Ocean Foundation
Tell us what you want to do for the ocean, we'll take care of the rest.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our one global ocean supports all life on earth. 71% of our planet is covered with water; 1 in 7 people depend on the ocean for the protein it supplies and more than half of the world's population lives within 50 miles of its coast. Yet, the ocean continues to face numerous threats - many human-caused - including climate change, ocean acidification, coastal overdevelopment; plastics and marine debris; overfishing and unregulated fishing, just to name a few. These threats are well documented and rapidly changing, yet, less than 5% of environmental funding goes to support the protections of 71% of the planet on which 100% of us depend. As the only community foundation for the ocean, The Ocean Foundation is stepping up to meet this need by enhancing the human relationship with our world ocean so that the ocean can continue to play its vital role for healthy human communities.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Protecting Species of Concern
For many of us, our first interest in the ocean began with an interest in the large animals that call it home. Whether it be the awe inspired by a gentle humpback whale, the undeniable charisma of a curious dolphin, or the ferocious gaping maw of a great white shark, these animals are more than just the ambassadors of the sea. These apex predators and keystone species keep the ocean ecosystem in balance, and the health of their populations often serve as an indicator for the health of the ocean as a whole.
Expanding Ocean Literacy and Awareness
One of the most significant barriers to progress in the marine conservation sector is a lack of real understanding about the vulnerability and connectivity of ocean systems. It is easy to think of the ocean as a vast, almost unlimited source of food and recreation with abundant animals, plants, and protected spaces. It can be difficult to see the destructive consequences of human activities along the coast and below the surface. This lack of awareness creates a significant need for programs that effectively communicate how the health of our ocean relates to climate change, the global economy, biodiversity, human health, and our quality of life.
Protecting Marine Habitat and Special Places
Our one global ocean is a mosaic of special places, from the bustling vibrancy of coral reefs to the tidal pools of the rocky coasts to the stark, glistening beauty of the frozen Arctic. These habitats and ecosystems are more than just picturesque; they all provide vital benefits to the health of the ocean, the plants and animals that live in them, and the human communities that depend on them.
Building the Capacity of the Marine Conservation Community
There are many outstanding conservation organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving our ocean. The Ocean Foundation provides assistance to these entities, which have a need to develop certain skills or competence, or for general upgrading of performance ability. The Ocean Foundation was created in part to bring new financial and technical resources to the table so that we can increase the capacity of these organizations to pursue their missions.
Where we work
Awards
Ocean Tribute Award 2018
boot Düsseldorf
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of organizations accessing payroll and/or accounting services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These numbers indicate the sponsored projects and donor advised funds for whom TOF provides these services
Number of fiscal sponsor applicants
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Building the Capacity of the Marine Conservation Community
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total Includes all new applicants that fiscal year, including those who had applied, but were not accepted as a TOF fiscal sponsored project
Number of fiscal sponsor applicants sponsored
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Building the Capacity of the Marine Conservation Community
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This number indicates the total number of fiscal sponsored projects in that fiscal year. In 2016 we accepted 6 new applicants
Number of fiscal sponsorship dollars distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This figure reflects the total revenue raised by our fiscal sponsored projects during each fiscal year.
Number of external speaking requests for members of the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This total reflects only the speaking engagements attended by the President of the organization in that fiscal year
Number of policymakers or candidates reached
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Protecting Marine Habitat and Special Places
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This data reflects the number of elected officials recruited to support legislation in a particular issue each fiscal year
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
TOF envisions a future in which human interaction with the ocean and coasts is more sustainable because we leverage a diverse, vibrant and engaged community of donors, grantees and projects to respond to urgent issues and seize on key opportunities. And, where members of the ocean conservation community are working together with a better understanding of potential solutions to emerging threats to the marine environment, along with greater capacity to implement those solutions.
TOF’s ten goals for the next ten years build on our strengths and best options for growth:
1) Continue to scope and track emerging issues in ocean and coastal conservation, by collating well-documented research and expert perspectives, participating in international fora, and making information and findings freely available to the public.
2) Follow leadership from our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Committee to take action both within the workplace and to influence the broader marine conservation community.
3) Expand community foundation services for implementers and donors.
4) Maintain a robust demand for our consulting services, including: (1) third party screening of ocean and climate related investments for asset owners, investment advisors, and venture capitalists, (2) philanthropic advising for newcomers to marine conservation philanthropy, and (3) strategic programmatic development.
5) Remain a leading public foundation that demonstrates ethical practices, accountability and transparency as cross-cutting values.
6) Establish a global network of well-trained ocean acidification science practitioners who are supported through well-designed ocean acidification adaptation and mitigation policies. TOF has developed and deployed affordable Ocean Acidification monitoring kits in priority areas around the world, offered capacity building training for scientists and drafted legislation for ocean acidification adaptation and mitigation planning.
7) Sequester / store carbon via nature-based solutions through the restoration and conservation of critical blue carbon habitats (including mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes) and the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices using seaweed-based inputs.
8) Develop and synthesize original science to inform a suite of legislative standards for the polymers and additives used in the production of plastics so that plastic has been reengineered to be Safe, Simple and Standardized.
9) Expand grantmaking services to provide multi-year support to projects and organizations that advance the field of marine conservation and invest in individuals and organizations with a unique, promising ability to address ocean threats.
