EcoSchools Canada

What EcoSchools Canada does

EcoSchools Canada is a federally registered Canadian charity (Charitable Number 725827729 RR 0001) founded in 2005 as Ontario EcoSchools and rebranded under its current name in 2017 to operate nationally. It is the Canadian National Operator of the international EcoSchools program overseen by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which is endorsed by UNEP and UNESCO. The organization delivers the largest bilingual, voluntary environmental certification program for K-12 schools in Canada, reaching approximately 1 million students annually across 2,000 schools and 175 school boards/districts (65% of Canadian school boards) through 66,000 teachers.

The core product is the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA), a custom-built online platform developed in-house over three years of stakeholder consultation. The ECA houses more than 50 environmental and climate change actions with curriculum-linked resources, supports unlimited team-member collaboration, tracks waste diversion and greenhouse gas emissions, and awards digital certification seals at Bronze (50-65 points), Silver (66-74), Gold (75-100), and Platinum (101+) tiers. A complementary EcoSchools Board Program provides school-board-level administrator access, customized support, and climate-resilience planning tools. An e-commerce storefront (EcoSchools Market) sells branded merchandise and exclusive partner products. Technology integrations include a partnership with Arc Skoru to convert platform data into GHG reduction estimates.

The business model is a hybrid charity/earned-revenue structure. Publicly funded schools receive certification free of charge (freemium model) creating a top-of-funnel for the network. Independent and private schools pay annual fees of up to $1,000, and boards/districts pay annual membership fees for administrator access and analytics. Additional revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring via CanadaHelps), securities donations, corporate giving through 1% for the Planet and Benevity, foundation grants (McConnell, Trottier, Peter Gilgan, Catherine Donnelly), commissioned studies from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and merchandise sales. Distribution relies on self-service registration through the ECA, board-level partnership sales, community-driven student EcoTeams, and a multi-channel marketing mix including social media, webinars, and an annual certification celebration event.

Name

EcoSchools Canada

Legal name

EcoSchools Canada

Website

https://ecoschools.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EcoSchools Canada is a registered charity that delivers the largest bilingual K-12 environmental certification program in Canada, serving 2,000 schools, 66,000 teachers, and 175 school boards/districts via its custom-built EcoSchools Certification Application platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Certification

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL), Digital/Interactive Curriculum Content (Apps, Games, Multimedia Lessons) (EDACAJAK)

Keywords

• Environmental education certification
• K-12 sustainability programs
• School climate action
• Bilingual education services
• Nonprofit certification platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations and one-time donations from individual supporters. Donors can contribute via the website or through CanadaHelps platform. The organization reached over one million students last year with donor support.
2. Securities Donations: Donors can transfer securities as the most efficient way to give, providing tax advantages for donors while supporting the organization.
3. Corporate Giving Programs: Corporate donations via 1% for the Planet and Benevity employee giving platforms. Includes support from RBC, various foundations, and corporate partners.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from government bodies, foundations including McConnell Foundation, Trottier Foundation, Peter Gilgan Foundation, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, and others. Commissioned studies from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
5. E-commerce Merchandise Sales: Sale of EcoSchools branded merchandise including Action Card Decks, banners, stickers, celebration packages, decals, plaques, t-shirts, and flags. Products available to all of Canada with free shipping on celebration packages.
6. Independent School Membership Fees: Independent/private schools pay an annual fee up to $1,000 for certification and access to the ECA platform. Fee enables access to curriculum-linked resources, certification support, and recognition materials. Smaller schools under 50 students may qualify for reduced rates.
7. Board/District Membership Fees: School boards and districts pay a small annual fee for member status, including administrator access to ECA data and analytics, customized support from EcoSchools Canada staff, and enhanced certification guidance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

EcoSchools Canada delivers a bilingual (English/French) environmental education and certification program for K-12 schools in Canada through a custom online platform called the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). Schools form EcoTeams, complete more than 50 environmental and climate change actions, and earn tiered Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum digital certification seals. The core program is free for publicly funded schools, with paid annual memberships for independent/private schools (up to $1,000) and school boards/districts that unlock administrator access and data analytics.

Product overview

EcoSchools Canada operates primarily as a certification program and online platform rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA) - a bilingual online platform that enables K-12 schools to track environmental actions, earn certification points, and achieve Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status. The program is free for publicly funded schools and includes access to over 50 environmental actions, curriculum-linked resources, and an impact tracking dashboard. The organization also offers a complementary EcoSchools Board Program - a free online platform for school boards to baseline, develop, and track GHG reductions through individualized action plans. Supporting offerings include the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) competition, the Bondar Challenge photography program, coaching sessions, and various merchandise items including the Action Card Deck, banners, stickers, decals, plaques, flags, and apparel. Exclusive partner products through the EcoSchools Market include the Plantaform Indoor Garden, Mini Worm Studio, and NOVA 30 Composter available at member pricing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EcoSchools Certification Program (ECA)
• Independent/Private School Membership
• Board/District Membership Program
• EcoSchools Market Merchandise
• Action Card Deck
• Stand-up Banner
• Lights Off Stickers
• EcoSchools Certification Celebration Package
• Window Decal
• Milestone Window Decal
• EcoSchools Plaque
• EcoSchools Canada T-Shirt
• EcoSchools Green Flag

