Colorado Green Building Guild

What Colorado Green Building Guild does

The Colorado Green Building Guild (CGBG) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization founded in 2004 in Boulder, Colorado, originally as the Boulder Green Building Guild before rebranding to a statewide scope in 2011. CGBG represents and serves green building professionals across Colorado — including builders, architects, designers, engineers, contractors, real estate agents, and finance professionals — alongside homeowners and community members, with a stated mission to make green building common practice and accessible throughout the state.

CGBG's core offerings include a tiered membership program (Student, Individual, Non-Profit, Business), the annual CGBG Green Home Tour (now in its 10th year spanning Boulder, Denver, and Fort Collins), the Advanced Training Scholarship Program funding certifications such as Passive House, LEED, WELL, and Living Future, and recurring educational programming (hard hat tours, workshops, webinars, happy hours). It also operates Marshall Fire Recovery Resources supporting communities affected by the December 2021 disaster that destroyed over 1,000 homes. The organization is supported by an affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable entity, the Colorado Green Building Foundation, which channels tax-deductible donations into scholarships, recovery, and education.

The business model is a community-led, volunteer-driven non-profit monetized through annual membership dues, corporate sponsorships (Sustaining, Supporting tiers), event participation revenue, and donations. Technology is limited to off-the-shelf platforms: MembershipWorks for member management and standard web/email/social channels for outreach. CGBG expanded to Fort Collins as its first formal chapter in 2024 and announced its first paid Executive Director in 2025, transitioning from an entirely volunteer-run structure.

Name

Colorado Green Building Guild

Legal name

Colorado Green Building Guild

Website

https://cgbg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Colorado Green Building Guild is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization founded in 2004 in Boulder, serving green building professionals, homeowners, and community members across Colorado through membership programs, the annual Green Home Tour, scholarships, and education events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Building Trade Association

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO)

Keywords

• Green building education
• Sustainable construction training
• Building professional networking
• Passive house certification
• Green building advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CGBG generates revenue through tiered membership fees for Students, Individuals, Non-Profits, and Businesses. Business memberships offer additional visibility opportunities and discounts.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors support CGBG's mission in exchange for visibility within the professional community. Sponsors receive exposure at events, on the website, and through communications.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event participation, including the flagship Green Home Tour. Events also generate sponsorship opportunities and member engagement.
4. Tax-Deductible Donations to Colorado Green Building Foundation: The organization's 501(c)(3) charitable entity (Colorado Green Building Foundation) accepts tax-deductible donations to fund educational events, scholarships, disaster response efforts, and community programs. Donations support the Annual Green Home Tour, Marshall Fire recovery resources, and training scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Colorado Green Building Guild is a non-profit trade organization that provides education, networking, and professional development services for green building practitioners across Colorado. Its core offerings include tiered membership (Student, Individual, Non-Profit, Business), the annual Green Home Tour, the Advanced Training Scholarship Program funding certifications like Passive House Tradesperson, Marshall Fire disaster recovery resources, and recurring educational events (hard hat tours, workshops, webinars).

Product overview

The Colorado Green Building Guild operates as a unified nonprofit trade organization offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on advancing sustainable building practices across Colorado. The core offerings include the CGBG Advanced Training Scholarship Program for professional development funding, the annual CGBG Green Home Tour showcasing innovative green building projects, Marshall Fire Recovery Resources for disaster-affected communities, Membership Program for industry professionals, Education and Events programming including hard hat tours and webinars, and a Bulletin Board/Blog for educational content distribution. These offerings work together to fulfill the Guild's mission of making green building common practice and accessible to all Coloradans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CGBG Green Home Tour: Annual green home tour event showcasing innovative green building projects, originally launched as Boulder Green Home Tour in 2015 and now the flagship event of the guild.

