West Michigan Environmental Action Council

What West Michigan Environmental Action Council does

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1968 and headquartered at 1007 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan — a facility recognized as the US Green Building Council's first Double Gold LEED certified building. The organization delivers environmental education, advocacy, and community-based programs across an eight-county West Michigan region (Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa), with primary intensity in the Grand Rapids, Holland, and Muskegon metropolitan areas. It serves West Michigan residents, K-12 educators and students, local governments, regional businesses and corporate partners, and underserved low-income neighborhoods through targeted environmental justice programs.

WMEAC's core products are community programs rather than software. The water portfolio includes the Adopt-A-Stream / Stream Keepers volunteer monitoring program (active since 1991), the annual Mayors' Grand River Cleanup (since 2004; 500+ volunteers and 11,600 lbs removed in the most recent year), the Plaster Creek Litter Boom (a floating geomembrane barrier co-designed with the Osprey Initiative), rain barrel workshops, rain gardens, and broader stormwater management initiatives. The education portfolio is anchored by Teach for the Watershed, a hands-on K-12 curriculum reaching 3,000+ students across Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Spring Lake districts. The environmental justice portfolio includes the IDEAL Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Leadership) and the Rainy Day Project, which delivered water conservation kits to households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in targeted Grand Rapids neighborhoods. The lakeshore portfolio includes a multi-year Muskegon County Recycling Improvement Initiative funded by Michigan EGLE and a White Lake water quality program.

WMEAC's revenue model is donations-driven across six streams: individual donations (tax-deductible via a NeonCRM portal), a tiered Business Giving program ($250 River Bank through $10,000+ Lake Michigan), grants from foundations and government agencies (Wege Foundation, Funders Network's Partners for Place, Community Foundation for Muskegon County, Michigan EGLE, MiCorps), planned giving through the Charles R. Evenson Society, workplace matching via Double the Donation, and signature event fundraising (Blue Tie Ball, Evening on the Lakeshore, Mayors' Grand River Cleanup). Go-to-market is community-led: volunteer programs, Action Network email advocacy, K-12 classroom delivery, and direct corporate sponsorship. The organization operates with an Interim Executive Director (Mark Fitzpatrick), a small named program staff (Director of Climate Solutions & Justice, Lakeshore Outreach Organizer, Communications and Marketing Specialist), and an active Board of Directors of 14 members, supported by a volunteer base contributing over 10,000 hours annually.

Name

West Michigan Environmental Action Council

Legal name

West Michigan Environmental Action Council Educational Foundation dba WMEAC

Website

https://wmeac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WMEAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 that delivers environmental education, water protection, recycling, and environmental justice programs across eight West Michigan counties, serving residents, K-12 schools, municipalities, regional businesses, and underserved neighborhoods through community-led programs and a tiered corporate giving program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Watershed protection
• Community advocacy
• Water quality monitoring
• Climate resilience

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals via the organization's website donation portal, recurring monthly giving, and one-time gifts. WMEAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 23-7128379).
2. Business Giving Memberships: Corporate sponsorship tiers ranging from $250/year (River Bank) to $10,000+/year (Lake Michigan), offering event sponsorship, newsletter advertising, social media recognition, and logo placement on the WMEAC Business Giving page. Multiple regional businesses and organizations participate.
3. Grants: Funding from institutional grantmakers including foundations (Wege Foundation, Funders Network's Partners for Place, Community Foundation for Muskegon County), government agencies (Michigan EGLE, Michigan Clean Water Corps), and corporate donors (Meijer, Howmet Aerospace, DTE, GM).
4. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Bequests, gifts of stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund gifts, life insurance policies, and real estate donations facilitated through the Charles R. Evenson Society legacy giving program.
5. Workplace Matching Gifts: Corporate employee gift-matching programs amplified through Double the Donation platform, enabling donors to double or triple contributions through their employer's matching program.
6. Event-Based Fundraising: Signature events including the annual Mayors' Grand River Cleanup, the Blue Tie Ball gala, and Evening on the Lakeshore serve as fundraising vehicles with corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

WMEAC is a regional environmental nonprofit that delivers community-based water protection, environmental education, and policy advocacy programs across West Michigan. Its core services include the Adopt-A-Stream citizen-science water quality monitoring program, the annual Mayors' Grand River Cleanup, Teach for the Watershed K-12 environmental education curriculum, rain barrel and rain garden workshops, the Rainy Day Project stormwater reduction program, and the Litter Boom floating debris barrier deployed in Plaster Creek. Funding flows from individual donations, tiered Business Giving corporate memberships, foundation and government grants, and planned giving through the Charles R. Evenson Society.

