Aquarium Conservation Partnership

What Aquarium Conservation Partnership does

The Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) is a U.S. nonprofit coalition of AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos founded in 2016 and headquartered at 866 Cannery Row, Monterey, California, where it operates as a 501(c)(3) fiscal project of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The coalition comprises 35 member institutions across 23 states that collectively welcome over 40 million visitors per year, with a small core staff of approximately 6–7 people led by Executive Director Kim McIntyre. ACP's stated mission is to safeguard ocean and freshwater ecosystems by aligning the conservation efforts of member aquariums for greater collective impact, with priority areas spanning equity and environmental justice, climate change, wildlife and ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and plastic pollution reduction.

ACP's core "products" are programmatic and coalition platforms rather than traditional software: the ACP Coalition Platform, a password-protected Member Portal for institutional resources, the ACP Campaigns Platform hosting initiatives such as Vote for the Ocean, From Creeks to Coasts, Energize for the Ocean, and No Time to Waste, the ACP Climate Commitment and related VPPA initiative, a public Plastic Dashboard developed with Verdis Group, and the trademarked Peter Benchley Ocean Awards program, co-hosted annually with Wendy Benchley and David Helvarg. Technical assets are limited to Squarespace-hosted campaign microsites, NOAA OA StoryMaps, and IMLS-funded greenhouse gas inventory tooling; ACP does not develop proprietary technology. The coalition generated a $661K IMLS Leadership Grant in 2023 and a $350K NOAA Marine Debris Program grant in 2025, executed a five-year MOU with NOAA in June 2024, onboarded SSA Group as its first corporate member in September 2024, and launched the inaugural ACP Policy Fellowship Program in 2026 alongside its 10th anniversary.

ACP's revenue model is multi-stream and institutional: recurring membership dues from 35 AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos, federal and foundation grants (NOAA, IMLS) supporting specific conservation and capacity-building programs, corporate membership and sponsorship revenue (anchored by SSA Group and Peter Benchley Awards sponsors), and product partnership royalties from co-branded merchandise such as the Wild Republic Great White Shark plush. Its go-to-market is community-led, mobilizing member institutions as trusted public-facing distribution channels and convening high-profile events including Capitol Hill Ocean Week and the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards to drive policy advocacy, public engagement, and behavioral change campaigns.

Name

Aquarium Conservation Partnership

Legal name

Aquarium Conservation Partnership

Website

https://aquariumconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aquarium Conservation Partnership is a U.S. nonprofit coalition of 35 AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos aligning collective conservation action on ocean and freshwater ecosystems through shared advocacy, sustainability commitments, and public campaigns reaching 40+ million visitors annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Coalition Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Agencies (BPAIAOAM)

Keywords

• Conservation coalition
• Aquarium advocacy
• Marine conservation
• Plastic pollution reduction
• Policy fellowship

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ACP operates as a coalition of aquariums and zoos; member institutions pay dues to participate. The organization is fiscally sponsored by Monterey Bay Aquarium.
2. Federal and Foundation Grants: ACP receives federal grants from agencies including NOAA Marine Debris Program and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). These grants fund specific conservation programs, public engagement campaigns, and operational capacity-building initiatives.
3. Corporate Membership and Sponsorship: SSA Group became ACP's first corporate member in September 2024. Corporate members contribute financially and align their sustainability operations with ACP's conservation commitments. Sponsors also support the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards.
4. Product Partnership Revenue (Co-branded Products): ACP partners with companies like Wild Republic on co-branded products (e.g., Great White Shark plush from recycled materials), with a portion of proceeds supporting ACP's conservation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ACP is a nonprofit coalition that aligns 35 AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos to deliver coordinated conservation advocacy, shared sustainability commitments, and large-scale public engagement campaigns addressing climate change, plastic pollution, wildlife protection, fisheries sustainability, and environmental justice. Its core offerings include coalition coordination services, federal policy advocacy, joint sustainability program management (plastic reduction dashboards, GHG inventories, VPPA renewable energy), and curated public-facing campaigns.

Product overview

The Aquarium Conservation Partnership is a coalition platform operated by 33+ AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos in the United States, focused on increasing collective conservation impact for ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The core platform encompasses advocacy resources, campaign management tools, and member coordination services. Key product modules include the Member Portal for institutional access to resources and work groups, the Campaigns Platform hosting initiatives like Vote for the Ocean and From Creeks to Coasts, the ACP Policy Fellowship Program for multigenerational advocacy training, the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards program for recognizing conservation excellence, and the ACP Climate Commitment for carbon neutrality coordination. The organization also produces the Tidings news section and maintains partnerships with NOAA, Verdis Group, and SSA Group for grant-funded initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peter Benchley Ocean Awards: Prestigious annual ocean conservation awards, often referred to as the 'Academy Awards for the Ocean', recognizing individuals providing innovative solutions to ocean challenges.
• ACP Policy Fellowship Program
• From Creeks to Coasts
• Energize for the Ocean
• Vote for the Ocean
• No Time to Waste