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered membership offering for students, individuals, non-profits, and businesses in the green building industry, providing networking opportunities, access to the online directory, newsletters, event participation, and committee involvement. Business memberships include additional company visibility and discount opportunities. Annual billing cycle.
• CGBG Advanced Training Scholarship Program Funding program for Colorado architecture, engineering, and construction professionals pursuing advanced green building training and certifications, including Passive House Tradesperson and other credentialing pathways. Applications reviewed quarterly.
• CGBG Green Home Tour Annual public-facing event showcasing innovative green building projects across Colorado's Front Range, open to homeowners, builders, and enthusiasts to learn about sustainable building practices and meet featured builders and architects.
• Educational Events Program Monthly educational programming including hard hat tours of construction sites, workshops, webinars, panel discussions, and happy hours held throughout Colorado's Front Range with chapters in Boulder, Fort Collins, and additional locations.
• Marshall Fire Recovery Resources Recovery and rebuilding assistance resources for communities impacted by the Marshall Fire, including vetted green building professionals, educational content, and support services for homeowners rebuilding sustainably and resiliently after disaster.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $19,000 in scholarships awarded in 2023 to advance green building training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• 475 High Performance Building SupplysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCGBG Sustaining Sponsor. Johnny Rezvani, Past President of CGBG, serves as Marketing Director at 475 High Performance Building Supply, a company dedicated to pushing building performance standards. The company sponsors CGBG events and participates in the annual Green Home Tour.
• Passive House Network (PHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly known as NAPHN. PHN is a Non-Profit Affiliate Member of CGBG. The organizations collaborate on educational events including the Ice Box Challenge Colorado Tour (2023), Passive House Designer training, and chapter meetings. PHN provides certification pathways referenced by CGBG scholarship program.
• Passive House Rocky MountainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chapter of the Passive House Network. CGBG Board and Sponsor members are represented at PHN events including the Ice Box Challenge installations in Fort Collins, Louisville, and Denver.
• Emu PassivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated training provider for CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. Emu Passive offers Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) training. CGBG hosts happy hours with Emu Passive to promote their training programs.
• Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated training provider for CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. EEBA Academy offers courses on building science and high-performance construction methods.
• Construction Instruction (CI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated training provider offering 'Build Better in Minutes' courses. Partners with CGBG scholarship program to provide discounted training for Colorado building professionals.
• Building Biology InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated training provider for CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program, offering courses on healthier building materials and sustainable practices.
• Passive House AcceleratorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational resource recommended by CGBG for free learning about Passive House principles. The platform provides articles and resources on high-performance building.
• Good Future Design Alliance (GFDA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CGBG to develop the 'Grading Green Sustainability Worksheet' - a rubric helping building professionals holistically evaluate material selections for green building projects.
• Cottonwood Custom BuildersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with GFDA and CGBG to create the 'Grading Green Sustainability Worksheet', a rubric for evaluating green building material choices.
• Rocky Mountain PBSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner featuring CGBG's work on Passive House construction and Marshall Fire recovery. Rocky Mountain PBS Colorado Voices segment featured Marshall Fire victims rebuilding with energy-efficient homes.
• Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit affiliate member of CGBG. CRES envisions a carbon neutral Colorado powered by 100% renewable energy and collaborates on educational initiatives.
• BEL-COminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-Profit Affiliate of CGBG. Organization mission aligned with CGBG's green building advocacy in Colorado.
• PaintCare, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-Profit Affiliate Partner of CGBG, focused on paint recycling and proper disposal programs supporting sustainable construction practices.
• Perks DeconstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemolition contractor specializing in salvage and recycle. Introduced Design for Deconstruction handbook to CGBG, promoting responsible end-of-life building material management.
• Natural Building AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGBG board member Cheryl Corsiglia serves on the board of Natural Building Alliance. Organization committed to expanding knowledge of natural and sustainable building techniques.
• Green Roofs of ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial vendor and partner featured in CGBG's green roof educational content. Founded in 2006, provides green roof design, installation, and consultation services.
• BOSS.architecturesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCGBG President Jessica Hunter is a licensed architect at BOSS.architecture. The firm focuses on high performance custom homes and has been featured on BYDESIGN: America and in MODERN IN DENVER.
• Hammerwell, Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCGBG Sponsor and builder. Operations Manager Mark Attard contributed to CGBG's Marshall Fire recovery blog content. The company requires all team members to become Certified Passive House Tradespersons.
• LEED (USGBC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated certification program referenced by CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. LEED credentials are among the professional development pathways supported by CGBG scholarships.
• Living Future InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated certification body referenced by CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. Offers Living Building Challenge and other regenerative building standards.
• The WELL StandardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated certification program referenced by CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. WELL Standard focuses on human health and wellness in building design.
• The Biomimicry InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated training provider for CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program, offering courses on nature-inspired design solutions for sustainable architecture.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Architects (AIA) Colorado: AIA Colorado is the state chapter of the national professional architecture association and a relevant comparator because CGBG's President Jessica Hunter and several board members are AIA members. While AIA is a broader professional association, its Government Affairs committee and design awards overlap with CGBG's advocacy and education missions in Colorado.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): The USGBC is the national nonprofit that administers the LEED green building rating system and operates a council/member chapter structure analogous to CGBG. It is the dominant U.S. green building organization and a frequent CGBG sponsor/membership target, making it the most direct structural comparator despite its much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Passive House Network: Passive House Network is the national nonprofit advocating for Passive House building standards and a confirmed CGBG Non-Profit Affiliate Member. The two organizations co-host educational events (Ice Box Challenge, Passive House Designer training) and are directly comparable in mission, education-led programming, and certification pathways.
• GreenBuilt Alliance: GreenBuilt Alliance is a regional nonprofit (Western North Carolina) supporting sustainable building practices through member services, education, and advocacy. It is the closest geographic/tactical analog to CGBG — a regional green building guild with membership tiers, events, and home tours — though operating in a different territory.
• Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA): EEBA is a national nonprofit providing high-performance building science education, accredited training, and an annual conference — an affiliated training provider for CGBG's Advanced Training Scholarship Program. EEBA is highly comparable in mission, member-driven education model, and reliance on courses for professional certification (CPHT).
• New Buildings Institute (NBI): NBI is a nonprofit working to improve the energy performance of new and existing buildings through policy, education, and market development. It shares CGBG's emphasis on zero-energy and high-performance building advocacy and operates a similar nonprofit/educational/membership model at a regional scale.
• Living Future Institute: Living Future Institute is a nonprofit that administers the Living Building Challenge, Just Label, and other regenerative building standards. It is a CGBG scholarship-affiliated certification body and a direct peer in mission (regenerative/sustainable building) and revenue model (memberships, events, credentials).

Regional players

• Built Green Canada: Built Green is a Canadian nonprofit coalition of building industry members offering green building programs, certifications (Built Green Label), and an annual educational conference. Comparable to CGBG as a member-driven nonprofit advocating green building practice, but focused on the Canadian market rather than competing in Colorado.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bouldergreenbuildingguild
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecgbg
• Xx.com/coguild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-green-building-guild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Colorado Green Building Guild