Environmental Volunteers
Environmental Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that delivers volunteer-led, hands-on environmental science programs to K-6 students, families, and community groups across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties from its Palo Alto Baylands EcoCenter.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Environmental Volunteers does
Environmental Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 and headquartered at the EcoCenter within the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, California. Its mission is to promote understanding of and responsibility for the environment through hands-on science education, delivered primarily by trained volunteers. The organization operates a portfolio of programs targeted at K-6 students in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, including Nature Scientists (school-based science programs), Sprout Up (early childhood environmental education), Homeschool Programs, Public Programs at the EcoCenter, Group Programs for organizations, and the "Let's Go!" Field Trip Fund that subsidizes school access to the nature center. A supplementary digital resource — the Sprout Up Explores video collection — extends programming into at-home and distance learning contexts.
The core operating model is volunteer-facilitated, in-person delivery: volunteers, after training, lead classroom visits, field trips, public events, and corporate team-building activities focused on marshland habitat protection. The EcoCenter itself functions as both headquarters and a public-facing nature center, hosting scheduled open hours, hikes, lectures, and workshops. There is no proprietary software platform; the technology stack is effectively a website (environmentalvolunteers.org), social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletter, and event-management infrastructure (Nonprofit Soapbox for volunteer login). No APIs, SDKs, MCP integrations, or AI capabilities are disclosed.
Revenue is donation-driven rather than fee-based. The organization accepts individual outright gifts, bequests and legacy gifts, donor advised funds (DAFs), stock and IRA charitable contributions, and corporate matching gifts. Programs are delivered to schools and the public at low or no cost. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and a 2024 Gold Candid Seal, signaling strong transparency and accountability posture. Headcount is in the 11-50 range, with operations sustained by a mix of staff and an extensive trained volunteer corps.
Environmental Volunteers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Environmental Volunteers
- Legal name
- Environmental Volunteers
- Website
- https://evols.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Environmental Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that delivers volunteer-led, hands-on environmental science programs to K-6 students, families, and community groups across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties from its Palo Alto Baylands EcoCenter.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Environmental Volunteers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Education Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK), Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)
Keywords
Where Environmental Volunteers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Environmental Volunteers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting environmental education programs. Includes outright gifts, bequests, legacy gifts, and stock/IRA charitable contributions.
- Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): Contributions through donor advised funds as a giving vehicle for supporters.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Workplace giving programs where employers match employee charitable contributions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Environmental Volunteers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Environmental Volunteers delivers hands-on, volunteer-led science and nature education programs for K-6 students, homeschool families, the general public, and corporate groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Programs are anchored at the EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and include school field trips, classroom visits, homeschool curricula, public events, and corporate team-building habitat restoration activities.
Product overview
Environmental Volunteers offers a unified portfolio of hands-on science and nature education programs centered around the EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. The organization operates multiple program streams including School Programs (Nature Scientists and Sprout Up for K-6 students), Homeschool Programs, Public Programs, and Group Programs, all delivered through trained volunteer facilitators. Supplementary offerings include the 'Let's Go!' Field Trip Fund for school access, the Sprout Up Explores video collection for distance learning, and Corporate Volunteering opportunities for team-building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nature Scientists: School program focusing on nature-based science education for students
- Sprout Up
- EcoCenter
Products and services
- Nature Scientists (School Programs) Hands-on science education program for K-6 students delivered in schools, connecting students to the outdoors and developing environmental awareness.
- Sprout Up (School Programs) School-based environmental education program for young K-6 students focused on early environmental awareness, part of the Nature Scientists initiative.
- Homeschool Programs Hands-on science and nature programs designed specifically for homeschool families, delivered by trained volunteers.
- Public Programs Community-oriented science and nature programs open to the general public, including EcoCenter events, hikes, lectures, and workshops.
- Group Programs Customizable group nature experiences for organizations, teams, and community groups.
- "Let's Go!" Field Trip Fund Financial assistance program enabling schools to access field trip experiences at the EcoCenter.
