Reflo

What Reflo does

Reflo is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2013, that catalyzes sustainable water use, green infrastructure, and equitable water resource management through education, research, and on-the-ground project implementation. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Green & Healthy Schools program (delivered in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to replace schoolyard asphalt with green infrastructure), Innovative Placemaking & Rainwater Harvesting (urban gardens, bioswales, cisterns in under-resourced neighborhoods), Milwaukee Water Stories (a suite of digital media products for water education), an Environmental Interns program for high school students, and a STEAM Shop that supports an Urban Wood Initiative reclaiming lumber from removed city trees.

The underlying technology stack centers on geospatial storytelling built on Google Earth Pro (Milwaukee Community Map, Milwaukee Story Mapper using KMZ/KML files) and an Augmented Reality sandbox exhibit (Virtual Water Table) for tactile watershed education, supported by complementary digital products (Waterscape Game, Adventure App, WaterMarks Voices) and physical workshop output (outdoor classroom seating, conference awards). The organization also operates the Green Schools Consortium of Milwaukee as an adjacent subsidiary, running the annual Green & Healthy Schools Conference.

Reflo's revenue model is grant-dependent, with funding from foundations (Brico Fund), federal agencies (NOAA), and state programs (Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Humanities Council, Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust), supplemented by individual donations and a modest $50/person conference registration fee. The go-to-market is community-led: Reflo reaches its audience through direct school partnerships, community organization collaboration, the annual conference, social media, and free downloadable digital tools, with no traditional sales motion.

Name

Reflo

Legal name

Reflo, Inc.

Website

https://refloh2o.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reflo is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers water sustainability education, green infrastructure schoolyard redevelopment, and digital water-storytelling tools to K-12 schools and under-resourced neighborhoods in southeastern Wisconsin, funded primarily by grants and foundation support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

akta.pro primary industry

Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable water management
• Green infrastructure
• Environmental education
• Watershed mapping
• Urban ecosystem services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Donations: As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Reflo operates primarily through grant funding from foundations and government agencies, including Brico Fund, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, NOAA, and individual donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reflo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that catalyzes sustainable water use and healthy urban ecosystems in the Milwaukee region through hands-on environmental education, digital media products (such as the Milwaukee Community Map and Virtual Water Table), and on-the-ground green infrastructure projects including native planting restoration and urban wood reuse. Its offerings target schools, community organizations, and government partners, blending STEAM-based curriculum, community storytelling, and field implementation.

Product overview

Reflo is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Milwaukee that catalyzes sustainable water use, green infrastructure, and equitable water resource management. The organization offers a portfolio of educational programs and digital products centered on water sustainability. The core digital offerings include the Milwaukee Community Map (an interactive Google Earth-based mapping platform), the Virtual Water Table (an AR-powered educational exhibit), and the Milwaukee Story Mapper (a tool for creating custom story maps). Supporting programs include the STEAM Shop workshop for creating urban wood products, the EcoLiteracy Challenge school competition, Sewershed Mapping Activity for student-led stormwater education, and Native Planting Restoration services. The organization also hosts the annual Green & Healthy Schools Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Schools Consortium of Milwaukee: A consortium managed by Reflo focused on environmental education and sustainability in Milwaukee-area schools, organizing the annual Green & Healthy Schools Conference.

Products and services

• Milwaukee Community Map

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500 attendees, 90+ exhibitors, 21 sessions at 2024 Green & Healthy Schools Conference

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner in the Green & Healthy Schools Program, collaborating to replace schoolyard asphalt with green infrastructure. MMSD also supports the Milwaukee Community Map and various water education initiatives.
• Milwaukee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner where Reflo implements schoolyard redevelopment projects and environmental education programming for students.
• Midwest Grows GreenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Technical Assistance Program to support schoolyard redevelopment at La Escuela Fratney with sustainable landscaping without synthetic pesticides.
• The Nature Conservancy in WisconsinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated as volunteers in the schoolyard restoration project at La Escuela Fratney.
• Walnut Way Conservation Corp.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that visited the site daily to irrigate grass until establishment at La Escuela Fratney restoration.
• Green Team of WisconsinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted to apply organic herbicide products and complete site preparation work including compost topdressing and seeding.
• City of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported creation of the Water Centric City video and interactive map in 2019.
• Ex FabulamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Water Story MKE project, including community StorySlam events at Lakefront Brewery.
• University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffice of Sustainability hosted the 2024 Green & Healthy Schools Conference at their campus.
• Center for Great Lakes LiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner providing educational resources on Great Lakes literacy.
• Discovery WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner providing science and technology education programs.
• Milwaukee RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner providing water quality education and Riverkeeper for a Day programs.
• Riveredge Nature CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner providing nature education programs and field trips.
• UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner providing freshwater science education resources.
• UW-Sea GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELC Activity Partner supporting water education programs.
• Alice's GardenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest community-supported gardens in Milwaukee engaged in equity, spirituality, and community building. Site of a Reflo rainwater harvesting project diverting stormwater into a bioswale and underground cistern.
• City of Milwaukee Department of Public WorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in urban wood initiatives, donated urban wood from city trees for Reflo's STEAM Shop projects and conference awards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• River Network: National nonprofit supporting local watershed groups with capacity-building, training, and convening on water and rivers. Broader in scope than Reflo but serves a comparable role at the national coordinating layer.
• Water.org: Large global water and sanitation nonprofit with strong donor brand. Comparable mission category (sustainable water use, equity) but operates at global scale with very different funding and program structure.

Direct peers

• Alliance for Water Efficiency: Nonprofit advancing sustainable water use through research, policy, and education. Comparable mission focus on water stewardship, though more policy/research-leaning than Reflo's hands-on community implementation.
• EarthEcho International: Nonprofit focused on water education and youth engagement around water resource sustainability, including digital tools and curricula for K-12 audiences. Comparable in target audience (students/educators) and water-education focus.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local Groundwork trusts that do urban environmental stewardship, green infrastructure, and youth environmental education in under-resourced communities. Directly comparable to Reflo's mission, programmatic mix, and community-led GTM.
• Groundwork Milwaukee: Local Milwaukee-based environmental trust doing green infrastructure, urban greening, and youth environmental programming in the same metro as Reflo; potential partner and direct functional peer.
• EcoRise: Nonprofit that delivers sustainability and environmental literacy curricula, teacher professional development, and student programs to K-12 schools, with a similar K-12 education GTM and program mix.
• Center for Watershed Protection: Nonprofit that works on stormwater management, watershed restoration, and provides technical assistance to communities. Highly comparable to Reflo's green-infrastructure and watershed-education programming.

Emerging players

• WE ACT for Environmental Justice: Environmental justice nonprofit working on water quality, green infrastructure, and equitable resource access in under-resourced urban communities. Comparable equity and urban-environment focus, broader policy agenda.
• The Water Project: Nonprofit focused on clean water access and water-education programs, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable water-education mission but geographically and operationally distinct from Reflo's U.S. urban focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Green-Schools-Consortium-of-Milwaukee-843231875785674
• Instagraminstagram.com/greenschoolsconsortiummke
• Xx.com/refloh2o

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Reflo