Eco-School Network

What Eco-School Network does

Eco-School Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. It equips Oregon K-8 students, parents, and educators to design and lead student-adult sustainability teams in their school communities. The organization's program portfolio includes Mobile Outdoor Classrooms, Waste Reduction, School Gardens, Student Green Teams, Earth Day Activities, and Alternative Transportation initiatives. Operations are supported by a small team of 7 employees, with co-founder Jeanne Roy and Executive Director Amy Higgs in named leadership roles.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean and off-the-shelf. The Member Library, the organization's resource backbone, runs on NewZenler, providing a member-only LMS containing templates, guides, and planning worksheets. Newsletters are distributed via Mailchimp, event ticketing and donations are processed through Zeffy, and passive donor revenue flows through the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program. The organization holds 1% for the Planet membership as a brand credential. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems, patents, or custom-built platforms; all tooling is third-party SaaS optimized for nonprofit operations.

The revenue model is donation-driven and multi-channel. Individual donors contribute via one-time, monthly, or annual gifts at $100, $250, and $500 tiers tied to specific program outcomes. Corporate sponsors fund the Parties with a Purpose event series and appear on the donate page. Planned giving is structured through a Legacy Society featuring bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, and charitable gift annuities, with the 2023 Sue Alperin bequest cited as a milestone gift. Distribution is grassroots: direct engagement with Oregon K-8 schools, a self-serve online member platform, and community events rather than traditional sales channels. Customer segments are concentrated in a single vertical — Oregon public and private K-8 schools and the parent leaders who drive participation within them.

Name

Eco-School Network

Legal name

Eco-School Network

Website

https://ecoschoolnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eco-School Network is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips Oregon K-8 students, parents, and educators with training, resources, and peer networks to lead student-driven sustainability projects such as gardens, waste reduction, and outdoor classrooms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• School sustainability programs
• Student green teams
• Community-driven nonprofits
• Waste reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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: One-time, monthly, or annual donations from individuals supporting environmental education in Oregon schools. Donation tiers at $100, $250, and $500 levels for specific purposes.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships through Parties with a Purpose events and business sponsorship opportunities. Companies sponsor events and campaigns.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy society for planned gifts including bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and appreciated securities donations.
4. Community Rewards Programs: Fred Meyer Community Rewards program where shoppers link their cards to direct donations to ESN at no extra cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eco-School Network is an Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips K-8 schools with student-adult sustainability teams and delivers environmental education programs spanning school gardens, waste reduction, mobile outdoor classrooms, Earth Day activities, alternative transportation, and student green teams. It provides training, a member-only resource library, peer networks, and community-building fundraising events to help changemakers turn ideas into lasting school improvements. Programs are offered free to participating schools and are funded through donations, sponsorships, and events.

Product overview

Eco-School Network operates as a network and resource platform rather than a traditional software product. The organization offers a portfolio of environmental education programs and projects including Mobile Outdoor Classrooms, School Gardens, Student Green Teams, Waste Reduction initiatives, Earth Day Activities, and Alternative Transportation programs. These programs are supported by a member-only resource library (Member Library powered by Newzenler), training services, and a quarterly newsletter. The organization also runs a fundraising event series called 'Parties With a Purpose' and provides practical eco-living tips. The core value proposition is equipping students, parents, and educators with resources and peer networks to implement school sustainability projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Outdoor Classrooms Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Student-led projects create lasting improvements for people and the planet

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

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

• SAGEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Parties with a Purpose events. SAGE (Senior Advisors for Generational Engagement) Executive Director Steve Higgs featured at legacy planning events. Co-sponsored events supporting student-led environmental projects.
• Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (Portland)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability sponsors Parties with a Purpose events, supporting environmental education in Portland-area schools.
• Perkins CoiemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm Perkins Coie sponsors events and appears on donate page supporter list. Provides support for Eco-School Network programs.
• CohearityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Parties with a Purpose 2026.
• AtoZ WineworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor providing wine for garden party events.
• Trek BikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Parties with a Purpose 2026.
• Portland NurseryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Parties with a Purpose 2026.
• Fred MeyermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFred Meyer Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Fred Meyer card to direct ongoing donations to Eco-School Network at no extra cost to the shopper.
• Oregon MetrominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment partner listed on donate page supporting sustainable schools.
• Oregon Historical SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit supporter listed on donate page.
• ACHS (American College of Healthcare Sciences)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution supporter listed on donate page.
• Legacy Preservation LawminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEstate planning attorney Lindsay Kearl featured at Growing a Legacy webinar event to help supporters with planned giving.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Education Foundation: Provides K-12 environmental education curriculum, lesson plans, and school sustainability resources. Highly comparable to ESN's Member Library and training mission, though broader in geographic scope and more curriculum-publisher oriented.
• Captain Planet Foundation: Funds and supports student-led environmental projects in schools across the U.S. Same 'student as changemaker' framing as ESN; comparable target audience and program philosophy.
• Grades of Green: Nonprofit focused on student-led environmental projects at K-12 schools, with program mentorship and a national footprint. Closely mirrors ESN's student-adult team methodology and school-based delivery model.
• National Wildlife Federation (Eco-Schools USA): Runs the 'Eco-Schools USA' program — a school-based environmental education and sustainability certification framework. Most directly comparable to ESN because both target K-8 schools with a structured sustainability curriculum and recognition pathway, but NWF operates nationally with significantly larger resources.
• Green Schools National Network: Advocates for green, healthy, sustainable schools and supports school sustainability leaders. Comparable because it operates in the same 'greener schools' advocacy and resource space as ESN.

Broad incumbents

• Project Learning Tree: National environmental education program providing curriculum and training to educators. Broader, curriculum-focused incumbent that overlaps with ESN's training and educator-support mission.
• EarthEcho International: Youth environmental leadership nonprofit founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr. Runs school-facing programs and youth fellowships; comparable to ESN in mission and youth-leadership framing.
• Jane Goodall Institute (Roots & Shoots): Youth-driven environmental and humanitarian action program with school chapters. Comparable youth-empowerment philosophy and school-based activation model, though global in scope.

Regional players

• Oregon Environmental Council: Oregon-based environmental advocacy nonprofit working on policy and community programs. Shares ESN's Oregon geographic focus but operates at the policy/advocacy layer rather than school-based program delivery.
• SOLVE (Oregon): Oregon nonprofit running volunteer-led environmental stewardship and school-based clean-up programs. Overlaps with ESN's waste reduction and student-volunteer programming within the same Oregon footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theEcoSchoolNetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/theecoschoolnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eco-school-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Eco-School Network