The Elizabeth River Project

What The Elizabeth River Project does

The Elizabeth River Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by Marjorie Mayfield Jackson and three residents in Norfolk, Virginia, with the mission of restoring the ecological health of the Elizabeth River after decades of industrial pollution that had rendered it effectively dead by the late 1980s. The organization operates as the convener of a multi-stakeholder partnership model spanning industrial landowners, the U.S. Navy, the Port of Virginia, Dominion Energy, Hampton Roads municipalities, anchor universities (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Old Dominion University, UVA School of Architecture), federal agencies (EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and more than 7,000 enrolled households, 86 schools, and a network of corporate River Star Business members.

Its core operating assets are three physical facilities: the Dominion Energy Learning Barge, the world's only floating tidal-wetland classroom that has hosted 100,000+ K-12 students since 2009 with SOL-aligned programming; the $8 million Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab (opened 2024), a coastal resilience demonstration site with floating docks, green roofs, solar arrays, rainwater capture, living shorelines, and engineered planned-retreat architecture; and the 40-acre Paradise Creek Nature Park in Portsmouth, featuring 11 acres of restored wetlands and the Fred W. Beazley River Academy. Restoration sites include Money Point (the first nonprofit-led large-scale sediment remediation in the U.S.), Paradise Creek, Lafayette River (first Virginia river fully restored for native oyster habitat in 2018), and Eastern Branch (second Chesapeake Bay tributary to meet oyster goals in 2020), supported by an Environmental Justice Mapping Tool co-developed with VIMS and William & Mary.

The organization finances itself through a hybrid of foundation and government grants (including a $2M NFWF federal grant in 2026), tiered individual memberships and donor circles ranging from $35 introductory to $10,000+ Pelican Circle, corporate River Star partnerships, venue and facility rentals at the Ryan Resilience Lab and River Academy, Learning Barge field trip sponsorships at $50/student, and branded merchandise. Distribution is regional (Hampton Roads / Southeast Virginia) and centered on River Star recognition programs, school field trips, volunteer events through Humanitix, community science programs (Otter Spotters, Seed Keepers, Chesapeake Water Watch, Osprey Watch, Dolphin Watch, Youth Water Monitoring), and earned media in outlets such as the TODAY Show and Fast Company. As of February 2025, Lacy Shirey leads the organization as Executive Director following Marjorie Mayfield Jackson's retirement.

Name

The Elizabeth River Project

Legal name

The Elizabeth River Project

Website

https://elizabethriver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Elizabeth River Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 in Norfolk, Virginia, that restores the Elizabeth River through partnership-based restoration, environmental education, and community science across Hampton Roads, operating the world's only floating wetland classroom, the Ryan Resilience Lab, and a 40-acre nature park serving households, schools, businesses, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration & Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Environmental restoration services
• River conservation programs
• Wetland restoration
• Environmental education
• Watershed stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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. Individual Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible donations from individuals including monthly recurring donations ($5/month minimum) and one-time gifts. Membership levels include Introductory ($35+), Otter Champions ($60 one-time or $5/month), and Oyster Circle ($250+). Benefits include newsletters, decals, event discounts, and volunteer alerts.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Major grants from organizations including National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ($2M for living shorelines in 2026), The Blocker Foundation, Beazley Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Dominion Energy, Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Richard and Caroline Gwathmey Memorial Trust, Roaring Brook Family Foundation, TC Energy, and Virginia Environmental Endowment.
3. Venue and Facility Rentals: Rental income from Ryan Resilience Lab and River Academy Lecture Hall. Ryan Lab: Weekday $550 (general)/$150 (non-profit), Weeknight $1,000/$550, Weekend $1,750/$875, Private Tour $150. River Academy: Weekday $400/$150, Weeknight $750/$550, Weekend $1,300/$875.
4. Program Fees and Merchandise: Revenue from educational programs including Learning Barge field trips (sponsored at $50/student), youth programs, and merchandise sales including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and adoption kits.
5. Donor Circles: Tiered giving circles: Oyster Circle ($250-$499), Seahorse Circle ($500-$999), River Otter Circle ($1,000-$2,499), Mummichog Circle ($2,500-$4,999), Pelican Circle ($5,000-$9,999), and Pelican Circle ($10,000+). Corporate partner levels available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Elizabeth River Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that restores the health of the Elizabeth River in southeastern Virginia through wetland restoration, oyster reef construction, and living shoreline projects. It operates flagship educational facilities including the Dominion Energy Learning Barge (a floating wetland classroom) and the Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab, and runs community engagement programs such as River Star Homes, Businesses, and Schools.

