Terragraphics International Foundation

What Terragraphics International Foundation does

TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO), founded in 1997 and headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 45-4007725) that delivers science-based environmental health services to communities disproportionately affected by extractive industries. Operating across four continents (North America, West Africa, Central Asia, the Caribbean, South Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America), TIFO addresses heavy metal contamination—particularly lead poisoning—in vulnerable communities with absent or weakly enforced environmental regulation. The organization reports reducing hazardous exposures for more than 46,000 people and has trained over 500 students, personnel, and technicians across its portfolio of completed and active projects in Nigeria, Senegal, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Bangladesh, and the United States.

TIFO's service portfolio is organized around five interconnected capabilities: (1) Environmental Health and Human Health Risk Assessment using handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for soil analysis, GIS mapping, PurpleAir real-time air quality monitors, and blood lead monitoring protocols; (2) Environmental Remediation and Cleanup, including contaminated soil removal (e.g., 27,000+ cubic meters in Zamfara, Nigeria and 11,100+ cubic meters in Senegal) and home decontamination; (3) Community Partnership and Capacity Building; (4) Education and Training Programs such as the annual Risk Assessment course for the American University of Armenia's MPH students since 2012 and the GEMs (Great Environmental Minds) student network; and (5) project-specific initiatives including the Seven Generations NEPA rapid-response program for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe and the Partnership for Environmental Health (PEH) in Georgia and Kazakhstan. TIFO's "Sentinel Homes" approach maintains long-term environmental and child blood lead monitoring as an early warning system in remediated communities.

The organization operates on a donation-and-grant-funded nonprofit model with no commercial revenue. It accepts individual donations in tiered amounts ($25–$250 plus custom), peer-to-peer fundraising via campaigns such as Idaho Gives, project sponsorship from individuals, families, and corporations, and institutional grants from government bodies (notably a $435,000 EPA Environmental Justice award in 2023 and a U.S. Department of State grant via the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek) and foundations (including the Sigrid Rausing Trust). Engagement is exclusively invitation-driven, with TIFO responding to requests from trusted partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières, in-country ministries of health, academic institutions, and indigenous tribal governments; projects typically span several years from invitation through implementation.

Name

Terragraphics International Foundation

Legal name

TerraGraphics International Foundation

Website

https://terragraphicsinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TIFO is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers science-based environmental health assessments, remediation, and capacity-building programs to vulnerable communities impacted by extractive industries across four continents, working exclusively through invitation-driven partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Health and Remediation Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Phase II ESA & Subsurface Investigation (Soil/Groundwater Sampling) (EUAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radiological & Hazardous Materials Monitoring (Radiation, Asbestos, Lead) (EUAHACAJ), Asbestos, Lead-Based Paint & Hazardous Building Materials Surveys (Pre-Acquisition/Demolition) (EUAHAEAF), Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Environmental health services
• Lead poisoning remediation
• Human health risk assessment
• Heavy metal contamination cleanup
• Environmental capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: TIFO is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 45-4007725) that relies on donations from individuals, families, and corporations to fund community-led solutions and advance health equity.
2. Grants and Awards: TIFO receives funding from government agencies such as EPA environmental justice grants ($435,000), U.S. Department of State grants, and foundation funding such as from the Sigrid Rausing Trust.
3. Project Sponsorship: Individual, family, or corporate sponsorship provides critical support that fuels community-led solutions and ensures lasting impact in the places most affected by extractive industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO) is a nonprofit organization that provides science-based environmental health services to communities affected by extractive industries. Its core offerings include environmental health and human health risk assessments, design and oversight of environmental remediation and cleanup programs (e.g., contaminated soil removal, home decontamination), community partnership and capacity building, and tailored education and training programs such as risk assessment courses and student-led initiatives like GEMs.

Product overview

TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides science-based environmental health services rather than a commercial software product. Its portfolio consists of five interconnected service areas: Environmental Health Assessment and Risk Assessment (using XRF soil analysis, blood lead monitoring, and risk characterization), Environmental Remediation and Cleanup (including contaminated soil removal and home decontamination), Community Partnership and Capacity Building, Education and Training Programs (including the annual Risk Assessment course in Armenia and the GEMs student network), and project-specific initiatives such as the Partnership for Environmental Health (PEH), the Seven Generations rapid-response strategy for tribal mining consultations, and the One Habitat environmental education program for Sho-Pai youth. TIFO works on a project-by-project basis by invitation only, operating across active projects in Central Asia, Africa, and the US, with past remediation work in Nigeria, Senegal, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Peru, and Bangladesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEMs (Great Environmental Minds): TIFO's student-led initiative that fosters a global community of emerging environmental health professionals. Launched in 2020 from informal virtual meetups, GEMs has evolved into a thriving network of undergraduate and graduate students who share research, build professional skills, and connect with mentors.
• Ryan Von Lindern Legacy Fund (RVL Fund)
• Sentinel Homes
• Environmental Health Education Program (EHEP)
• Partnership for Environmental Health (PEH)

