Marine Mammal Foundation

What Marine Mammal Foundation does

The Marine Mammal Foundation (MMF) is a small Australian not-for-profit scientific and education organization founded in 2013 by Dr Kate Robb and headquartered in Hampton East, Victoria (Melbourne). Its work centers on the conservation of marine mammals, with a particular scientific focus on the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin, a species Dr Robb discovered and formally described in 2011. The foundation's core technology is a non-invasive dorsal fin identification methodology that uses unique markings on individual Burrunan dolphins as biological fingerprints to track populations through space and time and to identify social associations, applied across two identified populations in Port Phillip Bay and Gippsland Lakes.

MMF's product and program portfolio spans three areas: applied scientific research (Project Burrunan and citizen science initiatives such as Burrunan Watch and the trakmm sighting log), education (school, community, workplace, and the online Splash Science course), and conservation (marine litter projects, Burrunan dolphin listing under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, and vessel approach regulations). Underpinning programs are volunteer-led engagement vehicles including the Lakes Champions and Marine Champions programs.

The foundation operates as a registered ACNC charity and Deductible Gift Recipient entity (ABN 92 164 506 745) with a hybrid direct-to-consumer revenue model. Revenue streams include tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsorship packages, e-commerce merchandise sales (Dorsal Designs apparel, Designer Whale Tail line, Eco Products, Marine Mammal Pins, mugs, bags), recurring membership subscriptions (A$25/year individual, A$50/year family), and recurring adoption subscriptions (A$120/year dolphin, A$85/year seal), supplemented by grants from government (Victorian State Government) and philanthropic funders (Avangrid Foundation). Distribution occurs through the organization's own e-commerce storefront, direct adoption/membership signups, and channel partnerships with local councils for education delivery in Victoria.

Name

Marine Mammal Foundation

Legal name

Marine Mammal Foundation

Website

https://marinemammal.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Marine Mammal Foundation is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit conducting applied scientific research, education, and conservation programs focused on marine mammals, particularly the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin. It serves individual donors, schools, corporate partners, and Victorian communities through donations, memberships, adoptions, merchandise, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Marine mammal conservation
• Wildlife research
• Environmental education
• Citizen science programs
• Conservation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and sponsorship packages from organizations supporting marine conservation efforts.
2. E-commerce Shop: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, eco-products, and marine mammal-themed items. Profits support research, education and conservation.
3. Adoption Programs: Annual subscription programs for adopting dolphins (A$120/year) and seals (A$85/year), providing ongoing support for marine mammal research.
4. Membership Program: Individual memberships from A$25/year and family memberships from A$50/year, providing voting membership rights and member benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Marine Mammal Foundation is a not-for-profit scientific and education organization that conducts applied scientific research on marine mammals (notably the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin), delivers school, community and workplace education programs, and implements conservation initiatives across Victoria, Australia. It funds its work through tax-deductible donations, sponsorship packages, animal adoption programs (dolphins and seals), memberships, branded merchandise sales, and grants.

Product overview

The Marine Mammal Foundation is a not-for-profit scientific and education organization offering a portfolio of conservation programs, education services, and branded merchandise. Its core programs include Research (Project Burrunan, fin identification studies), Education (school, community, and workplace programs), and Conservation initiatives. The foundation operates an e-commerce shop selling marine mammal-themed merchandise including apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts), accessories (pins, caps, beanies, reusable bags, eco-products), and mugs featuring dolphin, whale, and seal designs. Additionally, the foundation offers membership programs and animal adoption programs as ways for supporters to contribute to conservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Burrunan: Citizen science program focused on Burrunan dolphin research and conservation through fin identification
• Lakes Champions
• Marine Champions
• Splash Science

Products and services

• Adopt a Dolphin

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zoos VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor supporter and conservation partner working with MMF on marine mammal research and education initiatives.
• Museums VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and educational partner supporting MMF's scientific programs and exhibitions.
• Parks VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in conservation efforts including information signage at Point Nepean National Park featuring local marine mammal species.
• Monash UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner supporting MMF's scientific studies on marine mammals.
• Deakin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner supporting MMF's scientific studies on marine mammals.
• GeelongPortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort operator supporting MMF's marine conservation efforts.
• CoastcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal conservation partner supporting marine environment protection initiatives.
• Life Saving VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeach safety organization partner in community education programs.
• Kingston City CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDelivers Dolphin Discovery and Dolphin Detectives wildlife education programs for children in the Kingston municipality.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zoos Victoria: Conservation and education organisation running applied wildlife research, school/community education programs, and membership-based supporter engagement in Victoria. Already a named MMF partner, and directly comparable in delivery model and geography.
• Wildlife Victoria: Victorian not-for-profit focused on wildlife rescue, conservation, and community education. Comparable small-team NFP model, Victoria-only geography, and education+volunteer engagement programs.
• Dolphin Research Institute: Australian not-for-profit focused on dolphin and marine mammal research, education, and conservation, with overlapping citizen science, school education, and membership/adoption-style supporter programs. Highly comparable by mission, geography (Victoria/Australia), and small-NFP operating model.
• Sea Shepherd Australia: Australian marine wildlife conservation organisation focused on cetacean and pinniped protection, with advocacy, education, and supporter-funded operating model. Comparable mission, donor demographic, and Australian operations, though heavier on direct-action advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Larger Australian marine-focused advocacy and conservation charity, working on policy, education, and species protection. Comparable mission and donor-base overlap with MMF but at materially greater scale and broader policy scope (reefs, fisheries, climate).
• Taronga Conservation Society Australia: Large Australian zoo-based conservation charity combining wildlife research, education programs, breeding, and a membership/donation revenue model. Comparable on education, conservation science, and supporter model, but with far larger institutional footprint.
• The Nature Conservancy Australia: Global conservation organisation's Australian arm, active in marine and coastal conservation science, policy, and partnerships. Comparable on conservation science mission and partner-driven model, though operating at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio.
• WWF-Australia: Major international conservation NGO's Australian arm, active in marine and species conservation, education, and advocacy with a large recurring donor base. Overlaps MMF on species protection and donor-base, but operates at a far larger national scale.

Emerging players

• Reef Life Survey: Australia-based citizen science program that trains volunteer divers to survey marine biodiversity, including marine mammals and large fauna. Comparable on citizen-science methodology and marine-data generation, but operates at a broader reef ecosystem level.

Regional players

• Conservation Volunteers Australia: Australian hands-on conservation volunteering and education organisation, including coastal and marine programs. Comparable on volunteer-driven engagement and education delivery, though its geographic footprint extends well beyond Victoria.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MarineMammalFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/marinemammalfoundation
• Xx.com/MarineMammal_au
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marine-mammal-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Marine Mammal Foundation