PLATINUM2023

California Green Academy

Mobility meeting the Triple-Bottom Line.

aka CalGreen   |   Sacramento, CA   |  www.calgreenacademy.org

Mission

Promoting systems thinking and the Triple-Bottom Line, in business, energy, and transport. CalGreen's Vision is to become a premier educational source for sustainability and systems-thinking.

Notes from the nonprofit

To donate to the California Green Academy, please visit: https://www.calgreenacademy.org/donate Thank you for your time.

Ruling year info

2017

Chief Sustainability Officer (CEO/ED)

Greg G Justice

Main address

717 K Street Suite 520

Sacramento, CA 95814 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

82-0784342

NTEE code info

Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis (C05)

Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis (B05)

Leadership Development (W70)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The California Green Academy ("CalGreen") is a domestic nonprofit (501(c)(3)) dedicated to the research and implementation of systems-thinking and the Triple-Bottom Line in business, energy, and transport. CalGreen was incorporated to centralize three existing sustainability-based programs, overseen separately: 1) TransportiCA: a news source for sustainable transportation; 2) Sustainable Chamber of Sacramento: a 'green' business association for California's Capital region; as well as, 3) Transportation and the Triple-Bottom Line: an annual sustainable transportation conference.

Besides the aforementioned programs, CalGreen is also developing many other high-quality activities and events, enhancing understanding of sustainable transportation, energy, and business practices. To support our efforts, please consider a safe and secure tax-deductible donation.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

TransportiCA

Founded in May 2015, TransportiCA was originally a blog for sustainable transportation. In February 2016, additional staff joined, and the site has now turned into a news and events source for sustainable transportation. TransportiCA's most popular feature is the Book Club; each month, a new publication is selected encompassing sustainable transportation elements–social responsibility, financial security and environmental stewardship. The website also features employment postings for sustainable transportation-related careers, and a page devoted to sustainable transportation framework and vocabulary. TransportiCA has established many strong relationships with regional, state, and federal partners–public, private, nonprofit, academic and advocacy. Lastly, with almost 200,000 website visits since February 2016, the program has a worldwide audience, with a sizable following in Europe, and is the flagship program of the California Green Academy.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The Transportation and the Triple-Bottom Line conference is an annual event, providing an overview of sustainability with Elkington and Savitz’ Triple-Bottom Line (“TBL”), and its relation to transportation systems. Transport+TBL begins with a history and definition for sustainability and TBL, then focuses on transportation through equitable, environmental and financial capacities. Attendees are also provided current examples of sustainable transportation in the region and state, public-private partnership discussions, as well as, a lunchtime career panel. Besides CalGreen, financial support for the conference comes from San Jose State University’s Mineta Transportation Institute and the Urban & Regional Planning Department, and SPUR and TransForm provide institutional support. www.transportandtbl.org

Population(s) Served
Students
Adults

As of January 2018, there is no “green” business association in California’s Capitol region. The Sustainable Chamber of Sacramento (“SCS”) is meant to provide best practices in sustainable business operations, create a network of sustainability-minded entrepreneurs, as well as, provide certification for sustainable businesses, in cooperation with the California Green Business Program, American Sustainable Business Council, Green America’s Green Business Network, as well as, the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce–based in San Diego. However, unlike most sustainable business assessments, SustainableSac focuses on assisting the organization in reducing the region's pressing sources of Greenhouse Gas emissions–mainly, transportation. Hence, SCS focuses on sustainable transportation solutions. www.sustainablesac.org

Population(s) Served
Adults
Students

CalGreen is committed to promoting systems thinking and the Triple Bottom Line in business, energy, and transport. Further, in the spirit of "thinking globally, acting locally," we are steadfast in the education and implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs"). CalGreen is committed to promoting what we consider our "Principal Goals" (07, 09, 11, 13, 17), "Secondary Goals" (03-06, 08, 10, 12, 16), as well as, "Tertiary Goals" (01-02, 14-15). https://www.calgreenacademy.org/sdgs

Population(s) Served
Students
Academics

Senate Bill 1 Careers ("SB1") is a directory of employment opportunities created by Senate Bill 1, the "Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017." Over the next decade, SB1 provides $54 billion for transportation and infrastructure investment, committing a significant amount to sustainable transportation. www.sb1careers.info

Population(s) Served
Students
Adults

CalGreen Writing Services ("CWS") provides professional writing, editing, and revision services, for undergraduate and graduate students, at significantly discounted rates. Work accepted is anything that aligns with CalGreen's mission and vision, and/or any of CalGreen's programs. In addition, CWS also provides these services to nonprofit entities at below-market rates, and to individuals (non-students) and for-profit entities at market rates.

Population(s) Served
Students
Adults

Where we work

Awards

Media Source of the Year 2022

Sacramento Media Awards

Affiliations & memberships

California Association of Nonprofits 2023

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of loans sponsored for 501(c)(3) organizations

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

TransportiCA

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of external speaking requests for members of the organization

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

TransportiCA

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of curricula designed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

CalGreen Sustainable Development Goals

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Profile visits for our SDG "Three-Tiered Model."

Number of publications identifying sector best practices

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

CalGreen Sustainable Development Goals

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of carbon emissions prevented (estimated by CO2 equivalent)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Work status and occupations

Related Program

CalGreen Sustainable Development Goals

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

Through use of transit for work commuting.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

CalGreen has the following goals:
a) promote systems-thinking and the inter-connectedness among systems of business, energy and transport;
b) advance the Triple-Bottom Line as the foundation to sustainable transportation and business practices;
c) support social equity as being a paramount element of sustainability;
d) foster enduring relationships and quality partnerships in the development, implementation and sponsoring of CalGreen's work; and,
e) further a universally accepted definition of sustainability and sustainable
transportation.

CalGreen's strategies for success include education, research, advocacy, and collaboration.

CalGreen possesses the talent, resources, and passion to meet these goals, as well as, the ability and drive to rethink our goals, as needed.

Administratively, the biggest accomplishment has been the establishment of CalGreen, and all of the federal and state mandates for incorporation and tax-exemption. Programmatically, we have achieved a worldwide audience for our flagship program "TransportiCA" (transportica.info), as well as, successfully implemented our major annual conference, "Transportation and the Triple-Bottom Line" (transportandtbl.org).

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

California Green Academy
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

California Green Academy

Board of directors
as of 05/28/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Michael E. Casas

Caltrans

Term: 2023 - 2019

Jay E Spears

LAUSD

Bob S Brodie

Agreeya Solutions

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 5/24/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/07/2019

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.