Products and services

• Environmental Health Assessment & Risk Assessment Science-based environmental health assessments and human health risk assessments (HHRA) that characterize and quantify exposure risks from environmental contaminants in soil, water, air, and food in contaminated communities worldwide.
• Environmental Remediation & Cleanup Design and technical oversight of environmental cleanup and remediation programs, including removal of contaminated soils, interior home decontamination, and transformation of polluted sites into safe public spaces.
• Education & Training Programs Tailored training programs and workshops on environmental health for government agencies, organizations, K-12 students, and universities, including annual risk assessment courses for the American University of Armenia's MPH students.
• Seven Generations Rapid-Response Strategy A community-driven initiative supporting the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of Duck Valley Indian Reservation in developing a rapid-response strategy for government-to-government consultations on mining proposals, including NEPA processes, air-quality monitoring, and a baseline resource repository.
• One Habitat Environmental Education Program Environmental education program for Shoshone-Paiute youth on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation that blends Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with Western scientific approaches, covering topics including salmon population dynamics, responsible mining, and water quality.
• Partnership for Environmental Health (PEH) A collaborative initiative led by TIFO and the Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute (EHPMI) with government partners, focused on improving health outcomes for communities living near sites contaminated by heavy metals in Georgia and Kazakhstan.
• GEMs (Great Environmental Minds) Student Network TIFO's student-led initiative that fosters a global community of emerging environmental health professionals through mentorship, professional skills development, and networking, named in honor of Idaho—the Gem State.
• Ryan Von Lindern Legacy Fund (RVL Fund) A scholarship fund established in honor of Ryan Harrington von Lindern (April 6, 1970 – December 20, 2021) to support students pursuing environmental health and related fields, carrying forward his legacy of passion for environmental justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 46,000 people had hazardous exposures reduced
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministry of Health of Karakalpakstan (MOHK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Since 2022, TIFO has partnered with MOHK and MSF to address environmental health concerns linked to the Aral Sea crisis, focusing on drinking water contamination and pesticide risks.
• Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian ReservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TIFO supports the Tribe in developing a rapid-response strategy to fortify capacity for government-to-government consultations and public responses under NEPA. Includes air-quality monitoring, baseline resource repository, and NEPA process support.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MSF has been working in Kyrgyzstan since 2006 and invited TIFO to assess heavy metal risks. MSF and TIFO have collaborated on projects in Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh. MSF provides invaluable project support including medical care and field operations.
• Kyrgyz Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and MSF invited TIFO to assess heavy metal risks in Batken Province. TIFO collaborates with MOH on environmental health projects, risk assessments, and intervention programs.
• American University of ArmeniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012TIFO has taught a yearly 3-credit Risk Assessment course for American University of Armenia's Master of Public Health students since 2012, covering environmental health concepts and risk assessment principles.
• Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute (EHPMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHPMI leads the Partnership for Environmental Health initiative together with TIFO and government partners, focusing on heavy metal contamination in Georgia and Kazakhstan.
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Environmental Health Education Program (EHEP) in Kyrgyzstan, funded by U.S. Embassy in Bishkek. MCPHS supports TREAT-ME course for clinicians and medical science students on environmental contamination impacts.
• Zamfara State Ministry of EnvironmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLed the environmental response to lead poisoning crisis in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Ministry personnel were trained in and led risk assessment and remediation activities.
• UNICEFmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with TIFO and government in Nigeria lead poisoning response, providing support for affected children and communities.
• World Health Organization (WHO)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerWHO intervened in the 2007-2008 Senegal lead poisoning crisis and partnered in Nigeria response efforts.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCDC conducted investigations in Nigeria and Peru, partnering with TIFO on environmental health assessments.
• Idaho Conservation LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Duck Valley Seven Generations project, supporting NEPA training and environmental protection efforts.
• Owyhee Combined SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in One Habitat environmental education program for Sho-Pai youth on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
• Tribal Environmental Protection Program (TEPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in One Habitat and Seven Generations programs, focusing on environmental protection and NEPA consultation support.
• Kadamjay Rayon Sanitary Hygienic Laboratory (SHL)coreTechnology or IntegrationTIFO supported SHL's capacity to assess sites for contamination and trained staff in environmental health assessment methods.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council: NRDC is a major environmental advocacy organization with global health and pollution programs. It shares the environmental-health framing with TIFO but pursues policy and litigation strategies rather than field-level community remediation.
• Ramboll: Ramboll is a global engineering and consulting firm with a substantial environment and health practice, including environmental site assessments and contaminated-site remediation — comparable technical capability to TIFO but serving a much broader commercial client base.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a large environmental engineering and consulting firm that performs site characterization, risk assessment, and remediation work globally — overlapping TIFO's technical services (XRF, HHRA, soil sampling) but in a commercial fee-for-service model serving government and industry clients.
• Environmental Defense Fund: EDF is one of the largest U.S. environmental nonprofits, with a much broader mission (climate, oceans, health). It overlaps with TIFO on environmental health and pollution, but operates at vastly greater scale and does not specialize in extractive-industry community remediation.

Direct peers

• Pure Earth: Pure Earth (formerly Blacksmith Institute) is the most direct comparable: a nonprofit that identifies and remediates the world's worst polluted places in low- and middle-income countries, with overlapping focus on heavy-metal contamination, government partnerships, and the same donor base for environmental health work.
• IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network): IPEN is a global network of NGOs working to eliminate toxic pollutants, including heavy metals, in developing countries. It shares TIFO's focus on community-level environmental health interventions and partnerships with in-country organizations across multiple continents.

Regional players

• Toxics Link: Toxics Link is an India-based environmental NGO working on toxic contamination, waste, and community health — sharing TIFO's grassroots community-engagement methodology but operating primarily in South Asia rather than the multi-continental footprint of TIFO.

Emerging players

• Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED): CEPHED is a Nepal-based environmental NGO focused on mercury and heavy-metal contamination, with comparable field methodology and a smaller operational footprint than TIFO, but addressing similar extractive-industry impacts on vulnerable communities.
• Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP): GAHP is a collaborative initiative coordinating global action on pollution and health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It shares TIFO's mission focus and partner ecosystem (including WHO and World Bank) but operates as a coordinating body rather than a field-implementing organization.

Others

• Environmental Law Institute: ELI is an environmental policy and law research organization that touches TIFO's regulatory and NEPA-consultation work but operates in policy/research rather than field remediation, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Pinterestpinterest.com/terragraphicsinternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Terragraphics International Foundation