Institute For Environmental Solutions

What Institute For Environmental Solutions does

Institute For Environmental Solutions (IES), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado, delivered science-based environmental programs to Colorado communities, schools, and municipalities from its founding through an indefinite hiatus imposed in September 2021. IES operated two core programs: the Tree Project, an urban forestry initiative that used strategic tree planting, urban forest inventories, and stakeholder partnerships to improve air quality, water conservation, and stormwater management in cities such as Wheat Ridge, Sheridan, Broomfield, and Golden; and the Chemical Footprint Project, an education-focused initiative on contaminants of emerging concern in personal care and household products, delivered through workshops, a CEC Guidebook, and a Reduce Your Chemical Footprint Handbook.

Underlying technical assets included published research on urban forestry benefits and a documented multi-stakeholder engagement methodology (steering committees, peer review committees, stakeholder advisory committees) that the organization used to position itself as an independent, politically neutral convener. Supporting offerings comprised K-12 environmental education (e.g., the Preserve the Greenbelt Elementary Education Program, winner of the 2014 CAEE Nonprofit Award for Excellence), the pilot Communities for Clean Water Initiative with Red Rocks Community College (2019), and a Reduce Your Chemical Footprint video distributed via YouTube.

IES's business model was nonprofit grant- and donation-funded, supplemented by modest workshop fees. It relied heavily on volunteers and a small mostly part-time staff (headcount band 11-50), with capital coming from foundation grants (e.g., Xcel Energy Foundation, Wells Fargo, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, RBC Blue Water Project, New Belgium Brewing, Tri-State Generation & Transmission) and corporate sponsorships. The Board of Directors suspended operations effective September 2021 due to ongoing economic and resource challenges, and the entity has had no active programs since.

Name

Institute For Environmental Solutions

Legal name

Institute for Environmental Solutions

Website

https://i4es.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Fundraising: IES operates primarily through grants from foundations and government agencies, donations from sponsors, and fundraising activities
2. Workshop Fees: Revenue from educational workshops for adults and children on reducing chemical footprints and environmental stewardship

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IES is a nonprofit organization that develops and implements scientific environmental solutions through two primary programs: the Tree Project, which uses urban forestry and strategic tree planting to improve Colorado cities' environment and community health, and the Chemical Footprint Project, which delivers science-based workshops and educational materials to help communities reduce contaminants of emerging concern from personal care and household products. The organization partners with municipalities, schools, and community groups across Colorado to deliver educational workshops, planting days, and environmental improvement projects.

Product overview

The Institute For Environmental Solutions operated as a non-profit organization focused on environmental improvement in Colorado. The organization offered two core programs: the Tree Project (urban forestry and strategic tree planting for environmental improvement, air quality, water conservation, and climate mitigation) and the Chemical Footprint Project (education on contaminants of emerging concern in consumer products and workshops on reducing chemical footprints). Supporting educational offerings included workshops, the Contaminants of Emerging Concern Guidebook, and the Reduce Your Chemical Footprint Handbook. Note: IES operations have been on indefinite hiatus since September 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tree Project: Urban forestry and strategic tree planting program that improves Colorado cities using tree science
• Chemical Footprint Project

Products and services

• IES Tree Project An urban forestry program that improves Colorado cities using tree science through strategic tree planting, community tree-planting programs, climate change mitigation via urban forest carbon credits, and educational workshops on urban forestry benefits for municipalities and community partners.
• IES Chemical Footprint Project A project focused on preventing water pollution and protecting human and environmental health by reducing chemical footprints through science-based workshops for kids and adults, teaching communities how to sustainably reduce chemical footprints from personal care and household products.
• Reduce Your Chemical Footprint Workshops Science-based educational workshops teaching communities about contaminants of emerging concern in personal care and household products, including hands-on demonstrations for making safe, non-toxic products.
• IES Contaminants of Emerging Concern Guidebook A reference guidebook compiling peer-reviewed scientific research on selected contaminants of emerging concern, covering chemical relevance, human and environmental health impacts, environmental persistence, regulatory status, and alternatives.
• IES Reduce Your Chemical Footprint Handbook An educational handbook providing an overview of chemical exposure challenges, detailing the nature of the problem and options for responding, organized in assessable chapters.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered important, minor and core.

