Citizens' Environmental Coalition

What Citizens' Environmental Coalition does

Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 in Houston, Texas, that functions as a coalition, information clearinghouse, and convening body for the Greater Houston region's environmental community. The organization connects over 100 member organizations—including conservation nonprofits, environmental justice groups, government bodies such as the City of Houston Department of Solid Waste Management and Houston METRO, and education organizations—across a 13-county service area spanning Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties. CEC operates with a small staff of 1-10, led by Volunteer Executive Director Charlotte Cisneros, and is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors.

CEC's core products and programs are organized around four pillars: (1) signature annual programs including the Greater Houston Environmental Summit (13th annual in 2026), Earth Day Houston at Discovery Green, the Houston Green Films Festival featuring the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour, and the City Nature Challenge bioblitz; (2) communication and information tools including the weekly Houston Environmental News newsletter reaching 5,000+ subscribers, a comprehensive Environmental Calendar accessible via Google Calendar, a searchable Member Directory, a Green Jobs Board, and an Environmental Resource Guide; (3) community-building programs including a bi-monthly Environmental Book Club, recurring Happy Hours for the Environment, and Working Groups (Resource & Data Hub, Built for Resilience); and (4) educator-focused resources through the HERE in Houston (Houston Environmental Resources for Educators) digital platform. The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary, built on WordPress with standard third-party integrations (Constant Contact for newsletters, Give Lively for donations, iNaturalist for citizen science, Kroger Community Rewards).

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue structure comprising four streams: Organizational Membership Dues ($200/year per nonprofit member), Individual Membership and Donations (starting at $50, with monthly giving encouraged), Corporate Sponsorships ($100-$12,000+ tiered giving across newsletter, website, HERE in Houston, and event sponsorships), and Event Sponsorship for specific programs. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on membership-based distribution within the Houston environmental ecosystem and broad multi-channel marketing through newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), and signature events. CEC is not an investable company in the conventional PE/VC sense; it is a long-tenured community infrastructure nonprofit whose value lies in network orchestration rather than revenue capture.

Name

Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Legal name

Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Website

https://cechouston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Citizens' Environmental Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that connects over 100 environmental organizations across the 13-county Greater Houston region through signature events, a weekly newsletter reaching 5,000+ subscribers, and community-building programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Nonprofit Coalition Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH), Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Nonprofit coalition
• Community organizing
• Environmental education
• Sustainability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Organizational Membership Dues: Nonprofit organizations pay annual dues ($200/year) for membership benefits including event listings, newsletter inclusion, member spotlight features, social media exposure, website listing, green jobs posting, committee participation, and discounted summit tickets.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors support CEC programs with various giving levels ranging from $100 to $12,000+. Sponsors receive logo placement on CEC webpage, event recognition, newsletter placement, and social media acknowledgment throughout the year.
3. Individual Donations: Individual members make tax-deductible donations with memberships starting at $50 for annual sustaining membership. Monthly giving is promoted as the most impactful way to support CEC operations.
4. Event Sponsorship: Sponsorships for specific events and programs including Earth Day Houston, Houston Environmental News Update newsletter, CEC Website, and Environmental Educator Resource Website with tiered giving levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Citizens' Environmental Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental coalition that serves as the central convening and information-clearinghouse body for over 100 environmental organizations across the 13-county Greater Houston/Gulf Coast region. It delivers its mission through signature programs (Greater Houston Environmental Summit, Earth Day Houston, Houston Green Films Festival, City Nature Challenge), a weekly newsletter (Houston Environmental News), an Environmental Calendar, an educator resource platform (HERE in Houston), working groups, and community gatherings (Book Club, Happy Hours).

