Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

What Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana does

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on science-driven coastal restoration across Louisiana. Its flagship Oyster Shell Recycling Program, launched in 2014 and operating as the first of its kind in Louisiana, collects shell from more than 40 restaurant partners across New Orleans and Baton Rouge, then cures and deploys the shell to construct living oyster reefs and shoreline habitat; the program has recycled more than 16 million pounds of shell and built five reefs to date. CRCL's Native Plants Program complements reef work through a nursery installed in 2022 at its Restoration Headquarters in Violet, LA, where bald cypress and mangroves are propagated from seed for planting along the Louisiana coast, including under the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective's 30,000-tree initiative.

CRCL's operations are funded through a diversified mix of individual donations (structured giving tiers from $50 to $5,000+), corporate sponsorships, event revenue (notably the annual Shell-A-Bration fundraiser and Coastal Stewardship Awards), corporate group volunteer events priced at $60-$375 per participant, government grants from agencies including the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, NOAA, and FEMA, and value-added giving vehicles such as planned bequests, donor-advised funds, and stock gifts. The organization serves individual supporters and volunteers (a network of nearly 20,000), restaurant partners, corporate teams seeking environmental engagement, schools and service groups, and government stakeholders. It also convenes policy and scientific communities through the State of the Coast Conference, SWLA Coastal Summit, CRCLecture Series, and Coastal Leadership Institute.

CRCL's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging email newsletters (Gulf Coast Post), a multi-platform social presence, and partnerships with Audubon Nature Institute and Dickie Brennan and Company to drive awareness and fundraising. Recurring corporate support (e.g., CITGO Petroleum grants of $40,000 in both 2024 and 2025) and project-level partnerships with energy companies such as TC Energy indicate institutional confidence in its model. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Kimberly Davis Reyher and Board Chairman John Morello.

Name

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Legal name

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Website

https://crcl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CRCL is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that restores Louisiana's coast through oyster shell recycling, native plant propagation, and tree planting, serving volunteers, restaurant partners, corporate groups, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Coastal restoration services
• Oyster shell recycling
• Wetland reforestation programs
• Living shoreline construction
• Environmental nonprofit advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting coastal restoration mission. Multiple giving levels from $50 to $5,000+ with specific impact designations for trees, volunteer supplies, shell recycling, reef building, leadership programs, advocacy, and community gatherings.
2. Annual Events Revenue: Shell-A-Bration annual fundraiser generates revenue through ticket sales (VIP $125, General Admission $85), sponsorships, and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit the Oyster Shell Recycling Program.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Group Events: Corporate partners sponsor events and restoration activities. Corporate group volunteering events generate fees ($60-$375 per person depending on activity type) while building brand alignment with environmental stewardship.
4. Government Grants and Funding: Federal and state funding from Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, NOAA, FEMA, and other government sources support restoration projects.
5. Planned Giving: Bequests in wills and charitable trusts for long-term sustainability of the organization.
6. Donor Advised Funds and Stock Gifts: Accepts contributions from donor-advised funds through DAF Direct and gifts of publicly traded securities for tax-advantaged giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CRCL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that restores Louisiana's coastal wetlands through hands-on habitat restoration programs, most notably the Oyster Shell Recycling Program (recycling restaurant shells into living reefs and shorelines) and the Native Plants Program (propagating bald cypress and mangroves for wetland reforestation). The organization supplements these core programs with annual fundraising events (Shell-A-Bration), educational lectures, and leadership development programs, while advocating at state and federal levels for coastal protection policy.

