WorldnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Co-organized JUST TECH convening on environmental justice challenges in energy, technology, and finance. Partnership to address AI and data center impacts on frontline communities.
• Yale Law School Environmental Justice and Advocacy CliniccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2026Pro bono co-counsel on appeal of DEP air permit for Markley data center expansion in Lowell. Matched with Honest Future for Lowell through EJAN.
• Union of Concerned ScientistscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in EJAN training sessions and collaborative research on environmental justice and public health. Hosted joint training on community-research partnerships.
• Boston University School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Collaborative partner in EJAN relaunch in May 2024. BU School of Public Health provides public health expertise and research support for environmental justice initiatives.
• Conservation Law FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Collaborative partner in EJAN relaunch in May 2024. CLF provides legal expertise and advocacy support for environmental justice cases across New England.
• SlingshotcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Collaborative partner in EJAN relaunch. Slingshot provides organizing support and capacity building for community groups working on environmental justice issues.
• Health Resources in ActionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ACE was selected along with Health Resources in Action and New England Grassroots Environmental Fund to oversee $50 million in EPA Justice40 funding for regional environmental justice work.
• New England Grassroots Environmental FundmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ACE was selected along with Health Resources in Action and New England Grassroots Environmental Fund to oversee $50 million in EPA Justice40 funding for regional environmental justice work.
• Green Justice CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide environmental justice nonprofit coalition working on electricity alternatives in Boston, energy efficiency for renters, and climate justice initiatives.
• Massachusetts Environmental Justice AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition organized for 5 years to pass Executive Order on Environmental Justice, signed by Governor Patrick in 2014. ACE anchors this statewide coalition.
• Transit Is Essential CoalitionnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on safe streets advocacy and transportation funding priorities with Boston City Council.
• Boston Tenant CoalitionnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community workshop on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and its connection to environmental justice.
• Franklin Park DefendersnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group ACE and EJAN support in challenging White Stadium development through environmental justice perspective and Article 97 protections.
• Emerald Necklace ConservancynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE collaborated with community-based organizations to file amicus brief in support of Emerald Necklace Conservancy's challenge to White Stadium project.
• Massachusetts Land Trust CoalitionnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation groups including this coalition filed legal statements challenging White Stadium project, arguing it could erode park protections statewide.
• Synapse Energy EconomicscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCambridge-based environmental consultant that prepared ACE's report on power sector impacts on environmental justice communities.
• Healthy Neighborhoods StudynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative partnered with EJAN for training on community-research partnerships for environmental justice and public health research.
• iSupernotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative partnered with EJAN for training on community-research partnerships for environmental justice and public health research.
• Clean Water ActionnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Diesel Emissions Reduction Ordinance (DERO) campaign with ACE and City of Boston.
• Massachusetts Environmental Justice TablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of EJ organizations including ACE that crafts environmental justice legislation and coordinates advocacy at State House.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GreenRoots: Chelsea, Massachusetts-based environmental justice nonprofit that organizes residents of color and low-income communities around air quality, open space, and development issues. Operates an essentially identical community-based EJ organizing model in a neighboring Boston-area city.
• The Greenlining Institute: California-based racial and economic equity organization that combines research, advocacy, and coalition-building on environmental, economic, and infrastructure issues. Comparable EJ/economic justice organizing methodology and policy-campaign muscle, applied at the state level.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science-based environmental advocacy organization that pairs technical and scientific expertise with policy advocacy and coalition campaigns. Directly comparable advocacy methodology; ACE partnered with UCS on EJAN training and community-research partnerships.
• Slingshot: Nonprofit that supports organizing capacity building for social and environmental justice groups, including training, convening, and leadership development. Directly comparable organizing methodology and EJAN collaboration partner.
• Health Resources in Action: Boston-based public health nonprofit that combines health equity, environmental health, and capacity-building programs. Directly comparable public-health-and-EJ mission and Boston footprint; co-administers the $50M Justice40 grant with ACE.
• WE ACT for Environmental Justice: Northern Manhattan-based environmental justice organization that combines community organizing, policy advocacy, and youth leadership. Highly comparable model: frontline-community EJ organizing plus youth programs and policy campaigns, scaled nationally as a reference point for orgs like ACE.
• Conservation Law Foundation: New England-based environmental advocacy organization that uses legal advocacy, policy campaigns, and coalition organizing to drive EJ outcomes. Directly comparable in geography, legal-services approach, and coalition model; collaborates with ACE on EJAN.
• New England Grassroots Environmental Fund: Regional funder and capacity builder that supports grassroots environmental justice work across New England. Peer in scope, regional footprint, and EJ grantmaking; co-administers the $50M EPA Justice40 funding with ACE.

Broad incumbents

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization with a broad litigation, policy, and EJ portfolio. Operates in the same EJ advocacy space as ACE but at national scale and with paid litigator teams rather than a community-organizing base.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): National environmental advocacy organization with significant EJ programming, lobbying capacity, and multi-state litigation. Comparable advocacy focus and federal-level policy influence, but operates at vastly greater scale and broader issue scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aceej
• Facebookfacebook.com/ace.ej
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alternatives-for-community-and-environment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alternatives for Community & Environment