Gulf of America Alliance

What Gulf of America Alliance does

The Gulf of America Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, that serves as the federally designated Regional Ocean Partnership for the Gulf of America. Originally named the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and rebranded in March 2025, the Alliance coordinates environmental and economic health initiatives across the five Gulf states — Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas — through a network of more than 165 participating organizations and 1,100 members drawn from state and federal agencies, local communities, academia, NGOs, and industry. Operations are organized around nine Priority Issue Teams (including Coastal Community Resilience, Habitat Resources, Water Resources, Wildlife & Fisheries, Marine Debris, and Data & Monitoring) plus Cross-Team Initiatives that execute the Governors' Action Plan IV (2021-2026) strategic framework.

The Alliance operates a portfolio of programs and digital tools rather than commercial products. The Gulf Star Program is a public-private partnership that pools federal and private funding to support small communities and conservation projects; the Gulf Online Mapping Open Data Platform (GOMOD) and the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker (covering 1,990+ restoration projects) provide regional data infrastructure, supplemented by tools such as Storm Smart, Gulf TREE, the Northern Gulf Sediment Availability and Allocation Program Tool, and the Gulf Coast Monitoring and Assessment Portal. Educational and convening assets include the annual GulfCon conference (1,000+ attendees in 2026), the All Hands Meeting (457 attendees in 2025), and recurring webinar series including the Tropicalization of Gulf Coast Habitats program.

Revenue is generated through federal grants (NOAA, EPA, USFWS, USGS), corporate contributions via the Gulf Star Program (energy sector partners including Chevron, Shell, CITGO, Williams, Sempra Infrastructure), tax-deductible donations (501(c)(3) status, EIN 27-2968791), and modest conference registration fees ($175-$200 per attendee). In 2025 the Alliance secured $6.8M in new funding and managed $22M+ across 69 active projects — described internally as the largest single-year portfolio in its history. The organization is governed jointly by the five Gulf state governors and operates with a headquarters staff of 11-50 employees, with a Charity Navigator 100/100 rating.

Name

Gulf of America Alliance

Legal name

Gulf of America Alliance

Website

https://gulfofamericaalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Gulf of America Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Regional Ocean Partnership coordinating environmental and economic health initiatives across five Gulf states through 165+ partner organizations, federal grants, public-private partnerships, and regional data platforms serving agencies, academia, NGOs, industry, and coastal communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Ocean Partnership and Coastal Environmental Coordination

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Regional ocean partnership
• Coastal environmental collaboration
• Gulf restoration funding
• Marine debris removal
• Coastal community resilience

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocean Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: The alliance receives significant funding from federal agencies including NOAA and EPA for specific environmental projects. Recent grants include $1.96 million from NOAA (November 2025) for eight ecosystem projects, and nearly $2 million from EPA (November 2025) for nutrient pollution reduction.
2. Gulf Star Program (Public-Private Partnership): The Gulf Star Program leverages contributions from agencies and businesses to address Gulf regional priorities. In 2025, the alliance secured $6 million in new federal funding and $800,000 in private funding through this program.
3. Donations: The alliance accepts tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-2968791), with donation options of $25, $50, $100 or other amounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Gulf of America Alliance coordinates environmental and economic restoration across the five U.S. Gulf states through a federally designated Regional Ocean Partnership. It operates collaborative programs such as the Gulf Star public-private funding program and the annual GulfCon conference, and maintains regional data and decision-support platforms including the Gulf Online Mapping Open Data Platform (GOMOD), Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker, Storm Smart, Gulf TREE, and the Gulf Coast Monitoring and Assessment Portal. Its offerings are directed at government agencies, academia, NGOs, industry partners, and coastal communities rather than sold as commercial products.

Product overview

The Gulf of America Alliance is a regional nonprofit organization (formerly Gulf of Mexico Alliance) that serves as the Regional Ocean Partnership for the Gulf, led by the five Gulf states. Rather than a commercial product company, the Alliance operates a suite of collaborative programs and digital tools including the Gulf Star public-private funding partnership program, the annual Gulf Conference (GulfCon), the Gulf Online Mapping Open Data Platform (GOMOD), the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker, and various regional planning tools like Storm Smart and Gulf TREE. These offerings work together to coordinate environmental restoration, data sharing, and community resilience initiatives across the Gulf region through a network of over 165 participating organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gulf Star Program Public-private partnership program that leverages contributions from agencies and businesses to fund environmental projects supporting healthy beaches, clean waters, productive ecosystems, and thriving coastal communities across the five Gulf states.
• Gulf Conference (GulfCon) Annual conference and nation's largest meeting focused on the Gulf region, bringing together coastal scientists and stakeholders for presentations, workshops, and networking on ecosystem and community resilience, restoration, and resource management.
• Gulf Online Mapping Open Data Platform (GOMOD) Regional online mapping and open data platform that supports partner and stakeholder engagement and enhances regional capacity to share and integrate data across the Gulf region.
• Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker Interactive tracking tool for restoration, research, and recovery projects resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
• Storm Smart Coastal resilience tool helping Gulf communities prepare for and respond to storm impacts.
• Gulf TREE Regional tool for Gulf-wide environmental resource management and information sharing.
• Northern Gulf Sediment Availability and Allocation Program (NGSAAP) Tool Tool developed to increase stakeholder access to sediment resource data to improve restoration project planning in the northern Gulf region.
• Gulf Coast Monitoring and Assessment Portal Regional monitoring and assessment data portal supporting coastal management decision-making across the Gulf coast.
• Priority Issue Teams and Cross-Team Initiatives State-led teams focused on specific Gulf priorities that develop and implement collaborative projects across the five Gulf states, covering Coastal Community Resilience, Data & Monitoring, Habitat Resources, Education & Engagement, Water Resources, Wildlife & Fisheries, Human Benefits of Nature, Integrated Planning, and Marine Debris.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of actions in progress or complete as part of Governors' Action Plan IV
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 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