Product overview

The Elizabeth River Project is a nonprofit organization offering environmental restoration and education programs centered on restoring the health of the Elizabeth River. Its portfolio includes flagship facilities (The Dominion Energy Learning Barge floating classroom, the $8M Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab, and Paradise Creek Nature Park), community engagement programs (River Star Homes with 7,000+ participants, River Star Businesses, and River Star Schools), youth education initiatives (Youth Resilience Projects, Youth Water Monitoring, Youth Conservation Internships), and digital tools (Elizabeth River Mapping Tool). The organization also publishes the Mudflats newsletter and operates community science programs including Otter Spotter and Seed Keepers. The programs work together as a comprehensive ecosystem approach to river restoration through education, volunteer action, business partnerships, and scientific research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab: A global model for coastal resilience designed to teach coastal residents and businesses how to respond as sea levels rise. Located at 4610 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23508.
• Paradise Creek Nature Park
• Dominion Energy Learning Barge

Products and services

• The Dominion Energy Learning Barge The world's first floating wetland classroom offering hands-on lessons in river ecology, wetlands, water quality, and climate resilience for K-12 students through six SOL-aligned learning stations.
• Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab An $8 million facility designed to teach coastal residents and businesses how to adapt to rising sea levels through demonstration of green building systems, living shorelines, and planned retreat design.
• Paradise Creek Nature Park A 40-acre public park featuring 11 acres of restored wetlands, 2 miles of handicap-accessible trails, kayak launch, nature playground, and the Fred W. Beazley River Academy education center.
• River Star Homes Program Community stewardship program enrolling homeowners who pledge to take seven steps to clean the river, including scooping pet waste, reducing fertilizers, and avoiding single-use plastics; over 7,000 households enrolled.
• River Star Businesses Program Recognition and partnership program for businesses to reduce toxic pollution, improve flood control, and restore wetlands and wildlife habitat; cumulative impact includes 2,604 acres of habitat created and 395 million pounds of pollution reduced since 1997.
• River Star Schools Program School-based environmental engagement program where students participate in shoreline restoration, oyster gardening, litter cleanups, and rainwater conservation; 86 schools enrolled as of 2026.
• Elizabeth River Environmental Justice Mapping Tool Interactive web-based mapping tool developed with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and College of William & Mary that helps planners and community partners integrate data on flood-prone communities, tree canopies, and restoration opportunities.
• Youth Water Quality Monitoring Program Community science program where youth ages 8-17 test river water quality (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, salinity) using LaMotte Earth Force water quality monitoring kits.
• Mosaic Living Shorelines Initiative Three-year initiative funded by a $2 million National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to build at least 10 mosaic living shorelines across the Elizabeth River watershed including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.
• Youth Conservation Internships Eight-week paid internship at Paradise Creek Nature Park linking Portsmouth high school students with mentors in river-friendly horticulture and sustainable landscape design, earning Chesapeake Bay Landscaping Professional Associate certification.
• Ryan Resilience Lab Venue Rentals Rental of the Ryan Resilience Lab facility for meetings, events, and tours, with separate weekday ($150-$550), weeknight ($550-$1,000), and weekend ($875-$1,750) pricing for general and nonprofit users; accommodates up to 85 theater-style.
• River Academy Lecture Hall Rentals Rental of the Fred W. Beazley River Academy Lecture Hall at Paradise Creek Nature Park, with weekday ($150-$400), weeknight ($550-$750), and weekend ($875-$1,300) tiers for general and nonprofit users; accommodates up to 50 theater-style.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pollution reduced by 395 million pounds since 1997
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anchor QEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership to release Wetland Restoration Using Thin Layer Placement: Best Management Practices for the Commonwealth of Virginia guide - new blueprint for wetland restoration in Virginia.
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner for State of the River reports and Environmental Justice Mapping Tool. Partnership with William & Mary on mapping tool development.
• College of William & MarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Environmental Justice Mapping Tool alongside VIMS. Helps planners incorporate flood, tree canopy, and restoration data into planning.
• Hampton Roads Workforce Council NextGen PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Youth Conservation Internship program linking Portsmouth high school students with mentors in horticulture and landscape design. Participants earn Chesapeake Bay Landscaping Professional Associate certification.
• River Otter Ecology ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational collaboration on Otter Spotters community science program. Leverages river otter recovery to support water conservation efforts nationwide through community science partnerships.
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Chesapeake Water Watch program. Community scientists validate and confirm readings from NASA satellites monitoring Chesapeake Bay water quality.
• OspreyWatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal community of observers focused on breeding osprey - aquatic ecosystem sentinels. ERP participates in data collection for climate change, fish stock, and contaminant monitoring.
• DolphinWatch (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to track dolphin sightings in Chesapeake Bay through crowdsourced reports. Helps researchers study dolphin movement, behavior, habitat use, and bay health.
• NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner for Paradise Creek restoration. Navy removed 'black beauty' sandblast grit from creek headwaters in 2001 and created 70-acre wildlife area. Multimillion-dollar investment won White House Award.
• City of PortsmouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Paradise Creek Nature Park operation (city's 3rd largest public park). City operates park while ERP enhances education and restoration. Partner in stakeholder team for creek cleanup.
• University of Virginia School of ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the Learning Barge floating wetland classroom. Innovative platform design has earned national acclaim for cutting-edge design and sustainability.
• Old Dominion University - Wetland Plant and Restoration LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Dr. Taylor Sloey and Dr. Erik Yando. Research collaborators for Seed Keepers of the Elizabeth River program including seed harvesting workshops and community seed library.
• The Port of VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Paradise Creek restoration. Removed 300,000 cubic yards of dredge spoils to create signature 11-acre wetland at Paradise Creek Nature Park.
• Chesapeake Bay FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Lafayette River Restoration Plan in 2011 with over 100 participants. Partner in oyster reef construction including 3 million oysters seeded on Lafayette River.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• EarthEcho International: Youth-focused water and ocean conservation education nonprofit founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr. Comparable to ERP's Youth Water Monitoring and education focus, with similar mission of engaging young people in water science and conservation.

