Western Flyer Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersMoss Landing, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Western Flyer Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Western Flyer Foundation
- Legal name
- Western Flyer Foundation
- Website
- https://westernflyer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Western Flyer Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Science Education and Research Services
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Western Flyer Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Moss Landing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Western Flyer Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue source from individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 47-4184235) with GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. Donations support research expeditions, education programs, and vessel operations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship program with three tiers: Captain Crew ($5K), Friends of Flyer ($2.5K), and Collaborators ($1K+). Partners receive event recognition, media exposure, digital presence, and community engagement opportunities.
- Research Charters: The vessel is available for charter to scientists, educators, and research organizations at $6,000 per day (up to 8 hours), with additional time at $750/hour. Multi-day and mission-aligned projects may receive adjusted pricing.
- Merchandise Sales: On-demand merchandise (apparel, accessories) sold through the Foundation's shop, with proceeds supporting vessel operations and educational programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard daily research charter rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate partnership tiers |
| Other | Monthly | Individual donation levels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Western Flyer Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Western Flyer Foundation operates the historic 77-foot wooden Western Flyer research vessel (built 1937, restored 2023) as a floating classroom and marine science research platform. It delivers hands-on ocean science education programs to students (Oceanography, Docked, MentorShip programs), conducts collaborative marine research expeditions to the Gulf of California and Pacific Northwest, and offers paid research charters to scientists, educators, and research organizations.
Product overview
The Western Flyer Foundation operates the historic 77-foot wooden Western Flyer vessel (built 1937, restored 2023) as a unified research and education platform. The core offering is the vessel itself, available for research charters and serving as a floating classroom. Programs include oceanography education (in partnership with Naval Postgraduate School and Stanford), docked student programs, and the MentorShip summer program. The organization conducts expedition programs to the Gulf of California and Pacific Northwest, hosts public tours, and produces documentary films including award-winning works narrated by Nick Offerman. Revenue streams include research charters ($6,000/day), corporate partnerships, donations, and merchandise sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Western Flyer Research Vessel Charter Paid charter of the 77-foot historic wooden research vessel for scientists, educators, and research organizations. Includes 300 sq ft of deck space, oceanographic winches, CTD systems, continuous flow seawater monitoring, scientific echosounder, ROV, and laboratory facilities for oceanographic research and scientific education in Monterey Bay and beyond.
- Oceanography Program A hands-on at-sea oceanography program for college and high school students, developed in collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School and Stanford Hopkins Marine Station. Students collect and analyze scientifically valuable data aboard the Western Flyer with mentorship from active scientists.
- Docked Programs Docked vessel programs for middle school, high school, and college students in which they tour the Western Flyer, learn about its scientific and literary legacy, observe marine life, collect plankton, and explore microscopic worlds in the onboard laboratory.
- MentorShip Program A free week-long summer experience in Moss Landing offering hands-on marine science education and mentorship aboard the Western Flyer for selected student applicants.
- Pacific Northwest 2026 Expedition A pilot educational expedition traveling to coastal communities in Oregon and Washington (Charleston, Coos Bay, Newport, Port Townsend, Seattle), bringing hands-on ocean science experiences to students and engaging visitors through public tours, films, talks, and community events.
- Gulf of California 2027 Expedition A three-month collaborative marine research expedition to the Gulf of California featuring Mexican-led research projects focused on fisheries, biodiversity, ocean productivity, and climate resilience, with dedicated shipboard time aboard the Western Flyer for selected research teams.
- Public Tours Free public tours of the Western Flyer offering visitors an opportunity to step aboard the historic vessel and experience its story firsthand through guided experiences at ports along expedition routes.
- We Simply Liked It (Documentary Film) A documentary film commemorating the 85th anniversary of the return expedition to the Gulf of California, interweaving science, history, and human experience in the spirit of Steinbeck and Ricketts, created by Soulcraft Allstars in collaboration with the Western Flyer Foundation.
- The Western Flyer with Nick Offerman (Documentary Short) An Emmy Award-winning short film narrated by Nick Offerman presenting the history, restoration, and enduring legacy of the Western Flyer. The film won Silver in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards.
- Gulf of California 2025 Expedition A 100-day expedition completed in 2025 commemorating the 85th anniversary of the original Steinbeck-Ricketts voyage, featuring collaborative scientific research, education, and community engagement across the Gulf of California with Mexican partners; included 26 oceanographic profiling stations and eDNA sampling identifying 50+ fish families.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ students engaged in Pacific Northwest 2026 voyage
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Western Flyer Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Western Flyer Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Western Flyer Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UnCruise AdventurescoreCollaborative partnership for Gulf of California expeditions. UnCruise provides the Safari Voyager vessel for supporter voyages alongside the Western Flyer. This partnership enables fundraising expeditions and provides operational support for research programs.
- Port Townsend Shipwrights CooperativecoreLed the multi-year restoration of the Western Flyer vessel in Port Townsend, Washington. Continues as Friends of Flyer corporate partner ($2.5K tier) and community collaborator.
