Outer Banks Forever

What Outer Banks Forever does

Outer Banks Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2016 and headquartered in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, that serves as the official nonprofit fundraising partner of three federal park units: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. The organization's role is to provide "margin of excellence" funding for projects and programs that fall outside the National Park Service's standard federal budget, including historic restoration, wildlife protection, infrastructure, education, and visitor engagement. Its product portfolio spans donation products (Parks Forever Fund, Forever Founders), symbolic adoption programs (Adopt A Pony supporting Ocracoke Island ponies, Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest), infrastructure projects (Pathways to Your National Parks multi-use pathway network), an Artist in Community residency program with Dare Arts, and the ongoing restoration of the Bodie Island Double Keepers' Quarters.

The organization operates on a hybrid community-led fundraising model combining individual donations, recurring symbolic-adoption programs, corporate sponsorships, grants from institutional funders (notably the National Park Foundation and the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau), and merchandise sales through in-park retail stores operated by Eastern National and an online storefront on shop.americasnationalparks.org. Its underlying technology footprint is modest but targeted: park webcam feeds at all three parks (with Surfline as a webcam technology partner), a Wright Brothers National Memorial mobile application offering virtual tours with audio narration and GPS, and standard website donation infrastructure. Marketing and donor acquisition rely on organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), a monthly e-newsletter, blog storytelling, and community events.

Customer and partner relationships are anchored by a single institutional counterparty — the National Park Service — alongside a deep local ecosystem of recurring funders and partners (National Park Foundation, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Dare Arts, REAL Watersports, Carolina Brewery, Eastern National, Surfline, First Flight Society). The organization is governed by an Advisory Board led by Executive Director Jessica Barnes Green and Board President Trip Forman, with a lean 1-10 employee footprint supported by volunteers such as the social media coordinator. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but episodic signals — over $25,000 raised in 24 hours on Giving Tuesday 2023, a just-under-$500,000 capital project funded in 2025, and a recurring Tourism Impact Grant cycle — indicate a small but active fundraising operation likely operating in the low single-digit millions of dollars annually.

Name

Outer Banks Forever

Legal name

Outer Banks Forever

Website

https://obxforever.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Outer Banks Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the official fundraising partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial, channeling donations, grants, and merchandise revenue into park conservation, restoration, and visitor programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Park Fundraising Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)

Keywords

• National park fundraising
• Nonprofit park support
• Symbolic adoption programs
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Historic preservation projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Kill Devil Hills

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and grants from organizations like the National Park Foundation and Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of Outer Banks Forever branded merchandise through the park store at Wright Brothers National Memorial and online through shop.americasnationalparks.org.
3. Symbolic Adoption Programs: Adopt A Pony and Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest programs where supporters receive certificates and updates in exchange for donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Outer Banks Forever is the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. It solicits individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants, then channels those funds into park projects, wildlife protection programs (including Adopt A Pony and Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest), historic preservation work, and visitor engagement tools such as live webcams and a mobile app, while also generating revenue through branded merchandise sales in-park and online.

Product overview

Outer Banks Forever is a nonprofit organization serving as the official partner of three Outer Banks national parks (Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial). The organization offers a portfolio of programs including symbolic animal adoption programs (Adopt A Pony and Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest), a mobile application for the Wright Brothers National Memorial, merchandise retail through the Outer Banks Forever Store, and infrastructure projects like the Pathways to Your National Parks multi-use pathway initiative. The organization also runs the Artist in Community program in partnership with Dare Arts and supports historic restoration projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt A Pony Symbolic adoption program that supports the Ocracoke ponies; adopters receive an official adoption certificate and a photo of their chosen pony in exchange for a donation. Open to park visitors and the general public.
• Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest Symbolic adoption program where adopters receive an official adoption certificate and updates on their chosen sea turtle nest, helping fund projects and programs that protect and enhance Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
• Parks Forever Fund Central donation fund that supports Outer Banks national parks conservation and enhancement projects, providing flexible funding that can be directed to current and emerging park needs.
• Pathways to Your National Parks Multi-use pathway initiative building paved paths at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and connecting the three national parks for walking, running, and cycling, funded through dedicated donor campaigns.
• Wright Brothers National Memorial App Official mobile application enabling virtual exploration of Wright Brothers National Memorial with audio narration, GPS tracking, digital postcards, and special event access. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Outer Banks Forever Store Online and in-park retail store selling Outer Banks Forever branded merchandise and national park-themed products; operated at Wright Brothers National Memorial by Eastern National.
• Artist in Community Program Partnership program with Dare Arts and the National Park Service that provides Outer Banks artists with opportunities to demonstrate crafts and perform arts in the national parks through artist residencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.77 million in Tourism Impact Grant Awards distributed to 12 organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. Works with NPS staff including Superintendent David Hallac on park projects and programs.
• Dare ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Artist in Community program that gives Outer Banks artists opportunities to demonstrate crafts and perform arts in the national parks.
• REAL WatersportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner that co-hosted Giving Tuesday campaigns and matching challenges. Board President Trip Forman is co-owner of REAL Watersports.
• Carolina BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Outer Banks Forever for a $10,000 Giving Tuesday matching challenge campaign.
• Eastern NationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates the Outer Banks Forever retail store at Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kelly Hartman has been with Eastern National for seven years.
• Renaissance Construction Company, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor hired for the Bodie Island Double Keepers' Quarters restoration project. Based in Manteo, NC.
• First Flight SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner that hosts National Aviation Day celebrations at Dare County Regional Airport. Co-produces virtual events and the Wright Route initiative with Outer Banks Forever.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Friends of Acadia: Official nonprofit partner of Acadia National Park, raising funds for trails, ecology, and cultural programs. Directly comparable as a designated NPS partner with similar fundraising, volunteer, and stewardship programs and a coastal New England geography analogous to Outer Banks.
• Eastern National: Operates educational retail stores inside national parks under cooperative agreements with NPS partner nonprofits. Directly comparable because Eastern National runs the Outer Banks Forever store at Wright Brothers National Memorial and provides the retail infrastructure model that Outer Banks Forever relies on.
• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit fundraising and programming partner of Yellowstone National Park, with similar mission, donor base, retail operations, and capital project stewardship role. Comparable in structure and revenue model (memberships, donations, retail) to Outer Banks Forever's NPS partnership model.
• Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation: Official nonprofit fundraising partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, funding trail, education, and preservation projects. Directly comparable as an NPS-unit-designated partner with a similar mix of donor programs, retail, and capital projects in a single regional park context.
• Shenandoah National Park Trust: Official nonprofit partner of Shenandoah National Park, funding conservation, education, and visitor experience projects. Comparable to Outer Banks Forever as a single-park-designated fundraising partner with similar donor, membership, and project-driven model.
• Yosemite Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Yosemite National Park, funding restoration, trails, and visitor programs through donor campaigns. Closely mirrors Outer Banks Forever's structure as a single-park-designated nonprofit with similar capital project, membership, and grantmaking activities.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, operating retail, donor programs, and capital projects through a similar model. Mirrors Outer Banks Forever's combination of official partnership designation, retail operations, and project-driven fundraising.
• Friends of the Smokies: Official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, funding trails, wildlife, and cultural preservation. Comparable as a long-standing designated NPS partner with similar revenue streams (membership, grants, retail) and capital project portfolio.
• Glacier National Park Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Glacier National Park, raising funds for conservation, education, and infrastructure projects. Highly comparable in structure and operating model to Outer Banks Forever.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Foundation: Congressionally chartered national umbrella organization for all NPS partner nonprofits and a direct funder of Outer Banks Forever (Strong Parks grant, Bodie Island gift). Comparable as both a peer funder and the broader-incumbent coordinating body across all individual park partners like Outer Banks Forever.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OBXparksforever
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdAn2dZjRXf2Jupv-1icpYQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/obxforever
• Instagraminstagram.com/obxparksforever

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Outer Banks Forever