Sustainable Westport

What Sustainable Westport does

Sustainable Westport is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, that educates, encourages, and mobilizes Westport residents and businesses to advance a town-wide net-zero sustainability agenda. Originally a town-appointed committee of the Town of Westport, it operates today across five pillars — Community, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Resources & Waste Management — and runs seven named programs: UnPlastic Westport (including a publicly expanding hydration station network), HeatSmart Westport (residential heat pumps and geothermal), Your Yard Our Climate (pollinator-friendly landscaping), Restaurant Champions (a 2026-launched certification cohort), Green Building Awards, Zero Food Waste Challenge, and the Make A Promise plastic-reduction pledge. Day-to-day delivery runs through a small staff of two Co-Directors (Johanna Martell and Gately Ross), a Board, an Advisory Group, and a network of formal community partners including Earthplace, Wakeman Town Farm, the Westport Library, and the Westport Woman's Club.

The organization is built on a standard non-profit SaaS stack — a WordPress website (sustainablewestport.org), Constant Contact for newsletters, Bloomerang CRM for donations, Canva for design, Zoom for webinars, Eventbrite for ticketed events, and Instagram (@sustainablewestport) for social — with no proprietary platform, API, or AI capabilities. Programs are operationalized through curated content (UnPlastic editorial series, Recycling Guide PDF, Resource Guide of vetted local vendors), recurring free community events (workshops, film screenings, candidate forums, recycling drives), and infrastructure deployments such as public water refill stations at town beaches and parks.

Sustainable Westport's revenue model is entirely donation- and grant-driven: voluntary tax-deductible individual donations collected via Bloomerang, small in-kind corporate event sponsorships (e.g., Coldwell Banker Realty underwriting a 2026 film screening), and actively pursued grants — most visibly to fund the UnPlastic Westport refill-station network. There are no paid products, subscription tiers, or transaction-fee services; events and educational resources are offered free of charge to Westport residents and SMBs. The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-resident, anchored in a single affluent Connecticut town with outreach extending into Fairfield County and statewide policy coalitions such as the CT League of Conservation Voters.

Name

Sustainable Westport

Legal name

Sustainable Westport

Website

https://sustainablewestport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Independent 501(c)(3) non-profit in Westport, Connecticut that educates residents and businesses on sustainability through programs covering single-use plastic reduction, residential clean energy, pollinator-friendly landscaping, sustainable restaurants, and community food waste reduction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Voluntary tax-deductible donations from individuals collected via Bloomerang CRM online donation form; framed as investments in a sustainable future for Westport. 2025 Impact Report published to demonstrate impact of donor funds.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Event and program sponsorships from local businesses (e.g., Jillian Klaff at Coldwell Banker Realty sponsored the Plastic People film screening in 2026).
3. Grants: Actively seeking grants to fund the UnPlastic Westport refill station network and other initiatives, as called out in outreach to corporate sponsors, grant-makers, and individual donors.
4. Pickup Service Donations: Small donations collected for Boy Scout Troop 36 mattress pickup service offered during mattress recycling events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sustainable Westport is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, encourages, and inspires Westport, CT residents and businesses to advance community sustainability across five pillars: Community, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Resources & Waste Management. It delivers this mission through programs such as UnPlastic Westport (public hydration station network and single-use plastic reduction), Restaurant Champions (restaurant sustainability certification), HeatSmart Westport (residential clean heating and cooling), Your Yard Our Climate (pollinator-friendly landscaping), Zero Food Waste Challenge, and the Make A Promise pledge campaign. All programming is offered free to the community, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UnPlastic Westport: Community-wide initiative to reduce single-use plastics and expand public water-filling stations throughout Westport.
• HeatSmart Westport
• Your Yard, Our Climate
• Sustainable Westport Restaurant Champions
• Make A Promise
• Zero Food Waste Challenge

