Sharks4Kids
Sharks4Kids is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free shark science education, STEM curriculum, and virtual or in-person lessons to K-12 students and educators worldwide, anchored by its Project Lemon Aid citizen-science shark tagging program in Turks and Caicos.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersDania, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sharks4Kids does
Sharks4Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 46-2997020), founded in 2013 and headquartered in Florida, that delivers shark-focused science education, STEM programming, and conservation outreach primarily to K-12 students and educators. Its core product surface is a free educational content platform — lesson plans, worksheets, coloring sheets, species fact sheets, translated materials, and a 360 VR shark dive — distributed via the sharks4kids.com website alongside in-person and virtual school presentations delivered worldwide. The flagship program, Project Lemon Aid (launched Spring 2022 in Turks and Caicos), combines citizen-science shark tagging (PIT, acoustic, DNA sampling) with hands-on field education for local students, conducted under permits from the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.
The business model is donation- and grant-driven, supplemented by merchandise. Primary revenue streams include tax-deductible individual donations, a monthly donor program, a symbolic "adopt-a-shark" program tied to Project Lemon Aid, and merchandise sales (own storefront, Redbubble, limited Shark Crew screen-printed apparel, plus revenue-share partnerships with Creecha Kids, Alohi Kai Jewelry, Stream2Sea, and Fin Pin Shop). Grants come from conservation foundations including the Save Our Seas Foundation, Rock the Ocean, The Sandals Foundation, and DierenPark Amersfoort Wildlife Fund. Educational resources are provided free of charge for non-commercial use, so there is no licensing or per-seat pricing — a deliberate GTM choice that prioritizes reach (267,600+ students across 80 countries and all 50 US states since 2013) over direct monetization. The organization is led by Founder and President Jillian Morris and Co-VP & Media Director Duncan Brake, with operations supported by an 11–50 person team and a network of strategic partners in education, tourism, and conservation.
Sharks4Kids firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sharks4Kids
- Legal name
- Sharks4Kids
- Website
- https://sharks4kids.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sharks4Kids is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free shark science education, STEM curriculum, and virtual or in-person lessons to K-12 students and educators worldwide, anchored by its Project Lemon Aid citizen-science shark tagging program in Turks and Caicos.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sharks4Kids industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Education
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Sharks4Kids is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dania
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sharks4Kids business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting shark conservation and education. Includes one-time donations and monthly donor programs.
- Shark Adoption Program: Virtual shark adoption program where donors can name a lemon shark through a tax-deductible donation, directly supporting Project Lemon Aid research and education.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of educational books including coloring and activity books, story books, apparel through Redbubble and limited-edition Shark Crew screen-printed items, and branded merchandise including pins and accessories.
- Partner Revenue Sharing: Revenue sharing arrangements with partners including Fin Pin Shop (donates portion of proceeds), Alohi Kai Jewelry (15% donation), and Creecha Kids (20% of mug sales), Stream2Sea (discount code partnership).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free educational resources for non-commercial educational use |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Sharks4Kids product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sharks4Kids creates and distributes shark-focused educational materials, curriculum, and conservation programming for K-12 students and educators, including lesson plans, coloring books, fact sheets, and translated resources. The organization delivers in-person school presentations and virtual lessons globally, and runs Project Lemon Aid, a hands-on citizen science program in Turks and Caicos where students participate in juvenile lemon shark tagging, acoustic tracking, and habitat research. It also sells branded merchandise and books, and runs a symbolic Adopt-a-Shark donation program to fund its mission.
Product overview
Sharks4Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates a dynamic range of shark educational materials and experiences for children. The organization operates primarily through its website-based educational platform, offering comprehensive curriculum materials, in-person and virtual shark lessons, and hands-on field research programs like Project Lemon Aid. The product portfolio includes age-appropriate educational content (coloring sheets, activity books, curriculum guides), species-specific resources (shark facts, video series, VR content), community engagement programs (Junior Shark Ambassador), and conservation-focused initiatives (Adopt a Shark). These offerings work together to fulfill the mission of creating the next generation of shark advocates through accessible, engaging marine education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Project Lemon Aid: A community-driven research and education program based in Turks and Caicos focused on studying juvenile lemon sharks, establishing population baselines, and providing hands-on learning experiences for local students.
Products and services
- Shark Educational Curriculum Comprehensive, free shark biology, conservation, and marine ecosystem curriculum for educators, including lesson plans, worksheets, activities, and coloring sheets aligned with educational standards.
- In-Person and Virtual Shark Lessons Interactive shark education presentations delivered either in-person at schools or virtually via video conferencing, connecting students directly with shark scientists and conservation content.
- Junior Shark Ambassador Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 267,600+ students educated about sharks
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sharks4Kids
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sharks4Kids technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sharks4Kids partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- SharktopiamajorCreative partner collaborating on shark merchandise designs and educational content including the Sharks of Florida coloring and activity book and the Sharks and Rays of Turks and Caicos activity book.
- Creecha KidsminorMerchandise partner selling shark-themed mugs with 20% of proceeds donated to Sharks4Kids. Also created FINtastic infographic posters available on the website.
- Stream2SeaminorReef-safe product company offering discount code SHARKS4KIDS for supporters with promotional partnership arrangement.
- Alohi Kai JewelryminorOcean-inspired jewelry designer with 15% of sales donated to Sharks4Kids and 5% discount code SHARKS4K for supporters.
- Fin Pin ShopminorShark pin merchandise partner donating a portion of proceeds to Sharks4Kids education and outreach programs.
- Big Blue CollectivecoreLocal partner in Turks and Caicos providing research vessel access, local knowledge, tide information, and field site logistics for Project Lemon Aid. Co-owner Phillip Shearer and staff have been instrumental in research site scouting, data collection, and community outreach. The partnership enables education-through-adventure approach to shark conservation.
- Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR)coreGovernment partner providing research permits and regulatory support for Project Lemon Aid in Turks and Caicos. All research conducted under DECR permits.
- Ministry of Education Turks and CaicoscoreOfficial government education partner providing hands-on learning opportunities for local students through Project Lemon Aid. Minister of Education has praised the collaboration for bridging classroom theory with real-world environmental stewardship applications.
- Edward C. Gartland Youth CentrecoreLocal youth organization partner providing opportunities for young people to participate in shark research and education activities in Turks and Caicos.
- Grace Bay Car RentalsminorLocal Turks and Caicos business providing transportation support for Project Lemon Aid operations.
- Turks Caicos Reef FundminorLocal marine conservation organization supporting reef and marine life protection in Turks and Caicos.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sharks4Kids competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ocean Conservancy: Major U.S. ocean conservation nonprofit operating large-scale public engagement and education campaigns (e.g., Trash Free Seas, International Coastal Cleanup). Overlapping marine education mission at substantially larger scale.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Established marine wildlife conservation nonprofit running public education, advocacy, and volunteer engagement programs. Comparable in marine wildlife conservation mission and donation-supported education outreach, at much larger scale.
- Shedd Aquarium: Major Chicago aquarium with longstanding K-12 marine science education programs and conservation research. Comparable in classroom-facing marine education for students and teachers, at larger institution scale.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: Large public aquarium running extensive K-12 ocean education programs and citizen-science initiatives (e.g., Seafood Watch). Directly comparable in marine science education for students and educators, at much greater scale.
Direct peers
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF): Nonprofit that trains volunteer citizen scientists to survey reef fish worldwide, with K-12 educational resources. Closest operational parallel: marine citizen-science education nonprofit producing research output while teaching students and the public.
- Save Our Seas Foundation: Marine conservation grantmaker and program operator focused on sharks, rays, and ocean education — also an active Sharks4Kids funder. Highly comparable mission and shark-specific research + education portfolio.
- 4ocean: For-profit marine conservation company that funds ocean cleanup through consumer product sales and pull-tab bracelets. Comparable hybrid model combining donations, merchandise, and brand-led marine advocacy for a global supporter base.
- PADI AWARE Foundation: Marine conservation nonprofit operating global citizen-science programs (e.g., Dive Against Debris, shark & ray tracking) tied to a recreational community. Comparable marine citizen-science + education focus with community-driven field engagement.
Emerging players
- Coral Restoration Foundation: Nonprofit that runs hands-on coral restoration volunteer/tourist trips and K-12 education programs. Comparable niche-marine nonprofit combining citizen-science field experiences with educational outreach.
- Sea Education Association: Nonprofit ocean education organization offering shipboard and field research programs for high school and college students. Comparable student-focused experiential marine science education model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sharks4Kids social profiles
Digital presenceSharks4Kids compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sharks4Kids financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sharks4Kids leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sharks4Kids funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sharks4Kids 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 Sharks4Kids
What does Sharks4Kids do?
Sharks4Kids creates and distributes shark-focused educational materials, curriculum, and conservation programming for K-12 students and educators, including lesson plans, coloring books, fact sheets, and translated resources. The organization delivers in-person school presentations and virtual lessons globally, and runs Project Lemon Aid, a hands-on citizen science program in Turks and Caicos where students participate in juvenile lemon shark tagging, acoustic tracking, and habitat research. It also sells branded merchandise and books, and runs a symbolic Adopt-a-Shark donation program to fund its mission.
Is Sharks4Kids a public or private company?
Sharks4Kids is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sharks4Kids founded?
Sharks4Kids was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sharks4Kids based?
Sharks4Kids is headquartered in Dania, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sharks4Kids make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are shark Adoption Program, merchandise Sales and partner Revenue Sharing.
Who are Sharks4Kids's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ocean Conservancy, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Shedd Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Direct peers are Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), Save Our Seas Foundation, 4ocean and PADI AWARE Foundation. Emerging players are Coral Restoration Foundation and Sea Education Association.
Does Sharks4Kids have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sharks4Kids.
What industry is Sharks4Kids in?
Sharks4Kids's product category is Marine Conservation Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8200.