Product overview

Citizens' Environmental Coalition operates as a community platform connecting Houston's environmental community through a diverse range of programs, resources, and events. The organization functions as an information clearinghouse and convening body rather than a traditional product company, offering signature programs (Greater Houston Environmental Summit, Earth Day Houston, Houston Green Films Festival, City Nature Challenge), educational resources (HERE in Houston educator hub, Environmental Resource Guide, Toolkits), community-building initiatives (Environmental Book Club, Happy Hours, Working Groups), and communication tools (Houston Environmental News newsletter, Environmental Calendar, Member Directory, Green Jobs Board). The portfolio is unified by its mission to foster dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues rather than a traditional platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Houston Environmental News A weekly e-newsletter that shares environmental events, green jobs, news, and updates from all CEC member organizations to 5,000+ subscribers in the Greater Houston Area.
• Environmental Calendar A comprehensive calendar featuring Houston-area environmental events including nature outings, volunteer opportunities, and educational, arts, and cultural events; accessible via Google Calendar embed.
• Greater Houston Environmental Summit An annual multi-day conference bringing together environmental leaders, advocates, and enthusiasts to foster dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf Coast region.
• Earth Day Houston An annual public festival at Discovery Green celebrating Earth Day with vendor booths, interactive activities, educational exhibits from member organizations, speakers, and zero-waste initiatives.
• Houston Green Films Festival An annual film festival featuring environmental films including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour and the Wild About Houston film festival, with post-screening panel discussions with local environmental experts.
• Environmental Book Club A bi-monthly book club meeting at Black Hole Coffee House where participants explore pressing environmental issues through literature with discussion-focused meetings.
• Happy Hours for the Environment Recurring networking gatherings held every few months to bring together Houston's environmental community for informal meetups to network, collaborate, and build connections.
• City Nature Challenge A four-day global community science bioblitz event (April 24-27) that gets people outdoors to photograph local wildlife and contribute biodiversity data using the iNaturalist platform.
• Houston Environmental Resources for Educators (HERE in Houston) A one-stop digital resource hub for formal and informal educators, Texas Master Naturalists, Scout leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts featuring curriculum, field trip locations, professional development, and a directory of local educators.
• Environmental Resource Guide A searchable web-based directory of environmental organizations and resources, with archived PDF versions available from 2001-2015.
• Green Jobs Board A classifieds board for green jobs and career opportunities in the environmental sector, available to member organizations and the public.
• Member Directory A searchable clickable listing of all CEC member organizations linking directly to their webpages, organized by category including Conservation, Environmental Education, Environmental Justice, Community Gathering, and Infrastructure.
• Toolkits & Guides Practical guides including the Storytelling for Environmental Advocacy Resource Guide and upcoming Sustainable Events Guide, providing best practices and local examples for environmental action.
• Working Groups Collaborative teams including Resource & Data Hub (environmental data accessibility) and Built for Resilience (urban resilience implementation) that develop real-world solutions to Houston's environmental challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 5,000+ newsletter subscribers weekly plus social media followers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Association for Environmental Education (TAEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC partners with TAEE for the Environmental Educators Exchange, hosting bi-weekly virtual meet-ups for educators to connect, swap stories, share resources, and build community. TAEE is a key partner in regional environmental education initiatives.
• Texas Children in NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC partners with Texas Children in Nature for Environmental Educators Exchange meetings and regional efforts to connect children and families with nature in the Gulf Coast region.
• Coalition for Environment, Equity & Resilience (CEER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEER is listed as a partner coalition active in the Greater Houston Area. CEC participates in coalition meetings and the Regional Resilience Campaign Committee. CEER's mission focuses on connections between pollution, place, and public health.
• Diluvial Houston Initiative (Rice University Center for Environmental Studies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC attends monthly meetings with Bayou City Waterkeeper, Air Alliance Houston, Houston Climate Justice Museum & Cultural Center, and The Nature Conservancy as part of the Diluvial Houston Initiative. This is a project focused on engaged humanities research and local partnerships addressing environmental disaster challenges.
• EarthShare TexasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarthShare Texas is a nonprofit federation supporting local environmental and conservation charities across Texas. CEC participates in biannual partner meetings, newsletter updates, and social events.
• Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC participates in GBEP subcommittees including Public Participation and Education (PPE), Natural Resources Uses (NRU), Water and Sediment Quality (WSQ), Monitoring and Research (M&R), and Budget and Priorities (B&P).
• Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOMA is a partnership network dedicated to working on issues common to the Gulf region including coastal community resilience, data and monitoring, education and engagement, habitat resources, water resources, wildlife and fisheries, and marine debris. CEC participates in teams and workgroups.
• Houston Climate Movement (HCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC participates in the Houston Climate Movement which hosts monthly coalition meetings for people to discuss environmental issues and solutions across the greater Houston area and Texas.
• Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerH-GAC is the regional organization through which local governments consider issues and cooperate in solving area-wide problems. CEC participates in various H-GAC committees including Regional Air Quality Planning Advisory Committee, Clean Rivers Program Committees, Natural Resources Advisory Committee, Regional Flood Management Committee, and Solid Waste Management Committee.
• Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCAH is a network of community-based organizations, institutions, and leaders working to reduce hate and encourage belonging. CEC participates in advocacy and policy, research and response, and prevention committees.
• Partners in Litter Prevention (PLP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLP is a group of local organizations investigating and preventing adverse impacts of litter and plastic pollution. CEC participates in Communication and Strategy, Research, and Removal working groups.
• Texan by Nature (TxN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTxN brings together conservation and business leaders to work towards benefit of people, wildlife, native habitats, and natural resources. CEC is listed as a partner in this statewide initiative.
• Discovery Green ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC partners with Discovery Green for Earth Day Houston, an annual event at Discovery Green downtown Houston featuring vendors, member organization booths, interactive activities, and speakers.
• Wild & Scenic Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC hosts the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour annually, featuring international award-winning environmental films. Partner includes local Wild About Houston Film Festival featuring local environmental films.
• Zero Waste HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Waste Houston partners with CEC for sustainable events including Earth Day Houston, helping achieve zero waste certification with composting and recycling diversion efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EARTHDAY.ORG: Global organization that coordinates Earth Day events worldwide, including educational campaigns and signature programming. Comparable to CEC as the upstream organizer of the Earth Day Houston-style festival format that is one of CEC's signature programs.
• Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental advocacy organizations with state and regional groups including Sierra Club Houston (a CEC member). Comparable as a broader advocacy umbrella under which CEC's local coalition work complements and overlaps.
• Texan by Nature: Texas-based conservation organization that convenes business, conservation, and policy leaders to advance natural resource outcomes. Comparable to CEC as a Texas environmental convener that bridges nonprofits and corporate sponsors, and CEC is already listed as a partner.
• National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation and education, with regional affiliate network. Comparable to CEC as a nationwide counterpart operating in the conservation, education, and outdoor engagement space where CEC focuses regionally.