Product overview

CRCL's offerings consist of multiple interconnected environmental restoration programs and engagement initiatives, organized around a core suite of hands-on habitat restoration programs supplemented by education, leadership development, and fundraising events. The flagship Oyster Shell Recycling Program (OSRP), launched in 2014, collects and recycles oyster shells to build living reefs and shorelines, while the complementary Native Plants Program propagates bald cypress and mangrove seedlings for wetland reforestation. These restoration programs are supported by the annual Shell-A-Bration fundraising gala and the Gift-A-Tree donation program, and are complemented by the CRCLecture Series, Coastal Leadership Institute, and annual Coastal Stewardship Awards for community engagement and education. CRCL also organizes the State of the Coast Conference and SWLA Coastal Summit as convening platforms, and offers an Oyster Shell Recycling Tax Credit Program to incentivize restaurant partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oyster Shell Recycling Program: Program that collects oyster shells from restaurants to build living shorelines and oyster reefs, launched in 2014.
• Shell-A-Bration
• Coastal Leadership Institute
• CRCLectures
• Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective
• Coastal Stewardship Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 16 million pounds of oyster shell recycled since 2014
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025State agency providing funding and authorization for coastal protection projects. Funded Lake Boudreaux coastal protection project where CRCL planted 4,000 shrubs on earthen terraces. Represents the state's coastal master plan implementation framework.
• State of the Coast ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor coastal conference co-hosted by CRCL and other organizations, bringing together policymakers, scientists, and community stakeholders to discuss Louisiana's coastal future.
• Central Wetlands Reforestation CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of environmental organizations united to plant 30,000 trees (bald cypress and water tupelo) to restore the natural wetland barrier protecting New Orleans from storm surge. CRCL participates as member organization.
• 40+ Restaurant Partners (New Orleans and Baton Rouge)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurants participating in Oyster Shell Recycling Program keep shells out of landfills. Shells are collected and used for reef building. Partners include Acme Oyster, La Belle Oyster, and others. Program includes promotional materials and marketing support.
• Dickie Brennan and CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant group providing cuisine for Shell-A-Bration events, supporting coastal restoration while promoting Louisiana culinary culture.
• Audubon Nature InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Shell-A-Bration annual events at Audubon Zoo's Louisiana Swamp Exhibit and Cajun Ballroom.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Healthy Gulf: Gulf Coast environmental advocacy organization that engages in policy and restoration issues closely aligned with CRCL's coastal protection and ecosystem advocacy work.
• Restore the Mississippi River Delta: Coalition of NGOs focused on coastal Louisiana restoration and advocacy; CRCL actively references its Priority Projects, indicating close collaboration and overlapping mission scope.
• Ducks Unlimited: National wetland conservation nonprofit with significant Louisiana coastal marsh restoration activity, comparable in mission (wetland habitat creation), funding mix, and volunteer-driven delivery model.
• The Nature Conservancy — Louisiana: TNC's Louisiana chapter is a direct peer in coastal and wetland conservation, working on marsh restoration, oyster reef habitat, and policy advocacy across the same geography as CRCL.
• Pontchartrain Conservancy: Regional nonprofit focused on restoring and protecting the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, with overlapping wetland restoration, advocacy, and education programs in southeast Louisiana.
• National Wildlife Federation — Gulf Program: Major national conservation organization with active Gulf Coast restoration and coastal policy advocacy, overlapping significantly with CRCL's mission and government-grant-funded program model.

Broad incumbents

• The Ocean Conservancy: National ocean-policy and marine-habitat nonprofit with Gulf-focused restoration and policy work; comparable scale of advocacy and federal-grant capture as CRCL.
• Environmental Defense Fund: Large national environmental organization with coastal resilience and climate-adaptation work; not Louisiana-specific but pursues overlapping habitat restoration and policy goals.
• Sierra Club: Broad-based environmental advocacy organization with Louisiana chapter activity on coastal issues, oil and gas oversight, and wetland protection — comparable advocacy and grassroots supporter model.

Emerging players

• Chewonki Foundation: Environmental education nonprofit with habitat restoration components, comparable in combining hands-on restoration with education and community engagement, though geographically centered in Maine.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CRCL1988
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2695240/admin/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/crcl1988
• TikToktiktok.com/@crcl1988
• Xx.com/crcl1988

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana