National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Silver Spring, Maryland, serving as the official nonprofit partner of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Founded in 2000 and tax-exempt since January 2001, the Foundation works to connect Americans to their national marine sanctuaries and inspire support for these protected waters. The organization operates across a system of 18 marine environments spanning from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.5M
+61.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.6M
-19.7% YoY
Grant Count
61
-4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
-15.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Waters for All
The Foundation's mission is to connect Americans to their national marine sanctuaries and inspire them to support and invest in these public waters. The vision is that national marine sanctuaries are places where America's marine heritage is appreciated by all.
The Foundation's work focuses on:
- Conservation and expansion of U.S. protected waters
- Education and outreach to K-12 students and the public
- Maritime heritage preservation
- Marine debris removal
- Coral restoration initiatives
- Building partnerships with communities and leaders
Grantmaking
The Foundation makes grants to support marine sanctuary initiatives and conservation work. Based on recent filings, typical grant awards range from $5,640 to $1,009,006.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation supports marine sanctuaries across multiple regions:
- East Coast (Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania)
- West Coast (California, Washington)
- Great Lakes (Michigan, Wisconsin)
- Pacific Islands (Hawaii, American Samoa)
Primary grantmaking focuses on California, Florida, and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Revenue: $21.6 million
- Total Expenses: $22.7 million
- Total Assets: $9.58 million
- Total Liabilities: $4.19 million
2024 Data:
- Total Assets: $15,457,372
- Total Giving: $6,014,467
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,457,372 | $9,575,940 | $10,308,887 |
| Revenue | $35,981,845 | $21,628,080 | $15,953,554 |
| Expenses | $35,060,994 | $22,721,562 | $16,683,505 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $300,674 | $39,907 | $428,687 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mote Marine Laboratory ($719,437), Mississippi Aquarium ($507,498), Lehigh University ($440,544).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MOTE MARINE LABORATORY SARASOTA, FL | RESTORATION AND MONITORING OF EDR AND MISSION ICONIC REEFS - LONG TERM WAVE ATTENUATION AND HYDRO AMD RESTORING AND PROTECTING US MARINE HABITATS | $719,437 |
| MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM GULFPORT, MS | DEEP WATER OCTOCORALS AND EXHIBIT | $507,498 |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY BETHLEHEM, PA | CONNECTIVITY OF MESOPHOTIC AND DEEP-SEA CORAL POPULATIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO | $440,544 |
| UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ST THOMAS, VI | SCALE USVI CORAL RESTORATION USING SELECTIVE-BREEDING AND ASSISTED EVOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES | $275,125 |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | MDBC DEEP SEA COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZATION AND MDBC CORAL PROPAGATION: 3D PRINTING CORAL STRUCTURES | $274,005 |
| THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM INC TAMPA, FL | EX-SITU PRODUCTION OF ELKHORN CORAL LONG-SPINED SEA URCHINS FOR MISSION: ICONIC REEFS | $264,000 |
| GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE PORTLAND, ME | MARINE RESOURCES EDUCATION PROGRAM | $242,752 |
| AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUTE NEW ORLEANS, LA | MESOPHOTIC CORAL EXHIBIT INSTALLATION AND INTERPRETATION | $232,000 |
| MOODY GARDENS GALVESTON, TX | GULF MESOPHOTIC AND DEEP BENTHIC COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL DIVING OPERATIONS AND COORDINATION | $200,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF GUAM MARINE LABORATORY | SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING CORAL RESTORATION IN GUAM, MICRONESIA | $185,494 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Staff:
- Hallie Segerman: Human Resources Director
- Veronica Ali: Chief Financial Officer
- Kristina Trotta: National Constituent Affairs Manager
- Taylor Galaviz: Constituent Engagement Specialist
- Jodie Ng: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURA ZAGAR | CO-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| DAWN RODNEY | CO-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH CREGO | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARK MCDADE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SUSANNA KRONDACKI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MARTIN PETERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BARBARA BIRDSEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN RUDOLF | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HEATHER LUDERMANN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JUSTIN DUNNAVANT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOSE ASTORQUI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| NIKKI BUFFA | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOSH FRANKLIN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JODIE NG | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SUZANNE FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHAIRMAND TIMOTHY GREENE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOEL JOHNSON | PRESIDENT & CEO (FROM 07/2 | 40 | $277,656 |
| VERONICA ALI | CFO | 40 | $203,266 |
| ALLISON ALEXANDER | VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAM | 40 | $161,123 |
| MARGARET KNUDSON | VP OF DEVELOPMENT (THROUGH 10/24) | 40 | $163,263 |
| SHANNON COLBERT | VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL | 40 | $144,269 |
| GINAIA KELLY | MB CHAPTER DIRECTOR | 40 | $111,313 |
| MATTHEW MCINTOSH | VISUAL INFORMATION SPECIAL | 40 | $108,704 |
| LINDSEY REEVES | SR. SCIENTIST | 40 | $104,288 |
| BRITTA CULBERTSON | TASAA MANAGER | 40 | $100,101 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary with impact stories and videos highlighting achievements in visitation and outreach, conservation, and maritime heritage preservation.
**Impact Metrics:**
629,000 square miles of protected waters
8 million pounds of marine debris removed
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Awarded $15 Million Grant to Remove24 years hosting Capitol Hill Ocean Week
88,000 K-12 students in Ocean Guardian Schools
**Strategic Planning:**
The Foundation released its 2026-2029 Strategic Plan titled "Safeguarding Our Shared Waters" and published a 2025 Impact Report documenting achievements across conservation, education, and maritime heritage preservation.
**Organizational Rating:**
The Foundation holds a Four-Star rating with a 94% overall score, reflecting strong performance in accountability, finance, leadership, and adaptability.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does National Marine Sanctuary Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Waters for All The Foundation's mission is to connect Americans to their national marine sanctuaries and inspire them to support and invest in these public waters. The vision is that national marine sanctuaries are places where America's marine heritage is appreciated by all. The Foundation's work focuses on: • Conservation and expansion of U.S. protected waters • Education and outreach to K-12 students and the public • Maritime heritage preservation • Marine debris removal • Coral…
How do I apply for a grant from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation?
The Foundation makes grants to support marine sanctuary initiatives and conservation work. Based on recent filings, typical grant awards range from $5,640 to $1,009,006. **Recent Grant Activity:** • Awarded $15 million grant to remove large marine debris from sanctuaries • Announced grants to scale up coral restoration through the Mission: Iconic Reefs initiative • Awarded $7,500 grant to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to support sustainability mission The Foundation administe…
Where does National Marine Sanctuary Foundation make grants?
The Foundation supports marine sanctuaries across multiple regions: • East Coast (Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania) • West Coast (California, Washington) • Great Lakes (Michigan, Wisconsin) • Pacific Islands (Hawaii, American Samoa) Primary grantmaking focuses on California, Florida, and Hawaii.
What size grants does National Marine Sanctuary Foundation award?
In 2024, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation awarded 61 grants totaling $5.6M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's EIN?
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3370994. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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