Zelena akcija

What Zelena akcija does

Zelena akcija (operating as Friends of the Earth Croatia / FoE Croatia) is a non-profit citizens' association founded in 1990 in Zagreb, Croatia, and organized as the Croatian national member of Friends of the Earth Europe and Friends of the Earth International. The organization delivers environmental advocacy, civic education, and community mobilization services, addressing climate change, plastic pollution, waste management, fossil fuel phase-out, and threats to civil society space. Its service portfolio centers on three core programs: the Green Phone (Zeleni telefon) public hotline handling over 1,000 citizen calls annually; the School of Sustainability (Škola održivosti), a multi-format education suite comprising a summer camp on Solta island, training-for-trainers, the Small School of Sustainability, School of Civil Disobedience, Intersectionality Trainings, Sustainable Activism Training, and Mobilization training; and the annual E?! Environmental Film Festival (13th edition in 2025). Ancillary services include the volunteer-run Biciklopopravljaona bicycle repair workshop, Swap Party clothing exchanges, and Popravimo zajedno repair workshops. The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its intellectual foundation is a popular-transformative education methodology grounded in the work of Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal.

The business model is non-commercial and grant-dependent. Revenue streams include individual donations and membership fees, EU programmatic funding (Erasmus+, CERV, Europe for Citizens), and national government sources. The most quantified project is the EU CERV-funded CPR (Civic Space Preservation and Restoration) initiative, valued at 287,010.36 EUR and running March 2024 to March 2026, coordinated with partners GLOBAL 2000 (Austria) and Zelena Istra. Membership-based structure, volunteer mobilization, and free public service delivery are the defining operational characteristics. The customer base is the general Croatian public, with prioritized engagement of youth (ages 15-30), civil society organizations, and environmental human rights defenders; no fees are charged for core services. Distribution is direct: community workshops, regional training camps, public events, and a network of partner NGOs coordinated through Zeleni Forum (29 member organizations).

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with annual recurring anchors (Environmental Film Festival, Summer School of Sustainability camp, Klimatopija regional activist camp, Democracy Festival for Gen Z, swap parties) serving as the primary awareness, recruitment, and engagement mechanisms. Marketing channels are non-commercial and consist of the Zelena akcija website, Spotify podcast, mailing list, and earned media. Geographic reach is primarily Croatia, with documented regional expansion into the Western Balkans via the STORY project and Klimatopija, and global reach through the Friends of the Earth network. Leadership transitioned in April 2024 with the election of Dora Sivka as the organization's ninth president.

Name

Zelena akcija

Legal name

Zelena akcija

Website

https://zelena-akcija.hr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zelena akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) is a Zagreb-based environmental NGO founded in 1990 that delivers advocacy, civic education, and community mobilization services to Croatian citizens, youth, and civil society organizations, funded by donations and EU programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Civil Society Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Civil society organization
• Environmental education
• Climate justice activism
• Sustainability training

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Fees: Zelena akcija operates as a non-profit association funded primarily through donations from members and supporters. The organization explicitly states that 'Naše aktivnosti ovise o donacijama i volonterskom uključivanju' (Our activities depend on donations and volunteer involvement).
2. EU and Government Project Funding: Significant funding comes from EU programs including Erasmus+, CERV, Europe for Citizens, and national government sources. Project 'CPR' has total value of 287,010.36 EUR. Multiple projects co-financed by European Union.
3. Educational Programs: The organization conducts training programs, seminars, and summer camps under the 'School of Sustainability' brand. These educational activities contribute to capacity building and may include participant contributions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zelena akcija is a non-profit citizens' association that delivers environmental advocacy, community education, and civic engagement programs in Croatia. Its primary offerings include the Green Phone environmental hotline for citizens, the School of Sustainability educational program (summer camps, train-the-trainer, civil disobedience training, intersectionality training), the annual E?! Environmental Film Festival, publications such as the Activist Cookbook, and community services like bicycle repair workshops and swap parties. All activities are funded through donations, memberships, and EU grants rather than commercial sales.