Products and services

• UnPlastic Westport Community-wide initiative to reduce single-use plastics and expand public water-filling stations throughout Westport; includes the UnPlastic Pledge and the Make A Promise resident pledge campaign. Target audience: Westport residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Sustainable Westport Restaurant Champions Recognition and certification program for local Westport restaurants that comply with the Town's single-use plastic ordinance, source ingredients sustainably, manage waste responsibly, and prioritize energy efficiency. Inaugural champions include Kneads Bakery Cafe, Momu, The Whelk, Massi Co, and Allium Eatery.
• HeatSmart Westport Residential clean heating and cooling program covering heat pumps, geothermal, and related clean-energy retrofits for Westport homeowners, paired with educational webinars (e.g., Heat Pumps 101).
• Your Yard, Our Climate Yard and landscaping sustainability initiative focused on pesticide-free, pollinator-friendly, native landscaping practices; includes workshops such as 'Pests Out, Pollinators In' with Wakeman Town Farm and Wild Ones.
• Zero Food Waste Challenge Community program with a stated goal of reducing food waste in Westport by 25%, supported by educational content, Food Rescue US partnerships, and on-site zero-waste event practices (e.g., Lobsterfest 2024).
• Make A Promise Resident pledge campaign that invites Westport residents to commit to reducing single-use plastics as part of the broader UnPlastic Westport initiative.
• Green Building Awards Awards program recognizing achievement in sustainable design and construction within the Westport community.
• Sustainable Westport Resource Guide Curated directory of vetted local green vendors and resources (solar, green landscapers, architects, HVAC contractors, textile recyclers, donation organizations) plus downloadable recycling guides for Westport residents and businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1,000 single-use water bottles kept out of the waste stream in one season by the Staples Cheer Team's Pyramid Club
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wakeman Town FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Partner for the 'Pests Out, Pollinators In: Pesticide-Free Solutions for Your Yard' workshop on June 25, 2026 at 134 Cross Highway, Westport. Wakeman Town Farm co-hosts the event as part of the Your Yard, Our Climate initiative.
• Wild Ones (Mountain Laurel chapter)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Partner for the 'Pests Out, Pollinators In' pollinator workshop on June 25, 2026; co-promotes native plant landscaping and pesticide-free yard care.
• Jillian Klaff at Coldwell Banker RealtyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 April 2026Event sponsor for the Plastic People film screening + Expert Panel Discussion on April 9, 2026 at Greens Farms Academy.
• Greens Farms AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Venue partner for the Plastic People film screening + Expert Panel Discussion on April 9, 2026 (Janet Hartwell Performing Arts Center, 35 Beachside Ave, Westport).
• The Westport LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Co-hosted the 'Forever Chemicals in Connecticut's Coastal Waters' community conversation on March 18, 2026 at 20 Jesup Road. Verso Studios at the Westport Library also hosted the Joe Gardener Show podcast recording.
• CT League of Conservation VotersminorOthers · 1 February 2026Co-Directors attended the 26th CT League of Conservation Voters Annual Environmental Summit, which informed Sustainable Westport's content on clean energy, pesticide regulation, water quality, and waste reduction policy.
• Westport Woman's ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025Co-organized the Durable Medical Equipment Drive on November 15-16, 2025 at 44 Imperial Ave, Westport, collecting 120+ items for Wheel It Forward.
• Westport Center for Senior ActivitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025Co-organized the Durable Medical Equipment Drive with Sustainable Westport and the Westport Woman's Club.
• Wheel It ForwardcoreOthers · 15 November 2025Recipient non-profit (community library for borrowed durable medical equipment) of the November 2025 DME Drive (120+ items). Wheel It Forward accepts donations year-round.
• EarthplacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Co-hosted the First Selectman Discussion on Sustainability and the Environment at Christ & Holy Trinity Church with candidates Kevin Christie, David Rosenwaks, and Don O'Day.
• Peter Boyd (Sustainable Westport Board Member)minorOthers · 6 October 2025Moderator of the First Selectman Discussion on Sustainability and the Environment (October 6, 2025); curated audience-submitted questions for the candidate forum.
• Boy Scout Troop 36 (Westport)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2025Provides pickup service for mattresses/box springs during the bi-annual Free Mattress Recycling Events for a small donation.
• EarthplacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Co-sponsor of the bi-annual Free Mattress/Box Spring Recycling Events (April 26, 2025 and May 2, 2026). Earthplace hosts the drop-off site. Partnership extends to co-hosting the October 2025 First Selectman Discussion on Sustainability.
• Christ & Holy Trinity Church (Westport)coreOthers · 24 March 2025Hosted the Play It Forward Youth Soccer Donation & Exchange Event on March 24, 2025 and the First Selectman Discussion on Sustainability (October 2025) in Branson Hall (75 Church Ln., Westport).
• Bridgeport Field of Dreams FoundationminorOthers · 24 March 2025Receives any remaining soccer gear from the Play It Forward program; promotes broader youth sports access.
• Westport/Weston YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2025Drop-off location for the Play It Forward youth soccer gear collection (March 5-22, 2025).
• Joe Lamp'l / The Joe Gardener ShowcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Featured Sustainable Westport in a national blog post and podcast episode; Co-Directors recorded a wide-ranging conversation at Verso Studios at the Westport Library covering the Five Pillars of Progress and the organization's programs.
• Westport Parks and Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes community sustainability events at Compo Beach, including the Kickoff to Summer event and placement of refill stations. Westport Parks & Rec acknowledged on Instagram for refill station support.
• City to Sea (World Refill Day)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordinates World Refill Day activation on June 3 each year; Sustainable Westport celebrated by promoting town refill stations and World Refill Day globally.
• US Food Rescue (Food Rescue US)coreOthersFood Rescue US is referenced as a redistribution partner that Restaurant Champions like Kneads donate leftover food to; broader referral for businesses to become food donors.
• CORR (Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant Champion The Whelk partners with CORR to recycle used oyster shells for Long Island Sound oyster habitat restoration; featured in Sustainable Westport's Restaurant Champions launch announcement.
• Gillespie CenterminorOthersReceives excess food donations from Restaurant Champions The Whelk and Massi Co to minimize food waste.
• Emmy Squared (Westport)minorOthersHosts Sustainable Westport's monthly 'First Mondays' community gatherings (e.g., June 1, 2025) and the after-party for the October 2025 First Selectman Discussion.
• Bay State TextilescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates textile donation boxes at the Westport Transfer Station (300 Sherwood Island Rd) accepting apparel, footwear, accessories, linens, pillows, throws, and stuffed animals. Listed in Sustainable Westport's Resource Guide.
• Staples (office supplies retailer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers free in-store recycling for school supplies, printer cartridges, tech, batteries, crayons, markers, and pencils; promoted in Sustainable Westport's recycling/back-to-school messaging.
• Westport Garden ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccepts plastic nursery pots at their plant sale (May 9, 2026 at Jesup Green) and at the Westport Farmers' Market (May 28, 2026 at 50 Imperial Ave).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ReFED: National nonprofit focused on reducing food waste across the U.S. value chain. Comparable in the food-waste policy and program design space that Sustainable Westport's Zero Food Waste Challenge operates in.

