Clean Water Action

What Clean Water Action does

Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1972 during the campaign to pass the federal Clean Water Act, headquartered in Washington, DC with 324 employees and state-level operations across at least 11 states plus the District of Columbia. The organization pursues a portfolio of campaign priorities — clean water, oil and gas, toxic chemicals (notably PFAS), sustainability and zero waste, climate change and clean energy, civic engagement, and environmental justice — delivered through policy advocacy, community organizing, coalition leadership, and direct member mobilization. Its flagship programmatic offering is the ReThink Disposable program, launched in 2011, which provides free technical assistance to restaurants, schools, businesses, and government entities to help them transition from single-use disposable foodware to reusable systems; the program has documented 28 million+ pieces of single-use foodware replaced annually, 277,390 pounds of waste prevented per year, and $744,774 in annual partner cost savings across a 500+ partner network. The organization does not sell products or services; revenue is generated entirely through individual donations (one-time and recurring), membership dues, planned giving vehicles (IRA gifts, stock gifts, donor-advised funds, bequests), event sponsorships for conferences such as Making Waves, and grants from public agencies and private foundations. Distribution occurs through an online donation portal, state-based field staff for ReThink Disposable outreach, coalitions such as EmpowerNJ (135+ groups) and Jersey Renews, and partnerships with technology providers such as Recirclable for mobile-enabled reusable container programs. Recent strategic activity centers on the 2024 National Parks ReUse Project, documented state-level policy victories including Amara's Law (2023) and New Jersey's Skip the Stuff law (effective August 2026), and ongoing advocacy around warehouse pollution and PFAS regulation.

Name

Clean Water Action

Legal name

Clean Water Action

Website

https://cleanwater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clean Water Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 1972 that advocates for environmental protection through policy campaigns, community organizing, and the ReThink Disposable program helping restaurants, schools, and governments replace single-use foodware with reusables across 11+ states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation) (BPAIAJAE), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy services
• Water protection campaigns
• Zero waste consulting
• Nonprofit policy advocacy
• Community organizing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time and recurring donations. The organization offers monthly giving programs, one-time gifts, and various planned giving options including IRA gifts, stock donations, and bequests.
2. Membership Program: Organizational membership with associated benefits including publications, action alerts, and access to member-only content.
3. Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated from event tickets and corporate sponsorships for organization events such as Making Waves conferences.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clean Water Action is a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that campaigns for clean water protections and runs the ReThink Disposable program, which provides free technical assistance to restaurants, schools, businesses, and government entities to replace single-use disposable foodware with reusable alternatives. The organization also drives policy advocacy on issues including PFAS chemicals, oil and gas, climate, environmental justice, and zero waste across 12 states plus Washington, DC.

Product overview

Clean Water Action is an environmental advocacy organization offering a portfolio of campaigns and programs rather than a unified software product. The primary programmatic offering is the ReThink Disposable program, which works to reduce single-use plastic waste by partnering with businesses, schools, and governments to transition to reusable foodware. Additional offerings include advocacy campaigns on water protection, toxic chemicals, climate change, oil and gas, and environmental justice, plus the 'We All Live Downstream' podcast. The organization operates state-specific programs across California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington D.C.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReThink Disposable: A program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund that stops trash before it starts by working with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers to minimize single-use disposable packaging in food service.

