Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
Our mission is to bring people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Beneficial Electrification
Acterra’s [email protected] program offers education and outreach to residents on simple ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels, saving both carbon emissions and money. The future of home energy is electric, so we offer information and resources on beneficial electrification in the home, which allows you to reduce your reliance on natural gas for cooking, space heating, and water heating. The Beneficial Electrification program also includes induction cooking classes and an induction cooktop loaner program.
Workplace Sustainability
Acterra is actively pursuing ways to encourage and increase participation in climate work within the Bay Area business community. Many of our local partners are leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and strategists dedicated to elevating climate work such as zero net energy buildings, carbon neutrality, climate-friendly food, sustainable transportation, and zero waste. Acterra's Workplace Sustainability Program draws upon our successful 30-year history of Acterra’s Business Environmental Awards and supports a growing peer-to-peer learning network for sustainability-minded professionals, the Green Team Network.
Education
Acterra hosts public lectures each Spring and Fall where renowned environmental experts bring their knowledge to Acterra's community.
Acterra’s You(th) Be the Change Program empowers middle school students to learn about climate science and solutions both globally and locally — and take action!
Karl Knapp GoEV
The transportation sector is the single largest contributor to our region's carbon emissions. With the Karl Knapp GoEV Program, Acterra is helping accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to a renewable energy economy by providing local citizens with hands-on opportunities to experience the benefits of electric vehicles. Through peer-to-peer outreach and educational workshops, Acterra dispels misconceptions about driving electric and raises awareness that there is an EV to suit every budget.
Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet
In the San Francisco Bay Area, food is one of the biggest contributors to the average person’s carbon footprint, fueling climate change. Acterra’s Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet Program works together with local Bay Area communities to promote two easy and impactful ways to reduce our collective foodprint. Learn more below about the benefits of adopting a more plant-forward lifestyle and reducing the amount of wasted food, with the goal for us all to enjoy a healthier, well fed life.
Where we work
Accreditations
Charity Navigator 2008
Charity Navigator 2007
Charity Navigator 2009
Charity Navigator 2010
Charity Navigator 2011
Charity Navigator 2012
Charity Navigator 2013
Charity Navigator 2014
Awards
Environmental "Heroes" Award 2009
US EPA
Bay Area Climate Change Top Performing Nonprofits 2010
Philanthropedia
Top-Rated Charity 2012
GreatNonprofits
Top-Rated Charity 2013
GreatNonprofits
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2013
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2014
Combined Federal Campaign 2013
Combined Federal Campaign 2014
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Acterra aims for the following goals:
- To create positive change in the environmental health of the Silicon Valley region
- To engage, educate, and empower adults and teens to pursue and promote sustainable lifestyles
- To be an effective and well-known resource for positive personal and institutional environmental change
- To inspire people to inspire others to live sustainable lifestyles
- To publicize, promote and honore the good environmental work of others
- To promote solutions to pressing environmental problems
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
Board of directorsas of 11/30/2021
Alyssa Morrison Bonnette
Nancy Grove
Physician and Quality Systems Consultant (Retired)
Steve Monosson
Independent Investment Management Professional
Ranae DeSantis
Partner - Silicon Valley Social Ventures
Susan Dunn
Partner - Silicon Valley Social Ventures
Edith Eddy
Retired Executive Director of Compton Foundation
Mark Ostrau
Attorney, Fenwick and West
Sudhanshu Jain
ASIC Design Consulting, Climate Change Educator
Bruce Klafter
Former Sustainability Executive, Applied Materials
Dan Quinn
Environmental Education Volunteer
Kelly Shea
Member of the Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP)
Japjit Tulsi
Partner Engineering at Microsoft
Jonathan Taylor
Associate, McKinsey and Company
Lindsey Kalkbrenner
Director, Center for Sustainability, Santa Clara University
Lucille Glassman
Technical Writer
Jerry Hearn
Member of Santa Clara County Community Resource Group
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.