What ReScape California does

ReScape California is a 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2009 (originally as Bay-Friendly Landscaping) and headquartered in San Francisco that delivers regenerative landscaping education, workforce certification, and policy advocacy in California. Its core product is a portfolio of qualification and certification trainings covering the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), Firescaping (FQT), Design (DQT), Healthy Soil/Landscape (HLQT/HQT), green stormwater infrastructure plant maintenance, integrated pest management, and compost/mulch best practices, all anchored in an internal 8 Principles Framework that articulates a whole-systems regenerative approach emphasizing carbon sequestration, water savings, GHG reduction, and biodiversity. The second core offering is the Rated Landscapes Program, a workforce and marketplace development system that rates and recognizes excellence in regenerative landscape design, construction, and maintenance for civic, commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties, supported by a Professional Directory of certified graduates.

The organization's business model is a hybrid nonprofit mix: course/workshop fees from professional trainings, sponsorships from landscape companies, nurseries, utility districts (notably East Bay Municipal Utility District), and individual donations to two flagship funds - a $500,000 Climate Action Campaign (5x5) running 2025-2030 and the Regenerative Education Fund that subsidizes tuition for displaced workers and career changers. It reaches customers through direct professional trainings (in-person and virtual via MemberClicks), a professional directory, community-led mobilization through its Diverse Workforce Development Program, and policy advocacy that has produced adopted ordinances in Alameda County and ten California municipalities. A global sub-brand, the Regenerative Action League (ral.world), extends the network internationally.

Key operating scale indicators since founding include 6,000+ trained landscape professionals, 1,050+ trained home gardeners, 150+ rated landscapes, and 1,200+ partners/guardians/sponsors. ReScape does not sell a software product; revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization runs with 1-10 employees.

Name

ReScape California

Legal name

ReScape

Website

https://rescapeca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ReScape California is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that delivers regenerative landscaping certification trainings, workforce development, and policy advocacy to California landscape professionals, public agencies, and property owners through its 8 Principles Framework and Rated Landscapes Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Landscape Workforce Training

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site) (BPABALAK), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)

Keywords

• Regenerative landscaping education
• Landscape professional certification
• Water-efficient landscape training
• Climate-resilient landscaping
• Green workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Training and Certification: Revenue from qualification and certification trainings for landscape professionals, including Design Qualification Training (DQT), Firescaping Qualification Training (FQT), Healthy Landscape Qualification Training (HLQT), MWELO courses, GSI Plant Maintenance, IPM, and Compost/Mulch Best Practices workshops.
2. Climate Action Fund / Donations: The organization launched a $500,000 Climate Campaign in 2025 spanning 2025-2030 to expand programs, build reserves, foster workforce development, and advance climate equity. Donations support projects like regenerative food gardens, urban farms, and green skills training.
3. Regenerative Education Fund Donations: Donations to cover tuition for training programs, supporting individuals and businesses in career development in nature-based work and equity-focused green landscaping skills training.
4. Sponsorships: Support from sponsors including landscape management companies, nurseries, utility districts, and industry partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ReScape California delivers professional qualification and certification trainings for regenerative landscape design, construction, and maintenance, including MWELO, Firescaping, Design Qualification, Healthy Soil, and GSI Plant Maintenance courses. It also operates the Rated Landscapes certification program recognizing excellence in regenerative landscape practices for civic, commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties. Programs are anchored by the 8 Principles whole-systems framework and supported by the Regenerative Education Fund and a $500,000 Climate Action Fund campaign (2025–2030).

Product overview

ReScape California is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of professional qualification and certification programs focused on regenerative landscaping and nature-based climate solutions. The core offerings include the Qualification & Certification Trainings (covering MWELO compliance, firescaping, design, healthy soil, and stormwater infrastructure maintenance) and the Rated Landscapes Program that recognizes excellence in regenerative landscape practices. These are supported by the 8 Principles Framework—a whole systems methodology—and complemented by the Regenerative Action League (a global network and resource hub). Supplementary programs include the Regenerative Education Fund (tuition assistance) and Climate Action Fund (workforce/capacity building campaign). The organization does not offer a software-as-a-service product; rather, its offerings are educational programs, workforce development, and a marketplace certification/rating system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 6000+ landscape professionals trained since 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gachina Landscape ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandscape management company sponsor supporting ReScape's mission and programs.
• LyngsominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGarden and landscape products company sponsor.
• Arbor MD Tree Care, IncminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTree care company sponsor.
• Devil Mountain Wholesale NurseryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWholesale nursery sponsor supporting regenerative landscaping.
• BrightViewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial landscaping services company sponsor.
• East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor utility district sponsor supporting water conservation and regenerative landscape initiatives.
• WeathermaticminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIrrigation technology company sponsor.
• BluePoint PlanningminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlanning firm sponsor.
• SavATreeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTree and shrub care company sponsor.
• SGLA Technical TrainingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical training partner for landscape professionals.
• SiteOneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandscape supplies distributor sponsor.
• Bay Area Jobs First CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReScape has been entrusted to ensure tribal voices shape the Bay Area's economic future through Bay Area Jobs First, part of a statewide initiative building an economy rooted in equity, sustainability, and family-sustaining jobs. This coalition includes workforce, community, labor, business, government, education, and indigenous leaders reimagining the regional economy.
• California Jobs FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative transforming how economic development happens—prioritizing high-road jobs, climate resilience, and community leadership. The Bay Area is one of 13 regions statewide developing customized solutions.
• Regenerative Action LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected organization that connects practitioners, organizations, and communities advancing regenerative solutions worldwide. Their Resource Hub offers curated tools, case studies, and frameworks to support regenerative work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TreePeople: California-based environmental nonprofit driving urban forestry and green workforce development. Comparable geographic scope, climate-equity framing, and training/certification mission for natural-landscape professionals.
• Pollinator Partnership: National nonprofit operating San Francisco-based programs certifying pollinator habitat (Bee Better Certified) and training landscape professionals — analogous certification/training operating model for habitat-positive landscapes.
• Wild Ones: National nonprofit promoting native plant landscaping through chapters, certifications, and public education. Highly comparable to ReScape on member-driven landscaping certification and education model.
• Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES): Performance rating system (administered by Green Business Certification Inc.) that certifies sustainable landscape design — directly analogous to ReScape's Rated Landscapes Program in purpose and structure.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: University-affiliated nonprofit advancing native plant landscapes and sustainable land stewardship through research and education, and a former steward of SITES. Comparable on regenerative-landscape education and certification.
• Ecological Landscape Alliance: Nonprofit professional association for ecological/regenerative landscaping education with online courses and conferences. Most directly comparable peer to ReScape given the shared mission of training landscape practitioners in ecology-based practices.
• California Native Plant Society (CNPS): California-focused nonprofit running native plant landscaping education, horticultural certification, and conservation policy — closely overlaps ReScape's California, education-and-policy, and native/regenerative landscaping remit.

Others

• Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA): Regional watershed protection body operating GSI programs that are complementary to ReScape's GSI Plant Maintenance workshops, representing an enabling partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• US Green Building Council (USGBC): The largest sustainability credentials body (LEED, now SITES via GBCI). Overlaps with ReScape on professional certification and on policy-driven sustainability standards for sites and landscapes, though USGBC serves a much broader real-estate footprint.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): National professional association for landscape architects with licensure, training, and climate-action programming that intersects ReScape's certification/policy stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rescapeca
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReScapeCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rescapeca
• Instagraminstagram.com/rescape_ca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ReScape California