RAPID 5

What RAPID 5 does

RAPID 5 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Columbus, Ohio, that functions as a regional convener and catalyst for connecting more than 80 communities across central Ohio through an integrated network of greenways, parks, and waterways along five waterways: Big Darby Creek, the Scioto River, the Olentangy River, Alum Creek, and Big Walnut Creek. Originally conceived in 2019 as a vision project and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in July 2022, RAPID 5 expanded its operational scope in October 2023 by establishing a community land trust, positioning the organization to address what its founders describe as Columbus being the last major Ohio city without one.

The organization operates as a community-led convener rather than a product or technology company. It deploys digital platforms for community engagement and mapping tools for greenway planning, but its core deliverables are coordination, regional planning, and land stewardship across municipal boundaries. RAPID 5 is governed by a board of community leaders drawn from multiple sectors and partners with entities including the Columbus Foundation, Thrive Companies, ADS, ULI Columbus, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).

Its revenue model is grant and donation based rather than transactional. Confirmed funding includes approximately $1 million from Thrive Companies (2022), $500,000 from the Columbus Foundation (2022) plus an additional $500,000 land trust endowment from the Columbus Foundation (2024), and $250,000 from ADS (2023), totaling roughly $2.25 million. The organization maintains a small staff of 1-10 employees and appointed Luke Messinger, formerly the executive director of Dawes Arboretum for more than 24 years, as CEO effective February 2024.

Name

RAPID 5

Legal name

RAPID 5

Website

https://rapid5.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAPID 5 is a Columbus, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes more than 80 central Ohio communities to develop an integrated greenway, park, and waterway network along five regional waterways, and operates a community land trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Regional Park Planning

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Regional park planning
• Land trust services
• Greenway development
• Watershed conservation
• Community convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: RAPID 5 operates as a 501c3 nonprofit organization that receives donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and individuals to support its mission of creating an interconnected park system along central Ohio's five major waterways.
2. Land Trust Activities: The organization established a land trust to acquire, secure, restore and protect land along river corridors, whether urban, suburban, or rural. Land trusts help communities secure land for conservation and public benefit.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RAPID 5 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a catalyst and convener to connect more than 80 communities across central Ohio through an integrated greenway, park, and waterway network spanning the region's five major waterways (Big Darby Creek, Scioto River, Olentangy River, Alum Creek, and Big Walnut Creek). It established a land trust to acquire, secure, restore, and protect land along river corridors, and runs community engagement programs such as river cleanups.

