National CleanUp Day, September 19, 2020

What National CleanUp Day, September 19, 2020 does

National CleanUp Day is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operated as an initiative of Clean Trails, Inc. and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Established in 2017, it organizes the largest single-day cleanup event in the United States, held on the third Saturday of September annually, with supporting cleanup activities throughout the month — and, as of 2026, a monthly #ThirdSaturday cleanup cadence across themed events such as #DayOfZeroWaste, #CleanTrails, and #GreatOutdoorsMonth. The organization mobilizes over 2 million volunteers across all 50 US states and territories, and participates in 193+ countries through its founding partnership with World Cleanup Day. Its core constituents are individual volunteers, businesses running CSR programs, municipalities, and non-profit organizations.

The technology backbone is the Global Cleanup Map, an interactive mapping platform that enables users to register, find, and report cleanup events worldwide. GPS/gis services are powered by ESRI ArcGIS and Survey123 with volunteer support from GISCorps, while back-office operations use Otter Waiver for digital sign-ups, Dropbox for media sharing, and a VeChain-based Cleanify project for blockchain-tracked litter data. Complementary products include the Tailored CleanUp Program (customized branded cleanup programs for businesses and municipalities), CleanUp Ambassadors (monthly social media advocacy), Plogging, Plirding, and Trashtag activity programs, the CleanUp News editorial platform, and the National CleanUp Plan policy framework.

Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (with Planet Oat as a presenting partner), and the Tailored CleanUp Program for businesses and municipalities (for which a donation is requested). Basic volunteer participation is free. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on digital self-service signup, social media hashtags, and partner referral channels rather than traditional sales. As a registered non-profit, the organization does not have traditional equity holders, has not raised venture capital, and does not publicly disclose financial figures.

Name

National CleanUp Day, September 19, 2020

Legal name

Clean Trails, Inc.

Website

https://nationalcleanupday.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National CleanUp Day is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that organizes the largest single-day cleanup event in the United States, mobilizing over 2 million volunteers across all 50 states and territories through its Global Cleanup Map platform and partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Community Cleanup Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE)

Keywords

• Volunteer cleanup events
• Environmental stewardship programs
• Litter reduction initiatives
• Community cleanups
• Civic environmental engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, National CleanUp Day relies on donations from individuals and supporters to fund operations and cleanup initiatives.
2. Tailored CleanUp Program Sponsorships: The organization offers a Sponsored Tailored CleanUp Program for businesses that helps manage resources, increases signups for cleanups, promotes the business, and helps keep the outdoors clean. The program is customized with images, videos, cleanup kits, social media, geographic locations, customized signup, mapping, landing page, and branding. A donation is requested to support the sponsored program globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National CleanUp Day is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that organizes the largest single-day volunteer cleanup event in the United States on the third Saturday in September each year. It mobilizes more than 2 million volunteers across all 50 states and US territories to remove litter from parks, trails, beaches, mountains, rivers, and open spaces, supported by the Global Cleanup Map interactive platform that lets individuals find, register for, and report cleanup events.

Product overview

National CleanUp Day operates as a multi-platform ecosystem of environmental cleanup programs under the Clean Trails, Inc. 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella. The core product is the annual National CleanUp Day event held on the third Saturday in September, which coordinates millions of volunteers across all 50 states. This core offering is supplemented by the Global Cleanup Map for event discovery and coordination, the Tailored CleanUp Program for customized corporate and municipal engagements, and the CleanUp Ambassadors program for volunteer advocacy. Complementary initiatives include World CleanUp Day (international partner), the Earth Day Great Global CleanUp partnership, Plogging, Trashtag, and Plirding activity programs, plus CleanUps.org as a central hub and CleanUp News as an editorial platform. The National CleanUp Plan provides strategic framework for policy and behavioral change at scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Trails: A program focused on cleaning up trails and public lands across the United States
• Trashtag
• Plogging

