Recode

What Recode does

Recode is a 501(c)-style non-profit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon, founded in 2015 and operating with 11-50 employees. Its stated mission is to develop building and plumbing code changes that legalize sustainable water and sanitation practices - specifically ecological sanitation (e.g., composting toilets), water reuse (e.g., graywater systems), and nutrient recovery. Recode positions itself as a policy intermediary rather than a technology vendor: it does not sell software or hardware. Instead, its core products are Building Code Development Services, Coalition Building and Empowerment Programs, Regulatory Advocacy Services, and Equity and Community Engagement - each delivered through a documented four-stage methodology of coalition building, common calls to action, governance drafting, and passage of laws, regulations, and policies at local, state, and national levels.

Recode's go-to-market is community-led rather than commercial. The organization hires local community members, including people on low incomes and people of color who lack adequate access to water and sanitation, as equal exchange partners, and augments that lived experience with technical experts in water and sanitation. It engages directly with regulators - principally IAPMO and its WE•Stand initiative on the Uniform Plumbing Code - with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on state-level regulatory barriers, and with legislators including Oregon Representative Ben Cannon, who publicly credited Recode as an invaluable coordinator of the graywater legalization campaign. Other strategic partners include the Rich Earth Institute, which extends Recode's reach into urine diversion and nutrient recovery.

The business model is donation-driven. Recode generates revenue through individual donations processed via Givelify and Zeffy, and through fully anonymous private corporate gifts processed via Silent Donor (accepted via card, bank transfer, stock, or cryptocurrency). The organization explicitly states it does not sell products or services; pricing does not apply. Geographic operations are described as National, but the most concrete policy win to date is at the Oregon state level, suggesting that national scaling through UPC model-code adoption remains an in-progress strategy.

Name

Recode

Legal name

Recode

Website

https://recodenow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recode is a Portland-based non-profit that develops building and plumbing code changes to legalize ecological sanitation, water reuse, and nutrient recovery. Working through community-led coalitions, it partners with regulators like IAPMO, utilities, and legislators to advance equitable water and sanitation policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Policy Advocacy (Building Code Reform)

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Decommissioning, Recycling & Producer Responsibility Regulation (EUAMANAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Reuse & Reclamation Infrastructure Construction (Recycled Water Systems) (IMAFAGAH), Recycled Water Storage & Balancing Utilities (Reservoirs, Tanks, Equalization) (EUANAGAI)

Keywords

• Building code reform
• Water policy advocacy
• Ecological sanitation
• Plumbing code development
• Nutrient recovery policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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. Individual Donations: Recode accepts individual contributions through Givelify platform to support building code and policy changes for equitable and sustainable water, site sanitation and nutrient recovery solutions.
2. Private Corporate Gifts: Recode receives anonymous corporate donations through Silent Donor platform, allowing fully anonymous, tax-deductible contributions via card, bank transfer, stock, or cryptocurrency.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Recode is a non-profit organization that develops building code and policy changes to enable ecological sanitation, water reuse, and nutrient recovery solutions at local, state, and national levels. It convenes impacted community members with technical experts, then works with regulators (such as IAPMO) and legislators to integrate sustainable practices like composting toilets and graywater systems into the Uniform Plumbing Code and related regulations. The organization does not sell products or services and is funded through donations.

Product overview

Recode is a non-profit organization offering policy development and advocacy programs rather than a traditional product or software platform. Its core offerings consist of Building Code Development Services (developing building and plumbing code changes to allow ecological sanitation, water reuse, and nutrient recovery), Coalition Building and Empowerment Programs (convening community residents and technical experts to collaboratively develop governance frameworks), Regulatory Advocacy Services (working with regulators like IAPMO to integrate sustainable practices into codes), and Equity and Community Engagement initiatives (ensuring solutions benefit communities on low incomes and people of color). These programs operate as a unified non-profit service offering focused on sustainable water policy reform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building Code Development Services

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecode works with IAPMO to integrate sustainable practices like composting toilets and graywater systems into the Uniform Plumbing Code. IAPMO is a key regulatory body that develops and maintains plumbing and mechanical codes, making this partnership essential to Recode's mission of legalizing sustainability.
• REI (Rich Earth Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working with Recode on sustainable water and sanitation solutions. Rich Earth Institute specializes in urine diversion and resource recovery, aligning with Recode's focus on nutrient recovery and ecological sanitation.
• WE•Stand (Water Efficiency Standard)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater Efficiency Standard initiative under IAPMO that Recode collaborates with to advance sustainable water practices. This partnership focuses on developing standards for water efficiency in building codes.
• DEQ (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecode works with Oregon DEQ on regulatory barriers to sustainability, including campaigns for legalizing graywater reuse. Oregon Representative Ben Cannon cited Recode as invaluable in the campaign for legalizing graywater reuse in Oregon.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• US Water Alliance: National nonprofit advancing sustainable water policy and equitable water management through cross-sector collaboration. Comparable to Recode in pursuing water policy reform, stakeholder coalition building, and equity-centered framing of water access.
• Rich Earth Institute: Nonprofit focused on urine diversion and nutrient recovery research, policy, and public engagement. Direct peer to Recode in ecological sanitation and nutrient recovery, and an existing strategic partner — both organizations share mission alignment on resource recovery policy reform.
• Pacific Institute: Independent water research nonprofit producing policy analysis on freshwater resources, climate, and equity. Comparable to Recode through research-driven policy advocacy and focus on sustainable, equitable water and sanitation solutions.
• Clean Water Fund: National advocacy nonprofit working on clean water protection through policy, organizing, and coalition campaigns. Peer to Recode in grassroots-driven water policy advocacy and multi-stakeholder coalition mobilization for regulatory change.
• Water Reuse Association: National nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing water reuse policies, standards, and public acceptance. Directly comparable to Recode as both organizations work to legitimize and expand water reuse and recycling through policy and code engagement with regulators and legislators.
• Alliance for Water Efficiency: Nonprofit dedicated to promoting efficient water use through policy, advocacy, and stakeholder collaboration. Direct peer to Recode in water policy reform and code-level engagement, with comparable coalition-building approach targeting utilities, regulators, and legislators.

Emerging players

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization litigating and advocating for environmental protection including water and sanitation issues. Adjacent peer to Recode through environmental policy advocacy, though operating through legal advocacy rather than code-level regulatory engagement.
• Food & Water Watch: Consumer and environmental advocacy organization working on water privatization, infrastructure, and access issues. Adjacent peer to Recode through grassroots-driven water policy advocacy and equity-focused framing, though with a broader food and environmental portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large environmental advocacy organization with significant water and sanitation policy programs. Adjacent peer to Recode through environmental policy advocacy and water access work, though operating at much larger scale and broader environmental scope.
• Water Environment Federation: International technical and educational organization for water quality professionals, with policy engagement across water reuse and resource recovery. Comparable as a broader water sector organization that touches on Recode's code and policy domains but with a wider industry/utility mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/recode_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/recodenow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recodenow

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 Recode