Fondo

What Fondo does

Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (legal name: Conservación de la Naturaleza en Oaxaca, A.C.) is a Mexican nonprofit civil association founded in 2000 and headquartered in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. The organization conserves Oaxaca's biocultural heritage through a portfolio of community-based environmental programs: Ecoturismo Comunitario, Pesca Sustentable, Monitoreo Biológico de Especies (birds, terrestrial mammals, sea turtles, marine mammals), Reforestación de Manglares y Humedales, Educación Ambiental (centered on Laguna Viva in Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua), and Respuestas a Desastres Naturales. Sub-brands include the Costa Magia community ecotourism destination brand, the Community Ecotourism Network in the Huatulco-Bahías de Chacahua corridor, the Ecoschools network, and the first Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in Oaxaca developed with Smartfish A.C. and COSIA A.C.

The organization is governed by a committee convened under Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca with founding institutional partners including WWF México, Universidad del Mar (UMAR), Instituto Estatal de Ecología, SEMARNAT, CONANP, INAPESCA, CRIP, PRODER, and Red de Humedales. Revenue is generated exclusively through tax-deductible donations (Organización Civil Donataria Autorizada status since 2018) collected via national bank transfer (from 100 MXN), international transfer (from 30 USD), PayPal, and grants from foundations including EJ4Climate. Programs are delivered through direct field accompaniment by a small core staff (5 named professionals plus volunteer/intern pipeline) to rural and indigenous communities across Oaxaca's Costa region, Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and Chimalapas, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific monitoring methods.

The business model is community-led grantmaking and program delivery: the organization acts as an intermediary channeling donor and grant capital into community-led conservation, sustainable fisheries, ecotourism microenterprises, and disaster preparedness. Distribution is entirely direct-to-community via field technicians and community organizers, with no commercial product or service sales. Marketing and outreach rely on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), the fondoax.org website, email, and volunteer networks. The organization's reported outcomes include 35+ supported community enterprises, 11–12 microenterprises in two ecotourism networks, marine turtle protection across five municipalities, and community monitoring of 60+ bird species.

Name

Fondo

Legal name

Conservación de la Naturaleza en Oaxaca, A.C.

Website

https://fondoax.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza is a Mexican nonprofit conservation organization that delivers community-based environmental programs — ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity monitoring, mangrove reforestation, and disaster preparedness — to rural and indigenous communities across Oaxaca, funded by tax-deductible donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Forestry (800), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community-Based & Indigenous-Led Ecotourism (THAAAEAH), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation programs
• Community ecotourism services
• Sustainable fisheries management
• Biodiversity monitoring programs
• Marine turtle protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Oaxaca

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. National transfers start at 100 MXN, international transfers from 30 USD, and PayPal donations from 100 MXN. Donations support conservation projects, community capacity building, and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fondo Oaxaqueño is a Mexican nonprofit civil association that delivers community-based environmental conservation programs in Oaxaca, including community ecotourism, sustainable artisanal fishing, biological species monitoring (birds, terrestrial fauna, marine turtles, whales), mangrove and wetland reforestation, environmental education (via the Laguna Viva program), and natural disaster preparedness. It also stewards signature initiatives such as the Costa Magia ecotourism destination brand integrating 12 microenterprises, the first Fishery Improvement Project in Oaxaca, and the Ecoschools Network in Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua.

Product overview

Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza is a Mexican nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected community-based environmental programs and services. The core offerings include Ecoturismo Comunitario (Community Ecotourism), Pesca Sustentable (Sustainable Fishing), Monitoreo Biológico de Especies (Biological Species Monitoring) covering birds, terrestrial fauna, sea turtles, and marine mammals, Reforestación de Manglares y Humedales (Mangrove and Wetland Reforestation), Educación Ambiental through the Laguna Viva program, and Respuestas a Desastres Naturales (Natural Disaster Response). Key sub-brands include Costa Magia (the first community ecotourism destination brand in Costa de Oaxaca integrating 12 microenterprises), the Community Ecotourism Network (11 microenterprises in the Huatulco-Bahías de Chacahua corridor), the Ecoschools Network, and the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP). These programs work together through a model combining technical expertise, field implementation, and active community participation to conserve Oaxaca's biocultural heritage while strengthening local economies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Costa Magia: First community destination brand for Ecotourism in the Costa de Oaxaca, integrating 12 microenterprises along the coast.
• Laguna Viva
• Ecoscuelas