Product overview

RAPID 5 is a nonprofit organization (501c3) focused on a regional park vision connecting Central Ohio's five major waterways (Big Darby Creek, Scioto River, Olentangy River, Alum Creek, and Big Walnut Creek) through greenways and parks. The organization's primary offerings are its vision/planning framework for creating one of the largest interconnected park systems in the nation, land trust services for acquiring and preserving land along river corridors, community engagement programs including river cleanups, and regional collaboration initiatives. RAPID 5 does not offer technology products or software services; it operates as a catalyst and convener bringing together municipalities, nonprofits, corporations, and community organizations to promote innovative approaches for connecting people with Central Ohio's waterways and adjacent trails and parks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RAPID 5 Regional Park Vision and Planning Framework A shared regional planning framework to knit 80+ central Ohio communities into one interconnected park system along 146 miles of waterways and nearly 40,000 acres of parks, ensuring every resident is within one mile of water or greenspace.
• RAPID 5 Land Trust A land trust vehicle that acquires, secures, restores, and protects land along river corridors (urban, suburban, and rural) to enable continuous public access and conservation easements for the regional park system.
• River Cleanup Community Engagement Events Volunteer-driven community cleanup events held along central Ohio waterways to keep rivers healthy and engage residents in stewardship of the regional park system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every central Ohio resident will be within 1 mile of a park, greenway, or waterway
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMORPC co-founded RAPID 5 with ULI Columbus in 2021. MORPC's Chief Regional Strategy Officer Kerstin Carr serves as Board Treasurer. MORPC provides regional planning expertise and connections to 90 member communities.
• Urban Land Institute Columbus (ULI Columbus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerULI Columbus co-founded RAPID 5 with MORPC in 2021. The initiative grew from ULI's Building Healthy Places initiative and conversations about connecting natural resources with wellbeing.
• Columbus and Franklin County Metro ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro Parks is a key partner providing park land and stewardship. Executive Director Tim Moloney serves on the RAPID 5 board. Metro Parks manages nearly 40,000 acres of parkland in the region.
• Design Firms (REALM Collaborative, NBBJ, MKSK, AECOM, EDGE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive design and planning firms were invited by ULI Columbus and MORPC in 2021 to develop vision concepts for each of the five waterways: Big Darby Creek (REALM), Scioto River (NBBJ), Olentangy River (MKSK), Alum Creek (AECOM), and Big Walnut Creek (EDGE).
• Keep Columbus BeautifulsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeep Columbus Beautiful partnered with RAPID 5 for the Alum Creek River Cleanup event, providing support for community volunteer activities to clean and maintain local waterways.
• City of BexleysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Bexley partnered with RAPID 5 for the Alum Creek River Cleanup, hosting the event along a one-mile stretch between Nelson and Academy Park.
• Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACT partnered with RAPID 5 for the Alum Creek River Cleanup event to help ensure waterways remain clean, healthy, and thriving.
• The Nature Conservancy in OhiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBill Stanley, Director of The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, serves on the RAPID 5 board. The Nature Conservancy manages the Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve and shares RAPID 5's vision for equitable access to nature.
• The Ohio State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ohio State University is listed as a Platinum project funder. Dr. Andy Thomas from Wexner Medical Center serves on the board. The university provides academic and research partnerships for conservation and public health initiatives.
• City of ColumbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Columbus is a Platinum project funder. Director of Public Utilities Kristen Atha and Director of Recreation and Parks Bernita Reese serve on the board. Columbus provides critical municipal support and resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit focused on land and water conservation through acquisition and partnerships. Comparable to RAPID 5's land trust activities for protecting river corridor acreage.
• Scenic Hudson: Regional nonprofit that has protected more than 75,000 acres and 100+ miles of shoreline along New York's Hudson River. The closest geographic and structural analog to RAPID 5's regional greenway/waterway conservation model.
• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use, working with communities and municipalities across the country. Directly comparable to RAPID 5's mission of expanding equitable access to nature and parks through public-private partnerships.
• American Rivers: National river conservation organization focused on protecting and restoring waterways. Directly comparable to RAPID 5's waterway-centered mission across the five central Ohio rivers and tributaries.
• River Network: National nonprofit that supports local river and watershed protection groups. Mirrors RAPID 5's community-based approach to protecting and connecting river corridors through volunteer events and partnerships.
• National Park Trust: National nonprofit dedicated to completing park projects and protecting parkland. Comparable to RAPID 5's mission of completing an integrated regional park system, though with a national rather than regional scope.
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: Converts rail corridors into multi-use trail networks spanning multiple jurisdictions. Closely parallels RAPID 5's model of stitching together fragmented public parcels into a continuous linear network serving regional recreation and commuting.

Emerging players

• Groundwork USA: Network of local trusts working on environmental improvement and green-space connectivity in underserved communities. Comparable community-based, multi-stakeholder model for greening urban corridors.

Broad incumbents

• Land Trust Alliance: National umbrella organization supporting more than 1,000 land trusts across the country. Directly relevant to RAPID 5's 2023 land trust formation, representing the institutional infrastructure for the model RAPID 5 has adopted.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest conservation organizations with active Ohio operations and Big Darby Headwaters preserve. Comparable mission around watershed and land conservation; overlaps directly with RAPID 5 through Nature Conservancy Ohio's board representation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rapid5org
• YouTubeyoutu.be/bayMBsIG2Xg
• Facebookfacebook.com/therapid5
• Instagraminstagram.com/rapid5org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rapid-5

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 RAPID 5