Products and services

• ACP Coalition Platform A coalition platform uniting 35 AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos across 23 U.S. states to deliver coordinated conservation advocacy, policy tools, campaign management, and public engagement for ocean and freshwater conservation.
• ACP Climate Commitment A joint member commitment program to carbon neutrality and greenhouse gas emission reduction across member aquariums and zoos, supported by VPPA renewable energy procurement and an IMLS-funded industry-wide GHG inventory tool.
• Plastic Reduction Dashboard A public-facing sustainability dashboard, developed with Verdis Group, that tracks and communicates ACP member institutions' collective progress toward single-use plastic reduction goals.
• ACP Policy Fellowship Program A multigenerational policy fellowship program building ACP Ambassadors who enhance advocacy efforts for ocean and freshwater conservation through mentorship, guidance, and learning opportunities.
• Peter Benchley Ocean Awards An annual awards program recognizing individuals and organizations providing innovative solutions to ocean conservation challenges, often referred to as the 'Academy Awards for the Ocean.'
• ACP Public Engagement Campaigns A portfolio of public engagement campaigns including Vote for the Ocean, From Creeks to Coasts, Energize for the Ocean, and No Time to Waste, addressing plastic pollution, climate action, and ocean conservation through 35 member aquariums and zoos.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• SSA GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 September 2024SSA Group, a leading hospitality partner to zoos, aquariums, and museums, was named ACP's first corporate member in September 2024. SSA reaches 100+ million guests annually through food service, retail, and guest services at nearly 100 cultural attractions. As a corporate member, SSA aligns its sustainability operations with ACP's conservation commitments and supports collective climate action, including participation in the VPPA initiative.
• Wild RepublicsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 September 2024ACP partnered with Wild Republic to launch a co-branded Great White Shark plush made entirely from recycled materials. The plush is sold through aquarium gift shops, Wild Republic's online store, and select retailers. A portion of proceeds supports ACP's conservation initiatives including plastic reduction and marine species protection.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2024ACP and NOAA signed a five-year MOU during Capitol Hill Ocean Week (June 2024) to advance the America the Beautiful initiative through community engagement, education, research, and locally led conservation. The partnership, initiated in 2022, includes joint development of a national action plan to elevate Indigenous and historically excluded communities in decision-making, inspire and mobilize audiences through public engagement, and inform marine protected area designation and monitoring.
• Verdis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerdis Group, a certified B Corporation specializing in sustainability and climate action planning, partnered with ACP to develop a public-facing plastic dashboard that tracks and communicates member institutions' progress toward single-use plastic reduction goals. Verdis also provides expert guidance on the VPPA climate initiative, supporting GHG inventory and climate strategy.
• OA AlliancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerACP collaborates with the OA Alliance and NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program on the 'Exploring Our Changing Ocean' communications project, advancing regional education about ocean acidification impacts and responses across the U.S. through shared storymaps and educational content.
• ERM CohosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerERM Coho, a global climate adviser, provides expert technical guidance and project assessments for ACP's Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) initiative, which enables ACP member institutions to collectively procure renewable energy and reduce Scope 2 emissions.
• National AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Aquarium in Baltimore hosted the 2025 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards and serves on the awards selection committee. ACP and National Aquarium collaborate on policy advocacy, ocean justice, and conservation campaigns.
• Roger Arliner Young (RAY) FellowshipminorOthersACP participates in the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Conservation Fellowship Program. Bianca Santos served as ACP's inaugural RAY Fellow in 2022 before joining as Communications Coordinator, demonstrating ACP's commitment to developing diverse conservation leadership talent.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• 5 Gyres: A nonprofit focused on plastic pollution research and policy advocacy, including campaigns for a Global Plastics Treaty. Directly comparable to ACP's No Time to Waste and From Creeks to Coasts campaigns and shares federal grant and corporate partnership dynamics in the marine debris space.
• Surfrider Foundation: A grassroots-driven marine and coastal conservation nonprofit focused on plastic pollution reduction, beach protection, and water quality. Overlaps with ACP on plastic reduction campaigns (No Time to Waste, From Creeks to Coasts) and policy advocacy but operates through volunteer chapters rather than institutional members.

Broad incumbents

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Monterey Bay Aquarium is ACP's fiscal sponsor and the originating institution; it runs its own substantial conservation, seafood-sustainability (Seafood Watch), and public engagement programs. As ACP's parent, it is the closest large-incumbent peer with overlapping ocean conservation missions and member-style coalition models.
• Conservation International: A large global conservation NGO focused on biodiversity, ocean protection, and climate with significant corporate and government partnerships. Comparable to ACP in coalition-building around ocean policy and grant-funded program delivery.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): A global conservation organization with major U.S. presence running policy advocacy, corporate partnerships, and public campaigns on ocean and freshwater ecosystems. Comparable to ACP in mission scope, federal grant access, and corporate member engagement.
• National Wildlife Federation: One of the largest U.S. environmental advocacy nonprofits, running public campaigns, federal policy advocacy, and member/donor mobilization. Operates a broader wildlife and habitat mandate than ACP but shares the coalition, advocacy, and grant-funded model.

Regional players

• Earthjustice: A nonprofit environmental law organization that litigates and advocates on behalf of ocean, wildlife, and climate issues. ACP engages Earthjustice-adjacent policy levers through coalition advocacy; the two often appear together on marine protection campaigns and federal rulemaking comments.

Direct peers

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): AZA is the accreditation body for all of ACP's member institutions and serves as an ex-officio ACP member. It operates a parallel coalition model for accredited zoos and aquariums focused on conservation, education, and animal welfare standards, making it the closest institutional peer.
• Ocean Conservancy: Ocean Conservancy is a leading marine conservation nonprofit running large-scale public campaigns (e.g., International Coastal Cleanup) and federal policy advocacy on ocean health, plastic pollution, and climate. ACP operates in the same advocacy and campaign space for marine issues with similar policy levers and corporate partner engagement.
• SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund: A conservation grantmaking and public engagement organization affiliated with for-profit aquarium/theme park operators. Comparable in channeling aquarium-affiliated resources to wildlife conservation causes and building public campaigns around species and habitat protection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquarium-conservation-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Aquarium Conservation Partnership