Product overview

Zelena akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) is an environmental NGO that offers a diverse portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Green Phone environmental hotline service, the Environmental Film Festival (E?!), and the School of Sustainability educational program with multiple components: Summer Camp, Training for Trainers, Small School of Sustainability, School of Civil Disobedience, Intersectionality Trainings, Sustainable Activism Training, and Mobilization training. Additional services include the Biciklopopravljaona bicycle repair workshop, Swap Party clothing exchanges, and Popravimo zajedno repair workshops. The organization also produces publications like the Activist Cookbook and maintains a Multimedia Archive. These programs work together to advance environmental protection, climate justice, and civil society empowerment in Croatia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Phone (Zeleni telefon)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Friends of the Earth EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Zelena akcija is the Croatian member of Friends of the Earth Europe and Friends of the Earth International. This is the organization's core network affiliation, providing access to a global network of 150+ environmental organizations across continents. Zelena akcija participates as a partner organization in YPA-ECE project coordinated by Friends of the Earth Europe.
• GLOBAL 2000 (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Austrian environmental organization GLOBAL 2000 is a key project partner in the CPR (Civic Space Preservation and Restoration) project. Partners collaborate on mapping civil society context, sharing best practices, and joint campaigns for environmental protection and civic space.
• Zelena Istra (Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Zelena Istra is a Croatian environmental organization and key partner in CPR project. Both organizations work together on civic space preservation, environmental advocacy, and capacity building for civil society in Croatia.
• ZMAG - Zelena mreža aktivističkih grupamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner organization focused on sustainable living models. ZMAG operates a Permaculture Farm and provides educational tours on sustainable practices including food sovereignty, natural building, renewable energy, and community organizing. Zelena akcija visits ZMAG as part of youth training programs.
• Zeleni Forum (Green Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 29 environmental NGOs in Croatia. Zelena akcija is an active member. The forum coordinates advocacy on environmental policies, shares experiences, supports civil society initiatives, and conducts joint campaigns. Annual assemblies bring together member organizations from across Croatia.
• Platforma Upgrade ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInformal network of CSOs from various sectors (human rights, sustainability, ecology, culture, youth). Zelena akcija participates as a member alongside organizations including AKC Attack, Booksa/Kulturtreger, Centar za mirovne studije, and others. The platform aims to develop an Intercultural Social Center in Zagreb.
• CZZS - Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (BiH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosnian NGO partner in the STORY project. Collaboration on youth empowerment for climate action through creative writing and activism. Published joint collection 'Collection of Collections, Collection of Corrections' with works from young authors.
• Partners from Western BalkansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-country partnership in STORY project including organizations from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and potentially North Macedonia. Focus on youth climate activism and regional cooperation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Europe's largest network of environmental citizens' organizations with 180+ members across 40 countries. Comparable EU policy advocacy focus, membership-based structure, and reliance on EU funding, but operates at significantly larger institutional scale.
• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement organization. Operates a similar community-led, volunteer-driven model focused on climate activism, fossil fuel phase-out, and youth mobilization — directly comparable mission and methodology at much larger scale.
• Friends of the Earth Europe: The umbrella network of which Zelena akcija is the Croatian member. FOE Europe coordinates pan-European campaigns, EU policy advocacy, and shared resources across 30+ national groups, providing the strategic framework within which Zelena akcija operates.
• WWF Adria: Regional WWF office covering Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Comparable in environmental mission, EU funding profile, and regional footprint, but with broader conservation focus and significantly larger institutional capacity.
• Greenpeace Croatia (Zeleni val / partner offices): Global environmental activism organization with comparable campaign methodologies (public demonstrations, citizen mobilization, EU policy advocacy). Greenpeace is a larger brand that competes with Zelena akcija for media attention and donor support in Croatia.

Direct peers

• Zelena Istra: Zelena Istra is a Croatian environmental NGO and direct project partner in the CPR civic space project. Both organizations operate in Croatia on environmental advocacy, civic space preservation, and CSO capacity building, making them structurally comparable regional peers.
• Centar za mirovne studije (CMS): Croatian civil society organization working on human rights, civic participation, and social justice. Co-member of the Platforma Upgrade Consortium and a natural peer in the Croatian civic space / advocacy ecosystem with similar funding model and volunteer base.
• CZZS - Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (BiH): Bosnian environmental NGO partnering with Zelena akcija on the STORY project. A regional peer of comparable size operating in a neighboring Western Balkan country with similar EU project funding model and youth climate focus.
• ZMAG (Zelena mreža aktivističkih grupa): Croatian cooperative focused on sustainable living, permaculture, and community organizing. Long-term partner of Zelena akcija within the Croatian environmental ecosystem, with distinct focus on practice-based sustainability education.
• GLOBAL 2000: Austrian Friends of the Earth member and core CPR project partner. Comparable in mission, methodology, and funding mix (EU grants, donations, members); operates as a larger national peer in a more mature Austrian environmental market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Zelenaakcija
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zelena-akcija-foe-croatia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zelena akcija