Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a Boston-based nonprofit founded in 1986 that advocates for clean water and delivers free environmental education, cruises, beach programs, and youth services across Boston Harbor and its islands, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Save the Harbor/Save the Bay does
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit public-interest harbor advocacy organization founded in 1986 by the principals behind the Boston Harbor Case. Its mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment and to share them with the public. The organization is credited with leading the Boston Harbor cleanup, virtually eliminating combined sewer overflows into North Dorchester Bay, and creating the Boston Harbor Islands National Park across 34 islands.
The organization delivers a portfolio of free programs: Island Explorer Cruises and Public Cruises (Sunset Harbor Tours, Spectacle Sunday Cruises) for youth groups and the general public; the Better Beaches Program, which funds and coordinates free beach events across nine coastal communities from Nahant to Nantasket; Youth Environmental Education programs including fishing trips and dockside activities; the Beats on the Beach cultural sub-brand; and the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, which it manages on behalf of the Massachusetts Legislature. It also conducts water-quality monitoring and produces an annual Water Quality Report Card. Since 1986, it has connected more than 350,000 young people and families to the harbor.
Save the Harbor is funded entirely through donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships (Barr Foundation, Cummings Foundation, JetBlue, Liberty Mutual, National Grid, BXP, Coca-Cola, Vertex, BCG, and others), and government grants from agencies including DCR, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. All programs are free to participants. It operates from a single headquarters at the Boston Fish Pier with a staff of 16+ across communications, policy, programs, and operations under Executive Director Chris Mancini.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
- Legal name
- Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
- Website
- https://savetheharbor.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a Boston-based nonprofit founded in 1986 that advocates for clean water and delivers free environmental education, cruises, beach programs, and youth services across Boston Harbor and its islands, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy and Harbor Conservation
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused) (THAAAIAG), Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC)
Keywords
Where Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Primary funding comes from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government grants. The organization receives support from major foundations (Barr Foundation, Cummings Foundation), corporations (JetBlue, Liberty Mutual, National Grid), and government agencies (Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts DEP).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for all |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay delivers a portfolio of free public programs and policy advocacy centered on Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, and regional public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Core offerings include free cruise programs (Island Explorer Cruises for youth groups and Public Cruises such as Sunset Harbor Tours and Spectacle Sunday Cruises), the Better Beaches grant and community event program, youth environmental education programs (fishing trips, dockside activities, and youth employment), Beats on the Beach cultural programming, water quality monitoring, and management of the state-sanctioned Metropolitan Beaches Commission.
Product overview
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a non-profit public interest harbor advocacy organization offering a portfolio of free environmental education and public access programs focused on Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the Boston Harbor Islands. The organization's primary offerings include free cruise programs (Island Explorer Cruises for youth groups and Public Cruises including Sunset Harbor Tours and Spectacle Sunday Cruises), the Better Beaches Program (grants and community events at beaches from Nahant to Nantasket), Youth Environmental Education Programs (fishing trips, dockside activities, and youth employment), and policy advocacy work through the Metropolitan Beaches Commission. Secondary offerings include Beats on the Beach (a community art project connecting local music culture to the waterfront) and annual impact reporting publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Beats on the Beach: A community art project that invests in local creatives of color, building community by connecting Boston's music scene to the waterfront since 2020.
- Better Beaches
- Island Explorer Cruises
Products and services
- Island Explorer Cruises Free day trips for youth groups and community organizations to visit Boston Harbor Islands (Georges, Spectacle, and Peddocks), featuring hiking, swimming, fishing, and environmental education activities led by program staff.
- Public Cruises Free public cruises including Sunset Harbor Tours (1.5-hour narrated harbor tours) and Spectacle Sunday Cruises (exploring Spectacle Island from 10am-2pm), offered throughout the summer season and open to the general public.
- Better Beaches Program Grant program and community event initiative supporting free beach events and activities at public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, with grant funding distributed to partner community organizations that activate neighborhood beaches.
- Youth Environmental Education Programs Free youth programs including fishing trips, dockside activities at Atlantic Wharf and Fort Point Channel, and youth employment opportunities, having connected over 350,000 young people to Boston Harbor.
- Beats on the Beach Community art project connecting Boston's music scene to the waterfront, featuring a producer competition, sample pack creation, block party celebrations, and year-round programming for local creatives of color, active since 2020.
- Metropolitan Beaches Commission State government commission managed by Save the Harbor for the Massachusetts Legislature, charged with making policy recommendations to improve public beaches in the Boston Harbor region from Nahant to Nantasket across nine communities (Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull).
