CitySprouts
CitySprouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free garden-based science education to approximately 8,000 elementary and middle school students across 24 partner schools in Cambridge and Boston Public Schools through full-time Garden Educators and a proprietary curriculum.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CitySprouts does
CitySprouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that delivers tuition-free, garden-based science education to public school students in urban communities. The organization operates three core programs: an In-School Elementary program serving pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students across 24 partner schools in Cambridge Public Schools and Boston Public Schools; the Green Team Middle School program providing afterschool and summer Out-of-School Time (OST) programming for 5th-8th graders; and a proprietary Garden Science Curriculum aligned with Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards. Programs are delivered by full-time Garden Educators embedded directly in partner schools and feature hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons that incorporate social-emotional learning competencies.
The organization supplements its school programs with ancillary offerings including the published children's book "We Garden Together" (Hachette Book Group), the annual Boston Area School Garden Conference, and the Dig It! fundraising event. CitySprouts employs 18 staff supported by more than 150 annual volunteers and reaches approximately 8,000 students and 350 teachers per year. The technology stack is non-digital by design — the "platform" consists of schoolyard garden classrooms and a downloadable lesson library rather than software, AI systems, or APIs.
CitySprouts is funded through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model that combines district service agreements with Cambridge and Boston Public Schools, individual and foundation donations, corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising (including a Cambridge Half Marathon charity bib program and the Dig It! annual event). The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and has no parent company or subsidiaries. Founder Jane Hirschi led the organization for 22 years before transitioning leadership to current Executive Director Susan Diller, a former classroom educator and school leader with 25+ years of experience.
CitySprouts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CitySprouts
- Legal name
- CitySprouts Inc
- Website
- https://citysprouts.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CitySprouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free garden-based science education to approximately 8,000 elementary and middle school students across 24 partner schools in Cambridge and Boston Public Schools through full-time Garden Educators and a proprietary curriculum.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CitySprouts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Outdoor Science Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
Keywords
Where CitySprouts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
CitySprouts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- School Service Agreements: CitySprouts programs are supported in part through service agreements with Cambridge Public Schools and Boston Public Schools. These agreements fund the in-school garden science programming at partner schools.
- Individual and Foundation Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CitySprouts relies on charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Donations are accepted via credit card, check, and Donor-Advised Funds. The organization holds an annual Dig It! fundraising event.
- Event-based Fundraising: Annual events such as Dig It! and Cambridge Half Marathon charity partnerships generate fundraising revenue. Cambridge Half Marathon charity bibs require minimum fundraising commitments of $500 for 5K or $1,500 for half marathon.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate and business sponsors support CitySprouts through event sponsorships and general program funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free Programs for Students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
CitySprouts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CitySprouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free, garden-based science education to urban elementary and middle school students through service agreements with Cambridge Public Schools and Boston Public Schools. Full-time Garden Educators lead inquiry-based science lessons aligned with Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards in schoolyard gardens at 24 partner schools, supplemented by afterschool Green Team clubs, a 5-week summer program, and a published children's book.
Product overview
CitySprouts is an educational nonprofit organization (not a technology company) that operates a portfolio of garden-based science learning programs. The core offerings include: In-School Elementary Programming (garden science lessons at 24 partner schools in Cambridge and Boston for pre-K through 5th grade), the Green Team Middle School Program (afterschool and summer OST programming for 5th-8th graders), and the Garden Science Curriculum (inquiry-based lessons aligned with Massachusetts standards). Additional offerings include the We Garden Together children's book published by Hachette, the annual Boston Area School Garden Conference, and the Dig It! fundraising event. All programs are tuition-free and designed to cultivate curiosity and wonder in students through hands-on outdoor science learning in schoolyard gardens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-School (Elementary) Garden Science Program School-year garden science programming led by full-time CitySprouts Garden Educators at partner elementary schools for pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students. Lessons are inquiry-based, aligned with Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards, and incorporate social-emotional learning. Reaches approximately 8,000 students and 350 teachers annually across 24 partner schools.
- Green Team (Middle School) Out-of-School-Time Program Tuition-free afterschool and summer Out-of-School Time (OST) program serving middle school youth in Boston and Cambridge, with priority for under-resourced communities. Builds STEM, cooking, nutrition, and leadership skills through schoolyard garden activities, field trips, and environmental excursions.
- Garden Science Curriculum Proprietary hands-on, inquiry-based garden science curriculum designed to cultivate curiosity and wonder in students through schoolyard garden learning. Lessons explore natural phenomena, encourage discussion, allow exploration at individual pace, and integrate social-emotional learning competencies.
