Missouri Coalition for the Environment

What Missouri Coalition for the Environment does

Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1969 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, operating statewide with 12 full-time staff as of the most recent disclosure. It pursues environmental protection through policy advocacy, federal and state litigation, community organizing, scientific research, and public education on issues including water quality, air quality, climate, energy, food systems, and land conservation. Its programs include federal lawsuits against the EPA (notably over nutrient pollution standards and the Endangerment Finding repeal), the 20/20 Vision Campaign organizing framework, interactive GIS-based environmental mapping tools, community organizing networks, and—until its 2024 handoff—the Known & Grown local food initiative transferred to the Gateway Sustainable Farmers Alliance.

MCE's core "products" are its advocacy campaigns, litigation outputs, educational programming, GIS-driven environmental data visualizations, and fiscal sponsorship services provided to allied grassroots groups. The technology stack is lightweight and nonprofit-typical: interactive web-based mapping, standard digital communications, and organizing tools rather than proprietary platforms. There is no indication of AI/ML or advanced data-science capability in the current operating model.

MCE's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack. Income is drawn from individual membership dues (tiered $25 to $500+), individual donations, foundation grants (Missouri Foundation for Health is a named institutional supporter), corporate sponsorships, program-specific mini-grants, and earned fees from fiscal sponsorship services administered on behalf of smaller partner organizations. Its stakeholder base spans Missouri residents, foundation funders, corporate sponsors, and partner community organizations receiving fiscal sponsorship, with no single revenue stream dominant on the available evidence.

Name

Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Legal name

Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Website

https://moenvironment.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Missouri Coalition for the Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1969 and headquartered in St. Louis, operating statewide with 12 staff to advance environmental protection through policy advocacy, federal litigation, education, GIS-based mapping, and community organizing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy services
• Community organizing
• Clean water protection
• Clean air advocacy
• Environmental policy

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting environmental advocacy work. The organization offers a fee-free donation platform through Zeffy.
2. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $25 to $500+ per year, with tiered benefits including board nomination rights, newsletter subscriptions, event invitations, and discounts. Donations of at least $50 per year provide membership status.
3. Foundation Grants and Corporate Sponsorships: Funding from foundation partners including Missouri Foundation for Health, P. Wayne & Jane B. Goode Foundation, Shumaker Family Foundation, Victor & Selene deLiniere Foundation, and Climate Council General Knowledge Center KC. Also supported by One Percent for the Planet membership.
4. Fiscal Sponsorship Services: Administrative and financial services provided to aligned grassroots organizations through fiscal sponsorship, including Circular KC and Cool Cities STL. Organizations receive support to focus on organizing without navigating nonprofit paperwork.
5. Advocacy Mini-Grants Program: Provides grants of up to $2,500 to improve community coalition and organization advocacy efforts. This is a pass-through program supporting grassroots environmental work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Missouri Coalition for the Environment is a citizen-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides environmental advocacy, citizen education, policy analysis, community organizing, and legal advocacy to protect Missouri's air, water, land, and food systems. It delivers these services through programmatic work in clean air, safe water, protected lands, hazardous waste remediation, sustainable food, climate resilience, and emerging issues (including data centers), supported by an Advocacy Resource Center, fiscal sponsorship, mini-grants, and a statewide membership and volunteer network.

