Council for Responsible Sport

What Council for Responsible Sport does

Council for Responsible Sport is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, founded in 2007 as an independent third-party certification body for responsibly produced sporting events. It develops and maintains the Responsible Sport Event Certification standards across five categories (planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity, and community legacy), with tiered certification levels of Silver, Gold, and Evergreen. In 2021, the Council extended its certification framework with the Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations, enabling multi-event sport governing bodies and associations to pursue certification at the organizational level. As of the most recent disclosures, more than 250 events in 8 countries have adopted the standards, with over 160 having earned official certification.

The Council's core technology asset is the ReScore cloud-based application, developed in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and updated to Version 5 in November 2024 with simplified documentation, color-coded tracking, and an updated greenhouse gas calculator. ReScore allows event organizers to self-assess, track, measure, report, and verify sustainability performance against the Council's standards, and is offered on a complimentary basis for initial assessment. The organization also publishes the Responsible Event Framework (developed with the City of Eugene) and a Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events (developed with Nuun) as supporting resources.

Revenue is generated through event certification fees, donations collected via PayPal and Stripe, and the strategic technology partnership with TCS. The customer base comprises sport event organizers, sport organizations, and sustainability consultants serving marathons, mass-participation running events, collegiate athletics, professional sports, and cultural festivals. The Council maintains relationships with marquee customers including the TCS London Marathon, ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, Grandma's Marathon, Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, NCAA Women's Final Four, and Major League Baseball. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, with no parent company, institutional investors, or equity funding.

Name

Council for Responsible Sport

Legal name

Council for Responsible Sport

Website

https://councilforresponsiblesport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Council for Responsible Sport is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2007 and based in Eugene, Oregon, that operates the world's leading independent certification program for responsibly produced sporting events across five sustainability categories, with 250+ certified events in 8 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity) (MPAKAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Anti-Doping & Integrity Bodies (WADA, match-fixing/integrity units) (MPAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Sustainability certification
• Event certification
• Responsible sport standards
• Environmental verification
• Sport sustainability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene, Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that relies on donations to expand access to sustainable sport. Donations are collected through PayPal and Stripe payment systems.
2. Event Certification Fees: Events pay for certification services including the verification process, independent assessment, and ongoing certification maintenance. Certification is achieved by complying with standards across five categories with objective and independent verification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Council for Responsible Sport independently certifies, supports and celebrates responsibly produced sporting events. Through its Event Certification program, it verifies compliance across five categories (planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity, and community legacy) at Silver, Gold, and Evergreen levels, using a cloud-based ReScore application developed with Tata Consultancy Services to track, report and certify sustainability performance.

Product overview

The Council for Responsible Sport offers a portfolio of interconnected products centered on sustainability certification for sporting events. The core offering is ReScore, a cloud-based app developed with Tata Consultancy Services that enables event organizers to track, measure, and verify their sustainability efforts against the Responsible Sport Standards. The product suite includes Event Certification at Silver, Gold, and Evergreen levels, the Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations (for multi-event organizations), the Responsible Event Framework (a triple-bottom-line planning guide), and the Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events. Together these products provide a comprehensive ecosystem for events to assess, certify, and improve their social and environmental responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReScore: A digital certification platform developed in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) that allows sporting events to track and report their sustainability efforts.
• Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations

Products and services

• ReScore A cloud-based application developed in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services that enables sporting events to track, measure, report, and verify their sustainability and social responsibility efforts against the Council's certification standards.
• Event Certification (Responsible Sport Standards) Independent verification and certification program for sporting events, assessing compliance across five categories: planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity, and community legacy. Certification levels include Silver, Gold, and Evergreen.
• Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations A certification program enabling multi-event sport organizations to assess their activities against the Responsible Sport Standards and pursue official organizational-level certification.
• Responsible Event Framework A pioneering framework developed in partnership with the City of Eugene to help event stakeholders adopt and achieve objectives applying a triple bottom line concept of weighing social and environmental results alongside economic outcomes.
• A Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events A 10-Point Guide developed in partnership with Nuun to support endurance event organizers in planning more sustainable sports events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 events certified globally across 8 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HeadsweatsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2026Headsweats has long been a leader in performance headwear, trusted by endurance athletes nationwide. The company is also committed to responsible manufacturing, including use of recycled materials. Partnership reflects both performance and purpose, with Headsweats products worn by charity runners and on-site verifiers at certified events.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Strategic partnership with TCS to digitize the certification process through development of the ReScore™ App. TCS is one of the world's largest digital solutions integrators, providing technology and expertise to measure, manage, and minimize environmental impact. The partnership has made reporting more efficient, streamlined, and accessible for events of all sizes.
• NuunminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2020Partnership on 'A Practical Guide to Hosting Radically Responsible Events,' a 10-Point Guide supporting organizers in planning more sustainable sports events. The guide was launched at Running USA Industry Conference to reach industry professionals.
• United Nations Sports for Climate Action InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2019The Council collaborates with the United Nations Global Climate Action program to collect signatories and facilitate collaboration among organizations committed to principles of the Sports for Climate Action Initiative. Working to advance sustainable sport practices at the highest international governance levels.
• City of EugenecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2018Partnership with the City of Eugene to develop the Responsible Event Framework, a pioneering program for hosting responsible, sustainable events. Work was funded by Global Philanthropy Partnership and Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN).
• Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2018Collaborated on funding and development of the Responsible Event Framework, bringing together leading practices from cities including Phoenix, Boulder, San Jose, Washington D.C., Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis.
• The Urban CanopyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal compost service that collects compostable materials from certified events like Bank of America Chicago 13.1. The finished compost is donated to community gardens.
• The McCourt FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperator of ASICS Los Angeles Marathon and other events. The McCourt Foundation has been deeply committed to responsible sport since 2009 and their events reflect that dedication.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Green Building Council (LEED): Established non-profit sustainability certification body (LEED for buildings/events). Comparable as a mature, well-known independent standards and certification organization with similar methodology and recognition-based value proposition.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO 20121): ISO 20121 is the international standard for sustainable event management, often a formal certification route chosen by large events. Comparable as the dominant alternative compliance standard for sustainable events that CRS competes against or complements.
• B Lab (B Corporation): Global non-profit that certifies companies against social and environmental performance standards. Comparable certification business model (independent third-party verification against defined standards), though it covers all companies, not just sports events.
• EcoVadis: Global sustainability ratings provider that scores companies on environmental, social, and ethical performance. Comparable as an independent sustainability assessment/verification business that supports procurement decisions, though focused on corporate supply chains rather than events.

Emerging players

• Athletes for Hope: Non-profit that mobilizes athletes around social causes and community impact. Comparable as a sports-centered non-profit operating at the intersection of athletics and broader social responsibility, though focused on athlete philanthropy rather than event certification.

Direct peers

• Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI): International non-profit that convenes sport organizations on sustainability strategy and produces benchmarking for the sports industry. Directly comparable as another independent standards/advocacy body working with sports events and federations on environmental and social responsibility.
• Positive Impact (Events): UK-based consultancy providing sustainability strategy, tools, and training to the events industry, including sports. Comparable as a sustainability services provider specifically serving the live-events sector.
• MeetGreen: Sustainability consulting firm that helps meetings and events (including sports events) measure, manage, and certify environmental and social impact. Closely comparable service offering to CRS's certification of events against sustainability criteria.
• Green Sports Alliance: North American non-profit coalition that helps sports teams, leagues, venues, and events adopt sustainable operations. Comparable mission and member base to CRS, focused on advancing environmentally responsible sport practices.

Others

• United Nations Sports for Climate Action Initiative: UN framework under which sports organizations commit to climate action principles. CRS is a partner/collaborator; comparable as an adjacent governance-level framework setting the standards CRS helps events operationalize.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-for-responsible-sport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Council for Responsible Sport