Emerging players

• Healthy Gulf: Gulf Coast-focused environmental advocacy organization (formerly Gulf Restoration Network) working on water quality, coastal habitat, and policy across Gulf states. Comparable as a Gulf Coast environmental advocacy counterpart with overlapping concerns around pollution, public health, and ecosystem protection.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Seattle: Seattle-area sustainability coalition advancing education, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. Directly comparable to CEC because it functions as a regional environmental information clearinghouse and convener of city-level environmental stakeholders.
• Heal the Bay: Los Angeles-based environmental nonprofit focused on clean water, coastal protection, and education in Southern California. Comparable as a regional environmental coalition that convenes activists, runs education programs, and engages corporate sponsors in a major U.S. metro.
• Environment Texas: Statewide advocacy organization focused on environmental issues in Texas, part of the Environment America network. Directly comparable as a Texas-focused environmental advocacy and education organization pursuing similar policy and community engagement outcomes as CEC.
• EarthShare Texas: Texas-based federation of environmental and conservation nonprofits that pools workplace giving and corporate partnerships across the state. Most direct peer to CEC because both serve as convening/fundraising umbrellas for Texas environmental nonprofits with overlapping membership and corporate sponsor bases.

Regional players

• Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN): Louisiana-based nonprofit that supports community and tribal environmental groups across the Gulf South. Comparable as a neighboring state environmental coalition offering similar convening, education, and capacity-building services to local grassroots groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cechouston
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/houstonenvironment
• Facebookfacebook.com/cecHouston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cechouston
• Instagraminstagram.com/cechtx

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Citizens' Environmental Coalition