The Earth Commons, Georgetown University

What The Earth Commons, Georgetown University does

The Earth Commons is Georgetown University's Institute for Environment & Sustainability, operating as a nonprofit academic and research unit within the university. Established in 2012 as the Georgetown Environment Initiative through a $20 million anonymous gift and rebranded under its current name in 2022, the institute operates across Georgetown's Hilltop Campus (Regents Hall, 37th and O Streets NW), the Capitol Campus (111 Massachusetts Avenue, near the US Capitol), and an expanding international footprint through Earth Commons Greece in partnership with Public Power Corporation.

Its core offerings span undergraduate education (BS in Environment & Sustainability, jointly with the College of Arts & Sciences), three graduate degree programs (MS in Environment & Sustainability Management with McDonough School of Business, MS in Environment & International Affairs with the School of Foreign Service, and MS in Climate, Environment & Health), the Environmental Science & Policy Fellowship (Capitol Campus residency for up to 20 STEM students per cohort), and six specialized research labs (Jones, Helm, Lickley, Mammal Conservation, Marra, and SURGE). Supporting programs include the ECo Impact Awards (up to $20,000 seed funding), Green Commons Awards, ECo Talks, an Artist-in-Residence program, and community initiatives such as Hoya Harvest Garden and NatureRX.

The institute is funded through university allocations, philanthropic gifts, and competitive research grants (including a $4M NSF grant in 2025), and serves undergraduate students, graduate students, a 200+ member Faculty & Staff Network spanning all nine Georgetown schools, federal and NGO partners (EPA, FDA, NOAA, NRDC), and the broader Washington DC community. It does not operate as a commercial enterprise and generates no disclosed product revenue.

Name

The Earth Commons, Georgetown University

Legal name

The Earth Commons, Georgetown University

Website

https://earthcommons.georgetown.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Earth Commons is Georgetown University's nonprofit Institute for Environment & Sustainability, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, research labs, fellowships, and community programs in environmental science, policy, and sustainability across its DC campuses and Greece.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Higher Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI)

Keywords

• Environmental sustainability education
• Interdisciplinary research institute
• Graduate environmental programs
• Environmental policy studies
• Climate science research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Earth Commons is Georgetown University's Institute for Environment & Sustainability, providing interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate degree programs (BS in Environment & Sustainability; MS in Environment and Sustainability Management; MS in Environment & International Affairs; MS in Climate, Environment & Health). It operates six specialized research labs, the ECo Impact Awards seed funding program, fellowships, and community engagement initiatives (NatureRX, Hoya Harvest Garden, Environmental Justice Commons) connecting students, faculty, and partners to environmental action.

