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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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