Reef Relief
Reef Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 in Key West, Florida, that delivers coral reef conservation education, advocacy, and direct habitat management to Florida Keys residents, K–12 students, and global virtual learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersKey West, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Reef Relief does
Reef Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 in Key West, Florida, dedicated to the conservation, protection, and restoration of coral reef ecosystems, primarily in the Florida Keys. Its core offerings are not a single product but a portfolio of programs: educational programs (Coral Camp for Kids for ages 6–12, the Discover Coral Reefs School Program for K–12, a Virtual Lesson Series, a Virtual Classroom with eight units, and a Lesson Library covering 11 marine science topics), direct conservation services (Marine Debris Clean Ups, Storm Drain Stenciling, and management of the 40-acre Key West Marine Park under an agreement with the City of Key West and Monroe County), and advocacy campaigns (Plastic Free Key West, Skip the Straw, Sunscreen awareness, numeric nutrient criteria for Florida waters). The organization is staffed by 5–10 personnel operating from the Reef Relief Environmental Center at 631 Greene Street, Key West.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: recurring membership dues, one-time and recurring donations (including via PayPal), merchandise sales through a Shopify storefront (including the licensed Grateful Diver line from Bob Weir/Grateful Dead), program fees for Coral Camp sessions ($150 per camper), and grants/sponsorships from government agencies (NOAA, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, City of Key West, Monroe County, U.S. Coast Guard) and corporate sponsors (Patagonia, The Saltwater Angler). Distribution is split between a regional physical center serving the Florida Keys, a direct-to-school channel for DCRSP, and a global virtual channel via YouTube and Facebook Live that has reportedly reached over 200,000 people.
Operationally, Reef Relief is community-led rather than technology-led. It has no disclosed AI, software platform, or proprietary technical stack beyond standard web content and e-commerce infrastructure. Its differentiators are regulatory (the Marine Park management contract and advisory seat on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Council), reputational (nearly 40 years of continuous operation and a National Marine Educators Association recognition), and relational (a broad coalition of government, NGO, and corporate partners including the Everglades Coalition, Ocean Conservancy, and the FMSEA). Growth in impact has been incremental — programmatic additions over time rather than scaling headcount — and financial scale is limited to small-staff nonprofit levels with no disclosed revenue figures.
Reef Relief firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reef Relief
- Legal name
- Reef Relief
- Website
- https://reefrelief.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Reef Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 in Key West, Florida, that delivers coral reef conservation education, advocacy, and direct habitat management to Florida Keys residents, K–12 students, and global virtual learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reef Relief industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Reef Relief is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Key West
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Reef Relief business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership program offering various tiers with benefits for supporters. Members receive updates, invitations to events, and participate in organizational governance.
- Donations and Contributions: One-time, recurring, and memorial donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting coral reef conservation efforts.
- Merchandise Sales: Online storefront selling Reef Relief merchandise, partnered products, educational resources, and branded items including Grateful Diver merchandise licensed from Bob Weir/Grateful Dead.
- Program Fees: Fees for educational programs including Coral Camp summer sessions for children ages 6-12.
- Grants and Sponsorships: Funding from government agencies, environmental organizations, and corporate sponsors for specific programs and initiatives such as the Key West Marine Park management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Coral Camp Summer Sessions |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Reef Relief product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reef Relief delivers coral reef conservation services in the Florida Keys through multi-channel educational programs for children and schools, hands-on marine debris cleanups, direct stewardship of the Key West Marine Park, and policy advocacy campaigns targeting local reef threats such as plastics, sunscreen pollution, and stormwater runoff.
