Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
- Legal name
- Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
- Website
- https://southeastsdn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Southeast Sustainability Directors Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Local government members pay annual dues based on population tier. Dues cover unlimited staff participation within member governments. This is the primary direct revenue stream for organizational operations.
- Foundation & Philanthropic Grants: SSDN receives multi-year grant funding from foundations including The Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, Energy Foundation, Turner Foundation, Merck Family Fund, Roddenberry Foundation, Z Smith Reynolds Foundation, The Summit Foundation, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund. These grants fund SSDN's programs, staff, and member support activities.
- Event Sponsorships: The Annual Meeting generates sponsorship revenue from corporate and organizational sponsors. The 2026 Annual Meeting generated over $100k in sponsorship dollars from 26 sponsors.
- Federal Program Funding: SSDN operates EPA Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for Region 4 and Local Infrastructure Hub Cohorts (LIH) as funded federal programs supported by EPA, DOE, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Waverly Street Foundation, and Ford Foundation, providing technical assistance and capacity awards to communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Population under 49,999: $395/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Population 50,000 – 149,999: $700/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Population 150,000 – 499,999: $1,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Population 500,000+: $1,325/year |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SSDN is a nonprofit member network that connects local government sustainability professionals across 10 southeastern U.S. states, providing peer learning programs, federal funding technical assistance, state-level policy coordination, and an annual convening. The organization supports members with direct technical assistance on federal funding opportunities (e.g., EPA and DOE programs), state policy work in priority southeastern states, and community resources such as a podcast, newsletter, and resource library.
Product overview
The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN) is a member-driven network connecting local government sustainability professionals throughout the southeastern United States. SSDN offers a unified platform of programs and services centered on peer learning, state policy engagement, and federal funding support. The core offerings include the Peer Learning Program, State Policy Program, and Federal Programs (comprising Local Infrastructure Hub Cohorts, Southeast Sustainable Recovery Center, Environmental Finance Center, and ETIPP). Additional services include the Green Minds Podcast content platform, Annual Meeting events, tiered Membership Program, and Community Resources Library. The network operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization covering 10 southeastern states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SSDN Membership Annual institutional membership program for local governments across 10 southeastern U.S. states (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA), providing access to SSDN's peer network, learning programs, federal funding technical assistance, and annual convening. Membership dues are tiered based on the local government's population size.
- Peer Learning Program Program connecting 125+ local government sustainability practitioners across the Southeast to share knowledge, best practices, and peer support on local climate, energy, and sustainability initiatives.
- State Policy Program State-level policy coordination and advocacy work in priority southeastern states, including dedicated state policy managers for Georgia, Florida, and the Tennessee Valley region.
- Federal Funding Technical Assistance Direct technical assistance for local government members on identifying and applying for federal funding opportunities, supported by SSDN's Director of Federal Resources and Director of Federal Technical Assistance.
- Annual Meeting Annual in-person convening of SSDN's southeastern local government sustainability members for peer learning, partnership-building, and program updates.
- Green Minds Podcast SSDN's podcast hosted on Podbean, featuring conversations on local government sustainability topics for the southeastern U.S. member audience.
- Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund (SSCF) SSDN's sustainable communities fund supporting local government sustainability initiatives in the southeastern United States.
- Southeast Sustainable Recovery Center (SSRC) SSDN's regional recovery-focused initiative supporting southeastern local governments on sustainable recovery programming.
- Local Infrastructure Hub Cohorts Cohort-based programming delivered in partnership with the Local Infrastructure Hub, supporting local governments on infrastructure-related funding and delivery.
- Environmental Finance Center (EFC) SSDN's Environmental Finance Center work, coordinated by the EFC Coordinator, providing environmental finance and funding support to southeastern local governments.
- Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) SSDN's energy technology innovation partnership project supporting local governments on emerging energy technologies and deployment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly $5 million invested in 17 communities via Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.
- World Resources Institute (WRI)majorPartner organization co-hosting IRA Elective Pay sessions at SSDN's Annual Meeting. WRI provides technical expertise on climate and sustainability policy alongside SSDN's network programming.
- Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG)supportingPartner providing IRA Elective Pay guidance alongside WRI, GFOA, Sabin Center, and USDN at SSDN's Annual Meeting federal funding workshop.
- Elevate EnergymajorPartner organization leading the Local Infrastructure Hub effort in the Midwest while SSDN leads the Southeast. Collaboration enables shared best practices and program alignment across regions.
- The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)coreSSDN's fiscal sponsor. USDN and SSDN collaborate on programs including the Black Food Sovereignty film project. SSDN aligned more closely with USDN in 2020 via fiscal sponsorship. USDN's fiscal sponsorship enabled SSDN to achieve its 501(c)(3) status.
- EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)coreSSDN serves as the EPA Multimedia Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), providing training and technical assistance to communities seeking federal water infrastructure funding.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)majorLong-standing partner collaborating with SSDN on NC Cities Initiative and state network programming. EDF and SSDN co-present at Annual Meetings on progressive sustainability work in North Carolina.
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)supportingPartner co-hosting IRA Elective Pay sessions with SSDN at Annual Meeting to help local governments understand clean energy investment returns.
- The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia UniversitysupportingPartner contributing to SSDN's federal funding workshops at the Annual Meeting, providing legal and policy expertise on climate law.
- Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)majorSSDN's partner on the 'Energy for All Y'all' clean energy storytelling campaign. SACE co-authors content on electric bill affordability and clean energy with SSDN, reaching audiences across the Southeast.
- Generation180supportingPartner organization collaborating with SSDN and SACE on the 'Energy for All Y'all' clean energy storytelling campaign.
- East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC)supportingCommunity-based organization in Houston receiving SSDN's LIH technical assistance to develop grant strategy and apply for EPA Community Change Grant.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)coreSSDN's ETIPP program is a DOE initiative led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NRL) helping coastal and island communities strengthen energy reliability. DOE participates in SSDN Annual Meeting federal funding workshops.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International City/County Management Association (ICMA): ICMA is the professional association for local government managers and provides training, research, and technical assistance on sustainability and resilience topics. ICMA serves a much broader manager audience, while SSDN is narrowly focused on sustainability directors.
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): GFOA is the professional association for state and local government finance officers, providing training, certification, and resources on federal funding access. GFOA co-hosts IRA Elective Pay workshops with SSDN and serves an overlapping finance-focused audience for technical assistance.
- National League of Cities (NLC): NLC is the largest U.S. membership organization for city governments, offering sustainability, infrastructure, and federal funding resources that overlap with SSDN's federal program work. It serves a broader municipal agenda, while SSDN specializes in deep sustainability peer learning.
- American Planning Association (APA): APA is the national professional association for urban planners, providing training, certification, and policy resources on sustainability and resilience. APA serves a broader planning audience, while SSDN focuses specifically on sustainability directors in local government.
- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA: ICLEI is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable development, providing tools, training, and resources on climate, energy, and resilience — directly comparable to SSDN's peer-learning and technical assistance model.
Direct peers
- Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN): USDN is the national peer network for municipal sustainability directors, was SSDN's fiscal sponsor until 2025, and operates the same peer-learning model for larger cities. SSDN emerged as a regional counterpart to USDN, and they continue to collaborate on programs like the Black Food Sovereignty film project.
- Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA): CNCA is a global network of leading cities working on carbon neutrality, sharing best practices, tools, and policy frameworks. It operates as a peer-learning network similar to SSDN but with a global footprint and focus on the most ambitious cities.
- Climate Mayors: Climate Mayors is a bipartisan coalition of U.S. mayors committed to climate action, providing peer networking, policy advocacy, and federal funding guidance — directly overlapping with SSDN's value proposition for city sustainability leaders.
Regional players
- Greenbelt Alliance: Greenbelt Alliance is a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit that works with local governments on climate, housing, and land-use policy, offering a regional peer network model similar to SSDN but focused on the Bay Area.
- Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE): SACE is a Southeast-focused clean energy advocacy organization that partners with SSDN on the 'Energy for All Y'all' campaign. It serves a similar Southeast geography and overlapping audience of local government sustainability leaders, but focuses on clean energy advocacy rather than peer learning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network social profiles
Digital presenceSoutheast Sustainability Directors Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
What does Southeast Sustainability Directors Network do?
SSDN is a nonprofit member network that connects local government sustainability professionals across 10 southeastern U.S. states, providing peer learning programs, federal funding technical assistance, state-level policy coordination, and an annual convening. The organization supports members with direct technical assistance on federal funding opportunities (e.g., EPA and DOE programs), state policy work in priority southeastern states, and community resources such as a podcast, newsletter, and resource library.
Is Southeast Sustainability Directors Network a public or private company?
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southeast Sustainability Directors Network founded?
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Southeast Sustainability Directors Network based?
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southeast Sustainability Directors Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are foundation & Philanthropic Grants, event Sponsorships and federal Program Funding.
Who are Southeast Sustainability Directors Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), National League of Cities (NLC), American Planning Association (APA) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Direct peers are Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) and Climate Mayors. Regional players are Greenbelt Alliance and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE).
Does Southeast Sustainability Directors Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southeast Sustainability Directors Network.