Quantifiable outcome

• Reach of 1 million students annually across 2,000 schools in Canada
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circular MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Partnership to expand recycling education across Ontario schools as the province transitions to extended producer responsibility. Circular Materials collaborates with Earth Rangers and EcoSchools Canada to deliver assemblies, classroom activities, digital modules, and take-home resources to hundreds of elementary schools, helping students connect everyday actions to environmental outcomes.
• Earth RangerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Earth Rangers partners with Circular Materials and EcoSchools Canada for Ontario school recycling education initiative. Delivers assemblies, classroom activities, digital modules, and resources to help students and families understand environmental outcomes.
• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcoSchools Canada is the Canadian National Operator of the international EcoSchools program, overseen by FEE. FEE is endorsed by UNEP and UNESCO and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. EcoSchools Canada is part of a community of 74 other national EcoSchools programs around the globe.
• Clean50minorOthersEcoSchools Canada received Clean 50 Top Project recognition in 2024 for scaling their online platform nationally.
• Novaterra (Groupe Novaterra)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive promotion in EcoSchools Market offering NOVA 30 Composter to schools with preferred pricing. Every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
• PlantaformminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive promotion offering Plantaform Indoor Garden with smart technology and app connectivity for classrooms. EcoSchools members receive exclusive pricing, and every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
• The Box of LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner offering Mini Worm Studio for EcoSchools - plastic-free worm farm kits for classrooms with preferred pricing for members. Every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
• CascadesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting EcoSchools Canada. Cascades provides paper life-cycle resources and paper activities resources for schools.
• CNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of EcoSchools Canada supporting environmental education initiatives.
• UNESCO Greening Education PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcoSchools Canada participates in UNESCO's Greening Education Partnership, connecting Canadian schools to international environmental education frameworks.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Earth Rangers: Canada-based environmental charity that delivers school assemblies, classroom programs, and student engagement around sustainability. Already a partnership counterparty with EcoSchools Canada on the Circular Materials recycling initiative, it targets the same K–12 environmental education segment.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada (Conservation Education): Canadian conservation nonprofit that delivers wetland-focused K–12 curriculum and schoolyard programs. Overlaps with EcoSchools in targeting Canadian elementary and secondary schools with environmental learning content and teacher resources.
• Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF): Canadian nonprofit that provides sustainability curriculum resources, professional development, and K–12 programming—sharing the same Canadian K–12 audience and education-for-sustainability mission as EcoSchools Canada, with overlapping teacher networks and school partnerships.
• Green Schools Alliance: Network of K–12 schools focused on sustainability, providing peer benchmarking, resources, and recognition for green initiatives. Direct peer in the U.S. that competes for the same school sustainability certification mindshare EcoSchools Canada holds in Canada.
• National Wildlife Federation (Eco-Schools USA): The U.S. National Operator of the FEE Eco-Schools framework and the most direct global peer to EcoSchools Canada. It runs the same international certification model, awards Bronze–Green Flag tiers, and targets K–12 schools in the U.S. with curriculum-linked environmental actions—directly comparable structure, customer, and program design.
• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE): FEE is the parent body that EcoSchools Canada operates under and coordinates 74 national Eco-Schools programs globally. While not a commercial competitor, it is the closest institutional peer governing the same certification framework, training, and brand that EcoSchools Canada delivers.
• Project Learning Tree (Sustainable Forestry Initiative): U.S. environmental education program offering K–12 curriculum and teacher training focused on forests and sustainability. Overlaps with EcoSchools in target audience (K–12 teachers and students) and product (curriculum-linked environmental lesson plans and school certification pathways).
• Canadian Wildlife Federation (WILD Education): Canadian national charity running WILD Education and school programs focused on biodiversity and conservation. Comparable as a Canada-focused K–12 environmental education provider competing for school attention, teacher time, and donor dollars.

Regional players

• Eco-Schools Scotland: Scottish national operator of the FEE Eco-Schools framework, delivering the same Green Flag certification model to Scottish schools. Direct peer in program design but does not compete geographically with EcoSchools Canada.

Others

• Circular Materials: Canadian producer-responsibility organization that funds recycling education programs in schools—a current EcoSchools Canada partner. Relevant as a comparable/funder in the school sustainability education ecosystem rather than a competing program provider.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EcoSchoolsCAN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EcoSchoolsCAN
• Facebookfacebook.com/EcoSchoolsCAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoschoolscanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoschoolscan

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 EcoSchools Canada