Arizona Association for Environmental Education

What Arizona Association for Environmental Education does

The Arizona Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association founded in 1970 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. It operates as the designated Arizona affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), one of 56 affiliates in the national network, and functions as a community hub for environmental educators across the state. Its core programs include the eeCertification program (a 15-week, NAAEE-aligned certification costing $305 per participant), an annual conference that rotates across Arizona cities, the eeExcellence Awards program, the State of Outdoor and Environmental Learning (SOEL) landscape analysis co-developed with USDA Forest Service and Environmental Education of New Mexico, the eeFellowship for young professionals, and a Mini-Grant Program.

AAEE's membership tiers range from $35/yr (Student/Retiree) and $60/yr (Professional Individual) to $300 one-time Lifetime and $500/yr University/Corporate Team bundles that cover unlimited staff, with sliding-scale and pay-what-you-can options to reduce access barriers. Additional revenue comes from eeCertification fees ($305 per participant with a $20 application fee, three cohorts per year), conference registration and sponsorships ($250-$500+ tiers), and charitable donations starting at $5 (with suggested tiers up to $1,000 for Mini-Grant establishment). Technology infrastructure is intentionally lean: Wild Apricot powers membership, event registration, and donations on arizonaee.org, while Google Groups hosts the AAEE Community forum. Governance is via a working all-volunteer Board of Directors (seven members) led by a part-time Executive Director (LoriAnne Barnett Warren), with no disclosed full-time paid staff beyond the Executive Director role.

Name

Arizona Association for Environmental Education

Legal name

Arizona Association for Environmental Education

Website

https://arizonaee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arizona Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association, founded 1970 and based in Tucson, serving environmental educators across Arizona as the designated NAAEE affiliate. It delivers eeCertification, an annual rotating conference, professional development, awards, and the SOEL landscape analysis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education certification
• Nonprofit professional association
• Environmental educator networking
• Annual education conference
• Professional development workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson, Arizona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AAEE generates revenue through annual membership fees at multiple tiers: Student/Retiree ($35/yr), Professional Individual ($60/yr), Lifetime Individual ($300 one-time), Program or Organizational Team (bundle pricing), and University/Corporate Team ($500/yr). Course fee for eeCertification ($305) includes a free one-year AAEE membership ($60 value), linking this revenue stream to membership growth.
2. EE Certification Program: The reviewer-supported eeCertification program costs $305 per participant (sliding scale available), with a $20 non-refundable application fee. Three cohorts run per calendar year. The course includes asynchronous work, synchronous experiences, workshops, and field experiences.
3. Annual Conference Revenue: Conference registration fees generate revenue. Tiered sponsorship opportunities are offered at $250-$500 and above. Scholarships are raised and distributed to support educator attendance.
4. Donations and Grants: AAEE solicits donations starting at $5, with suggested tiers ($20 for student/retiree membership support, $50 for workshop attendance, $100 for conference, $250-$500 for conference sponsorship, $1000 for mini-grant program establishment). The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (FEIN: 94-2939953), indicating reliance on charitable contributions and grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AAEE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association that provides environmental education certification (eeCertification), an annual statewide conference, the eeExcellence Awards program, a tiered membership program, professional development workshops and webinars, the eeFellowship for young professionals, mini-grants, and the State of Outdoor and Environmental Learning (SOEL) landscape analysis. The core deliverables are professional recognition, networking, and capacity-building resources for environmental educators across Arizona.

Product overview

AAEE offers a comprehensive portfolio of environmental education programs and services in Arizona. The core offerings include the Environmental Education Certification Program (eeCertification), an annual professional conference rotating around the state, the eeExcellence Awards program recognizing outstanding educators, and a Professional Development program with webinars and workshops. Supporting programs include the eeFellowship for young professionals, a Mini-Grant Program for educators, and the Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education Training. AAEE also maintains the State of Outdoor and Environmental Learning (SOEL) inventory database in partnership with USDA Forest Service. The organization operates membership tiers providing access to community forums, job listings, mentorship, and professional resources. All programs are designed for formal and non-formal educators serving learners of all ages across Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arizona Environmental Education Certification Program (eeCertification)

