Accelerated Restoration Collaborative

What Accelerated Restoration Collaborative does

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative (ARC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, that restores degraded forest and coastal ecosystems across Madagascar, Kenya, Brazil, and Nepal through its proprietary 'Employ to Restore' methodology. The core offering pairs a phased approach to forest restoration (spanning preparation, planting, enrichment, and conservation phases) with the ARC ProjectDesign process, employing local community members at fair wages to grow, plant, and protect trees at scale. Underlying operational infrastructure includes GIS and remote sensing tooling and a standardized MERV (Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Verification) framework for tracking outcomes, with a 'Planting Islands' technique that promotes outward forest growth while suppressing fire-prone grasses. The organization maintains a small core staff of roughly six employees and works through in-country implementation partners including Red Island Restoration in Madagascar and Guardians of Nature and People in Kenya, alongside partnerships with indigenous and community organizations such as the Bakairi, Quilombola, and Vondron'Olona Ifotony associations.

ARC monetizes exclusively through donations. Its revenue model is split between one-time or recurring contributions to specific national projects and a subscription-style monthly giving program, 180° by ARC, which enrolls donors as '180° Ambassadors' at suggested tiers of $2, $5, $10, or $20+ per month and recruits new supporters through Vision Groups to generate grassroots network effects. Donations are processed through Donorbox integrated with Stripe and PayPal under PCI-DSS compliance. A secondary B2B surface, the Accelerated Restoration Training (ART) Program, monetizes ARC's methodology by training external mission-driven organizations, environmental departments, and nature-based-solutions carbon developers to restore land at scale. ARC also pursues Corporate Partnership Program engagements for corporate social responsibility objectives, and is listed as an approved environmental partner within the 1% For The Planet network.

ARC's customer base is primarily individual philanthropists and grassroots donors, supplemented by corporate CSR sponsors. Geographic operations span Africa (Madagascar, Kenya), South America (Brazil), and Asia (Nepal), with multiple restoration sites per country. The organization was co-founded by Josiah Fitch (Executive Director, formerly of Eden Reforestation Projects and Compassionate Carbon) and Dr. Stephen Fitch (Executive Director Emeritus and ART Program Lead, former 17-year Founder/CEO of Eden Reforestation Projects, which planted over one billion trees under his leadership). Strategic positioning emphasizes community-led stewardship and long-term economic alternatives (agroforestry, eco-tourism) over short-term planting counts, with donor-facing transparency enabled through the Explorer.land platform.

Name

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative

Legal name

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative

Website

https://arcrestoration.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that employs local communities to restore degraded forests and coastal ecosystems across Madagascar, Kenya, Brazil, and Nepal via its 'Employ to Restore' methodology, funded by individual donors, monthly ambassadors, and corporate CSR partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration Services

akta.pro primary industry

Afforestation, Reforestation & Revegetation (ARR) (EUABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Forest restoration services
• Nonprofit environmental restoration
• Reforestation methodology
• Community employment programs
• Ecosystem restoration training

Headquarters

HQ city

Rancho Cucamonga

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ARC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that generates revenue entirely through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible within U.S. law guidelines. The organization offers monthly giving programs through the 180° Ambassador initiative and accepts one-time or recurring donations to specific national projects or general restoration efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative (ARC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that employs local communities to restore degraded forests and ecosystems at scale through its "Employ to Restore" methodology. It offers restoration project design, on-site implementation services, and training (Accelerated Restoration Training / ART) to mission-driven organizations, while funding operations via individual donations, corporate partnerships, and its 180° Ambassador monthly giving program. Active restoration operations span Madagascar, Brazil, Kenya, and Nepal.

Product overview

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative (ARC) is a nonprofit that offers a unified platform of environmental restoration services built around its 'Employ to Restore' methodology. The core offerings include ARC ProjectDesign (a phased approach to forest restoration), ARC On-Site Implementation services, and the ART Program (Accelerated Restoration Training) for training implementation partners. Additionally, the 180° by ARC sub-brand provides a monthly giving ambassador program that funds the restoration work. Together, these products enable ARC to employ local communities to restore forests and ecosystems at scale across multiple countries including Madagascar, Brazil, and Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Accelerated Restoration Training (ART): Training program that combines classroom and field hands-in-the-dirt training to restore at scale
• 180° by ARC
• Employ to Restore

