Ocean Discovery Institute
Ocean Discovery Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free ocean and environmental science education to K-12 students in San Diego's City Heights, anchored by its Living Lab facility and a 40-year partnership with SDUSD.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ocean Discovery Institute does
Ocean Discovery Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered at 4255 Thorn Street in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. It delivers 100% tuition-free, place-based ocean and environmental science education programs to K-12 students in the Herbert Hoover High School cluster school-shed, reaching approximately 7,000 young people per year through in-school, after-school, summer, and multi-year leadership programs (the Ocean Leaders continuum). Its primary physical asset is the Living Lab, a 12,000 sq ft state-of-the-art science facility opened in 2018 through a 40-year exclusive operating partnership with San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) that contributed $10M of Proposition Z funding; the facility achieves LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy operations and includes two science labs, aquaria, gel electrophoresis systems, a Scientist-in-Residence studio, and indoor-outdoor learning spaces adjacent to a 30-acre urban canyon.
The organization has no traditional software products; its offering is a continuum of educational programs anchored on the Living Lab and supported by partnerships with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium, University of San Diego (formal Anchor STEM Partner as of early 2026), Illumina, and a Scientist-in-Residence program. Programs are delivered tuition-free to students, with all costs covered through a diversified philanthropy stack: individual donations (including legacy/planned giving), corporate sponsorships (Neurocrine Biosciences, Southwest Airlines, SDG&E, Cox, Cisco), foundation grants (Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation, Price Philanthropies, Schmidt Family Foundation, Hearst Foundations), and government funding (California State Parks, California Coastal Conservancy, City of San Diego, SDUSD). Annual fundraising events (SPLASH!) supplement these streams; the 2024 SPLASH! fundraiser generated $380,000. Approximately 40 full-time staff execute operations, augmented by an alumni network that includes former students now in the workforce, and historically by AmeriCorps teaching fellows through a 26-year partnership that ended abruptly in 2025, creating a near-term funding gap for teaching capacity.
The organization has been recognized with the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, a 2016 CNN Hero Award, and a 2021 LEED Platinum certification. Its strategic posture is vertical (deepening STEM pathway intensity within City Heights rather than geographic expansion), with measurable claims that graduates enter high-paying STEM fields including biotech, engineering, environmental consulting, marine biology, and public policy.
Ocean Discovery Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Discovery Institute
- Legal name
- Ocean Discovery Institute
- Website
- https://oceandiscoveryinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ocean Discovery Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers tuition-free ocean and environmental science education to K-12 students in San Diego's City Heights, anchored by its Living Lab facility and a 40-year partnership with SDUSD.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean Discovery Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 STEM Education (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
Keywords
Where Ocean Discovery Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ocean Discovery Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Monthly donor community and one-time donations from individuals supporting tuition-free science education programs.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Major sponsors including Neurocrine Biosciences, Southwest Airlines, and others contributing significant funding.
- Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation, Price Philanthropies, Schmidt Family Foundation, and others.
- Government Funding: Support from California State Parks, California Coastal Conservancy, City of San Diego, and San Diego Unified School District (Proposition Z).
- Special Events: Annual fundraiser SPLASH! raised $380,000 in 2024.
- Legacy/Planned Giving: Endowment and planned gifts through Legacy Circle donors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for all students in school-shed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ocean Discovery Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocean Discovery Institute delivers 100% tuition-free ocean science education programs for young people in San Diego's City Heights community, traditionally excluded from science due to race, income, and educational opportunity. Programs span in-school and out-of-school settings for K-8 students, a multi-year Ocean Leaders leadership program beginning in 8th grade, college and career access support, and the Living Lab—a 12,000 sq ft state-of-the-art science facility. Volunteer pathways include Scientist-in-Residence, Science Mentor, College Mentor, and Academic Tutor roles.
Product overview
Ocean Discovery Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides tuition-free science education programs for young people in San Diego's City Heights community. Their offering is not a technology product in the traditional sense, but rather a continuum of science education programs and a world-class facility called the Living Lab. The organization operates In-School Programs (elementary, middle, and high school level), Out-of-School Programs (after-school and summer camps), and the Ocean Leader Programs (intensive multi-year leadership development). They also offer volunteer opportunities including Scientist-in-Residence, Science Mentor, College Mentor, and Academic Tutor programs, along with career access and college access programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-School Science Programs Standards-based ocean science education delivered in partnership with schools across the Herbert Hoover High School cluster, serving K-8 students. Programs are provided at no cost to students or schools.
- Out-of-School Programs (After-School and Summer Camps) After-school and summer camp ocean science programming for K-8 students in the City Heights community, providing extended learning opportunities beyond the school day.
- Ocean Leaders Program Intensive multi-year (4+ year) leadership development program beginning in 8th grade, combining hands-on summer research with year-round programming, designed to guide students through high school and into STEM careers.
- Living Lab Facility Programs Place-based science programming at the Living Lab facility in City Heights, featuring two premier science labs, aquaria, gel electrophoresis systems, a Scientist-in-Residence studio, and indoor-outdoor learning spaces. Achieved LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy status.
- College and Career Access Programs College preparation, career pathway support, and mentorship programs designed to help students from the Ocean Leaders pipeline enter and succeed in high-paying STEM fields including biotech, environmental consulting, fisheries, marine biology, and engineering.
- Scientist-in-Residence Program Visiting scientist program bringing diverse science leaders from around the world to mentor students at the Living Lab, with travel sponsored by Southwest Airlines.