10) Launch and deepen the Caribbean Marine Research and Conservation Initiative (CariMar) and TOF-Mexico through cultivation and maintenance of additional partner and government relationships and the identification of on-the-ground restoration sites.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We use our years of expertise to turn ocean visions into reality through advised funds, strategic partnerships, and diverse initiatives, and we nurture implementers by finding, evaluating, and supporting the most effective marine conservation projects and organizations. TOF also generates new ideas by focusing our collective expertise to generate cutting edge content on emerging threats to our coasts and ocean, potential solutions to those threats, and better strategies for implementing those solutions. In addition, we also scope emerging issues and provide what’s needed to catalyze actions quickly in urgent matters, and we foster networks of individuals interested in pushing the envelope, including facilitating dialogues among funders and experts, and expanding TOF’s role as an objective and authoritative source on ocean conservation.
Furthermore, TOF will take action through its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee both within the workplace and to influence the broader marine conservation community by continuing to implement equitable practices in all facets of the sector, from funding distribution to conservation actions. Examples of this organizational effort include our Marine Pathways paid internship program, which provides multiple opportunities to learn and grow professionally, and providing regular training to staff in D.E.I.J. issues to deepen understanding, address emerging issues, and build capacity to limit negative behaviors, and promote equity and inclusion.
Programmatically, TOF will 1) establish a global network of well-trained ocean acidification science practitioners who are supported through well-designed ocean acidification adaptation and mitigation policies by deploying affordable monitoring kits in priority areas around the world and provide direct training and technological assistance to local partners while identifying and filling major gaps in scientific capacity; 2) work across different habitat types and increase and restore abundance of ecosystems by making systems more productive than they were before to sequester and store carbon via nature-based solutions through restoration and conservation of critical blue carbon habitats; 3) develop and synthesize original science to inform legislative standards on plastic production by enabling five countries to introduce national and regional legislation to guide manufacturers on redesigning plastic while meeting locally-driven and specific goals.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
TOF has experienced staff that together as a team offers decades of insight and specific skills to the marine community. Our staff has strong leadership and management skills, and is capable of handling a diversity of relationships, projects, grants, and programs. The staff is deeply experienced in capacity building, fiscal sponsorship, operations, administration, and finance as well as content knowledge on a vast array of marine issues. The Ocean Foundation has a diverse Board of Directors composed of individuals with expertise in a variety of disciplines, both within and outside of marine conservation. And, we rely on a group of over 150 experts on our Board of Advisors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Over the past twenty years, TOF has directly overseen the allocation of $55.1 million in direct grants and services to protect and restore healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems around the world, and currently fiscally hosts more than 50 projects that span diverse conservation issues, emerging ocean threats, and implement ocean solutions globally.
Here is an overview of what TOF has accomplished in advancing each of its core initiatives:
International Ocean Acidification Initiative (IOAI)
To date, TOF has trained over 200 scientists and policymakers on ocean acidification (OA) monitoring and mitigation techniques, convened a host of regional workshops and has funded on-the-ground trainings around the world, in places like Mauritius, Mozambique, Fiji, Hawaii, Colombia, Panama and Mexico. In 2017, TOF put together a legislative guidebook, and model laws that lawmakers could use to design policy action. In 2018, TOF was invited to join the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) expert group on OA. In 2018 TOF also awarded nine “Pier-2-Peer” scholarships to mentor-mentee pairs in 16 countries, enabling collaboration and learning exchanges between scientists. In 2019, TOF provided an OA policy training for the Mexican Senate. In 2020, we adapted quickly to the global pandemic with a focus on digital training resources coupled with outgoing grants and equipment distribution.
Blue Resilience Initiative (BRI)
The Ocean Foundation has been involved in coastal restoration since 2008 and released the first-ever Blue Carbon Offset Calculator in 2012 to provide charitable carbon offsets through the restoration and conservation of important coastal habitats that sequester and store carbon, including seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and salt marshes.
Our accomplishments to-date in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico include restoring/expanding 5 acres of seagrass, enhancing protections for 22 acres of seagrass, and restoring 1 acre of mangrove trees. In these efforts, we held one workshop on long term monitoring with 40 participants. 45 local partners and volunteers are engaged in these habitat restoration efforts. We are currently on schedule to restore acres of mangrove and seagrass habitats in Jobos Bay as well as Vieques, Puerto Rico.
Redesigning Plastics Initiative (RPI):
The Ocean Foundation has always supported the cleanup and marine debris. TOF staff regularly updates its plastics resources webpage with the latest findings and research related to plastic pollution covering fields of policy, health, biodiversity, and more.
Since 2017, TOF has awarded research and cleanup grants, partnered with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators to address plastic waste at the state legislative level, convened scientists with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, contracted legislation to draft policies about plastic and materials production, and much more.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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 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
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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 act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- 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.
Ocean Foundation
Board of directorsas of 10/12/2022
Mr. Elliot Cafritz
Angelica Braestrup
The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation
Josh Ginsberg
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Nora Pouillon
Restaurant Nora
Bill Eichbaum
World Wildlife Fund
Dawn Martin
Ceres, Inc.
Mark J. Spalding
The Ocean Foundation
Russell Smith
Environmental Law Institute
Lisa Volgenau
The Volgenau Foundation
Elliot Cafritz
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Olha Krushelnytska
The World Bank
Imani Fairweather Morrison
Oak Foundation
Denise Naguib
Marriott International
Ed H. Tillinghast, II
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP’
Lumay Wang Murphy
AB InBev
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? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/28/2020GuideStar 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
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- 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 have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- 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.