Product overview
Reef Relief is a nonprofit membership organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to coral reef conservation in the Florida Keys. Rather than a unified software product, Reef Relief offers a portfolio of environmental programs and services centered on education, advocacy, and direct conservation action. Core educational programs include Coral Camp for Kids (summer camp for ages 6-12), the Discover Coral Reefs School Program (DCRSP), Virtual Lesson Series, and a comprehensive Lesson Library covering 11 marine science topics. The organization manages the Key West Marine Park (approximately 40 acres of protected marine habitat) and runs environmental campaigns including Plastic Free Key West, Skip the Straw, and the Sunscreen protection campaign. Direct conservation services include marine debris clean-ups and storm drain stenciling. An e-commerce store offers merchandise including the Grateful Diver branded product line. These programs work together to fulfill the organization's mission of protecting coral reef ecosystems through science-based education and grassroots community action.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Coral Camp for Kids: Summer educational program for children aged 6-12 teaching about coral reef ecosystems, marine life, and conservation
- Reef Relief Environmental Center
- Key West Marine Park
Products and services
- Coral Camp for Kids
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000+ students educated in classrooms
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Reef Relief
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Reef Relief technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Reef Relief partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Everglades CoalitioncoreCoalition member working on Everglades restoration and water quality issues affecting Florida Keys marine ecosystems
- Monroe CountycoreCounty partnership for Key West Marine Park management and marine conservation initiatives
- City of Key WestcorePartnership for Key West Marine Park management, stormwater education programs, and environmental ordinances including Skip the Straw and Plastic Free campaigns
- Key West Chamber of CommercecoreBusiness community partnership supporting local marine conservation and sustainable tourism
- Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA)coreProfessional association for marine science educators supporting educational program development and professional networking
- Florida Keys Regional Association (FKRC)coreRegional coalition working on Florida Keys conservation and advocacy issues
- NOAA/Florida Keys National Marine SanctuarycoreFederal partnership for coral reef monitoring, sanctuary advisory participation, and environmental protection regulations
- United States Coast GuardcoreCollaborative survey work for navigational aid repairs from Key Largo to Dry Tortugas, monitoring for endangered coral species
- PatagoniamajorFilm festival sponsor providing grant funding for Wild & Scenic Film Festival events in Key West
- The Saltwater AnglermajorFilm festival co-sponsor supporting marine conservation awareness events
- Big Pine Kayak AdventuresminorKayak rental partner providing equipment for marine debris cleanup events in the Florida Keys
- Ocean ConservancycoreInternational partnership for International Coastal Cleanup data collection and marine debris tracking
- Dr. James PortercoreScientific Advisory Board member from Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, conducting coral disease research
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Reef Relief competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coral Reef Alliance: Global nonprofit focused on coral reef conservation through community-based protection and citizen science; directly comparable mission to Reef Relief and competes for similar donor and grant dollars.
- Ocean Conservancy: Major ocean conservation nonprofit that runs the International Coastal Cleanup — Reef Relief is an active data partner in this program. Directly comparable marine debris removal, advocacy, and education activities.
- Reef Check Foundation: International nonprofit running volunteer reef monitoring and citizen-science programs, closely overlapping with Reef Relief's reef monitoring and educational offerings.
- Surfrider Foundation: Coastal nonprofit combining advocacy, beach cleanups, and education (Blue Water Task Force) — comparable marine debris cleanup campaigns and water quality advocacy focus.
Regional players
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Sarasota-based marine research and education organization in Florida with overlapping coral reef research and K-12 education programming; operates in the same Florida ecosystem context as Reef Relief.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy (Florida Chapter): Large environmental nonprofit with active Florida Keys coral reef and water quality programs; addresses overlapping habitat protection mission with much greater funding scale.
Others
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS): NOAA-administered sanctuary where Reef Relief holds advisory roles; highly related as a regulatory partner rather than competitor, sharing coral monitoring and water quality objectives.
Emerging players
- International SeaKeepers Society: Miami-based ocean conservation nonprofit supporting citizen science voyages and educational outreach, overlapping Reef Relief's virtual and youth education programs in the South Florida geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Reef Relief social profiles
Digital presenceReef Relief financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reef Relief leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Reef Relief funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reef Relief M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reef Relief
What does Reef Relief do?
Reef Relief delivers coral reef conservation services in the Florida Keys through multi-channel educational programs for children and schools, hands-on marine debris cleanups, direct stewardship of the Key West Marine Park, and policy advocacy campaigns targeting local reef threats such as plastics, sunscreen pollution, and stormwater runoff.
Is Reef Relief a public or private company?
Reef Relief is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Reef Relief founded?
Reef Relief was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Reef Relief based?
Reef Relief is headquartered in Key West, United States, in the North America region.
How does Reef Relief make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions, merchandise Sales, program Fees and grants and Sponsorships.
Who are Reef Relief's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coral Reef Alliance, Ocean Conservancy, Reef Check Foundation and Surfrider Foundation. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is listed as a regional player. The Nature Conservancy (Florida Chapter) is listed as a broad incumbent. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) is listed as an others. International SeaKeepers Society is listed as an emerging player.
Does Reef Relief have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reef Relief.
What industry is Reef Relief in?
Reef Relief's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks).