Sea Turtle Conservancy
Sea Turtle Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 1959 (originally as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation), the organization protects sea turtles through research, education, advocacy, and habitat protection efforts spanning Florida and the wider Caribbean basin.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$760K
-16.0% YoY
Grant Count
42
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-16.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization's mission is to ensure the survival of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific through research, education, training, advocacy, and protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend.
Primary program areas include:
Florida Programs: Networking, education, advocacy, research, and grants programs based in the United States to eliminate threats facing sea turtles and preserve nesting and feeding habitats. Activities include in-water research projects in the Big Bend region of Florida, policy monitoring and advocacy at local and state levels, and Tour de Turtles—an annual educational program using satellite-tracked migrations that combines research and education into a free, interactive online program.
Tortuguero Research and Conservation: Sea turtle research and conservation based in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, with emphasis on local populations of green and leatherback turtles. This includes tagging and educational activities, research grants, fellowships, and a research assistantship program providing training to aspiring biologists.
Grantmaking
Sea Turtle Conservancy administers multiple grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization funds projects primarily in Florida, Texas, and New York, with significant international work in the Caribbean basin, including Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total Assets: $9,343,098
- Total Revenue (2023): $6.52M
- Total Expenses (2023): $4.49M
- Total Revenue (2024): $4,092,162
- Total Expenses (2024): $4,443,288
- Total Liabilities (2023): $582,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,343,098 | $9,610,188 | $7,318,707 |
| Revenue | $4,092,162 | $6,515,913 | $4,862,088 |
| Expenses | $4,443,288 | $4,494,238 | $3,980,501 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $256,456 | $98,341 | $43,606 |
| 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
217 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Sea Turtle Conservancy
Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program (Sea Turtle Grants Program)
Sea Turtle Conservancy
Amount
$465,000 - $490,892
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Sea Turtle Grants: Competitive Grants
Sea Turtle Conservancy
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Sea Turtle Grants: Emergency Fund
Sea Turtle Conservancy
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Loggerhead Marine Life Center ($87,740), Clearwater Marine Aquarium Inc ($51,133), Royal Seafarer Condo Apt of Marco I ($45,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL | Research | $29,749 |
| Clearwater Marine Aquarium Inc Clearwater Beach, FL | Conservation Emergency | $51,133 |
| East Coast Zoological Society of FL Melbourne, FL | Conservation | $17,386 |
| Florida State Parks Found Tallahassee, FL | Conservation Education | $32,744 |
| Friends of Archie Carr Refuge Vero Beach, FL | Education | $5,200 |
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Research | $27,453 |
| Gulfarium CARE Foundation Fort Walton Beach, FL | Conservation | $17,968 |
| Gulf Specimen Marine Lab Inc Panacea, FL | Conservation Emergency | $35,174 |
| Hidden Harbor Marine Environment Pr Marathon, FL | Conservation | $5,478 |
| Hobe Sound Nature Center Foundation Hobe Sound, FL | Education | $5,239 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Godfrey | CEO | 40 | $198,444 |
| Patricia McCloskey | CFO | 40 | $99,664 |
| Laura J Forte | President | 1 | — |
| Mark D Shantzis | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Nicholas A Shufro | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Peggy M Cavanaugh | Director | 1 | — |
| Rick Cleveland | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael Feld | Director | 1 | — |
| Landon Clay | Director | 1 | — |
| Dr David W Ehrenfeld | Director | 1 | — |
| Elise Frick | Director | 1 | — |
| Anthony D Knerr PhD | President Emeritus | 1 | — |
| Kim Ogren | Director | 1 | — |
| Jeffrey Phipps | Director | 1 | — |
| Chris Rajczi | Director | 1 | — |
| Helen Stamatacos | Director | 1 | — |
| Shirley Sanchez Esq | Director | 1 | — |
| Sing Williams | Director | 1 | — |
| Alison Frey | Director | 1 | — |
| Lindsay Brown Esq | Director | 1 | — |
| Katlyn Powers CPA | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
2025: Sea Turtle Grants Program awarded $465,000 to support research, conservation, and education in Florida
Sea Turtle Grants Program Awards $465000 to Research ...2025: 21 grants awarded globally for sea turtle conservation projects (2025-26 cycle)
Sea Turtle Grants Program Awards $465000 to Research ...Ongoing: Tour de Turtles educational program continues as an annual initiative combining research and education
Sea Turtle Grants Program Awards $465000 to Research ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sea Turtle Conservancy fund?
The organization's mission is to ensure the survival of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific through research, education, training, advocacy, and protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend. Primary program areas include: • **Florida Programs**: Networking, education, advocacy, research, and grants programs based in the United States to eliminate threats facing sea turtles and preserve nesting and feeding habitats. Activities include in-water research projects i…
How do I apply for a grant from Sea Turtle Conservancy?
Sea Turtle Conservancy administers multiple grant programs: **Active Grant Opportunities:** • Sea Turtle Grants: Funding for Ongoing Activities (non-competitive mini-grant) • Sea Turtle Grants: Emergency Fund • Sea Turtle Grants: Competitive Grants **Grant Activity:** • 2025 awards: $465,000 distributed to research, conservation, and education projects in Florida • 2022 awards: $445,000 distributed to conservation projects in Florida • Typical award range: $5,000–$87,740 • Total giving (2023): …
Where does Sea Turtle Conservancy make grants?
The organization funds projects primarily in Florida, Texas, and New York, with significant international work in the Caribbean basin, including Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
What size grants does Sea Turtle Conservancy award?
In 2024, Sea Turtle Conservancy awarded 42 grants totaling $760K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sea Turtle Conservancy's EIN?
Sea Turtle Conservancy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6151069. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sea Turtle Conservancy'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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