The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Its mission—branded as “Waters for All”—is to connect Americans to the National Marine Sanctuary System, support conservation and research across sanctuaries and gateway communities, remove marine debris, reduce threats to marine wildlife, and advance education and stewardship of U.S. ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes protected waters.
Advocates for federal funding and policy that support marine protected areas and the National Marine Sanctuary System; ocean and coastal conservation; marine debris removal and pollution prevention; research and monitoring funding; measures to reduce whale entanglements and bycatch; climate resilience for coastal and marine ecosystems; community and Indigenous co-stewardship and education programs; public-private partnerships to advance sanctuary goals.
Primarily funded through private philanthropy, foundation grants, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, event revenue, and government grants/contracts and cooperative support (including partnerships with NOAA and other federal agencies).
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Department of State; environmental NGOs and research partners (e.g., Environmental Defense Fund); corporate partners and sponsors (examples include Finless Foods and other corporate donors); leadership including President & CEO Joel R. Johnson.
Non-profit organization (501(c)(3))
