Rock the Ocean Foundation
Rock The Ocean Foundation is a public charity based in Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2012. It supports ocean conservation through grants, public education, scientific research, benefit concerts, entertainment-industry events, partnerships, and its Tortuga Music Festival.
Rock the Ocean Foundation at a glance
In short: Rock the Ocean Foundation gave $263K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Florida. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $262,500
- -13.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,500
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $431,397
- -25.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (9 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rock the Ocean Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 331847, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 832-6344
Website: https://rocktheocean.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rock the Ocean Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Nova Southeastern University ($48K). Together the top 10 received $177K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 58 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, 6% to Utah, and 5% to Washington. The listed recipients include organizations in Florida and Utah; these grants show where recipients were located, not a stated limit on the foundation’s geographic scope.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Rock the Ocean Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 21 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $263K (2024) to $384K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $263K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $47,500 |
| SHARKS4KIDS Inc Dania Beach, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $22,500 |
| Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation Hollywood, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $15,000 |
| Loggerhead Marinelife Center Juno Beach, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $15,000 |
| Ocearch Park City, UT | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $15,000 |
| University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $13,500 |
| Guy Harvey Ocean Fund Inc Fort Lauderdale, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $12,500 |
| Ric O'barry's Dolphin Project Largo, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $12,500 |
| South Florida Wildlife Center Inc Fort Lauderdale, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $12,500 |
| Reef Environmental Education Foundation Inc Key Largo, FL | Ocean Conservation Research Efforts | $10,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $431,397 | $507,888 | $656,607 | $262,500 | 21 | $26,091 |
| 2023 | $580,087 | $845,785 | $707,168 | $305,000 | 22 | $9,289 |
| 2022 | $441,161 | $796,243 | $638,830 | $384,000 | 15 | — |
| 2021 | $283,754 | $401,846 | $51,523 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $1,105 | $-10,722 | $89,491 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase public awareness of issues affecting the world’s oceans and support scientific research, education, and ocean conservation initiatives. Its 2024 filing says it makes grants to not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations whose work advances that mission, including work directly affecting ocean conservation and protection and public education about healthy marine ecosystems.
Its 2024 grants were described as supporting “ocean conservation research efforts.” Among the grantees, Loggerhead Marinelife Center describes its mission as promoting ocean ecosystem conservation, with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Bimini Biological Field Station says it works to advance knowledge of marine animals, especially sharks and rays, educate future scientists, share research, and promote marine conservation through public awareness. Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project describes its mission as education, safety, protection, recovery, and prevention of cruelty for cetaceans, especially dolphins.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $262,500. Grant amounts ranged from $6,500 to $47,500, with a median of $10,000. Its largest grants included $47,500 to Nova Southeastern University for ocean conservation research efforts; $22,500 to Sharks4Kids; and $15,000 each to Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, and OCEARCH.
Other listed 2024 grants included $13,500 to the University of Miami; $12,500 each to Guy Harvey Ocean Fund, Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project, and South Florida Wildlife Center; and $10,500 to Reef Environmental Education Foundation. The foundation says its grant application process is in-depth: applicants explain how funds will be used, applications are vetted, and the foundation stays in conversation with funded organizations to track project progress. Award amounts are discretionary and based on staff and board review. No deadline is stated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Chris Stacey as president, Tara Wilson as vice president, Kris Wiatr as treasurer, and Rosemary Mann as secretary. The foundation’s website identifies Stacey as its founder and CEO.
Rock the Ocean Foundation is led by Chris Stacey, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chris Stacey
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Wilson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$46K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Kris Wiatr
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Mann
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $4K, to Tara Wilson (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about Rock the Ocean Foundation
How much does Rock the Ocean Foundation give each year?
Rock the Ocean Foundation gave $263K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $305K across 22 grants.
What is Rock the Ocean Foundation's typical grant size?
Rock the Ocean Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,500, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rock the Ocean Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Rock the Ocean Foundation give grants?
Rock the Ocean Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Lauderdale, FL (7 grants), Dania Beach, FL (2 grants), Coral Gables, FL (2 grants) and Friday Harbor, WA (2 grants).
Does Rock the Ocean Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Rock the Ocean Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ocean Conservation Research Efforts" (21 grants).
Who are Rock the Ocean Foundation's largest grantees?
Rock the Ocean Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Nova Southeastern University ($47,500), SHARKS4KIDS Inc ($22,500) and Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rock the Ocean Foundation?
Rock the Ocean Foundation reported $431K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $508K.
What does Rock the Ocean Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase public awareness of issues affecting the world’s oceans and support scientific research, education, and ocean conservation initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rock the Ocean Foundation?
Rock the Ocean Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check rocktheocean.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Rock the Ocean Foundation's EIN?
Rock the Ocean Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1317742. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rock the Ocean Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rock the Ocean Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rock-the-ocean-foundation-morg_39cbab25586b42e692dc516c240e23af
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461317742_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rock the Ocean Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rock-the-ocean-foundation-morg_39cbab25586b42e692dc516c240e23af},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Rock the Ocean Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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