- EcoCenter The organization's nature center located in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, hosting public open hours, programs, and community events.
- Corporate Volunteering Opportunities Team-building volunteer programs for corporate groups focused on hands-on marshland habitat protection activities.
Companies that use Environmental Volunteers
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Environmental Volunteers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Environmental Volunteers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Environmental Volunteers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NatureBridge: National nonprofit providing immersive, field-based environmental science education for youth at multiple residential and day program sites. Closely comparable to Environmental Volunteers' hands-on, nature-immersed science curriculum and school-program orientation, though it operates at greater geographic scale.
- Walden West Outdoor School: Santa Clara County outdoor education provider offering residential science and nature programs primarily for 5th and 6th grade students. Closely overlaps Environmental Volunteers in target grade band, Bay Area geography, and outdoor science education delivery.
- Slide Ranch: Bay Area nonprofit operating a coastal farm and nature center that delivers hands-on environmental education programs for schoolchildren and families. Highly comparable to Environmental Volunteers in mission, audience (K-6), volunteer-supported delivery model, and regional Bay Area footprint.
- Earthwatch Institute: International nonprofit engaging volunteers and students in hands-on environmental and conservation field experiences. Comparable to Environmental Volunteers in volunteer-facilitated science learning, though operating at a much larger international scale.
- Grassroots Ecology: Bay Area nonprofit combining habitat restoration with environmental education and volunteer engagement. Comparable to Environmental Volunteers in volunteer-powered delivery, Bay Area focus, and intersection of habitat work and community education.
- Bay Nature Institute: Bay Area nonprofit publisher and educator focused on local natural history and environmental education programs. Comparable to Environmental Volunteers in Bay Area geography and environmental education mission, though more publishing-oriented.
- Acterra: Bay Area environmental action organization offering volunteer programs, corporate sustainability engagement, and community education. Comparable to Environmental Volunteers in regional focus, volunteer-powered model, and corporate volunteering stream.
- Marine Science Institute: Bay Area nonprofit delivering hands-on marine and environmental science programs aboard vessels and at a Redwood City facility, serving schools and the public. Directly comparable to Environmental Volunteers' Bay Area footprint, K-6 school partnerships, and hands-on science mission.
- Santa Cruz Outdoor Science School: Residential outdoor science program serving Bay Area elementary schools with hands-on field science, similar in target audience and program model to Environmental Volunteers' school-based offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Children & Nature Network: National nonprofit advancing the movement to connect children and families with nature through research, policy, and program support. Comparable mission to Environmental Volunteers' K-6 outdoor engagement work but operating at a broader advocacy and convening scale rather than direct program delivery.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Environmental Volunteers social profiles
Digital presenceEnvironmental Volunteers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Environmental Volunteers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Environmental Volunteers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Environmental Volunteers 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 Environmental Volunteers
What does Environmental Volunteers do?
Environmental Volunteers delivers hands-on, volunteer-led science and nature education programs for K-6 students, homeschool families, the general public, and corporate groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Programs are anchored at the EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and include school field trips, classroom visits, homeschool curricula, public events, and corporate team-building habitat restoration activities.
Is Environmental Volunteers a public or private company?
Environmental Volunteers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Environmental Volunteers founded?
Environmental Volunteers was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Environmental Volunteers based?
Environmental Volunteers is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Environmental Volunteers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are donor Advised Funds (DAFs) and corporate Matching Gifts.
Who are Environmental Volunteers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NatureBridge, Walden West Outdoor School, Slide Ranch, Earthwatch Institute, Grassroots Ecology, Bay Nature Institute, Acterra, Marine Science Institute and Santa Cruz Outdoor Science School. Children & Nature Network is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Environmental Volunteers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Environmental Volunteers.
What industry is Environmental Volunteers in?
Environmental Volunteers's product category is Environmental Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach, with a secondary code of EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation). Its NAICS code is 813312.