What CleaneAIRE NC does

CleanAIRE NC is a North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 (originally as the Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, later renamed Clean Air Carolina in 2009 and rebranded again as CleanAIRE NC in 2021) that focuses on air-quality monitoring, climate advocacy, environmental justice, and health education. Headquartered in Charlotte with a regional office in Chapel Hill, the organization runs a portfolio of programmatic offerings including the AirKeeper Network (volunteer citizen scientists using PurpleAir and Kaiterra sensors in clusters of 10-15 monitors to measure PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO2, temperature, and humidity), the AirKeeper Dashboard (an interactive web platform launched in 2025 that combines air-quality readings, pollution source mapping, demographic overlays, and health statistics, co-developed with Eastern Research Group), CleanAIRE Academy (online courses on air quality, advocacy, and community science), the annual NC BREATHE Conference, the GreenPrints environmental-justice initiative with the City of Charlotte and Sol Nation, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders coalition coordinating 30+ partner organizations.

The organization funds its operations through individual donations (with structured giving tiers including the $1,000+ Blue Sky Donor Program), planned giving, EarthShare NC workplace giving, and grants from foundations such as Z. Smith Reynolds, Energy Foundation, Blumenthal Foundation, and Patagonia Charlotte. It employs 15-20 staff covering executive leadership, programs (community science, education, health, environmental justice), communications and marketing, data systems (GIS/Dashboard, CRM), and development. Its primary beneficiaries are North Carolina residents—particularly environmental-justice communities disproportionately burdened by pollution—along with healthcare professionals, students and educators, healthcare systems and universities participating in the Clean Construction Partnership, and local/state policymakers.

CleanAIRE NC positions itself as a community-led advocacy organization rather than a commercial enterprise. It has documented policy and litigation outcomes including an EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign Visionary Champion Leadership Award (2015), a 95% VOC emissions reduction negotiated settlement at the Enviva Hamlet facility, a historic settlement with NC DOT to reduce climate emissions from state-funded transportation projects, federal EPA monitor installation in Historic West End following citizen-science data presentation, an 18-bus battery-electric procurement by CATS, and active federal lawsuits against the Trump EPA's soot standard, ethylene-oxide exemptions, and the NEVI EV-infrastructure program.

Name

CleaneAIRE NC

Legal name

CleanAIRE NC

Website

https://cleanairenc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CleanAIRE NC is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing air-quality monitoring, climate advocacy, health education, and environmental-justice programming through its AirKeeper citizen-science sensor network, AirKeeper Dashboard, CleanAIRE Academy, and coalition partnerships with healthcare systems, universities, and municipalities across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations through online donation portal with options for one-time or recurring contributions at various amounts ($25, $50, $75, $100 or custom). Monthly, quarterly, and annual billing options available.
2. Blue Sky Donor Program: Major donor program at $1,000+ level enabling organizational reserves and funds for unexpected campaigns.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through wills, living trusts, or estate plans.
4. EarthShare NC: Workplace giving through EarthShare North Carolina payroll deductions.
5. Grants and Support: Funding from foundations and partners including Patagonia Charlotte support grants, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Energy Foundation, and Blumenthal Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CleanAIRE NC is a North Carolina nonprofit that runs community-based air quality monitoring, data visualization, education, advocacy, and environmental justice programs. It operates the AirKeeper Network of citizen science air monitors (PurpleAir and Kaiterra sensors), publishes the interactive AirKeeper Dashboard, delivers online courses through CleanAIRE Academy, and mobilizes volunteers, healthcare professionals, students, and policymakers through advocacy campaigns, the NC BREATHE Conference, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders coalition, and the Historic West End Green District.

Product overview

CleanAIRE NC is a statewide environmental nonprofit offering a portfolio of programs focused on air quality monitoring, education, advocacy, and environmental justice. The core offerings include the AirKeeper Dashboard (interactive web platform for air quality data visualization and advocacy), CleanAIRE Academy (online learning courses), the NC BREATHE Conference (annual climate and health conference), and community-driven initiatives like GreenPrints and the Historic West End Green District. The organization also facilitates the Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders coalition and operates the AirKeeper Network for citizen science air monitoring. These programs work together to advance clean air and climate goals through data, education, and community advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CleanAIRE Academy: Online learning platform offering specialized courses for community leaders, professionals, students, and individuals on air quality, advocacy, health, and environmental justice topics.
• AirKeeper Dashboard
• NC BREATHE Conference
• GreenPrints
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders
• Historic West End Green District