Product overview

The Earth Commons is Georgetown University's Institute for Environment & Sustainability, offering a portfolio of educational programs including undergraduate (BS in Environment & Sustainability), graduate degrees (MS in Environment and Sustainability Management, MS in Environment & International Affairs, MS in Climate, Environment & Health), and professional fellowships. The institute combines these academic offerings with research labs, community service programs (Hoya Harvest Garden, NatureRX), arts and engagement initiatives (ECo Talks, Artist in Residence, ECo ArtWalk), and funding programs (ECo Impact Awards up to $20,000, Green Commons Awards) to accelerate action on environmental and sustainability issues through education, research, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BS in Environment & Sustainability An undergraduate degree program that students pair with a second major or minor across Georgetown's nine schools. Students live and learn on the Hilltop Campus and have the option to live on the Capitol Campus. Includes an accelerated BS+MS pathway and a Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) co-major option with the School of Foreign Service.
• MS in Environment and Sustainability Management (MS-ESM) A 30-credit, STEM-designated graduate degree available full-time (one year) or part-time (two years). Students take core courses on environmental science and policy, electives on business, policy, and science, and complete an experiential field practicum (often at DC-area organizations such as EPA, FDA, NOAA, NRDC). Offers individualized career coaching with a 97% career outcomes rate within six months.
• MS in Environment & International Affairs (MS-EIA) A 36-credit, STEM-designated, one-year intensive graduate degree that integrates environmental and sustainability studies with international affairs, diplomacy, and policy. Students take classes at both the Hilltop and Capitol campuses and complete practical experiences in Washington DC and internationally.
• MS in Climate, Environment & Health A graduate degree examining the intersection of climate, environment, and human health. Students study how environmental changes impact public health outcomes and develop expertise to address these challenges through policy, research, and practice.
• ECo Impact Awards A seed funding program offering up to $20,000 per project to support Georgetown faculty, staff, and students undertaking environmental and environmental justice research, teaching, and convening initiatives. Awards support projects that translate research into public impact and advance the institute's interdisciplinary mission.
• ECo Fellows Program A fellowship program supporting post-doctoral and visiting scholars affiliated with The Earth Commons. Fellows engage with Georgetown's interdisciplinary environmental community across the nine schools and contribute to research, teaching, and convening activities.
• NatureRX A community engagement initiative that encourages Georgetown students, faculty, staff, and DC community members to connect with nature for wellness and environmental awareness. The program organizes outdoor experiences and nature-based activities on and around Georgetown's campuses.
• Hoya Harvest Garden A service-learning garden and sustainability initiative that provides opportunities for Georgetown students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage in hands-on sustainable agriculture, food access, and environmental stewardship activities.
• Environmental Justice Commons A convening initiative providing shared spaces and programming for Georgetown students, faculty, community partners, and grassroots collaborators to address environmental justice challenges, particularly those affecting DC-area communities historically impacted by environmental harm.
• Earth Commons Greece Study Abroad An international study abroad program operated by The Earth Commons in Greece, offering Georgetown students immersive experiential learning on environment, sustainability, and international affairs in an international setting.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Public Power Corporation (PPC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Georgetown University is establishing a branch in Greece in partnership with Athens-based Public Power Corporation (PPC) Group to launch programs in Greece, as confirmed by a Georgetown spokesperson to the Voice on Tuesday. The partnership aims to expand Earth Commons Greece programs.
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship placement location for Environmental Science & Policy Fellowship students. EPA offers federal government experience in environmental policy and regulation.
• FDA (Food and Drug Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship placement location for Environmental Science & Policy Fellowship students providing experience in federal health and environmental agencies.
• NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship placement location for Environmental Science & Policy Fellowship students offering NGO experience in environmental advocacy.
• National Academies Board on Global HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast internship placement for ES&P Fellowship students providing access to prestigious health policy research.
• DC Environmental Film FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partnership hosting film screenings and panels at Georgetown's Capitol Campus as part of the 34th DC Environmental Film Festival, featuring environmental documentaries and expert discussions.
• Theater of War ProductionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProductions brought dramatic readings and facilitated dialogue model to Georgetown for Earth Day events, including Oedipus Project readings featuring notable figures.
• Washington PostcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated with Washington Post on the original Georgetown Waterfront mural installation 'The River and the Town' by Andrea Limauro.
• Embassy of SwedencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Embassy of Sweden on the original mural installation and 'We Hear You—A Climate Archive' global performance project.
• Galapagos Whale Shark ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonathan Green, founder of Galapagos Whale Shark Project, participated in Earth Commons film event discussing whale shark conservation research.
• World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) GreeceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship placement partner providing field experience in wildlife conservation in Greece.
• International Potato CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator for vector-borne disease transmission study generating data on crop pest life-history traits.
• International Center of Insect Physiology and EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator for agricultural pest and disease transmission research.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NOAA-National Marine Fisheries scientists on Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project for population modeling and marine mammal research.
• McDonough School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint degree program collaboration with McDonough School of Business for the MS in Environment & Sustainability Management (MS-ESM), where students take business courses taught by McDonough faculty.
• School of Foreign ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint degree program collaboration for MS in Environment & International Affairs (MS-EIA), a joint degree between SFS and the Earth Commons.
• Laboratory for Global Performance & PoliticscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on COP27 performance piece bringing environmental themes through performance art to international climate conference.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yale School of the Environment: Yale's dedicated environmental graduate school offering research, master's, and doctoral programs with strong interdisciplinary and policy orientation — the closest elite-private-university analogue to Earth Commons.
• Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability: Stanford's first new school in 70 years, dedicated to climate and sustainability across multiple departments with large-scale research labs and interdisciplinary programs comparable to Earth Commons.
• Columbia Climate School: Columbia University's climate-focused school combining earth science, policy, and communication programs with strong NYC-based research institute model similar in structure to Earth Commons.
• Duke Nicholas School of the Environment: Duke's environmental school offering graduate and undergraduate programs with strong policy, business, and science integration, comparable in interdisciplinary scope and elite-university positioning.
• Harvard Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability: Harvard's university-wide climate and sustainability institute coordinating research, education, and policy across schools — directly comparable structure to Earth Commons within a private elite university.
• Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability: Cornell's sustainability hub coordinating interdisciplinary research, education, and action across colleges — closely analogous to Earth Commons in mission, structure, and elite-private-university context.
• University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability: Dedicated sustainability school with master's and doctoral programs combining science, policy, and management — comparable academic offerings to Earth Commons across the public university landscape.

Broad incumbents

• MIT Sustainability: MIT's cross-cutting sustainability initiative coordinating research and education across all schools; broader and more technically focused than Earth Commons, but competes for similar interdisciplinary students.
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC): Major DC-area environmental research institute with deep federal connections; comparable in research breadth and DC policy access but with a pure-research rather than teaching mission.

Emerging players

• Woodrow Wilson Center - Environmental Change & Security Program: DC-based policy research program on environment and security; comparable in DC policy-orientation and federal network, but focused on convening and research rather than degree-granting education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theearthcommons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/earthcommons-georgetown
• Instagraminstagram.com/theearthcommons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Earth Commons, Georgetown University