Quantifiable outcome

• eeFellowship Program launched to support young professionals entering the field
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Grand Canyon UniversityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Grand Canyon University was a conference sponsor for the 2025 AAEE Annual Conference 'Reigniting Hope, Rising Together' held at GCU in Phoenix on September 5-6, 2025.
• Southwest Fire Science ConsortiumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Conference sponsor for both the 2025 and 2023 AAEE Annual Conferences.
• City of Phoenix Water Smart ProgramminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Conference sponsor for the 2025 AAEE Annual Conference.
• Western National Parks AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Conference sponsor for the 2025 AAEE Annual Conference.
• Salt River Project (SRP)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Conference sponsor for the 2025 AAEE Annual Conference.
• Arizona Master NaturalistsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Conference sponsor for the 2025 AAEE Annual Conference.
• Prescott CollegeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2023Conference sponsor for the 2023 AAEE Annual Conference held at Yavapai College, Prescott.
• Arizona Master Naturalist AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2023Conference sponsor for the 2023 AAEE Annual Conference.
• The Outdoor Learning StoreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2023Conference sponsor for the 2023 AAEE Annual Conference.
• North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAEE is 1 of 56 official affiliates within NAAEE's Affiliate Network. This affiliation provides AAEE with access to NAAEE's Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education, recognition for AAEE's eeCertification program, collaborative event opportunities, national networking, and credibility as the designated Arizona representative in the national EE ecosystem. AAEE collaborates with other NAAEE affiliates to host events at the annual NAAEE conference and webinars.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASU offers an Environmental Education Certificate that aligns with AAEE and NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence. Graduates of ASU's program may qualify for AAEE State-Level Environmental Education Certification, creating a seamless pathway from higher education to professional recognition. Dr. Mo Walters serves as the contact. ASU's working group for Sustainability Education co-hosts a pre-conference event at AAEE's annual conference.
• USDA Forest Service's Southwestern Region (Region 3)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA Forest Service Southwestern Region (3) partnered with AAEE and Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM) to develop the State of Outdoor and Environmental Learning (SOEL): A Landscape Analysis of Opportunities in the Southwest. This regional inventory of outdoor and environmental learning programs covers Arizona and New Mexico.
• Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEENM partnered with AAEE and USDA Forest Service to develop the SOEL landscape analysis. The SOEL includes an inventory of programs, resources, and initiatives across both Arizona and New Mexico, serving as a regional tool for decision-makers, organizations, and educators.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Project Learning Tree (PLT): PLT is a national environmental education curriculum program whose Arizona coordinator sits on AAEE's board; it provides K-12 educator training that complements AAEE's broader professional development offerings.
• Project WET Foundation: Project WET is a water-focused EE curriculum and educator training program that competes for the same K-12 and non-formal educator audience that AAEE serves through membership and certification.

Direct peers

• Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM): EENM is AAEE's most direct peer: a fellow NAAEE-affiliated state EE organization that co-developed the SOEL landscape analysis. It operates the same membership/certification/conference model in a neighboring state and is structurally identical to AAEE.
• California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE): AEOE is a peer NAAEE state affiliate in California offering the same combination of membership tiers, annual conference, and professional development for environmental educators, making it the most comparable organization in scale and scope to AAEE outside Arizona.

Broad incumbents

• National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF): NEEF is a national nonprofit advancing EE through grants, professional development, and public engagement; it overlaps with AAEE's mission and competes for federal and corporate EE funding that could otherwise flow to state affiliates.
• National Wildlife Federation: NWF operates large-scale environmental education programs (including Eco-Schools U.S.) targeting many of the same K-12 and non-formal educators and institutions that AAEE serves in Arizona.
• North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE): NAAEE is the national umbrella and AAEE's parent affiliate network; it sets the Guidelines for Excellence that underwrite AAEE's eeCertification, runs the national conference, and issues the 30 Under 30 program that has recognized AAEE board members.

Regional players

• Arizona Master Naturalist Association: Operated by AAEE's own Executive Director LoriAnne Warren, AMNA provides volunteer naturalist training in Arizona and is closely tied to AAEE's audience and conference sponsorship base, making it a complementary rather than directly competing peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arizonaee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arizona Association for Environmental Education