Products and services

• AirKeeper Dashboard Interactive web-based platform that combines air quality readings from PurpleAir sensors, pollution source mapping, demographic and health data, and advocacy report generation for North Carolina communities. Free public access for residents, advocates, and researchers.
• CleanAIRE Academy Online learning platform offering free courses on Air Quality 101, Advocacy in Action, Air Pollution & Health, AirKeeper Dashboard usage, and Community Science & Air Monitoring. Designed for community leaders, professionals, students, and individuals.
• NC BREATHE Conference Annual statewide conference bringing together health professionals, researchers, community leaders, policymakers, students, and advocates to discuss health impacts of air pollution and climate change. Held since 2015.
• CleanAIRE Affair Annual event (formerly State of the Climate) celebrating climate progress and looking ahead to opportunities for climate action in North Carolina.
• GreenPrints Environmental justice initiative creating community-driven plans for Charlotte neighborhoods, integrating community feedback with environmental data to develop localized plans focused on clean air, green spaces, and community resilience.
• Historic West End Green District Collaboration with Charlotte's Historic West End community since 2017 to improve air quality, reduce emissions, and advance equity through local air monitoring, tree planting, green infrastructure, and EV charging stations.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders Coalition of 30+ Charlotte-area organizations working to help the city and county meet climate goals through advocacy for clean energy, electric vehicles (including the 18 battery-electric CATS buses and goal of replacing all 323 buses), and carbon-reduction strategies.
• AirKeeper Network Community science program where volunteer AirKeepers measure and track local air quality using PurpleAir PM10/PM2.5 sensors and Kaiterra Senseedge monitors (particulates, VOCs, CO2, temperature, humidity). Implements a cluster network strategy of 10-15 monitors per cluster.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 battery electric buses purchased by CATS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Patagonia CharlottecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Patagonia Charlotte Support Grant recipient since 2024. Grateful for support across all programs and Charlotte community engagement initiatives.
• Sol NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in GreenPrints environmental justice initiative. Co-hosted community engagement kick-off event with City of Charlotte at Freedom Drive in June 2024.
• City of CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in GreenPrints initiative creating community-driven plans for Charlotte neighborhoods. Co-hosted Blue Cross Blue Shield Community Engagement Kick-off in June 2024.
• Eastern Research Group (ERG)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020ERG evaluated the AirKeeper network status in 2020 and helped create the cluster network strategy. They partnered with CleanAIRE NC to develop the AirKeeper Dashboard, with expert developers working with AirKeepers to co-create the tool.
• PurpleAircoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020PurpleAir provides affordable air quality sensors that measure PM2.5 pollution. CleanAIRE NC was one of the first organizations to purchase a large order of monitors. PurpleAir operates with collaboration spirit, recognizing their product functions as a starting point for turning data into action.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Member of Clean Construction Partnership to adopt construction practices that reduce air pollution and adverse health effects. One of the largest hospital systems in North Carolina.
• Novant HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Member of Clean Construction Partnership working to adopt clean construction standards and reduce particulate matter exposure from diesel-powered equipment.
• UNC CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Clean Construction Partnership and Canvas for Our Climate initiative through Levine Scholars program. Collaborates on student engagement and climate advocacy.
• East Carolina UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Member of Clean Construction Partnership, one of the largest university systems participating in clean construction standards adoption.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders (CMCL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Broad coalition of 30+ Charlotte-area organizations working to ensure the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County meet ambitious climate goals. Meetings held quarterly at CleanAIRE NC's Charlotte office.
• US Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Selected Clean Air Carolina as one of two organizations nationwide to help develop the Air Sensors Toolbox for Citizen Scientists. EPA regional office supports clean air initiatives.
• ecoAmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ecoAmerica's Path to Positive Communities for NC Climate Ambassadors training program.
• Mecklenburg County Air QualitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for air quality monitoring and regulation in Mecklenburg County.
• NC Air AwarenesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government program partner for air quality awareness.
• Historic West End Green DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since 2017 to create a Green District improving air quality, reducing emissions, and advancing equity in Historic West End of Charlotte.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Clean Air Council: Regional air quality advocacy organization promoting clean air and climate solutions through community engagement and policy — closely comparable to CleanAIRE NC's community-led, education- and advocacy-driven clean-air mission in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Groundwork USA: National network of local environmental justice community organizations running hyperlocal green infrastructure, air monitoring, and community science projects — closely comparable to CleanAIRE NC's Historic West End Green District and AirKeeper community-science model.
• Southern Environmental Law Center: Regional environmental legal advocacy organization operating across the Southeast on clean air, climate, and energy issues — closely comparable to CleanAIRE NC's Southeastern U.S., clean-air/climate, legal-advocacy focus, including active litigation against federal environmental rollbacks.
• Appalachian Voices: Regional environmental advocacy nonprofit working across multiple Southeastern/Appalachian states on air quality, clean energy, and environmental justice — directly comparable to CleanAIRE NC's regional, multi-state clean-air/climate advocacy model.
• Air Alliance Houston: Community-based air quality monitoring and advocacy organization focused on fenceline and overburdened communities — directly comparable to CleanAIRE NC's citizen-science air monitoring, EJ, and policy advocacy approach, though serving Houston rather than NC.
• NC Conservation Network: Statewide coalition of environmental and conservation groups in North Carolina — directly comparable to CleanAIRE NC's Charlotte-based statewide coalition-building approach, including co-convening advocacy networks and policy campaigns in NC.

Broad incumbents

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization litigating clean air and climate cases — directly comparable to CleanAIRE NC's federal-lawsuit approach (soot standards, ethylene oxide, NEVI), but operating as a national legal powerhouse rather than a regional advocacy nonprofit.
• Sierra Club: Largest U.S. grassroots environmental organization with active North Carolina chapters working on clean air, climate, and environmental justice — comparable to CleanAIRE NC's community organizing, advocacy, and policy work, but with a national footprint.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major national environmental advocacy and legal organization with active work on air quality, climate, and environmental justice — broadly comparable to CleanAIRE NC's advocacy and litigation strategy, but operating nationally with substantially more resources.
• Environmental Defense Fund: Large national environmental advocacy organization with deep climate, clean air, and health portfolios — a broader incumbent comparable to CleanAIRE NC's clean-air/climate advocacy mission, but operating at national rather than regional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cleanairenc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-aire-nc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 CleaneAIRE NC