Nature Nexus Institute

What Nature Nexus Institute does

Nature Nexus Institute (NNI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Culver City, California. NNI delivers experiential, place-based nature programming that integrates science and art (STEAM) for underserved communities across Los Angeles County. Its core products include the Watershed Field Trip Programs serving thousands of Title 1 school students annually, the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program (after-school high school program since 2008), the West Los Angeles College Conservation Studies Certificate Program (free non-credit courses), the Summer Fellows Program, Science Illustration Workshops, Schoolyard Habitats installations, and recurring community habitat restoration events at Baldwin Hills Parklands, Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, and Dockweiler Beach. Programs are NGSS- and Common Core-aligned and delivered free of charge to participants.

NNI is funded through a mix of individual donations (including planned giving via bequests, DAFs, QCDs, and life income gifts), corporate giving, and foundation/government grants — including recommended $22.5M NOAA Climate-Ready Coasts funding, USFWS Section 6 grants, CDC Foundation, NFWF, and California Outdoor Equity Grants. The organization employs 8 permanent staff (5 of whom are alumni of its own Greenhouse Program), hires 10–20 alumni seasonally, and hosts 30–40 internships annually. Approximately 3,000–5,000 people participate directly in NNI programs each year.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: free volunteer habitat restoration days, nature walks, field trips, and educational programs held at multiple nature sites across LA County. Distribution is built on partnerships with California State Parks, Los Angeles Audubon Society, USFWS, NOAA, Outward Bound California, LA STEM Collective, Kaiser Permanente, and West LA College. Marketing relies on organic social (Facebook, Instagram), email newsletters, earned media (PBS SoCal, LA Times, LA Parent), and partner referrals. No software products, mobile apps, or APIs are offered — the organization's "technology" is its pedagogical methodology, site portfolio, and community pipeline.

Name

Nature Nexus Institute

Legal name

Nature Nexus Institute

Website

https://naturenexusinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nature Nexus Institute is a Culver City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free STEAM-based environmental education, habitat restoration, and conservation career-pathway programs to underserved Los Angeles County communities, primarily Title 1 students, at sites throughout the Ballona Creek Watershed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Habitat restoration services
• STEAM education programs
• Conservation career training
• Community nature programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization receiving tax-deductible donations from individuals. Accepts DAF donations, one-time gifts, and recurring contributions. Tax ID #87-1515685.
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: Bequests, retirement asset gifts (QCD from IRA), stock and bond donations, and life income gifts including charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities.
3. Federal and Foundation Grants: Federal funding from NOAA Climate-Ready Coasts initiative ($22.5M recommended), USFWS Section 6 grants, CDC Foundation grants, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants, and Outdoor Equity Grants Program from California State Parks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nature Nexus Institute delivers free, place-based environmental education, habitat restoration, and STEAM programming that connects Los Angeles communities — particularly Title I school students and local residents — to nature spaces such as the Baldwin Hills wetlands. The Institute operates structured field-trip curricula, conservation certificate tracks, summer fellowships, science illustration workshops, schoolyard habitat installations, and community restoration events, all offered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