Direct peers

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional watershed nonprofit working on Chesapeake Bay restoration including oyster reef, education (educational programs and floating classroom), and policy advocacy. Direct peer given shared geography, similar programmatic focus on watershed restoration, and explicit co-development partnership on Lafayette River Restoration Plan.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: Nonprofit focused on Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration with similar model of bringing together businesses, governments, and communities. Highly comparable mission, geography, and stakeholder approach to ERP.
• Anacostia Watershed Society: Urban river restoration nonprofit serving the Anacostia River in the Washington, D.C. region. Directly comparable in operating an urban, historically polluted tributary through community-led restoration, education, and advocacy programming.

Broad incumbents

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global nonprofit supporting local Waterkeeper organizations protecting rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Closely comparable in clean water advocacy, community science monitoring, and watershed protection approach, but operates through an affiliate model at much larger scale.
• Surfrider Foundation: Nationally focused coastal water quality nonprofit with beach cleanup, water testing, and chapter-based advocacy. Comparable community science and beach/coastal stewardship model, though at much broader national scale than ERP's regional scope.
• Izaak Walton League of America: National conservation nonprofit with chapters focused on watershed and water quality monitoring. Comparable in community-based water monitoring and conservation education mission, though operating at much broader national scale.
• The Nature Conservancy (Virginia): Global environmental nonprofit with significant Virginia chapter activity in land conservation, coastal resilience, and habitat restoration. Comparable in restoration and resilience work but broader scope across terrestrial and marine ecosystems and much larger resource base.

Regional players

• Save the Sound: Connecticut-based nonprofit focused on Long Island Sound watershed restoration, including habitat, water quality, and coastal resilience. Comparable model of combining restoration, advocacy, education, and community science for an urban-impacted waterway.
• Heal the Bay: California-based nonprofit focused on coastal water quality, education, and advocacy in Santa Monica Bay. Comparable model of combining water quality monitoring, K-12 education, community science, and policy advocacy, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ElizRiverProj
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElizabethRiverProject
• Instagraminstagram.com/elizabethriverproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elizabeth-river-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Elizabeth River Project