Products and services

• National CleanUp Day Annual Event Annual single-day volunteer cleanup event held on the third Saturday in September, coordinating millions of volunteers across all 50 states and US territories to clean parks, trails, beaches, and open spaces.
• Tailored CleanUp Program Customized sponsored cleanup programs for businesses, non-profits, cities, municipalities, and government organizations, featuring tailored signup pages, mapping, branding, images, videos, cleanup kits, and social media support; supported via a sponsorship donation.
• Global Cleanup Map Interactive global map showing cleanup locations year-round, allowing users to register, find, and share cleanup events worldwide; serves as the central coordination hub for the National CleanUp Day ecosystem.
• Clean Trails Parent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and program focused on cleaning up trails and public lands across the United States, advocating for litter reduction in outdoor spaces.
• Earth Day Great Global CleanUp Partnership program with EARTHDAY.ORG that mobilizes millions of volunteers during April for Earth Day cleanups, with a signup map integrated with the official Earth Day website.
• World CleanUp Day (US coordination) International cleanup movement held annually on September 20 uniting 193+ countries; National CleanUp Day serves as the US lead organizer for World Cleanup Day participation.
• CleanUp Ambassadors Program Monthly ambassador program where volunteers share cleanup impact on social media on highlight days to inspire others, featuring environmental activists and cleanup advocates.
• National CleanUp Plan Comprehensive national strategy and framework for cleanup activities, policy advocacy, and behavioral change, targeting 5-10% of the population to shift social norms around littering.
• Environmental Alliance Association of environmental non-profits using science and research to develop common ground promoting the environment, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Plogging Program Program promoting jogging, walking, or hiking while picking up trash; the term was coined by Erik Ahlstrom with an estimated 2 million daily participants worldwide.
• CleanUps.org Central online hub consolidating multiple cleanup concepts and programs including National CleanUp Day, Clean Trails, World CleanUp Day, Plogging, Trashtag, and CleanUp News.
• CleanUp News Editorially independent news platform covering cleanup activities, science, methods to reduce waste, and featuring stories about cleanup concepts and organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million volunteers participate in cleanup events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• EARTHDAY.ORG (Earth Day)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting Partner for National CleanUp Day and World CleanUp Day. National CleanUp Day and EARTHDAY.ORG have teamed up with grassroots groups and community members since 2019 to clean parks, neighborhoods, and waterways in all 50 states. Together they coordinate Earth Day's Great Global Cleanup campaign mobilizing millions of volunteers.
• World Cleanup DaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational CleanUp Day is a founding member of World Cleanup Day. World Cleanup Day unites more than 20 million people in 190+ countries annually on September 20. National CleanUp Day is held in conjunction with World Cleanup Day.
• Planet OatcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner for National CleanUp Day, World CleanUp Day US, and Clean Trails. Partnered with Clean Trails to promote cleanup activities across the United States in 2020 and 2021, with expanded programs in 2022.
• Keep America BeautifulmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeep America Beautiful has almost 700 local and community affiliates. Most locations participate on National CleanUp Day. The partnership provides extensive geographic coverage through their affiliate network.
• Ocean ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Conservancy is the world leader in cleanups and has fought tirelessly to reduce litter/waste from going into water. National CleanUp Day supports increased cooperation among all members of the CleanUp Alliance.
• Girl ScoutsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld CleanUp Day / National CleanUp Day / Girl Scouts program hosted by Spirit of Nebraska. Girl Scouts participate in cleanup events with dedicated registration forms and resources.
• National Wildlife FederationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Wildlife Federation teamed up with Johnson Outdoors to create the Clean Earth Challenge, calling on tens of millions of individuals to collect 1 million pieces of trash.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational CleanUp Day/Clean Trails is a proud member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses contributing 1% of annual sales to grassroots environmental groups.
• Freudenberg (O-Cedar)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFreudenberg donated over $250,000 of cleanup supplies to support volunteers. O-Cedar/Freudenberg employees volunteered at numerous locations worldwide for World Cleanup Day.
• Waterkeeper AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner supporting cleanup efforts and waterway protection initiatives.
• Keep Nature WildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTwo brothers-in-law founded organization with the mission to build communities by picking up trash outside. Hosts monthly cleanup events and fosters the Wild Keepers ambassador program.
• Plogging (Erik Ahlstrom)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErik Ahlstrom started plogging in Stockholm and created Plogga.se to organize the activity. National CleanUp Day partnered with Erik to promote plogging globally. Estimated 2 million people go plogging daily.
• TrashtagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrashtag is a social media movement involving before/after pictures of cleaned areas. Founded by Steven Reinhold in 2015, it has grown into a global movement with cleanup actions becoming viral social media events. 5 million monthly participants.
• KatoaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKATOA partnered with World CleanUp Day through a game that unlocks donations for environmental non-profits. Players unlocked a $50,000 donation for World CleanUp Day.
• GOES HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGOES Health is an outdoor health app providing wilderness medical information. Partnership ensures volunteer safety during cleanup events.
• Environmental AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of environmental non-profits using science and research to develop common ground promoting the environment. National CleanUp Day participates in this alliance working with local, national and global organizations to achieve common environmental goals.
• National CleanUp Plan CollaboratorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative effort including policy experts, behavioral scientists, and organizations: Action Research, American Alpine Club, Boulder County Colorado, EARTHDAY.ORG, Fountain Creek Watershed District, Keep America Beautiful, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Protect Our Winters, Tennessee Wildlife Federation, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Utah, World CleanUp Day, Zero Waste USA.
• Let's Do It WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiator of World Cleanup Day - a global civic movement. 22 million caring people have joined the movement, cleaning up more than 500,000 tonnes of garbage in over 100 countries.
• United Nations Environment ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner providing evidence that cleanup campaigns like World CleanUp Day make a difference in the battle against plastic pollution.
• FujitsuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal partner for World CleanUp Conference. Fujitsu employees volunteered, clearing more than 890 kilos of rubbish and planted 200 trees in Costa Rica.
• NielsenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNielsen associates dedicated almost 2,000 hours of volunteering in 28 countries and across 59 events for World Cleanup Day. Collected more than 8,000 pounds of trash.
• ToyotaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld CleanUp Conference Sponsor. Toyota is a global partner with Let's Do It World, working to apply know-how that benefits people, community, and planet.
• AllianzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld Cleanup Day global partner supporting international cleanup efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Let's Do It World (World Cleanup Day): Founder and organizer of World Cleanup Day, uniting 22M+ people across 100+ countries for annual cleanup. Direct peer to National CleanUp Day as it operates the global counterpart of the same single-day volunteer mobilization model.
• Ocean Conservancy: Runs the International Coastal Cleanup, the world's largest volunteer beach and waterway cleanup. Direct peer in mobilizing volunteers for ocean and coastal litter cleanup with comparable event-driven model.
• EARTHDAY.ORG: Global organizer of Earth Day events including the Great Global Cleanup, mobilizing millions of volunteers across 190+ countries. Direct peer and core partner of National CleanUp Day with overlapping cleanup mobilization activity.
• Surfrider Foundation: Grassroots nonprofit dedicated to protecting oceans and beaches through volunteer cleanups, advocacy, and education. Direct peer in coastal cleanup mobilization with comparable volunteer-driven event model.
• 4ocean: For-profit ocean cleanup company that funds cleanup operations by selling bracelets made from recovered ocean plastic. Direct peer in ocean cleanup activity with a different commerce-driven monetization model versus NCD's donation model.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global alliance of organizations working to end plastic pollution through advocacy, education, and cleanup campaigns. Direct peer in environmental advocacy and cleanup mobilization with overlapping mission.
• Take 3 for the Sea: Australian-originated nonprofit encouraging individuals to take three pieces of trash with them when leaving a beach. Direct peer in volunteer-driven beach cleanup advocacy and education.

Broad incumbents

• Keep America Beautiful: Largest US-based community improvement nonprofit with nearly 700 affiliates focused on litter prevention, recycling, and beautification. Broad incumbent that overlaps with National CleanUp Day's US mission but extends well beyond single-day cleanups into year-round programs.

Emerging players

• Litterati: Tech-enabled platform using crowdsourced data and mapping to identify and eliminate litter hotspots. Emerging player with partial overlap to National CleanUp Day in tech-enabled cleanup coordination and data-driven litter insights.

Others

• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that stops ocean plastic by building recycling ecosystems in vulnerable coastal communities. Adjacent player addressing plastic waste with overlapping mission but different operational model focused on recycling rather than volunteer cleanup events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nationalcleanup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbDfwicuQNU_QhSI1CIcOBg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalcleanupday
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-cleanup-day
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalcleanupday

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 National CleanUp Day, September 19, 2020