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 billion trees planted through leadership experience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Guardians of Nature and People (GNP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementation partner in Kenya working with ARC on forest and coastal ecosystem restoration. GNP provides national implementation capacity while ARC brings international capital and measurement discipline. Kenya Nations Lead George Were represents GNP within the partnership.
• Red Island Restoration (RIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary implementation partner in Madagascar operating multiple restoration sites. RIR handles on-the-ground restoration work including nursery production, planting, and community engagement. ARC provides funding, training, and technical frameworks.
• Kenya Forest Service (KFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment regulatory partner in Kenya providing oversight and alignment with national forest guidelines. Ensures restoration efforts comply with national standards and benefit from government support.
• Kenya Forestry Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing technical expertise for forest restoration projects in Kenya.
• Narok County GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Kenya supporting restoration initiatives within Narok County.
• Community Forest AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organizations directly integrated into restoration supply chains and livelihood models in Kenya.
• Bakairi PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous community in Brazil partnering with ARC to restore native forests and preserve cultural heritage, specifically focused on Buriti Palm Tree conservation.
• Quilombola CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDescendants of African slaves in Brazil who implement coastal Amazon restoration projects, bringing cultural traditions and community leadership to restoration efforts.
• Madagascar Department of Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Madagascar providing regulatory oversight and alignment with national environmental policies for restoration projects.
• Iritituiua CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four communities in Brazil involved in Mara Mangue Mangrove restoration project, participating in nursery management, planting, and monitoring.
• Boa Vista CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity participant in Mara Mangue Mangrove restoration, involved in propagule collection and sustainable harvesting practices.
• Conceição CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity participant in Mara Mangue Mangrove restoration project.
• Ponta do Suares CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity participant in Mara Mangue Mangrove restoration project in Brazil.
• Vondron'Olona Ifotony (VOI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based forest management association in Madagascar that employs local residents and fosters leadership and economic opportunities through restoration work.
• Ben BachellerminorOthersCountry Director of Brazil leading ARC's work with Quilombola and indigenous communities.
• 1% For The PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental giving network where ARC is listed as an approved environmental partner, providing visibility and credibility to potential donors.
• Little DifferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting ARC's restoration mission through platform or resources.
• Be The ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman partner organization collaborating on environmental restoration initiatives.
• Honey FlowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting ARC through platform or resources.
• DotsEcominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting environmental restoration efforts.
• Open ForestsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in forest restoration space.
• FurthrminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting ARC's mission.
• ShareCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization.
• Purpose on the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for environmental initiatives.
• Ombraz Armless SunglassesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company with social/environmental mission.
• Prosperity CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization.
• Great BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch partner organization.
• TuBosqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization.
• Hybrid GeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization.
• Explorer LandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner platform for project exploration and transparency (explorer.land).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trillion Trees: A coalition of established conservation NGOs (BirdLife, WCS, WWF) funding forest restoration globally. Competes for the same corporate and institutional restoration funding and overlaps with ARC's geographic footprint.
• Plant-for-the-Planet: Youth-led global reforestation movement with a multi-country planting model and corporate partnerships. Comparable donor proposition and grassroots ambassador-style engagement.
• WeForest: International reforestation nonprofit partnering with local implementers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Shares ARC's science-based, multi-country, partner-delivered restoration model with corporate funding.
• Trees for the Future: Nonprofit focused on agroforestry and forest restoration in developing countries using a farmer-training, livelihoods-plus-environment model. Highly comparable to ARC's 'Employ to Restore' approach and target geographies.
• Eden Reforestation Projects: The original employer of ARC's co-founders and the organization against which ARC most directly benchmarks. Eden pioneered the employ-to-restore model at global scale (1B+ trees) and competes for the same donors and corporate partners, making it ARC's clearest functional twin.
• One Tree Planted: A high-volume reforestation nonprofit with a similar donation-driven, multi-country model and strong corporate partnership program. Competes with ARC for retail and corporate donor dollars across the same 'plant trees' value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest environmental nonprofits globally, with extensive forest and land restoration programs. Competes with ARC for major donor and corporate CSR dollars and sets the bar for restoration reporting standards.
• Conservation International: Global NGO with major forest restoration and nature-based solutions portfolios, including work in Brazil and Africa. A larger, broader incumbent competing for similar institutional and corporate partners.

Emerging players

• Mangrove Action Project: Specialized nonprofit focused on mangrove restoration and community-based coastal ecosystem rehabilitation. Directly comparable to ARC's mangrove work in Brazil's Mara Mangue project and Madagascar coastal sites.

Others

• Verra (Verified Carbon Standard): Not a peer nonprofit but the dominant standards body for voluntary carbon credits, including ARR and REDD+ categories. Relevant because ARC's leadership is building carbon project capacity and Verra's standards directly affect monetization potential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcrestorationorg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Accelerated Restoration Collaborative