- University of San Diego Summer Research Program Summer research program for 11th grade Ocean Leaders students hosted on the University of San Diego campus through a formal Anchor STEM Partnership MOU spanning USD's College of Arts and Sciences, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Mulvaney Center.
Quantifiable outcome
- Higher test scores, higher graduation rates, and careers in biotech, environmental consulting, technology, and engineering
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean Discovery Institute
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ocean Discovery Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ocean Discovery Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and innovation.
- San Diego Unified School Districtcore16-year partnership to bring standards-based science education to SDUSD students. SDUSD contributed $10 million of Proposition Z funding to Living Lab construction. Ocean Discovery has exclusive right to operate the facility for 40 years, with SDUSD owning the property. At end of 40-year term, Ocean Discovery obtains title to property.
- University of San DiegocoreFormal Anchor STEM Partner through MOU recognizing collaborative commitment spanning College of Arts and Sciences, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and Karen and Tom Mulvaney Center. Includes summer research programs for 11th graders on campus, faculty mentorship, and College Corps student mentorship.
- Southwest AirlinesflagshipTitle sponsor of SPLASH! 2024 fundraiser. Provides free airfare for Scientist-in-Residence program participants through sponsorship.
- Scripps Institution of OceanographycorePartner for student programming. Staff member Dr. Anai Novoa serves as Summer Programs Coordinator at Scripps and on Science Advisory Council. Research collaboration opportunities for students.
- Birch AquariuminnovationInnovation partner providing educational programming and resources for students.
- IlluminainnovationInnovation partner providing technology and expertise for science education programs.
- AmeriCorpscore26-year partnership providing teaching fellows. Partnership ended abruptly in 2025, creating funding gap for teaching fellows.
- SDG&EinnovationInnovation partner and supporter, recognizing Living Lab as Energy Champions.
- Cavicci HealthinnovationInnovation partner supporting programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ocean Discovery Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ocean Conservancy: National marine conservation nonprofit with significant education, policy, and citizen-science programming. Shares Ocean Discovery's marine conservation and citizen-science orientation but operates at national scale rather than hyper-local community-based education.
- Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit focused on coastal and ocean conservation with strong youth-education programming. Shares Ocean Discovery's ocean conservation and youth-engagement orientation, but operates through advocacy and chapters rather than a place-based facility model.
- Aquarium of the Pacific: Long Beach-based aquarium offering formal marine science education programs for K-12 schools, including summer camps and teacher professional development. Overlaps with Ocean Discovery's STEM-education mission at significantly larger scale and broader programmatic scope.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: Iconic California aquarium with extensive youth ocean-education programs, conservation focus, and significant development/fundraising infrastructure. Comparable in mission but operates at materially larger scale and as a tourism destination as well as an education provider.
Regional players
- Reuben H. Fleet Science Center: San Diego's hands-on science museum with K-12 STEM programming, school field-trip offerings, and community outreach. Comparable as a San Diego STEM-education organization but serves a broader geographic and topical footprint rather than ocean/environmental focus.
Emerging players
- Project Lead The Way: National nonprofit providing K-12 STEM curriculum, teacher training, and career-pathway programming in underserved schools. Comparable as a STEM-equity education nonprofit with school-district partnerships and college/career pipeline outcomes, but curriculum-driven rather than place-based.
Direct peers
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Scripps Institution of Oceanography's public outreach arm in San Diego, delivering marine science education to K-12 audiences. Operates in the same geographic market with overlapping ocean-science mission and formal research-education collaborations with Ocean Discovery Institute.
- The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: Connecticut-based aquarium that runs marine science education programs, summer camps, and teen workforce pathways. Comparable as an aquarium-affiliated nonprofit with formal K-12 and teen STEM-career-pipeline programs, though operating on the East Coast.
- Heal the Bay: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on marine conservation education and coastal stewardship for youth and families. Directly comparable as a place-based marine/environmental education nonprofit that combines advocacy, education programming, and aquarium-style public engagement.
- Coastal Marine Biolabs: Ventura-based nonprofit delivering hands-on marine science research experiences and STEM mentoring to high school students. Closely comparable in its place-based marine science curriculum and emphasis on underrepresented youth pursuing STEM careers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Discovery Institute social profiles
Digital presenceOcean Discovery Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ocean Discovery Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Discovery Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Ocean Discovery Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Discovery Institute 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 Ocean Discovery Institute
What does Ocean Discovery Institute do?
Ocean Discovery Institute delivers 100% tuition-free ocean science education programs for young people in San Diego's City Heights community, traditionally excluded from science due to race, income, and educational opportunity. Programs span in-school and out-of-school settings for K-8 students, a multi-year Ocean Leaders leadership program beginning in 8th grade, college and career access support, and the Living Lab—a 12,000 sq ft state-of-the-art science facility. Volunteer pathways include Scientist-in-Residence, Science Mentor, College Mentor, and Academic Tutor roles.
Is Ocean Discovery Institute a public or private company?
Ocean Discovery Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Discovery Institute founded?
Ocean Discovery Institute was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ocean Discovery Institute based?
Ocean Discovery Institute is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocean Discovery Institute make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, foundation Grants, government Funding, special Events and legacy/Planned Giving.
Who are Ocean Discovery Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Aquarium of the Pacific and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is listed as a regional player. Project Lead The Way is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Birch Aquarium at Scripps, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Heal the Bay and Coastal Marine Biolabs.
Does Ocean Discovery Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Discovery Institute.
What industry is Ocean Discovery Institute in?
Ocean Discovery Institute's product category is K-12 STEM Education (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation), with a secondary code of EDAMABAB, Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology). Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.