Neighbours United

What Neighbours United does

Neighbours United is a registered Canadian charity (registration number 801873332RR0001) that runs grassroots environmental advocacy, deep canvassing, and community programs focused on climate solutions, clean energy transition, conservation, and food security. Founded in 1994 as EcoCentre, incorporated as West Kootenay Community EcoSociety in 1997, and operating for many years as West Kootenay EcoSociety, the organization rebranded to Neighbours United in 2022 to signal intent to operate beyond the West Kootenay region. It is headquartered at 1104 3rd Street, Castlegar, British Columbia, with a second office in St. John's, Newfoundland, and serves rural and suburban communities across British Columbia and Newfoundland. The organization employs between 11 and 50 people.

Its core methodology is "Deep Engagement Canvassing," a relational organizing approach in which trained staff and volunteers conduct door-to-door conversations with residents—particularly those holding polarized views on climate change—to find common ground and build support for environmental policies. The organization runs multiple campaign lines including 100% Renewable Kootenays (a 14-municipality commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2050), Defend Our Home (biodiversity and ecosystem health law advocacy in British Columbia), Defend Our Island (offshore oil and gas opposition in Newfoundland), Affordable Electric Homes (Zero Carbon Step Code advocacy in Port Coquitlam), Farms to Friends (a food security program that has invested over $276,000 in the local economy and supports 87 families and seniors), and Community in Nature (watershed protection).

Neighbours United is funded through individual charitable donations, corporate sponsorships from over 100 local businesses, and project grants from government bodies and foundations including Columbia Basin Trust, the Government of Canada, Real Estate Foundation, Watersheds BC, and the United Nations Association in Canada. The organization does not charge for services—membership is free—and produces public-good outputs (advocacy outcomes, policy commitments, food security support) rather than commercial products. Recent activity indicates a deliberate scaling phase: a 2022 rebrand, concurrent expansion into Newfoundland, Port Coquitlam, and Powell River markets, active hiring of campaign managers and canvass organizers across regions, and a planned May 2025 executive director transition from Montana Burgess to Molli Bennentt.

Name

Neighbours United

Legal name

Neighbours United

Website

https://neighboursunited.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Neighbours United is a registered Canadian charity that runs deep canvassing and community organizing campaigns supporting climate solutions, clean energy, conservation, and food security across rural and suburban communities in British Columbia and Newfoundland, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Community organizing
• Deep canvassing
• Renewable energy campaigns
• Climate policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nelson

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations from supporters who contribute to environmental campaigns and community programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from local businesses and organizations that sponsor campaigns and programs.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Project funding from government programs, Columbia Basin Trust, and other foundations for specific environmental and community programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Neighbours United is a registered Canadian charity that delivers grassroots environmental campaigns and community programs through deep engagement canvassing, advocacy on biodiversity law and clean energy policy, a local food-security program (Farms to Friends), and watershed stewardship (Community in Nature). It works in British Columbia and Newfoundland with rural and suburban community members, 14 municipal governments, and over 100 local businesses, providing organizing services rather than commercial products. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and government/foundation grants.

Product overview

Neighbours United is a registered Canadian charity that operates as a community organization offering multiple advocacy campaigns and programs focused on environmental protection and sustainable communities. The organization does not offer a traditional technology product but provides programs including: Deep Engagement Canvassing (door-to-door community organizing methodology), Defend Our Home Campaign (biodiversity law advocacy), Affordable Electric Homes Campaign (zero carbon building policy), Defend Our Island Campaign (oil and gas opposition), Farms to Friends (food security program), 100% Renewable Kootenays (renewable energy transition), Community in Nature (watershed protection), and Guaranteed Livable Basic Income campaign. These campaigns use grassroots organizing, advocacy, and community engagement rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deep Engagement Canvassing

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 municipalities committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050 - largest geographic area in North America with this commitment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Local Governments in West KootenaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 14 municipalities including Castlegar, Kaslo, Nelson, New Denver, Slocan, Silverton, Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Creston, Golden, and Fruitvale, plus Regional District of Central Kootenay and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary to develop and implement 100% renewable energy transition plans.
• Columbia Basin TrustsupportingOthersProject funder providing grants through the Environmental Initiatives Program to support community environmental programs including Friends of Kootenay Lake and other conservation initiatives.
• Government of CanadasupportingOthersFederal government funding for community environmental projects and initiatives.
• Real Estate FoundationsupportingOthersFoundation providing funding for community and environmental initiatives.
• Watersheds BCsupportingOthersOrganization funding watershed protection and community environmental projects.
• United Nations Association in CanadasupportingOthersNational organization supporting UN initiatives including watershed protection projects.
• Over 100 Local BusinessessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses in the Kootenay region including Castlegar Centre for Contemplation and Justice, Nelson Brewing Company, Backroads Brewing Co, Kootenay Carshare Cooperative, and many others that have signed on to support 100% renewable energy transition.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilderness Committee: Canadian environmental nonprofit focused on protecting wilderness, addressing climate change, and building grassroots support for conservation policies. Directly comparable to Neighbours United in advocacy-driven environmental protection and community engagement work.
• West Coast Environmental Law: BC-based environmental law organization focused on legal advocacy for environmental protection. Comparable to Neighbours United in BC-based environmental advocacy work, with complementary legal-policy approach to environmental issues.
• Environmental Defence Canada: Canadian environmental advocacy organization working on climate, biodiversity, and human health issues through policy advocacy and public engagement. Comparable to Neighbours United in environmental campaign-driven advocacy and grassroots mobilization.

Emerging players

• Climate Action Network Canada: Coalition of Canadian environmental organizations working on climate policy advocacy. Comparable to Neighbours United in climate-focused advocacy and coalition building with civil society.
• Leadnow: Canadian advocacy group using digital organizing and grassroots campaigns on climate, democracy, and social justice issues. Comparable to Neighbours United's community-led advocacy approach, though Leadnow emphasizes digital organizing over door-to-door canvassing.

Broad incumbents

• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement focused on ending fossil fuel use through community organizing and policy advocacy. Comparable to Neighbours United in climate-focused grassroots organizing methodology, though significantly larger in scale and global reach.
• David Suzuki Foundation: One of Canada's largest environmental nonprofits focused on climate, biodiversity, and sustainability advocacy. Comparable to Neighbours United as a Canadian environmental advocacy organization, though broader in scope and significantly larger in scale.
• Sierra Club Canada Foundation: National environmental organization focused on conservation, climate action, and outdoor recreation advocacy. Comparable to Neighbours United in environmental mission and advocacy approach, with broader geographic scope.

Regional players

• Ecology Ottawa: Regional environmental nonprofit in Ottawa focused on community climate action, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing. Comparable to Neighbours United's regional organizing model, though serving a different Canadian geography.
• Friends of Kootenay Lake: Local BC nonprofit focused on watershed protection around Kootenay Lake, with overlapping geographic service area. Comparable to Neighbours United's Community in Nature watershed program, though more specialized in lake-specific stewardship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NUNeighboursUnited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Neighbours United