Tampa Bay Waterkeeper

What Tampa Bay Waterkeeper does

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and based in St. Petersburg, Florida, dedicated to protecting and preserving the Tampa Bay watershed across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee counties. The organization operates three core programmatic pillars: Environmental Enforcement (legal advocacy via citizen suits under the Clean Water Act against polluters including Piney Point, the City of Largo, and Trademark Metals Recycling), Water Quality Monitoring (bi-weekly enterococci bacteria testing at recreational waterways, analyzed through the USF Water Institute and published on the Tampa Bay Water Atlas and Swim Guide), and a Patrol Program (community-based pollution reporting via QR code stickers at tackle shops and marinas). Supporting infrastructure includes a podcast, blog, and multi-channel social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube).

The organization monetizes its mission through a diversified nonprofit revenue model. Tiered monthly memberships ($10 Redfish, $50 Snook, $100 Tarpon) and corresponding annual tiers provide recurring donor revenue, alongside one-time donations via the website. Corporate and individual sponsors can fund specific water quality monitoring sites at $170/month or $2,000/year, receiving banner ad placement on Swim Guide and social media recognition. Branded merchandise (hats, shirts, tumblers, hoodies, flags, gift cards) is sold through a partnership with Salinity Gear, with proceeds supporting operations. Event-driven fundraising centers on the annual Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament and the newly launched Waterman Inshore Slam, generating revenue from entry fees, raffles, and a Snook Calcutta (where 50% flows to the organization). Primary customer segments are local environmental advocates, the recreational angling community, and corporate sponsors seeking environmental stewardship positioning.

Strategically, the organization is affiliated with the Waterkeeper Alliance and Waterkeeper Florida networks, providing brand, legal, and coordination resources. Operational partnerships with USF Water Institute, the Department of Health, the City of St. Petersburg Environmental Compliance Division, Swim Guide, Captains Collective, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and Florida International University extend its scientific and outreach footprint. The current headcount is 1-10 employees, and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors (named members include Vice Chair Adam Fernandez and Board Member Captain Dustin Pack).

Name

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper

Legal name

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper

Website

https://tampabaywaterkeeper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper is a St. Petersburg-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects the Tampa Bay watershed via Clean Water Act enforcement, bi-weekly bacteria water quality monitoring, and a community patrol reporting program, serving local residents, anglers, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy & Water Quality Monitoring

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Watershed protection services
• Environmental advocacy
• Clean water enforcement
• Community patrol program

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Monthly and annual membership programs (Redfish, Snook, Tarpon tiers) providing recurring revenue. One-time donations from supporters.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded apparel and accessories including hats, shirts, tumblers, flags, and more through partnership with Salinity Gear.
3. Water Quality Site Sponsorship: Corporate or individual sponsors can fund specific water quality monitoring sites for $170/month or $2,000/year, receiving banner ad space and social media recognition.
4. Event Registration and Raffle: Entry fees from fishing tournaments (The Waterman) and raffle ticket sales. Also includes Snook Calcutta betting with 50% going to organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that protects and preserves the Tampa Bay watershed through bi-weekly water quality monitoring, environmental enforcement actions under the Clean Water Act, community-based patrol programs, pollution reporting tools, and educational outreach. The organization accepts public pollution reports via QR codes, collaborates with academic and research partners for data transparency, and pursues legal remedies against polluters to safeguard regional water resources.

Product overview

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper operates as a nonprofit organization with three core programmatic pillars: Environmental Enforcement (legal advocacy and citizen suits), Water Quality Monitoring (bi-weekly bacteria testing), and Patrol Program (community pollution reporting). Supporting these programs, the organization runs a merchandise shop featuring branded apparel and accessories through Salinity Gear partnership, offers tiered membership plans with shop discounts, hosts educational podcasts, and organizes signature fundraising events including The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament and the Waterman Inshore Slam. The organization integrates water quality data with USF Water Institute systems for public reporting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TBW Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Pollution Reporting Tool
• Bayou Bowls Fundraiser Event
• TBW Membership
• Online Merchandise Store

Quantifiable outcome

• Bi-weekly bacteria level testing at recreational waterways
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Waterkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of grassroots environmental organizations dedicated to protecting water resources. Provides organizational support, resources, and brand affiliation.
• Waterkeeper FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination with other Florida Waterkeeper organizations to address state-wide water quality issues including red tide and phosphate mining.
• USF Water InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to analyze water quality monitoring data and power the Tampa Bay Water Atlas visualization platform showing bacteria levels and historical water quality data.
• Salinity GearcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to create and sell TBWK branded merchandise including apparel and accessories. All proceeds from merchandise sales support Tampa Bay Waterkeeper's mission.
• Captains CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast collaboration featuring Tampa Bay Waterkeeper board members discussing water quality issues, red tide, and fishing community concerns.
• Bonefish & Tarpon TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership studying pharmaceutical contaminants in Tampa Bay fish, collaborating with FIU and TBWK.
• Florida International University (FIU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership conducting pharmaceutical contamination study in Tampa Bay fish populations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global umbrella network of which Tampa Bay Waterkeeper is an affiliate. Comparable in mission to protect waterways through enforcement, monitoring, and advocacy; operates at a much larger scale with a broader geographic remit.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Large nonprofit focused on restoring and protecting a major U.S. watershed (Chesapeake Bay). Directly comparable model combining water quality monitoring, advocacy/litigation, citizen patrol, and event-based fundraising at significantly larger scale.
• Ocean Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on ocean health through policy advocacy, science, and citizen engagement. Overlaps with TBWK on marine water quality advocacy and event-based member mobilization, but at far greater scale.

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: Grassroots nonprofit dedicated to protecting oceans, waves, and beaches through volunteer-led chapters, water quality testing (Blue Water Task Force), advocacy, and litigation. Highly comparable to TBWK in operating model, volunteer/patrol structure, and chapter-based fundraising.
• Heal the Bay: California-based nonprofit focused on Santa Monica Bay coastal water quality, with independent bacteria testing, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Closely mirrors TBWK's Water Quality Monitoring and Patrol Program models.
• San Francisco Baykeeper: Bay Area Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate that uses Clean Water Act litigation, independent water quality monitoring, and community patrols to protect San Francisco Bay. Nearly identical operating playbook to TBWK in a different geography.

Regional players

• Apalachicola Riverkeeper: Florida-based Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate focused on the Apalachicola River and Bay watershed. Direct comparable in scale, geography, and program structure (monitoring, advocacy, events) but operating in a different Florida region.
• St. Johns Riverkeeper: Another Florida Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate protecting the St. Johns River. Highly comparable operating model and geographic adjacency within Florida; competes for donor mindshare in the state.

Others

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization that litigates Clean Water Act and other environmental cases. Comparable on the enforcement/legal pillar of TBWK's work, but operates as a legal aid provider rather than watershed-specific advocate.
• Bonefish & Tarpon Trust: Research and conservation nonprofit focused on bonefish, tarpon, and permit fisheries. Active research partner with TBWK on pharmaceutical contamination in Tampa Bay fish; comparable angler-community constituency and Tampa Bay focus.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tbwaterkeeper
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFWwJ4hAYTaJGFP87oXoDZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/tampabaywaterkeeper
• Instagraminstagram.com/tampabaywaterkeeper
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tampa-bay-waterkeeper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Tampa Bay Waterkeeper