- Monterey Bay Fisheries TrustminorCollaborates on community outreach and education programs in the Monterey Bay region. Co-presents events and educational programming.
- Chris Shake EnterprisesminorCorporate partner at Captain Crew tier ($5,000). Primary financier supporting Pacific Northwest 2026 expedition.
- Northern Historical & EnvironmentalminorCorporate partner at Collaborators tier ($1,000+). Supports historical and environmental education initiatives.
- Oregon State UniversitycoreCollaborates through OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB), and Oregon Sea Grant. Provides scientific expertise and student participation for Pacific Northwest programs.
- Charleston Marine Life Center (University of Oregon)minorCollaborates on educational programs and community events in Coos Bay, Oregon. Hosted the 10th anniversary open house during Western Flyer visit.
- Hatfield Marine Science CenterminorPartner for Newport, Oregon programming including film screenings, presentations, and vessel tours.
- NiparajacoreMexican conservation organization collaborating on Gulf of California research and education programs, particularly in the Puerto Escondido and Loreto regions.
- Instituto Costero de Baja California (ICBC)coreMexican research institution collaborating on Gulf of California expeditions, conducting environmental DNA sampling and community-based monitoring.
- Eco-Alianza del LoretominorLocal conservation organization in Loreto, Mexico partnering on research, education, and community events during Gulf expeditions.
- Penguin ClassicsminorIn-kind sponsor providing books and literary materials supporting the educational and storytelling mission connected to Steinbeck's works.
- Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle)minorSeattle venue hosting final public stop of Pacific Northwest voyage, providing dock space for tours and community engagement.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Western Flyer Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sea Education Association (SEA): Operates sailing vessels for undergraduate oceanography and maritime studies semester programs. Most direct comparable in combining shipboard learning with marine science research and is a peer for student-facing educational cruises.
- Mystic Seaport Museum: Maritime heritage museum preserving historic vessels and offering shipboard educational programming. Comparable as a heritage-vessel-based educational nonprofit with public tours and STEAM programming.
- Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association: Operates a restored historic schooner as a sailing classroom offering shipboard education and youth programs. Closely comparable as a heritage vessel operated by a nonprofit for sail training and educational voyages.
- Schmidt Ocean Institute: Operates the research vessel Falkor (to) for free-at-sea scientific expeditions with public engagement and educational livestreams. Directly comparable as a privately-funded marine research vessel platform enabling global expeditions and science outreach.
- OceanX: Mission-driven marine science and media organization operating research vessels with high-end documentary production (BBC, NatGeo). Comparable in pairing vessel-based science with premium storytelling for public engagement.
- Inner Space Center (University of Rhode Island): Supports ocean science communication via telepresence from exploration vessels, enabling live educational outreach. Comparable in bridging research expeditions with public/student audiences.
Broad incumbents
- National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: Larger marine conservation nonprofit supporting NOAA's national marine sanctuaries through education, community programs, and grants. Comparable in marine education and citizen-science mission, though broader in scope and federally connected.
- The Ocean Foundation: Community foundation supporting ocean conservation through grantmaking and program partnerships. Comparable as a marine-focused nonprofit intermediary but operates at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Ocean Research Project: Nonprofit conducting sailing-based oceanographic expeditions and plastic pollution research with student involvement. Comparable in combining small-vessel expeditions with student-driven marine science and education.
- Sailors for the Sea: Ocean conservation nonprofit focused on engaging the boating community in environmental action and education. Thematically adjacent as a small marine education nonprofit though without a research vessel platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Western Flyer Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceWestern Flyer Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Western Flyer Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Western Flyer Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Western Flyer Foundation 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 Western Flyer Foundation
What does Western Flyer Foundation do?
The Western Flyer Foundation operates the historic 77-foot wooden Western Flyer research vessel (built 1937, restored 2023) as a floating classroom and marine science research platform. It delivers hands-on ocean science education programs to students (Oceanography, Docked, MentorShip programs), conducts collaborative marine research expeditions to the Gulf of California and Pacific Northwest, and offers paid research charters to scientists, educators, and research organizations.
Is Western Flyer Foundation a public or private company?
Western Flyer Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Western Flyer Foundation founded?
Western Flyer Foundation was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Western Flyer Foundation based?
Western Flyer Foundation is headquartered in Moss Landing, United States, in the North America region.
How does Western Flyer Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, research Charters and merchandise Sales.
Who are Western Flyer Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sea Education Association (SEA), Mystic Seaport Museum, Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association, Schmidt Ocean Institute, OceanX and Inner Space Center (University of Rhode Island). Broad incumbents are National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and The Ocean Foundation. Emerging players are Ocean Research Project and Sailors for the Sea.
Does Western Flyer Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Western Flyer Foundation.
What industry is Western Flyer Foundation in?
Western Flyer Foundation's product category is Marine Science Education and Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAGAM, Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs, with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks). Its SIC code is 8731.