Direct peers

• Food Rescue US: National nonprofit that transfers surplus food from businesses to those in need. A direct partner cited by Sustainable Westport Restaurant Champions like Kneads; comparable as a donation-and-volunteer-driven community food-waste nonprofit.
• Sustainable Jersey: New Jersey's statewide nonprofit certification and capacity-building program for municipalities. Closest analog to SustainableCT and the same model that Sustainable Westport's town certifications are based on.
• SustainableCT: Statewide Connecticut nonprofit that runs the SustainableCT community certification framework (Bronze/Silver/Certified) — the same program in which Westport earned Bronze (2018) and Silver (2021). Highly comparable as a town-level sustainability capacity-building organization in CT.
• Earthplace: Westport-based environmental education center and nature preserve. Core co-host partner on mattress recycling and the First Selectman sustainability discussion; comparable as a hyper-local Westport environmental nonprofit with overlapping program areas.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global nonprofit alliance working to end plastic pollution. Directly comparable thematic focus to Sustainable Westport's UnPlastic Westport initiative and broader single-use-plastics advocacy.
• Wakeman Town Farm: Westport-based sustainability and education farm. Co-hosts Sustainable Westport's pollinator workshops and is a peer hyper-local sustainability organization with overlapping educational mission.

Regional players

• Sustainable Westchester: Westchester County, NY-based nonprofit that runs community sustainability programs across member municipalities. Comparable model — a coalition of towns served by a shared sustainability nonprofit — but operating in a different geography.
• Audubon Connecticut: State chapter of the National Audubon Society focused on birds and habitat conservation. Comparable as a Connecticut-based environmental nonprofit with overlapping biodiversity and habitat themes relevant to Sustainable Westport's Your Yard Our Climate work.

Emerging players

• Sustainable Solano: California-based nonprofit focused on sustainability education and community programs at the county/town level. Comparable peer in the regional community-sustainability nonprofit space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sustainablewestport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Sustainable Westport