Product overview

Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that operates as a service-based platform rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of advocacy services including an Advocacy Resource Center with guide, mini-grants, and travel stipends; membership programs with tiered benefits; educational networks like the Young Leaders Network; award programs such as the David Garin Student Environmental Action Award; fiscal sponsorship for aligned organizations; and programmatic work in clean air, safe water, protected lands, hazardous waste remediation, sustainable food, climate resilience, and emerging issues. These services are provided free or at low cost to Missouri residents and are funded through memberships, donations, and grants. No commercial software products or technology platforms are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Resource Center Centralized hub providing community members, coalitions, and organizations with assistance, tools, and resources to address environmental issues in their communities. Includes an Advocacy Guide, report-a-concern functionality, organizational support, fiscal sponsorship, travel stipends, and mini-grants of up to $2,500.
• Newsletter and E-alerts Monthly digest newsletters and electronic alerts that keep subscribers informed about environmental news, programs, and ways to get involved in Missouri environmental advocacy.
• Young Leaders Network Statewide community network for young people ages 18-28 interested in protecting Missouri's environment. Offers advocacy trainings, volunteer opportunities, leadership development, and a Leadership Council with a seat on the MCE Board.
• David Garin Student Environmental Action Award Recognition program for Missouri high school students who have initiated projects with strong beneficial environmental impact. Awards include First ($300), Second ($200), and Honorary Mention ($100) prizes.
• Individual / Household Membership Program Annual membership program with tiered benefits including board nomination ability, newsletter access, event invitations, and volunteer opportunities. Members can also volunteer to waive fees.
• Events and Volunteer Program Regular volunteer opportunities and events including Chats for Change community gatherings, Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, Eco Org Networking Events, and various advocacy events throughout Missouri.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Services Administrative and financial services provided to aligned grassroots organizations, allowing them to operate under MCE's nonprofit status while focusing on organizing and advocacy. Includes fiscally sponsored organizations such as Circular KC, Cool Cities STL, Black People Who Hike, and Friends of Ozark Riverways.
• Advocacy Mini-Grants Grants of up to $2,500 to improve community coalition and organization advocacy efforts, supporting local environmental initiatives across Missouri.
• Advocacy Travel Stipends Travel stipends enabling advocates to visit Jefferson City or Washington D.C. to advocate for their communities on environmental issues.
• Clean Air Program Advocacy work focused on protecting air quality through policy proposals, community education, permit monitoring, and challenging polluters through public comments and litigation. Addresses climate change, environmental racism, rural air quality from CAFOs, and mining impacts.
• Safe Water Program Water protection initiatives including reducing water pollution under the Clean Water Act, decreasing flooding impacts, protecting rivers like the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and the Watershed Warrior education program.
• Protected Lands and Parks Program Advocacy to protect Missouri's public lands including state parks, Mark Twain National Forest, and scenic riverways from private development and pollution. Includes work on equitable outdoor access.
• Remediated Waste Program Work addressing radioactive contamination in St. Louis, including support for removal of radioactive material from contaminated sites, advocacy for the West Lake Landfill cleanup, and the STL Toxic Waste Alliance partnership with Just Moms STL.
• Sustainable Food Program Initiatives supporting sustainable farming, local food systems, and food security. Includes CAFO advocacy, Farm Bill work, St. Louis Regional Food Studies, and the Known and Grown STL certification (transferred to Gateway Sustainable Farmers Alliance in 2024).
• Climate Resilience Program Work addressing climate change impacts including extreme urban heat that affects public health in Missouri communities.
• Emerging Issues Program (including Data Centers Education and Advocacy) Tracking and advocacy on emerging environmental issues impacting Missouri, including the environmental impacts of data centers (water consumption, energy use, heat and health effects, e-waste) and other new challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 cubic yards of radioactive contamination removed from St. Louis sites under Army Corps of Engineers cleanup
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

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

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

• Missouri Foundation for HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor foundation partner providing support for the Advocacy Resource Center. Missouri Foundation for Health is a regional foundation working to improve health through increased access to care, better health outcomes, and health equity.
• P. Wayne & Jane B. Goode FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily foundation sponsor supporting MCE's environmental advocacy work in Missouri.
• Shumaker Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily foundation sponsor providing funding for MCE's programs and operations.
• Victor & Selene deLiniere FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily foundation sponsor supporting environmental causes in Missouri.
• One Percent for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember organization connecting businesses to environmental nonprofits. MCE is a member receiving support from member businesses.
• Climate Council General Knowledge Center KCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKansas City-based climate organization partnership supporting regional environmental work in the greater Kansas City area.
• Circular KCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored partner building a circular economy by recovering materials that would otherwise end up in landfills and putting them back into use locally. MCE provides administrative and financial services.
• Cool Cities STLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored partner bringing together local elected officials to collaborate on conservation, sustainability, climate, and environmental justice solutions. MCE provides fiscal sponsorship and support.
• Just Moms STLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization co-creating the STL Toxic Waste Alliance to educate and activate St. Louis area residents around toxic waste contamination. Focus areas include Bridgeton West Lake Landfill, Coldwater Creek, and Maline Creek.
• Black People Who HikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCE is fiscal sponsor of this organization working to empower, educate and reengage Black people to the outdoors through wellness campaigns, health advocacy and community activities including hiking, camping, kayaking, rock climbing and yoga.
• Friends of Ozark Riverways (FOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization of MCE advocating for stronger enforcement of existing regulations on the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, and working to foster awareness, appreciation, and respect for the history, culture, and natural splendor of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
• Great Rivers Environmental Law CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit legal resource in Missouri focusing on environmental issues. MCE works with Great Rivers on legal advocacy, and the organization serves as a key referral resource for communities seeking environmental legal representation.
• Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic at Washington University in St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw school clinic providing environmental legal expertise. MCE references this resource in their Advocacy Guide as a Missouri legal resource for environmental advocacy.
• Missouri Department of Natural ResourcescoreOthersState agency that administers environmental permits, regulations, and programs. MCE engages with DNR on policy advocacy, permit challenges, and enforcement matters.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreOthersFederal agency overseeing Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act enforcement. MCE engages with EPA on lawsuits, rulemaking challenges, and policy advocacy.
• Metropolitan Congregations UnitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community organizing coalition. MCE partnered with Metropolitan Congregations United to file suit against EPA regarding the 2009 Endangerment Finding repeal and clean air protections.
• Gateway Sustainable Farmers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization now operating the Known & Grown STL program that MCE started in 2019 and handed off in 2024, certifying and promoting local sustainable farmers within 150 miles of St. Louis.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conservation Federation of Missouri: Statewide conservation and environmental advocacy organization serving Missouri with membership, policy work, and outdoor recreation advocacy — directly comparable to MCE in mission, geography, and operating model.
• Environment Missouri: State office of Environment America focused on clean water, clean air, and open spaces advocacy in Missouri — runs nearly identical programmatic categories (clean air, water, climate, energy) with a similar citizen-led advocacy model.
• Sierra Club (Missouri Chapter): State chapter of the Sierra Club doing environmental advocacy, grassroots organizing, and policy work in Missouri — competes for similar members, donors, and policy wins across overlapping issue areas.
• Earthjustice: National nonprofit environmental law organization that litigates cases against polluters and federal agencies — directly comparable to MCE's legal advocacy arm, including the type of federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act litigation MCE pursues with Great Rivers.
• Great Rivers Environmental Law Center: Missouri-based nonprofit environmental legal organization that partners with MCE on major lawsuits and serves as a referral resource — operates in the same niche but as a legal specialist rather than broad advocacy org.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): National environmental advocacy organization with significantly larger scale, working on overlapping clean air, clean water, and climate issues — operates broadly rather than specializing in Missouri state-level policy.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major national environmental nonprofit working on climate, clean energy, and health — overlaps with MCE's Clean Air, Climate Resilience, and emerging data center issue areas but at national scale with much larger staff.

Emerging players

• River Network: National nonprofit supporting watershed protection and clean water advocacy with a smaller member-based network model — directly comparable to MCE's Watershed Warrior educational platform and Safe Water Program focus.
• Center for Biological Diversity: National nonprofit using legal advocacy and aggressive litigation to protect endangered species and wild places — shares MCE's litigious advocacy style and federal regulatory focus, but with a narrower biological-diversity framing.

Regional players

• Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club: Regional Sierra Club chapter covering southern Missouri and Ozark region — overlaps with MCE's work on Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Mark Twain National Forest, and Southwest Missouri community organizing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xthreads.net/@moenvironment
• Facebookfacebook.com/moenvironment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/missouri-coalition-for-the-environment
• Instagraminstagram.com/moenvironment

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Missouri Coalition for the Environment