Products and services

• ReThink Disposable Program A program that provides free technical assistance to restaurants, schools, businesses, and government entities to help them replace single-use disposable foodware with reusable alternatives. Since 2011, the program has operated across California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, with partners replacing 28 million+ pieces of single-use foodware annually and saving $744,774 in combined annual costs.
• National Parks ReUse Project An initiative of the ReThink Disposable program that partners with National Park Service sites and concessionaires to eliminate single-use foodware in high-traffic visitor areas, install water refill stations, and establish composting infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 million+ pieces of single-use foodware replaced each year through ReThink Disposable
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2023ReThink Disposable webinar partially funded by NOAA Marine Debris Program, supporting the program's mission to reduce plastic pollution in marine environments.
• explorUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerexplorUS partnered with Clean Water Fund's ReThink Disposable program to phase out single-use plastic food and beverage packaging at Mammoth Cave National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Silver Gull and Breezy Point Beach Clubs within Gateway National Recreation Area.
• RecirclablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecirclable partnered with Clean Water Action and local restaurants in Northampton, MA to provide a free mobile app enabling customers to check out reusable take-out containers instead of using disposables.
• ECHO SystemssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania's ReThink Disposable program partnered with ECHO Systems on a series of events promoting reuse and the Philly Unwrapped Waste Reduction Toolkit.
• Plastic Free AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Plastic Free America to donate Ahimsa stainless steel forks and spoons to schools in Rhode Island.
• Plastic Free RestaurantssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Charles Meyer, Founder of Plastic Free Restaurants, served as a panelist in the Plastic Free July Forum discussing reducing plastic pollution by switching businesses to reusable foodware.
• Valley Shore YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable in Connecticut partnered with Valley Shore YMCA's Cedar Lake Triathlon for three years on zero-waste racing program.
• Community Foundation of Middlesex CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable in Connecticut expanded in Middlesex County through support from Community Foundation of Middlesex County and the Rockfall Foundation.
• Rockfall FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable in Connecticut expanded in Middlesex County through support from the Rockfall Foundation.
• CARE for the Cape and IslandssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable in Massachusetts continued partnership with CARE for the Cape and Islands to provide reusable cups for New England Endurance Races.
• Rhode Island Department of EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCumberland School District used Get the Foam Out grant funds from Rhode Island Department of Education to purchase Ahimsa stainless-steel trays.
• Break Free From Plastic (BFFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Water Action's Zero Waste Specialist Marta Young selected as one of 16 representatives from the U.S. to attend BFFP's Global Members Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• East Carolina UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJenny Vickers formerly served as Program Assistant for the University Honors Program and Ethics Studies Program at East Carolina University.
• Asbury Park BoardwalksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Straws by Request program with participating establishments including Oyster Bar, The Anchor's Bend, Beach Bar, and Wonder Bar.
• Indian Summer Music FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Indian Summer Music Festival to green the event with straws by request, reusable cups with refill discount, and water refill stations.
• Indy Street Film FestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Indy Street Film Fest in Red Bank to reduce waste at community cookout and film screening.
• Woman Made (Asbury Park Bazaar)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped event of 500 attendees run completely plastic free with water refill stations.
• Asbury Park BazaarsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJenny Vickers is owner and event curator for the Asbury Park Bazaar, a pop up marketplace supporting small businesses in New Jersey.
• EmpowerNJ CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Water Action co-leads EmpowerNJ coalition with over 135+ supporting groups advocating for environmental policy reform.
• Jersey RenewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Water Action is a proud member of Jersey Renews, a broad coalition of labor, faith, community and environmental organizations.
• Coalition of Healthy Ports (CHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Water Action collaborates with Coalition of Healthy Ports, Earthjustice and Environmental Defense Fund on NJ Indirect Source Review legislation.
• Engaging NetworkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party vendor used to host donation, event, and advocacy action pages with secure SSL encryption for commerce transactions.
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable in New Jersey supported by NEIWPCC through EPA Trash Free Waters initiatives.
• Environmental Endowment of New JerseysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReThink Disposable program in Newark-Montclair area supported by Environmental Endowment for New Jersey.
• Zero Waste ChefsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Zero Waste Chef for Plastic Free July tips and homemade versions of processed foods.

Scale indicators31 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Clean-water advocacy network with on-the-ground organizers protecting waterways — overlapping mission with Clean Water Action's core water and pollution-prevention advocacy.
• Surfrider Foundation: Coastal and ocean conservation nonprofit with a strong focus on reducing single-use plastics and plastic pollution — directly comparable to Clean Water Action's ReThink Disposable and Sustainability & Zero Waste campaigns.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global nonprofit coalition focused on ending plastic pollution, aligning closely with Clean Water Action's ReThink Disposable program and zero-waste advocacy work.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace USA: Large environmental advocacy organization with comparable campaigns on plastics, climate, and corporate accountability; competes for donations and media attention.
• Earthjustice: Public-interest environmental law organization co-collaborating with Clean Water Action on NJ Indirect Source Review legislation. Overlaps on water-pollution, toxic-chemicals, and environmental-justice advocacy through litigation.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major environmental advocacy and litigation organization working on clean water, toxic chemicals, and climate. Overlaps directly with Clean Water Action's water and toxic-chemicals campaigns and competes for foundation funding and policy wins.
• Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental advocacy organizations with similarly broad campaign priorities (climate, water, conservation, environmental justice) and a comparable member-donation revenue model. Directly competes for donors, policy influence, and grassroots mobilization.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large environmental nonprofit combining advocacy, science, and economic analysis. Competitor for funding and a partner in coalitions like Coalition of Healthy Ports, working on adjacent water and warehouse-pollution issues.
• Friends of the Earth: Environmental advocacy organization working on plastics, climate, and food systems; comparable as a national advocacy peer campaigning on plastic pollution and related issues.

Emerging players

• GreenFaith: Faith-based environmental organization focused on climate, water, and pollution — overlapping with Clean Water Action's environmental-justice and zero-waste advocacy, particularly in NJ markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cleanh2oaction
• Facebookfacebook.com/CleanWaterAction
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanh2oaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleanwateraction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Clean Water Action