What TurfMutt Foundation does

The TurfMutt Foundation is a Louisville, Kentucky-based nonprofit educational organization founded in 2009 by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) to advance green space stewardship, outdoor learning, and pet safety education. Its core offering is a free, STEM-aligned K-8 curriculum covering environmental science topics such as photosynthesis, stormwater management, carbon cycles, and backyard ecosystems, delivered alongside videos (the Mulligan Minute series and Living Landscapes animations), infographics, research publications (including the International Backyarding Fact Book and Harris Poll surveys), and community programs such as the Mutt Madness pet adoption event and Mulligan's Bark Park. Curriculum is distributed through three major education platforms — Discovery Education, Scholastic, and Weekly Reader — and the foundation holds title sponsorship of the CBS Lucky Dog TV show, providing national broadcast reach. Revenue is generated entirely through sponsorships, donations, and event activity rather than product sales; OPEI is the primary funder, with additional corporate sponsors including Rehlko, Ariens Company, Active Dynamics, and a $1 million Great Lawn sponsorship deal with Louisville Waterfront Park.

The foundation reports reaching over 70 million children, educators, and families since 2009 and celebrates its 15th year of operation in 2024. It is led by President and CEO Kris Kiser (also President and CEO of OPEI), with Chuck Bowen as Vice President of Communications and Suzanne Shomers as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. Operations are primarily U.S.-based, with research activity extending into Canada. Strategic positioning is at the intersection of environmental education, pet welfare, and outdoor living — branded under the Mulligan the dog mascot and the "backyarding" movement — and the foundation functions both as a curriculum publisher and as a community programming operator. There is no technology platform product, no API offering, and no disclosed AI/ML capability; the asset base is intellectual property (curriculum and brand) plus partnership relationships.

Name

TurfMutt Foundation

Legal name

TurfMutt Foundation

Website

https://turfmutt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The TurfMutt Foundation is a 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2009 by OPEI that provides free, STEM-aligned K-8 environmental and pet stewardship curriculum, distributed through Discovery Education, Scholastic, Weekly Reader, and CBS Lucky Dog to schools, educators, families, and pet owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Turf Care (Fertilization, Aeration & Weed/Pest Control) (IMAIAIAD), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• K-8 STEM curriculum
• Green space stewardship
• Pet safety education
• Outdoor learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. OPEI Funding: Primary funding from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the trade association that created the TurfMutt Foundation. This represents the foundational financial support for all foundation operations and programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support for events and programs. Examples include Rehlko (Guinness World Records event), Active Dynamics and Ariens Company (5K Fun Run sponsors), and $1 million Great Lawn sponsorship to Louisville Waterfront Park.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from participation in and hosting of events including Equip Exposition and community activities like the 5K Fun Run and Guinness World Records attempts.
4. Individual Donations: Contributions from individuals supporting the foundation's mission of environmental education and pet stewardship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The TurfMutt Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization that develops and distributes free K-8 STEM-aligned curriculum, lesson plans, videos, infographics, and research on environmental science, living landscapes, and responsible pet ownership. Resources are delivered through partnerships with Discovery Education, Scholastic, Weekly Reader, and the CBS Lucky Dog TV show, and the foundation runs community programs such as the Mutt Madness pet adoption event and Mulligan's Bark Park in Louisville.