Product overview

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is a nonprofit environmental organization offering a diverse portfolio of community programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings center on water protection programs (Adopt-A-Stream, Mayors' Grand River Cleanup, Rain Barrel Workshops, Rain Gardens, Stormwater Management, Litter Boom) combined with environmental education initiatives (Teach for the Watershed K-12 program, Climate Resiliency Report) and sustainability outreach (Live Green resource center). Lakeshore Programs extend recycling infrastructure and water quality protection to Muskegon County, while the IDEAL Committee addresses environmental justice. The organization also operates donor engagement programs including the Charles R. Evenson Society for planned giving and a Business Giving Program with tiered corporate partnerships. All programs work toward WMEAC's mission of environmental advocacy, education, and climate justice across the eight-county West Michigan region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt-A-Stream Program Community-based water quality monitoring program that empowers volunteers to learn about streams and protect freshwater resources through macroinvertebrate monitoring, stream cleanups, and habitat surveys across Plaster Creek, Buck Creek, and Grand River tributaries. Includes a City of Grand Rapids bid-discount partnership for participating businesses.
• Mayors' Grand River Cleanup Annual river cleanup event bringing together mayors, volunteers, and community groups across Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, Walker, Kentwood, and East Grand Rapids to remove trash from the Grand River and its tributaries at 35+ sites spanning 12+ miles. Most recent cleanup removed 11,600+ lbs of trash with 500+ volunteers.
• Teach for the Watershed (T4W) K-12 environmental education program providing outdoor hands-on experiences exploring watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, and freshwater macroinvertebrates, including a classroom equipment lending library and lesson kits on freshwater science, stormwater, recycling, energy, and climate for teachers across West Michigan.
• Rain Barrel Workshops Educational workshops providing reduced-cost rain barrels to West Michigan residents as a stormwater management and water conservation solution, often co-hosted with watershed groups such as LGROW.
• Rainy Day Project Pilot program offering water conservation kits, green stormwater infrastructure assessments, rain barrel workshops, rain garden installation, and a water-bill savings contest for homeowners in underserved Grand Rapids neighborhoods (Baxter, Garfield Park, Roosevelt Park, Seeds of Promise) at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Co-founded with the City of Grand Rapids and GreenHome Institute.
• Business Giving Program Corporate partnership program with six tiered annual giving levels (River Bank $250-$499, Sand Dunes $500-$1,199, Karner Blue $1,200-$2,499, Piping Plover $2,500-$4,999, Huron-Manistee $5,000-$9,999, Lake Michigan $10,000+) offering event sponsorships, e-newsletter advertising, social media recognition, tabling opportunities, and logo placement on the WMEAC Business Giving page.
• Charles R. Evenson Society Planned giving society honoring legacy donors who support WMEAC through estate gifts, bequests, gifts of stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund gifts, life insurance policies, and real estate donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,600+ lbs of trash removed per year through the Mayors' Grand River Cleanup; 7,200+ lbs removed in 2023 across 35+ sites and 12+ miles of river
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, notable and minor.

• Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)coreOthersEGLE, through its EDA Technical Assistance Grant Program, funded WMEAC's collaborative effort to improve recycling education and infrastructure in Muskegon County. The grant provided free technical assistance from Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and positioned WMEAC as a key partner in Michigan's statewide recycling goals (increasing the recycling rate from 19% to 30% by 2029).
• Resource Recycling Systems (RRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRS provided infrastructure modeling and education plan development as part of WMEAC's four-year collaborative effort to improve recycling in Muskegon County. RRS worked alongside WMEAC, local governments, and community leaders to create practical tools and a roadmap for a more coordinated and sustainable recycling system.
• Public Health Muskegon CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 1 and Year 2 partner in WMEAC's White Lake water quality and recycling improvement initiatives, working alongside Montague and Whitehall Townships with support from the White Lake Community Fund.
• White Lake Area Solid Waste Authority (WLASWA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized by WMEAC for providing consistent leadership and service in the White Lake region as part of the Recycling Leadership Team guiding Muskegon County's recycling improvements.
• Cedar Creek TownshipnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized by WMEAC for opening its recycling center to Holton Township residents — a model of inter-township cooperation highlighted at WMEAC's final stakeholder meeting.
• West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the 5-county Regional Materials Management Planning (RMMP) process in alignment with which WMEAC's project strategies and materials were developed, positioning Muskegon County as a regional leader in materials management.
• Plaster Creek StewardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing community partner working alongside WMEAC to survey habitat conditions and protect Plaster Creek. Staff member Carlos collaborates regularly with Stream Keepers from this organization for macroinvertebrate monitoring at Shadyside Park.
• Osprey InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey Initiative designed and created the Litter Boom floating litter capture device installed by WMEAC in Plaster Creek. Osprey has deployed litter capture devices at locations worldwide and collaborated with WMEAC on equipment design and community deployment.
• Calvin University Summer ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly maintenance and litter collection at the Litter Boom in Plaster Creek is conducted in collaboration with Calvin University Summer Research program students.
• Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Litter Boom initiative and broader stormwater protection efforts; contributes to maintaining clean waterways and green infrastructure in Grand Rapids.
• River NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting WMEAC's water protection work and providing networking resources for watershed groups across the United States.
• GreenHome InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand Rapids-based organization passionate about empowering residents and promoting healthy, sustainable homes; co-founded the Rainy Day Project with WMEAC and the City of Grand Rapids to reduce stormwater runoff through water conservation kits and green infrastructure assessments.
• City of Grand RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner in the Rainy Day Project, working with WMEAC and GreenHome Institute to reduce stormwater runoff to the Grand River. The City also co-hosts Adopt-A-Stream events, provides bid discount programs for participating businesses, and partners on the Mayors' Grand River Cleanup.
• Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps)majorOthersState program providing funding that enables WMEAC to offer Stream Keeper volunteer monitoring experiences for citizens interested in protecting West Michigan watersheds.
• Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGROW co-hosts the Subwatershed Jamboree with WMEAC as part of the annual Grand River Cleanup Campaign, celebrates watershed groups, and promotes rain barrel distribution. Annual Jamboree at Legacy Park highlights water quality improvements across the Lower Grand River Watershed.
• Grand Rapids Water ProtectorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Adopt-A-Stream and stream protection efforts in the Grand Rapids area.
• Friends of Buck CreekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnered with WMEAC for Adopt-A-Stream monitoring of Buck Creek.
• Michigan Environmental CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMEAC helped form the Michigan Environmental Council in 1980 as a coalition of environmental groups. WMEAC continues to participate as a member organization.
• DTEnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Mayors' Grand River Cleanup 2026. Active Business Giving supporter at a tier equivalent to Piping Plover or above.
• Vicinity Energy (Kent County Waste-to-Energy Facility)notableGTM or Marketing PartnerKarner Blue-level Business Giving member; supports WMEAC's environmental programs and Mayors' Grand River Cleanup as a sustainability-focused corporate partner.
• Dominican Sisters of Grand RapidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKarner Blue-level Business Giving member with a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large national environmental advocacy organization working on water, climate, and environmental justice. Overlaps with WMEAC's mission areas, but operates at far greater scale and with national policy reach.
• Clean Water Action: National environmental organization with significant Michigan presence focused on clean water advocacy. Comparable as a water-focused advocacy nonprofit, but broader in geography and more campaign-oriented than WMEAC's community-based programming.

Direct peers

• Alliance for the Great Lakes: Regional Great Lakes-focused nonprofit doing water protection, volunteer-driven cleanups (Adopt-a-Beach), and policy advocacy. Closely comparable in the freshwater protection, volunteer mobilization, and corporate partnership dimensions of WMEAC's work.
• River Network: National nonprofit supporting local watershed groups (and an existing WMEAC partner). Comparable in mission scope around freshwater protection, citizen science, and capacity-building for community water programs.
• Michigan Environmental Council: Statewide Michigan environmental coalition co-founded by WMEAC in 1980. Directly comparable as a Michigan-focused environmental policy and advocacy nonprofit, operating in the same geography and policy domains.
• Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW): West Michigan watershed organization co-hosting the Subwatershed Jamboree with WMEAC. Comparable as a regional water-quality and watershed-focused organization operating in the same Lower Grand River geography.
• Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities: Northern Michigan-based environmental nonprofit focused on climate, water, and community resilience. Comparable as a Michigan-based environmental advocacy and education organization with similar mission scope and small-staff operating model.
• Plaster Creek Stewards: Grand Rapids-based nonprofit focused on Plaster Creek restoration and watershed education (and an existing WMEAC partner). Directly comparable as a community-based West Michigan watershed organization with overlapping programs and geography.
• Sierra Club - Michigan Chapter: Michigan chapter of a major national environmental organization. Comparable as an environmental advocacy nonprofit with active volunteer networks, conservation programming, and policy engagement in overlapping geographies.

Regional players

• Conservation Law Foundation: Regional environmental advocacy nonprofit operating across New England on water, climate, and environmental justice. Comparable as a regional environmental advocacy and legal-policy organization with similar program mix, though serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WMEACTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/WMEAC
• Instagraminstagram.com/wmeac
• TikToktiktok.com/wmeac.interns
• Xx.com/wmeac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-michigan-environmental-action-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 West Michigan Environmental Action Council