Nature Nexus Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of environmental education programs centered on connecting Los Angeles communities to nature. The core offerings include Watershed Field Trip Programs serving thousands of students annually at Ballona Creek Watershed sites, the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program (after-school high school program since 2008), West Los Angeles College Conservation Studies Certificate Program (free non-credit courses), Summer Fellows seasonal paid positions, Science Illustration Workshops, and Schoolyard Habitats installation. Additional programs include Community Habitat Restoration Events, Nature Walks and Sketching Events, Open Wetlands public events, and the Environmental Careers Pathways training program. These programs collectively aim to cultivate environmental stewardship and provide pathways to conservation careers for youth and community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Watershed Field Trips
• Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program
• WLAC Conservation Studies Certificate
• Summer Fellows Program
• Science Illustration Workshops
• Schoolyard Habitats
• Community Habitat Restoration Events
• Nature Walks and Sketching
• Open Wetlands (Wetland Fridays)
• Environmental Careers Pathways (ECP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3000-5000 people participate annually in nature programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LA STEM CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNNI is a proud member of the LA STEM Collective, collaborating on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education initiatives in Los Angeles.
• Outward Bound CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time collaborator providing backpacking trips and wilderness experiences for Greenhouse Program alumni and Conservation Studies students. Collaborated on 5-day Sierra National Forest backpacking trips and Joshua Tree excursions.
• Exceptional Children's FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with ECF adult program to provide nature experiences for participants.
• Omega Sci-Fi Awards / Lightbringer ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presents the Green Feather Award at the Omega Sci-Fi Awards, honoring environmentally themed sci-fi stories by high school students.
• Los Angeles Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Open Wetlands events at Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. NNI staff collaborates on Snowy Plover and Least Tern monitoring since 2007. Partners on beach ecology programs.
• West Los Angeles CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNNI staff leads Conservation Studies Certification VOC ED courses at WLAC. Free non-credit course series open to students and community. NNI involved in WLAC Microforest installation (March 2025).
• California State Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads community habitat restoration events with CA State Parks at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Partners on Earth Day events and habitat restoration volunteer days.
• CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with USFWS Section 6 grants and beach ecology programs for endangered species protection.
• National Wildlife Refuge AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWRA's Young Ambassadors and Urban Wildlife Refuge Programs sponsored networking event with 20 NNI internship program participants.
• Santa Monica Bay Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on Snowy Plover Beach Walk events and beach ecology outreach at Annenberg Community Beach House.
• Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical students collaborated with Greenhouse and Summer Fellows on summits exploring nature connection and health, producing a joint publication.
• Skirball Cultural CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNNI was Southern California producer community partner for Be the Change public art installation. Art team collaborated with artists on works illuminating environmental justice issues.
• Jewish Arts CollaborativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on Kolture platform for NNI's art piece in Be the Change project.
• Westwood GreenwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Westwood Greenway project funded by Safe, Clean Water Program. Supports urban runoff cleaning and nature education.
• North East TreesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in West LA College microforest installation project (March 2025).
• Seed to LandscapeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in West LA College microforest installation project (March 2025).
• Laboratory for Indigenous Knowledge SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with biologist Matthew Teutimez for Botany and Traditional Ecological Knowledge guided walks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aquarium of the Pacific: Long Beach-based institution offering marine and coastal environmental education programs for LA-area schools and communities. Comparable standards-aligned school field trip programming and STEAM education approach, though institutionally larger and venue-based rather than dispersed outdoor sites.
• National Wildlife Federation: National-scale environmental education nonprofit offering K-12 programming, educator resources, and community wildlife programs. Comparable mission around connecting people to nature and building conservation workforce, though operating at vastly larger scale across all 50 states.
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: LA-based cultural and educational institution with extensive nature and urban ecology programming including school field trips and community engagement. Comparable LA geography, Title 1 school focus, and STEAM-based environmental education, though as a much larger institutional venue-based operation.
• The Nature Conservancy (California): Major international environmental nonprofit with significant California programming including habitat restoration, conservation education, and youth engagement. Comparable conservation mission and education programming, though at vastly greater scale and with global portfolio.

Direct peers

• Catalina Island Conservancy: California nonprofit operating nature preserve land with K-12 environmental education programming, volunteer habitat restoration events, and wildlife monitoring. Comparable educational programming at natural sites, though operating on island geography rather than urban LA.
• California State Parks Foundation: Direct co-program partner on habitat restoration at Baldwin Hills. Comparable statewide nonprofit model funding park-based environmental education, volunteer events, and conservation programming - directly overlapping NNI's habitat restoration and community events portfolio.
• TreePeople: LA-based environmental education nonprofit focused on urban forestry, community tree planting, and engaging underserved communities in nature-based stewardship. Highly comparable mission of connecting urban LA residents to nature and building environmental literacy.
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based environmental nonprofit focused on coastal and marine ecosystem education, with strong K-12 programming across LA County. Comparable model of free field-trip-based education for Title 1 schools in the same coastal geography where NNI operates Dockweiler Beach programming.
• Los Angeles Audubon Society: Direct peer and historic parent organization. NNI evolved out of LA Audubon's Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program. Both run urban nature education, habitat restoration events, and Snowy Plover/Least Tern monitoring in the same Ballona Creek geography, serving similar LA community segments.
• Outward Bound California: Direct program partner providing backpacking and wilderness experiences for NNI's Greenhouse and Conservation Studies students. Highly comparable experiential outdoor education model serving LA youth, with overlapping student populations and backpacking-focused curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/naturenexus
• Instagraminstagram.com/nature_nexus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-nexus-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Nature Nexus Institute