Product overview

TurfMutt Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization that offers a suite of educational resources focused on green space awareness and backyarding (outdoor living). The core offerings include free K-8 STEM-aligned lesson plans, educational videos (including Mulligan Minute and Living Landscapes series), infographics, and research publications (International Backyarding Fact Book and Harris Poll surveys). Community programs include the annual Mutt Madness pet adoption event at Equip Exposition, Mulligan's Bark Park in Louisville, and sponsorship of the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn at Waterfront Park. The organization also provides backyarding tips and guides through its website and Mutt Mail newsletter. These offerings work together to educate families, educators, and communities about the benefits of managed landscapes for health, environment, and quality of life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Lesson Plans Free STEM-aligned educational lesson plans for grades K-8 covering photosynthesis, stormwater management, carbon cycles, and backyard ecosystems.
• Educational Video Series Educational video content including Mulligan Minute segments, Living Landscapes with Lucky and the Outdoor Powers, and backyarding tips featured on CBS Lucky Dog.
• Educational Infographics Shareable visual content on topics including Earth Day, tree benefits, urban landscapes, backyarding personality types, and pollinator support.
• International Backyarding Fact Book Comprehensive research publication documenting the benefits of managed green spaces for health, environment, and community well-being.
• Mutt Madness Pet Adoption Event Annual dog adoption event held at Equip Exposition in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society, matching rescue dogs with forever homes; has facilitated adoption of more than 100 dogs.
• Mulligan's Bark Park Urban dog park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, providing off-leash socialization and exercise space for dogs.
• Yard 101 and Parks 101 Guides Foundational guides on yard and park maintenance, including real grass planting, climate zone identification, balanced landscaping, and maintenance practices for homeowners.
• Backyarding Tips and Guides Tips and guidance for homeowners on backyarding basics, climate zones, plant selection, and creating purposeful outdoor living spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 70 million children, educators, and families since 2009
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009OPEI created the TurfMutt Foundation in 2009 as its charitable arm. OPEI is the primary funder and organizational parent, providing foundational financial and operational support for all foundation activities and programs.
• Discovery EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistribution partner for TurfMutt's K-8 STEM curriculum. Discovery Education provides the digital platform for delivering free environmental science educational content to schools nationwide.
• ScholasticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing distribution of TurfMutt educational content and lesson plans through Scholastic's educational publishing network to students and educators.
• Weekly ReaderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner distributing TurfMutt content and educational materials to students and educators through Weekly Reader's publications.
• CBS Lucky DogcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsorship of the animal behavior TV show featuring dog training tips and pet care education. Provides national media exposure and reaches pet owners and families.
• USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner for USGBC's Global Learning Lab, providing environmental education content for students learning about green buildings and sustainable landscapes.
• Louisville Waterfront ParkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner$1 million sponsorship of the Great Lawn at Louisville Waterfront Park. The park attracts 2.4 million visitors annually and hosts 300+ events, providing significant community visibility.
• Kentucky Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet adoption partner at Equip Exposition trade show. The partnership has facilitated the adoption of more than 100 dogs and received the 2024 Humane Hero Award.
• Equip ExpositioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual trade show host in Louisville where TurfMutt Foundation participates with educational booth, pet adoption activities, and community events including 5K Fun Run.
• RehlkominorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Guinness World Records attempts and community engagement events. Rehlko provides sponsorship support for these publicity-generating activities.
• Active DynamicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the annual 5K Fun Run at Equip Exposition, supporting community engagement and promoting active lifestyles tied to outdoor spaces.
• Ariens CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the annual 5K Fun Run at Equip Exposition, supporting community engagement and promoting active lifestyles tied to outdoor spaces.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National 4-H Council: U.S. youth development organization delivering STEM, agriculture, and environmental curriculum to K-12 students through Cooperative Extension networks. Comparable in free standards-aligned curriculum and youth education focus.
• National Wildlife Federation: One of the largest U.S. conservation education nonprofits, producing K-12 wildlife and habitat curriculum (e.g., Eco-Schools, Ranger Rick). Directly comparable as a free environmental education provider competing for the same teacher and family audience.
• ASPCA: Major U.S. animal welfare organization funding adoption, humane education, and pet owner resources. Comparable to TurfMutt's responsible pet ownership and adoption-event activities from a larger, more established position.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large global conservation organization with significant education programming and curriculum. Comparable as a well-funded environmental education and advocacy nonprofit with school-based programs.
• American Humane Society: Long-standing national animal welfare organization with a dedicated education and outreach program on responsible pet ownership. Comparable in mission overlap (animal welfare education, advocacy, events).

Direct peers

• PetSmart Charities: Leading funder of pet adoption and welfare education in the U.S., running adoption events and funding humane education. Directly comparable in the pet adoption and responsible pet ownership education space.
• Project Learning Tree: Environmental education program providing standards-aligned K-12 curriculum on trees, forests, and ecosystems. Direct overlap with TurfMutt's STEM curriculum for schools and similar teacher-network distribution.
• Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit focused on tree planting and tree-focused education, distributing free curriculum and resources to schools and families. Closely comparable mission (greening/environmental stewardship) and K-8 distribution model.
• KidsGardening.org: Nonprofit providing garden-based learning resources and grants to K-12 schools. Directly comparable as a free environmental/outdoor education resource competing for the same educator audience.

Others

• Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI): Parent organization and primary funder of TurfMutt Foundation. Not a peer in the traditional sense but a key ecosystem participant whose industry positioning underpins the foundation's mission and funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TurfMutt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/turfmutt
• Facebookfacebook.com/turfmutt
• Instagraminstagram.com/BeLikeTurfMutt

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 TurfMutt Foundation