Quantifiable outcome
- Transformed Boston Harbor from a national disgrace to clean urban beaches
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, captain, leader and champion.
- Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)coreState agency partner for managing public beaches and implementing beach-related programs and accessibility improvements.
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreState environmental agency partner for water quality monitoring and environmental protection initiatives.
- Bay State Cruise CompanycoreProvides cruise vessels for free public cruises including Sunset Harbor Tours and Spectacle Sunday Cruises.
- Massachusetts Bay LinescorePartner providing vessels for public cruise programs, including operations from Rowes Wharf.
- MassportcaptainCaptain-level supporter and strategic partner for waterfront access initiatives.
- Related BealleaderReal estate development partner and leader-level supporter, with Executive Vice President Stephen N. Faber on the Board of Directors.
- New England RevolutionchampionChampion-level sports partner supporting Save the Harbor events and beach programs.
- National DevelopmentleaderReal estate development partner at leader level supporting Save the Harbor's waterfront initiatives.
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairscaptainState government partner providing support for environmental programs and policy initiatives.
- DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation)corePrimary state agency partner managing public beaches. Save the Harbor works with DCR to increase accessibility, install multilingual signage, and improve beach facilities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boston Harbor Now: Boston-based nonprofit focused on the Boston Harbor Islands and waterfront public access; directly comparable as a regional waterway advocacy and programming organization operating in the same geography.
- Harborwalk (Boston Harbor Association legacy): Boston Harbor waterfront public-access initiative with educational and community programming along the inner harbor; comparable as a Boston-waterfront public-access and educational programming effort.
- Mystic River Watershed Association: Massachusetts-based nonprofit focused on the Mystic River watershed with water quality monitoring, advocacy, and community engagement; directly comparable as a regional waterway advocacy and water-quality nonprofit.
- Charles River Conservancy: Boston-area nonprofit advocating for the Charles River basin and waterfront access through programming, advocacy, and community events; comparable regional water-focused nonprofit with similar free public programming model.
- Environmental League of Massachusetts: Massachusetts statewide environmental policy and advocacy nonprofit; comparable as a state-focused advocacy organization working on environmental legislation, funding, and coalition building.
Broad incumbents
- Trustees of Reservations: Massachusetts' largest private land conservation nonprofit, operating parks, beaches, and cultural properties statewide; comparable as a larger, established Massachusetts conservation organization with public programming and advocacy.
- Massachusetts Audubon Society: Large Massachusetts environmental nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries with environmental education programs; broadly comparable as an established state-level environmental education and conservation organization.
- Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit focused on beach access, clean water, and coastal protection with chapter-based community programming; broadly comparable as a beach- and water-quality-focused advocacy organization with public engagement.
- The Nature Conservancy - Massachusetts Chapter: Global environmental nonprofit with Massachusetts programs on coastal resilience and water protection; comparable as a larger, established environmental organization working on coastal water quality and policy.
Emerging players
- MassBays (Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program): State-federal partnership managing Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays estuarine health with community engagement and science; comparable as a Massachusetts coastal water quality, advocacy, and community programming organization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay social profiles
Digital presenceSave the Harbor/Save the Bay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay 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 Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
What does Save the Harbor/Save the Bay do?
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay delivers a portfolio of free public programs and policy advocacy centered on Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, and regional public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Core offerings include free cruise programs (Island Explorer Cruises for youth groups and Public Cruises such as Sunset Harbor Tours and Spectacle Sunday Cruises), the Better Beaches grant and community event program, youth environmental education programs (fishing trips, dockside activities, and youth employment), Beats on the Beach cultural programming, water quality monitoring, and management of the state-sanctioned Metropolitan Beaches Commission.
Is Save the Harbor/Save the Bay a public or private company?
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Save the Harbor/Save the Bay founded?
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Save the Harbor/Save the Bay based?
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Save the Harbor/Save the Bay make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boston Harbor Now, Harborwalk (Boston Harbor Association legacy), Mystic River Watershed Association, Charles River Conservancy and Environmental League of Massachusetts. Broad incumbents are Trustees of Reservations, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Surfrider Foundation and The Nature Conservancy - Massachusetts Chapter. MassBays (Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Save the Harbor/Save the Bay have an API?
No public API is recorded for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.
What industry is Save the Harbor/Save the Bay in?
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's product category is Environmental Advocacy and Harbor Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAA, Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching), with a secondary code of THAAAIAG, Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused). Its NAICS code is 487210 and its SIC code is 7900.