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GREEN SCHOOLS ALLIANCE INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133831327 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · NTEE C010 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · greenschoolsalliance.org
revenue
$28K
expenses
$38K
net assets
$-1K
employees
—
program ratio
32%
mission · from form 990

The organization's primary exempt purpose is to promote the preservation of the earths environment through the intergration of resources and technology and to participate in education of the public with respect thereto.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Green Schools Alliance is a peer-to-peer nonprofit network that connects K–12 schools globally to advance sustainability in operations, curriculum, and leadership. It supports school communities through programs like the Leadership Commitment and District Collaborative, empowering educators and students to drive climate action. The organization focuses on peer learning, resource sharing, and collective impact across public and private schools.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

District Collaborative
An advisory council of 27 major U.S. public school districts that shares best practices and accelerates adoption of sustainability principles across large-scale systems.
Leadership Commitment
A voluntary pledge by school leaders to prioritize sustainability in operations, education, and community engagement, fostering accountability and collective action.
START
School Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating Tool—a framework developed by a committee of experts to help schools measure and advance sustainability performance.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Youth Global Leadership & Model UN Programs 3 activities
    • Expanding sustainability commitments through district-wide engagement
      Formed the District Collaborative with 27 U.S. public school districts, including 9 of the 14 largest, collectively spanning 6,088 schools and over 600 million square feet of building space, to advance systemic sustainability change.
    • Facilitating peer-to-peer collaboration among school sustainability professionals
      Operates the Sustainable Schools Community, a peer-to-peer network with over 600 members including educators and administrators, and hosts over 50 discussion groups to share resources, ideas, and best practices in sustainability.
    • Global outreach and membership in international sustainability initiatives
      Engaged nearly 10,000 schools worldwide through programs and resources; is an official member of UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership, contributing to global climate change education efforts.
  • Community Recycling & Reuse Education 2 activities
    • Engaging schools in energy and waste reduction through the Green Cup Challenge
      Operates the Green Cup Challenge, an annual program that engages over 1,500 schools in reducing energy use and waste, resulting in over 120 million kWh of electricity saved and up to 180 million pounds of CO₂ emissions eliminated.
    • Implementing on-the-ground sustainability improvements in partner schools
      Supports schools in implementing measurable sustainability practices such as reducing electricity and paper use, eliminating single-use plastics, and reducing food waste through initiatives like the Golden Plate Initiative.
  • School-Specific Educational Support 1 activity
    • Advancing sustainability in K–12 education through tools, resources, and programs
      Develops and scales practical programs, tools, and resources—including the START framework developed by a committee of school-based experts—to support schools in reducing environmental impact and building climate resilience.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Building youth leadership in sustainability through the Student Conservation Community & Congress (Sc3)
      Runs an annual leadership program and immersive week-long training for high school students, equipping them with skills to lead conservation initiatives in schools and communities; fosters a national and international alumni network of youth environmental leaders.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Recognizing student leadership in sustainability
      Awards recognition to senior students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to community and global impact through sustainability and conservation initiatives.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Providing mobile access to sustainability engagement
      Offers a free mobile app to ensure continuous access and engagement with its community, supporting ongoing participation in sustainability initiatives and programs.
    • Supporting K–12 schools in sustainability planning and tracking through the START platform
      Provides a subscription-based digital dashboard for schools to benchmark, track, and visualize sustainability metrics including energy, water, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions; supports goal setting, action planning, and stakeholder collaboration. Supported over 90 schools in using the platform as of the latest evidence.
    • Supporting sustainable procurement in schools
      Piloted a sustainable purchasing consortium demonstrating that schools can save money while procuring environmentally responsible products, promoting cost-effective and eco-friendly supply chain practices.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$28K
Contributions & grants$28K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$38K
Program expenses32%
Admin / overhead68%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$41K
Cash$223K
Investments$0
Liabilities$125K
Net assets$-1K
Liquid reserves69.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +588.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • CHRIS MCCUTCHEON — Trustee
  • GREGORY BERNSTEIN — Trustee
  • JAN D'ALESSANDRO — Trustee
  • MAMIE PARKER — Trustee
relationships · 39

Who they work with

  • Avon Old Farms School Partner — Connection through advisor Katy Perry's role as Director of Sustainability.
  • Benjamin Franklin International School Partner — Features sustainability accomplishments at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona, Spain.
  • Brooklyn First Responders Leo Club Partner — Youth organization founded by a GSA team member to promote community engagement and emergency preparedness.
  • Campbell Hall School Partner — Engages with the Alliance to set and achieve credible sustainability goals through benchmarking and peer accountability.
  • Center for Green Schools Partner — Partnership through staff affiliation and joint support for school district sustainability efforts.
  • Chicago Public Schools Partner — Member of the Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative.
  • Clark County (NV) Partner — Member of the Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative.
  • Colorado State University Partner — Connection through board member Brian Dunbar's role as Professor Emeritus and Executive Director of the Institute for the Built Environment.
  • Green Schools Alliance Network — Operates a network of schools and sustainability champions working collectively toward sustainable schools.
  • Green Schools Alliance Network — Participation in the Green Schools Alliance network, including board membership and program leadership.
  • Green Schools Alliance Partner — Organization developing and scaling programs to support schools in sustainability efforts.
  • Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Partner — Provided research on indoor air quality and cognitive function cited in support of health impact claims
  • Los Angeles Unified Partner — Member of the Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative.
  • Missouri Gateway Green Building Council Partner — Collaborates through staff involvement in green schools and sustainability education.
  • Montclair Kimberley Academy Partner — Recognizes Montclair Kimberley Academy’s achievements in sustainability under Ben Rich’s leadership.
  • NAEE Partner — Co-published research with Stanford University on environmental education outcomes
  • National Conservation Training Center Partner — Hosts the Sc3 program and collaborates with Green Schools Alliance to deliver student conservation leadership training.
  • National Wildlife Federation Network — Connection through board member Mamie Parker's board membership.
  • New York City Department of Education Partner — Collaborates with the Alliance to advance public sustainability commitments in education facilities.
  • New York City Department of Education Partner — Signatory to the GSA Leadership Commitment and member of the District Collaborative.
  • Orange County (FL) Partner — Member of the Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative.
  • Organization Action on Sustainability in Schools (OASIS) Partner — Partnership through shared mission and leadership in advancing sustainability in New Jersey schools.
  • Perfect Earth Project Partner — Collaborates with Edwina von Gal of Perfect Earth Project to promote ecological landcare in schools.
  • RePower Inc Partner — Connection through board member Chris McCutcheon's role as CEO.
  • STAR School Partner — Participates in the Alliance to share sustainability practices and connect with other schools, particularly in rural and tribal communities.
  • START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool Network — Tool developed by and for schools through the Green Schools Alliance to track and advance sustainability efforts.
  • San Domenico School Partner — Highlights sustainability achievements at San Domenico School, California, as a model for renewable energy and reusable systems.
  • St. Andrew’s School Partner — Features St. Andrew’s School’s Golden Plate Initiative as a model program for reducing food waste.
  • Stalwarts Youth Partner — Youth-led nonprofit organization founded by a GSA team member to promote community engagement.
  • Stanford University Partner — Conducted peer-reviewed research on environmental education cited in support of student impact claims
+ 9 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Integrated Education and Action Model
    methodology: education-and-action
    By connecting sustainability education with tangible, collaborative action, schools achieve greater impact because learning is reinforced through practice and collective responsibility.
  • Peer-Driven Network with Data Benchmarking
    methodology: peer_to_peer_networking_with_metrics
    By combining peer-to-peer collaboration among schools with data-driven benchmarking, sustainability progress is accelerated because schools are both held accountable through comparison and supported through shared, practical solutions.
  • Regenerative Sustainability Framework
    methodology: regenerative-design
    By advocating for regenerative design that actively restores natural and social systems, the organization advances beyond harm reduction because schools are positioned to create net-positive environmental and community impact.
  • Student Empowerment through Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning
    methodology: experiential-education
    By engaging students in hands-on, evidence-based sustainability actions and leadership, lasting environmental change occurs because students develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ownership over solutions.
  • Whole-School Sustainability Integration
    methodology: whole_school_sustainability
    By integrating sustainability across education, operations, culture, and infrastructure simultaneously, systemic and lasting change is achieved because sustainability becomes embedded in institutional decision-making rather than remaining an isolated initiative.