Products and services

• Ecoturismo Comunitario (Community Ecotourism) Community-based nature tourism program that accompanies local groups in developing birdwatching, scientific tourism, hiking, and nature experiences while promoting responsible environmental practices and ecotecnologias for sustainable resource management. Target audience: rural and indigenous communities in Oaxaca.
• Pesca Sustentable (Sustainable Fishing) Program that accompanies artisanal fishing communities in community-based species management, participatory monitoring, cooperative organization, and governance, strengthening leadership among fishermen, women in fish processing, and youth through training and cooperative models. Target audience: artisanal fishing cooperatives on the Oaxacan coast.
• Monitoreo Biológico de Especies (Biological Species Monitoring) Community science initiative implementing monitoring of birds, terrestrial mammals, sea turtles, and whales, combining traditional ecological knowledge with scientific methods to generate information for habitat loss and climate change response. Target audience: coastal communities and conservation stakeholders.
• Monitoreo de Fauna Terrestre (Terrestrial Fauna Monitoring) Program using camera traps to monitor nearly threatened species (ocelot and tiger cat), at-risk species (puma), and vulnerable species (anteater) in the deciduous tropical forest, promoting the creation of Voluntary Conservation Areas. Target audience: landowners and community stewards in deciduous tropical forest regions.
• Tortugas Marinas (Sea Turtles) Sea turtle protection program supporting equipment, technical assistance, and training for protection of olive ridley turtle (vulnerable), green/black turtle (endangered), and leatherback turtle (critically endangered), with community environmental education and organizational strengthening. Target audience: coastal communities across five Oaxacan municipalities.
• Reforestación Manglares y Humedales (Mangrove and Wetland Reforestation) Reforestation program for red mangroves and wetlands that supports carbon capture and provides refuge for species such as river crocodile and spiny-tailed iguana. Target audience: coastal wetland communities in Oaxaca.
• Educación Ambiental (Environmental Education) Program implementing 'Laguna Viva' which combines community monitoring of sea turtles and water quality, ecotechnologies for gray water treatment and waste management, and construction and operation of an Environmental Education and Culture Center. Target audience: school-aged youth and community members in Lagunas de Chacahua.
• Respuestas a Desastres Naturales (Natural Disaster Response) Community preparedness and resilience program that strengthens response capacity to hurricanes, fires, and other phenomena through first aid workshops, emergency protocols, forest fire prevention, and equipment for safer territories. Target audience: rural and indigenous communities exposed to climate risks in Oaxaca.
• Costa Magia

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ community enterprises supported with productive projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and supporting.

• Smartfish A.C.keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in developing the first Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in Oaxaca for sustainable fisheries certification.
• COSIA A.C.keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the Fishery Improvement Project for sustainable fisheries management in Oaxaca.
• CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012National protected areas commission partner since 2012 for marine turtle protection and conservation programs in natural protected areas.
• PRODER (Programa de Desarrollo Regional Sustentable)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sustainable regional development program partner since 2012, supporting community-based conservation and development projects.
• INAPESCA (Instituto Nacional de Pesca y Acuacultura)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012National fisheries institute partner since 2012 for sustainable fishing initiatives and marine resource management.
• CRIP (Centros Regionales de Investigación Pesquera)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Regional fisheries research centers partner since 2012, providing scientific research capacity for sustainable fishing programs.
• Red de HumedalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Wetlands network partner since 2007 for coastal wetland conservation and community-based tourism development.
• Fundación Comunitaria OaxacacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Administered by Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca since 2004. The Fondo Oaxaqueño is one of several funds managed by this foundation, with joint oversight from government and civil society.
• WWF MéxicocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Founding committee member and strategic ally since 2004, contributing expertise in conservation and environmental policy.
• Universidad del Mar (UMAR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Academic partner since 2004, providing scientific expertise and research capacity for conservation programs.
• Instituto Estatal de EcologíacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004State environmental authority partner since 2004, providing governmental coordination and regulatory guidance.
• SEMARNAT (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Federal environmental ministry partner since 2004, providing policy alignment and national coordination.
• OceanasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational ocean conservation organization ally supporting marine conservation initiatives.
• Centro Mexicano de la TortugacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2012 in comprehensive marine turtle protection strategy across five coastal municipalities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International Mexico: Global conservation organization with a significant Mexico presence focused on biodiversity, climate, and oceans; comparable mission but much broader portfolio and deeper funding base than Fondo Oaxaqueño.
• The Nature Conservancy Mexico: International conservation NGO with Mexican operations spanning protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and community engagement; comparable in marine turtle, fisheries, and protected-area themes but at much larger scale.
• WWF México: Mexican arm of a global conservation major, working across marine, terrestrial, and policy domains in Mexico; comparable in mission but significantly larger in scale, funding, and geographic scope than Fondo Oaxaqueño.

Emerging players

• Oceana Mexico: Listed as a partner of Fondo Oaxaqueño; Oceana works on ocean conservation including sustainable fisheries and marine habitat protection in Mexico — comparable in marine/fisheries themes but focused on policy advocacy rather than community delivery.
• Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos (NEM): Mexican conservation NGO focused on protected areas and community-based natural resource management; comparable model with overlapping funder pool and protected-area approach.

Direct peers

• Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga: Mexican government-affiliated marine turtle research and conservation center partnering with Fondo since 2012 on the five-municipality turtle protection strategy; directly comparable in marine turtle conservation mission.
• Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG): Long-standing Mexican community-based conservation NGO operating a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with ecotourism, sustainable production, and community enterprise programs — closely comparable model and scale to Fondo Oaxaqueño.
• Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca: Parent administrator of Fondo Oaxaqueño and operator of multiple Oaxaca-focused community funds; directly comparable as a regional community foundation with overlapping donor base and grant-making role.
• Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN): Mexican environmental fund administering conservation finance across Mexico with community-based project grants; highly comparable as a peer conservation fund operating in overlapping geographies and donor ecosystems.
• Pronatura México: One of Mexico's largest conservation NGOs operating across multiple states with community-based programs, ecotourism, and protected area management — directly comparable in mission, model, and Mexican conservation-funder access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/fondoax
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FondoOaxaque%C3%B1o
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondoax
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondoax
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondo-oaxaque-o

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Fondo