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Alabama PowercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026Alabama Power joined the Gulf Star Program as its first Alabama-based member, becoming the most recent organization to participate in this public-private partnership. As part of the collaboration, Alabama Power is funding a project to expand the Native Plant Producer Network to schools in Mobile and Baldwin counties, providing hands-on STEM opportunities for students while growing native plants for marsh restoration and habitat improvement.
• Sempra InfrastructurecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2025Sempra Infrastructure joined the Gulf Star Program to support scientists and coastal managers working to understand impacts of tropical species moving north along the Gulf coast. The investment helps promote biodiversity, safeguard vital ecosystems, and build more resilient communities.
• WilliamscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2025Williams joined the Gulf Star Program to support improved coastal community resilience planning in five communities across the Gulf Coast. Funding will support hands-on community resilience workshops and provide a robust process for community leaders in each of the five Gulf states to assess vulnerabilities and identify opportunities for improved resilience.
• 1PointFivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Gulf Research ProgramcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner providing funding and research expertise for Gulf restoration and conservation initiatives.
• ShellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• Motiva EnterprisescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• ValerocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• OxycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• Freeport McMoRancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• ChevroncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health. Also sponsors GulfCon 2026 conference.
• Clean Gulf AssociatescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program federal partner and key funder. NOAA provides funding through the Office for Coastal Management and Marine Debris Program, supporting ecosystem projects and abandoned vessel removal.
• CITGO Petroleum CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCITGO joined the Gulf Star Program to support resilience planning and emergency communications equipment for Corpus Christi, Texas. Funded purchase of emergency radios for the city's emergency management team.
• Hess CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• EquinorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGulf Star Program partner contributing to the public-private partnership supporting Gulf Coast environmental and economic health.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal partner providing grant funding through the Gulf of America Division. Recently awarded nearly $2 million to demonstrate innovative approach to reducing nutrient pollution by turning algae into fertilizer for corn and soybean farming.
• Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)coreTechnology or IntegrationSigned updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GCOOS outlining areas of collaboration between the two Gulf-based organizations for data sharing and coastal observation.
• The Five Gulf States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe five Gulf states form the foundation of the Gulf of America Alliance, committing time and resources to its management, including leadership of Priority Issue Teams. The alliance is the Regional Ocean Partnership designated by the governors of these five states.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal partner bringing diverse expertise and established experience to the Alliance for coastal and wildlife management.
• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal partner supporting Gulf Coast restoration efforts and providing resources through the Gulf Coast Monitoring and Assessment Portal.
• Business Advisory Council (BAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil formed by the Alliance in 2012 to strengthen engagement with businesses and industries operating in and around the Gulf region. Includes representatives from tourism, oil and gas, manufacturing, utilities/energy, transportation, commercial/recreational fishing, seafood processing, agriculture, and environmental consulting. Over 60 representatives participate annually.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• West Coast Ocean Alliance: The Pacific Regional Ocean Partnership covering California, Oregon, and Washington. Directly comparable as a fourth federally designated Regional Ocean Partnership using identical legislative authority.
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO): The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Partnership, also federally designated, coordinating coastal and ocean policy across Mid-Atlantic states. Operates with the same statutory framework and convening model as the Gulf of America Alliance.
• Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS): Gulf-based nonprofit regional ocean observing system with which the alliance has an active MOU for data sharing. Directly comparable regional data and observation infrastructure operator covering the same Gulf geography.
• Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC): One of the other three federally designated Regional Ocean Partnerships in the U.S., coordinating marine and coastal issues across Northeast states. Directly comparable as it operates under the same federal statute and authority as the Gulf of America Alliance.
• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council: Federal body established under the RESTORE Act to administer Gulf restoration funding after the Deepwater Horizon spill. Overlapping mandate with the alliance in coordinating Gulf ecosystem restoration and tracking 1,990+ projects in the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Established regional environmental nonprofit focused on watershed restoration and advocacy in the Chesapeake Bay. Comparable operating model and scale for multi-state environmental coordination, though oriented to a different U.S. region.
• Restore America Estuaries: National alliance of coastal habitat restoration organizations. Operates an overlapping convening and federal advocacy function for coastal restoration, though national in scope versus the alliance's regional Gulf focus.
• The Nature Conservancy (Gulf of Mexico Program): Large international environmental nonprofit with significant Gulf of Mexico program focused on coastal resilience, habitat restoration, and marine conservation. Operates adjacent programmatic space with overlapping corporate and federal funding sources.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Federal agency and key alliance funder providing grants through the Office for Coastal Management and Marine Debris Program. Comparable as the federal funder and science authority whose priorities directly shape the alliance's programmatic mandate.

Regional players

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Gulf Research Program: Federally-funded Gulf Research Program that convenes science and funds Gulf-focused research. Partner of the alliance and comparable as a federally-backed entity funding science, restoration, and community resilience in the Gulf region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/gulfalliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/GulfofAmericaAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gulf-of-america-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/gulfofamericaalliance
• Xx.com/GoA_Alliance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gulf of America Alliance