• South Platte River Urban Waters PartnershipimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership with regulatory professionals and environmental advocates protecting South Platte River water quality
• Ocean First Dive ShopminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019
• Red Rocks Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Hosted pilot Communities for Clean Water Initiative workshop
• City of SheridancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership for Sheridan Quincy Trail improvement project with ongoing collaboration since 2015
• Fort Logan Northgate SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Student leadership and environmental education partnership for trail enhancement projects
• South Suburban Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership for Sheridan trail improvement and maintenance projects
• Sheridan School District No. 2coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015School district partnership for student environmental education programs
• Abner's Garden CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Local business partner for Wheat Ridge Growing the Greenbelt program
• Urban Waters Federal PartnershipimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Federal partnership supporting urban environmental improvement initiatives
• City of Wheat RidgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-standing partnership with Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department for greenbelt restoration and environmental education programs spanning multiple years
• Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Multi-year collaboration for environmental improvement and education projects including trail restoration and tree planting along Clear Creek Greenbelt
• City and County of BroomfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership for Trees for Healthy Community and Economy project in emerging civic center area
• Colorado State Forest ServiceimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Provided tree-related learning materials and technical guidance for projects
• Denver Urban Drainage and Flood Control DistrictimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partner for greenbelt restoration and stormwater management projects
• City of GoldencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership for Mitchell Elementary Trees for Healthy Kids and Community project
• Jefferson County SchoolsimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011County school district partnership for Mitchell Elementary environmental project

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Earth Force: National nonprofit that engages K-12 students in community-based environmental action projects. Comparable to IES's school partnership programs (e.g., Kullerstrand, Fort Logan Northgate, Mitchell Elementary) and student-led environmental improvement model.
• TreePeople: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on urban forestry, community tree planting, and environmental education. Operates a near-identical model to IES's Tree Project with community-driven planting events and youth environmental programming.
• Friends of Trees: Portland-based nonprofit running community tree-planting events and urban forestry partnerships with municipalities. Closely mirrors IES's community-driven planting model and municipal collaboration approach.
• Center for Watershed Protection: Technical nonprofit providing science-based guidance on watershed protection, urban water quality, and stormwater management — closely aligned with IES's Chemical Footprint Project, Urban Waters Federal Partnership work, and Denver Urban Drainage collaborations.
• River Network: National nonprofit supporting community-based water protection and advocacy. Comparable to IES's watershed work, including the South Platte River Urban Waters Partnership and Blue Crew Water Stewards program.
• Casey Trees: DC-region urban forestry nonprofit combining tree planting, research, and education. Comparable scope to IES in urban canopy improvement and community stewardship programming.

Others

• EarthShare: Federation of environmental nonprofits enabling workplace giving and coalition advocacy. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem participant — potential funding/distribution channel for environmental nonprofits like IES.

Emerging players

• GreenLatinos: Environmental advocacy organization advancing conservation priorities through community leadership. Adjacent to IES's environmental advocacy work but focused on a specific demographic constituency rather than geographic community.

Broad incumbents

• Keep America Beautiful: Large national community improvement nonprofit covering litter, recycling, and beautification. Broader scope than IES but overlapping community engagement and local affiliate model; represents a scaled, established counterpart.
• The Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting natural resources. Operates at greater breadth than IES but overlapping mission in urban environmental improvement and public land stewardship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Inst4EnvSoln
• Facebookfacebook.com/Institute4ES
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-environmental-solutions
• Instagraminstagram.com/i4es

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Institute For Environmental Solutions