- We Garden Together Book A children's book authored by CitySprouts staff and published by Hachette Book Group, featuring hands-on planting and growing activities for kids ages 3-6 with photos and step-by-step guidance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches approximately 8,000 students and 350 teachers annually across 24 partner schools
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CitySprouts
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CitySprouts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CitySprouts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MITcoreMIT served as the host venue for CitySprouts' Dig It! 2026 event celebrating the organization's 25th anniversary.
- The Food ProjectcoreThe Food Project's Dudley Greenhouse grows seedlings for CitySprouts' 24 partner schools. Green Team participants visit the greenhouse to observe plant growth and transplant seedlings. This partnership provides essential infrastructure for seedling cultivation across the program.
- Boston Afterschool and Beyond (BASB)minorExternal program evaluation and Certified Quality Assessments are provided through BASB for CitySprouts' OST network programs.
- The Cambridge Agenda for Children (AFCOST)minorExternal program evaluation and Certified Quality Assessments are provided through AFCOST for CitySprouts' OST network programs in Cambridge.
- Sun AssociatesminorExternal evaluator that captures programming outcomes and impact data for CitySprouts.
- LIFE ALIVEminorProvided lunch for the Boston Area School Garden Conference participants.
- Mass AudubonminorMass Audubon staff guided Green Team participants on kayak trips along the Charles River, providing environmental education and outdoor adventure experiences.
- Charles River ConservancyminorGreen Team participants kayaked with the Charles River Conservancy to learn about floating wetlands and reducing harmful algae blooms in the Charles River.
- Rose Kennedy Greenway ConservancyminorGreen Team visited the Rose Kennedy Greenway Garden to learn about food-producing plots and helped harvest produce.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CitySprouts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FoodCorps: National service organization placing members in schools to deliver hands-on food and garden education; matches CitySprouts' AmeriCorps/TerraCorps-style staffing and K-8 garden curriculum focus, but at multi-state scale.
- Big Green: National nonprofit that builds learning gardens in public schools and supports garden-based education; directly comparable to CitySprouts' elementary schoolyard-garden model but at significantly larger national scale.
- Edible Schoolyard Project: Founded by Alice Waters to embed garden and kitchen classrooms into public schools; offers a directly comparable curriculum-and-educator model to CitySprouts' Garden Science Curriculum and Garden Educator staffing.
- Life Lab: California-based nonprofit that runs school garden programs, publishes garden-based curriculum, and trains educators — closely aligned with CitySprouts' Garden Science Curriculum and Garden Educator model, but on the West Coast.
- The Food Project: Regional nonprofit combining urban agriculture with youth leadership and STEM skill-building; directly comparable to CitySprouts' Green Team middle-school program and a current operational partner supplying seedlings.
Others
- Mass Audubon: Massachusetts' largest nature conservation nonprofit with extensive school-based environmental education programming; a current CitySprouts partner and adjacent provider of outdoor learning experiences that complement garden-based science.
- Captain Planet Foundation: National environmental education funder supporting school gardens, STEM, and youth eco-leadership; comparable mission to CitySprouts but operates as a grantmaker rather than direct program provider.
Broad incumbents
- Slow Food USA: National organization promoting good, clean, and fair food with school garden and edible education initiatives; broader in scope than CitySprouts but overlapping on garden-based youth education and food justice.
Regional players
- Green Mountain Farm-to-School: Vermont-based farm-to-school and garden education nonprofit serving K-12 students in a different New England geography; directly comparable mission and programming model to CitySprouts' elementary and middle-school garden science work.
- GrowNYC: NYC-based nonprofit operating school garden, farm, and environmental education programs; comparable in mission and programming mix to CitySprouts but operating in a different urban geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CitySprouts social profiles
Digital presenceCitySprouts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CitySprouts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CitySprouts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CitySprouts 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 CitySprouts
What does CitySprouts do?
CitySprouts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free, garden-based science education to urban elementary and middle school students through service agreements with Cambridge Public Schools and Boston Public Schools. Full-time Garden Educators lead inquiry-based science lessons aligned with Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards in schoolyard gardens at 24 partner schools, supplemented by afterschool Green Team clubs, a 5-week summer program, and a published children's book.
Is CitySprouts a public or private company?
CitySprouts is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CitySprouts founded?
CitySprouts was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CitySprouts based?
CitySprouts is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does CitySprouts make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. School Service Agreements are the primary driver. The others are individual and Foundation Donations, event-based Fundraising and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are CitySprouts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FoodCorps, Big Green, Edible Schoolyard Project, Life Lab and The Food Project. Others are Mass Audubon and Captain Planet Foundation. Slow Food USA is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Green Mountain Farm-to-School and GrowNYC.
Does CitySprouts have an API?
No public API is recorded for CitySprouts.
What industry is CitySprouts in?
CitySprouts's product category is K-12 Outdoor Science Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAJAJ, Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run), with a secondary code of BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.