AASHE
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, PA, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
AASHE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AASHE
- Legal name
- Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
- Website
- https://aashe.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AASHE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Sustainability Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)
Keywords
Where AASHE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia, PA
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
AASHE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Institutional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from higher education institutions based on institution type and size. Membership provides access to resources, networking, STARS platform, and conference discounts.
- Business Membership Dues: Two-tier membership structure (Business Leader and Business Affiliate) providing networking, recognition, marketing, and advertising opportunities with the higher education sustainability community.
- Conference & Expo Revenue: Registration fees, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees from the annual AASHE Conference & Expo. Also includes venue/host institution partnerships.
- Advertising & Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities across AASHE Connect, Announcements newsletter, Bulletin, and social media platforms. Sponsorship opportunities for publications, workshops, and programs.
- Professional Development Programs: Revenue from virtual workshops, online courses, and professional development programs. Includes registration fees for educational offerings and recording sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Institutions in North America |
| Subscription | Annual | Non US & Non Canada Based Institutions |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Leader |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Affiliate |
| Subscription | Annual | Nonprofits & Other Organizations |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | AASHE Connect Advertising |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | AASHE Announcements Newsletter Ad |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | AASHE Bulletin Ad |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Social Media Ads |
| Other | Monthly | Highlights Bundle |
| Other | Monthly | Social Bundle |
| Other | Monthly | The Works Bundle |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
AASHE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AASHE is a nonprofit membership association that provides sustainability resources, benchmarking frameworks, conferences, professional development, and community/networking platforms to higher education institutions and related organizations. Its flagship offering, the STARS sustainability rating system, enables colleges and universities to measure, report, and compare campus sustainability performance. Supporting products include the AASHE Conference & Expo, Campus Sustainability Hub, AASHE Connect online community, professional learning programs, recognition/awards, and peer mentorship initiatives.
Product overview
AASHE operates as a membership-based association offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected programs and resources for advancing sustainability in higher education. The core portfolio centers on STARS (the primary rating and benchmarking system), the annual Conference & Expo (the premier networking event), and the Campus Sustainability Hub (a resource library). These are supported by professional learning offerings (webinars, workshops, courses), the online community platform AASHE Connect, sustainability awards, mentorship programs, and thematic Communities of Practice. AASHE also coordinates strategic initiatives including HEASC (cross-association consortium) and DANS (disciplinary associations network). The organization serves over 900 member institutions across 48 U.S. states and 20 countries through organizational memberships that provide campus-wide access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- STARS: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System - a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
- AASHE Conference & Expo
- The Bulletin
- Campus Sustainability Hub
Products and services
- STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) A transparent, self-reporting sustainability rating system that allows colleges and universities to measure, benchmark, and publicly report their campus sustainability performance against a standardized set of indicators. Produces multi-tier ratings (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and is used by hundreds of institutions globally.
- AASHE Conference & Expo Annual conference and exposition that brings together campus sustainability professionals, students, vendors, and partner organizations for keynote sessions, workshops, networking, and an exhibition hall. Offers registration as in-person, virtual, or hybrid participation.
- Campus Sustainability Hub Online hub that provides member and public access to sustainability resources, case studies, program models, policies, and tools curated to support campus sustainability work across higher education.
- AASHE Connect Digital community platform that enables AASHE members to engage in topic-based discussions, share resources, and collaborate across institutions on sustainability initiatives.
- AASHE Professional Learning Programs Structured professional development offerings — webinars, workshops, courses, and Communities of Practice — designed to build sustainability practitioner capacity across higher education.
- AASHE Sustainability Awards Annual recognition program that honors outstanding sustainability achievements across higher education, including STARS Platinum awards and Campus Sustainability Achievement Awards.
- Campus Sustainability Month An annual, month-long observance in October that mobilizes higher education institutions worldwide to host sustainability programming, events, and campaigns; coordinated centrally by AASHE.
- AASHE Mentorship & Peer Collaboration Program Program that connects sustainability professionals across institutions for peer mentorship and collaborative problem-solving on sustainability initiatives.
- Sustainable Career Compass (Career Center) Career-focused offering that supports sustainability professionals and students through job postings, career resources, and pathways into sustainability careers in higher education and adjacent sectors.
- The Bulletin (AASHE Bulletin) Regular member publication delivering news, announcements, and updates about sustainability in higher education and AASHE programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 180 institutions and individuals recognized through Sustainability Awards since 2006
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AASHE
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AASHE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AASHE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS)coreACTS is a nonprofit member-based organization representing higher and further education institutions within Australia and New Zealand. AASHE works with ACTS to advance international collaboration and learning to accelerate the campus sustainability movement.
- Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC)coreEAUC is the environmental and sustainability champion for Further and Higher Education in the U.K. AASHE collaborates with EAUC to advance international collaboration and learning in campus sustainability.
- Better Buildings AllianceminorCoalition bringing together leaders from the nation's commercial building industry to share and advance solutions in energy efficiency.
- Council of Higher Education Management Associations (CHEMA)minorAn informal voluntary assembly of management-oriented higher education associations in the United States and Canada working on sustainability matters.
- Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS)coreAn informal network of professional associations working on educating the public about sustainability, curricula, standards and tenure requirements to reflect sustainability.
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC)coreA network of higher education associations with a commitment to advancing sustainability within their constituencies. AASHE serves as the coordinating body.
- Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll)minorOrganization working to transform the economic system so all actors prioritize shared wellbeing on a healthy planet.
- CLEANRminorBusiness partner offering microplastic capture filters for washing machines. CLEANR captures over 90% of microplastics from laundry before they pollute waterways.
- ClearloopminorBusiness partner creating carbon solutions for organizations to decarbonize the American economy and accelerate new solar projects in communities.
- CNaughtminorBusiness partner providing carbon credit purchasing and management solutions for sustainability teams. Trusted by University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Law School.
- Follett Higher EducationminorBusiness partner serving over 1,000 colleges and universities across North America with course materials, retail experiences, and sustainable practices.
- VeoliaminorBusiness partner developing and implementing environmental solutions for cities, industries and communities to manage, recycle and protect critical resources.
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)minorCollaborator on events, resources and joint initiatives advancing sustainability in higher education through green building standards.
- Second NatureminorCollaborator working on climate commitments and sustainability initiatives for higher education institutions.
- National Wildlife FederationminorCollaborator on environmental education and sustainability initiatives for higher education.
- Association of Climate Change OfficersminorCollaborator on climate leadership and professional development for higher education sustainability professionals.
- EcoChallengeminorCollaborator on behavior change and sustainability challenge programs for campus communities.
- Food Recovery NetworkminorCollaborator on food waste reduction and recovery initiatives in higher education dining services.
- Real Food ChallengeminorCollaborator on sustainable food procurement and campus dining transformation initiatives.
- International Society of Sustainability ProfessionalsminorCollaborator on professional development and certification for sustainability practitioners.
- Campus CompactminorCollaborator on civic engagement and community partnerships for higher education sustainability.
- US Partnership on Education for Sustainable DevelopmentcoreCoordinates DANS network with AASHE. The Partnership works to advance education for sustainable development nationally and globally.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AASHE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Real Food Challenge: Network focused on sustainable food procurement in higher-education dining; competes with AASHE's Communities of Practice in food procurement and campus dining sustainability.
- Second Nature: U.S. nonprofit focused on climate commitments and carbon neutrality in higher education; overlaps with AASHE on climate action programming and competes for member mind-share on sustainability strategy.
- International Living Future Institute (ILFI): Operator of the Living Building Challenge, JUST label, and other sustainability certifications; competes with STARS in the higher-education sustainability disclosure space and recognized AASHE as a JUST Organization.
- Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO): Membership association for climate and sustainability officers at government and institutional levels; competes for the same sustainability leadership audience that AASHE serves through its professional development programs.
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP): Professional membership association for sustainability practitioners; overlaps with AASHE's individual/professional membership and Communities of Practice offerings.
Broad incumbents
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operator of LEED, the dominant green-building rating system that extends into higher-education campus infrastructure; overlaps with AASHE's STARS framework in measuring institutional sustainability performance.
- National Wildlife Federation (Campus Ecology): Large environmental organization with a long-running Campus Ecology program targeting higher-education sustainability; overlaps with AASHE on curriculum, climate, and wildlife-related sustainability programming.
Others
- US Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development: National partnership coordinating education-for-sustainable-development efforts, co-coordinating DANS with AASHE; complementary mission with overlapping stakeholder networks.
Direct peers
- Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC): UK-based membership association for sustainability in further and higher education; operates the analogous sustainability framework (Green Evolution) and serves a near-identical member base to AASHE in a different geography.
- Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS): Australia and New Zealand's nonprofit member-based association for sustainability in higher and further education, providing a direct parallel to AASHE's role in North America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AASHE social profiles
Digital presenceAASHE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
AASHE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AASHE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
AASHE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AASHE 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 AASHE
What does AASHE do?
AASHE is a nonprofit membership association that provides sustainability resources, benchmarking frameworks, conferences, professional development, and community/networking platforms to higher education institutions and related organizations. Its flagship offering, the STARS sustainability rating system, enables colleges and universities to measure, report, and compare campus sustainability performance. Supporting products include the AASHE Conference & Expo, Campus Sustainability Hub, AASHE Connect online community, professional learning programs, recognition/awards, and peer mentorship initiatives.
Is AASHE a public or private company?
AASHE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AASHE founded?
AASHE was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AASHE based?
AASHE is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, United States, in the North America region.
How does AASHE make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Institutional Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are business Membership Dues, conference & Expo Revenue, advertising & Sponsorship and professional Development Programs.
Who are AASHE's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Real Food Challenge, Second Nature, International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) and International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). Broad incumbents are U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and National Wildlife Federation (Campus Ecology). US Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development is listed as an others. Direct peers are Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) and Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS).
Does AASHE have an API?
No public API is recorded for AASHE.
What industry is AASHE in?
AASHE's product category is Higher Education Sustainability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAJAB, Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD), with a secondary code of BPADANAI, Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.