What Turtle Survival Alliance does

Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, with its operational core at the AZA-accredited Turtle Survival Center in Cross, South Carolina, a 51-acre facility housing more than 800 animals representing 27 critically endangered turtle and tortoise species. The organization runs field conservation programs in 15 to 30 countries across the Americas, Africa, and Asia, supported by a Conservation Genetics program (including the Atlas of Turtle Genomes for Conservation), a long-running Volunteer Science citizen-science monitoring program with 19 active study sites, and the AZA SAFE American Turtle Program covering five imperiled North American species. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees with an 18-member Board of Directors, led by President & CEO Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, COO Jeff Travers, and CDO Samantha Nottingham.

The organization's revenue model is donation-driven and diversified across individual memberships ($50-$250 tiers), a four-tier Corporate Partnership program ($5,000-$50,000+), one-time and recurring online giving, planned giving and bequests, e-commerce merchandise sales, and event-based fundraising anchored by the registered trademark Drink Beer. Save Turtles.® and the annual Turtle Month/World Turtle Day® campaigns. Distribution and engagement run through a WordPress website, an email list of 13,119 subscribers, social channels totaling 146,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, the annual Turtle Survival magazine (4,000 readers), a Virtual Outreach Experience for classrooms and civic groups, and the Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles co-hosted with the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.

Name

Turtle Survival Alliance

Legal name

Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation

Website

https://turtlesurvival.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Turtle Survival Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and restores wild tortoise and freshwater turtle populations through an AZA-accredited captive breeding center, field programs in 30+ countries, conservation genetics, citizen-science monitoring, and corporate and individual fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Turtle conservation
• Wildlife preservation
• Endangered species
• Conservation breeding
• Habitat protection

Headquarters

HQ city

North Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership: Recurring and one-time donations from individual supporters. Membership tiers at $50-250 annually provide exclusive benefits, merchandise discounts, and magazines.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor at $5,000-$50,000+ levels for branding, employee engagement, event access, and conservation impact recognition.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling World Turtle Day t-shirts, pins, and other conservation merchandise with proceeds supporting turtle conservation.
4. Event Revenue: Drink Beer Save Turtles events at breweries and venues raise funds through special beer sales, merchandise, and donations.
5. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests, IRA charitable gifts, and beneficiary designations through wills and retirement accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Turtle Survival Alliance operates the AZA-accredited Turtle Survival Center in Cross, South Carolina, which houses more than 800 animals across 27 critically endangered turtle and tortoise species as assurance colonies and a genetic bank. The organization runs science-based conservation projects in 30+ countries, a Conservation Genetics program including the Atlas of Turtle Genomes for Conservation, a Volunteer Science citizen-scientist monitoring program at 19 active study sites, and co-manages the AZA SAFE American Turtle Program with Association of Zoos and Aquariums partner institutions. Supporting offerings include the Annual Symposium with the IUCN SSC TFTSG, a week-long Chelonian Biology course, Virtual Outreach presentations, the Drink Beer. Save Turtles.® fundraiser series, and a tiered Membership and Corporate Partnership program.

Product overview

Turtle Survival Alliance is a global conservation nonprofit organization (501(c)(3), EIN 20-0785702) formed in 2001 with a mission to protect and restore wild turtle populations through science-based conservation. The organization's core offerings center on the Turtle Survival Center in Cross, South Carolina—an AZA-accredited facility housing 800+ animals across 27 critically endangered species—supplemented by global conservation projects in 15-30 countries, the Conservation Genetics program, the Volunteer Science citizen-scientist monitoring program, and the AZA SAFE American Turtle Program. Education and engagement offerings include the Virtual Outreach Experience, Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles, the Chelonian Biology course, Turtle Month/World Turtle Day celebrations, and the Drink Beer. Save Turtles.® fundraising initiative. Revenue generation relies on donations, memberships at three tiers ($50-$250), corporate partnerships ($5,000-$50,000+), and merchandise sales. The Species Finder and Turtles in Trouble publications provide conservation resource and awareness materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ headstarted Central American River Turtles released into wild in Belize
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner15+ year partnership on Hicatee (Central American River Turtle) conservation. Established Hicatee Conservation & Research Center in 2011. Combined captive breeding and headstarting with field research, reintroduction, and community education. Over 1,000 headstarted turtles released. Secured 30,000 acres including important habitat.
• IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual co-host of the Symposium on Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Joint Behler and Pritchard Turtle Conservation Awards program recognizing outstanding contributions to turtle conservation globally.
• Guadalajara ZooflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for 2026 24th Annual Symposium in Guadalajara, Mexico - the first internationally-held symposium. Provided venue, behind-the-scenes tours, and logistical coordination for 120+ presentations from 22 countries.
• Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical GardensflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor for 2027 25th Annual Symposium in Jacksonville, Florida. Will co-host the milestone 25th anniversary event.
• Zoo New EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Belize conservation plan development for the critically endangered Central American River Turtle.
• WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Colombia Magdalena River Turtle conservation; protects nesting beaches, performs surveys, releases 16,000+ hatchlings. Also partner on Cambodia Asian Giant Softshell Turtle conservation with nesting surveys and community engagement.
• Turtle ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Behler and Pritchard Turtle Conservation Awards. Partner on Palawan Forest Turtle conservation in Philippines through secured habitats and breeding programs.
• Turtle Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Behler and Pritchard Turtle Conservation Awards. Supports turtle conservation initiatives globally.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Volunteer Science program with 19 active study sites for long-term turtle population monitoring across Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Bog Turtle research and conservation efforts and Flattened Musk Turtle assurance colony establishment at Turtle Survival Center.
• AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurtle Survival Center is an AZA Accredited Related Facility. TSA co-manages AZA SAFE: American Turtle Program focusing on Blanding's Turtles, Bog Turtles, North American box turtles, Spotted Turtles, and North American Wood Turtles.
• Turtle Survival CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSA-operated facility in Cross, South Carolina housing 800+ animals representing 27 critically endangered species. Hosts Turtle School, internships, and serves as genetic bank for species prevention of extinctions.
• Re:wildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Turtles in Trouble report publication. Co-presenter of Behler Turtle Conservation Award supporting conservation of world's most endangered turtles.
• Chelonian Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Behler Turtle Conservation Award. Supports turtle conservation research and publication of Turtles in Trouble report.
• University of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Volunteer Science program conducting long-term turtle population monitoring research.
• Creative Conservation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Black Softshell Turtle conservation in Bangladesh and Myanmar, including nest detection and egg incubation at shrine locations.
• American Tortoise RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that created World Turtle Day in 1990. TSA celebrates World Turtle Day as part of annual Turtle Month in May.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Large, established global conservation NGO operating across biodiversity, oceans, and climate. Comparable donor and corporate-partnership channels and similar 501(c)(3) structure, but much larger scope and budget than turtle-specialized TSA.
• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): Long-established international conservation NGO working on threatened species and habitats across 40+ countries. Comparable member-driven funding model and species-recovery program structure, with overlapping geographies (Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia).

Direct peers

• Rainforest Trust: Conservation nonprofit that purchases and protects threatened habitats globally, including in turtle range countries. Comparable donation-driven model, membership tiers, and global program portfolio — though broader taxonomically than TSA.
• Chelonian Research Foundation: Scientific research foundation dedicated to turtle and tortoise biology and conservation; co-presents the Behler Award and co-produces Turtles in Trouble. Strong peer overlap in scientific publications and conservation taxonomy work.
• American Tortoise Rescue: U.S. nonprofit that originated World Turtle Day in 1990 and partners with TSA on Turtle Month. Focuses on rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of tortoises and turtles; highly comparable audience and donor base.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Global wildlife conservation nonprofit and active TSA partner on the Colombia Magdalena River Turtle and Cambodia Asian Giant Softshell Turtle programs. Both organizations run species-specific field conservation, zoo-based breeding, and government partnerships; TSA is smaller and turtle-focused while WCS operates broadly across taxa.
• Turtle Conservancy: U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to turtle and tortoise protection; co-presents the Behler Turtle Conservation Award with TSA and partners on Palawan Forest Turtle conservation. Operates its own conservation reserves and breeding programs, making it the closest taxonomic peer.
• Turtle Conservation Fund: International fundraising and grantmaking entity dedicated to freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation; co-presents the Behler Turtle Conservation Award with TSA. Comparable donor-mobilization and grant-allocation model focused on the same taxonomic niche.
• Re:wild: Global species-conservation nonprofit (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation); co-published the Turtles in Trouble report with TSA and co-presents the Behler Award. Highly comparable mission, advocacy focus, and species-recovery program structure.

Others

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): Accrediting body and conservation program operator that accredits TSA's Turtle Survival Center and co-manages the SAFE: American Turtle Program. Not a competitor but a critical enabler and ecosystem participant for TSA's captive-breeding and species-survival work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/turtlesurvival
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/turtlesurvival
• Facebookfacebook.com/TurtleSurvival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turtle-survival-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/turtlesurvival
• TikToktiktok.com/@turtlesurvival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Turtle Survival Alliance