Coastal Connections, Inc

What Coastal Connections, Inc does

Coastal Connections, Inc. (CCinc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Kendra Bergman, headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. The organization focuses on sea turtle conservation across Indian River County, operating as the largest permitted sea turtle rescue group in the region under FWC Marine Turtle Permits #259, #279, and #243, and NMFS Permit #19496. Core operations span four program areas: rescue and research (documenting 250+ sick/injured/dead sea turtles annually and transporting to rehabilitation partners like Brevard Zoo and Loggerhead Marinelife Center), public wildlife experiences (Turtle Digs, Turtle Walks, and week-long Turtle Trips during nesting season), sustainability programs (49 fishing line recycling tubes, WRAP plastic film recycling with 50+ business partners, Beach Baskets, and coastal cleanups), and K-12 STEM education including a new Sea Turtle E.R. high school program.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model including individual donations, Adopt-A-Nest subscriptions, program fees ($20 Turtle Walk deposits), corporate sponsorships, grant funding (Rock the Ocean, Save the Sea Turtle, 1% for the Planet, Sea Turtle License Plate, Indian River Community Foundation), and gift shop sales at the Downtown Vero Beach location. Customer engagement spans eco-tourists, K-12 schools, corporate partners, local residents, and trained volunteers through a community-led GTM motion. Research capabilities include the Florida Turtle Cam Project with FSU and UCF, generating unique underwater footage and behavioral data on loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

The organization operates with 9 core staff and 100+ program volunteers, governed by a 5-member Board of Directors. It holds membership in the Florida Sea Turtle Stranding Network and partners with FDEP for statewide recycling initiatives. Recent strategic activity includes a Downtown Vero Beach relocation (February 2026), a rescue van upgrade with mobile classroom capabilities (2025), and publication of a 5-Year Strategic Plan through 2030.

Name

Coastal Connections, Inc

Legal name

Coastal Connections, Inc

Website

https://coastal-connections.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coastal Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) sea turtle conservation nonprofit founded in 2017 in Vero Beach, Florida. It operates the largest permitted sea turtle rescue program in Indian River County, serving eco-tourists, K-12 students, corporate partners, and local communities through rescue, research, education, and sustainability programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sea Turtle Nesting & Hatchling Tours (regulated night walks) (THAAAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Sea turtle conservation
• Wildlife rescue services
• Marine debris recycling
• Environmental STEM education
• Citizen science research

Headquarters

HQ city

Vero Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting sea turtle conservation. Donation page available through Salsalabs platform.
2. Adopt-A-Nest Program: Package-based adoption program where supporters follow a nest through its two-month incubation. Includes certificate, hatching results, special gift, and VIP access to public Turtle Digs. Available annually December through June.
3. Program Fees: Fees for Turtle Walk experiences ($20 refundable deposit per person) and suggested donations for Turtle Digs. Eco-tourism Turtle Trips (1-week vacations) with registration fees.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual gifts supporting all CCinc events year-round. Corporate sponsors receive prominent advertising spots on event materials, reserved seating, and recognition on website and social media.
5. Corporate Partnerships: WRAP Recycling program partners and community partners who contribute a portion of proceeds from purchases.
6. Grant Funding: Primary funding from grants since founding in 2017. Funding support from organizations including Rock the Ocean, Save the Sea Turtle, 1% for the Planet, Sea Turtle License Plate program, and Indian River Community Foundation.
7. Gift Shop Sales: Office and gift shop sales of merchandise at 1790 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Open Tue/Wed/Thu 10am-4pm, Fri/Sat by appointment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coastal Connections, Inc. is a sea turtle conservation nonprofit operating permitted rescue and stranding response, citizen science research, marine debris sustainability programs, and K-12 STEM education in Indian River County, Florida. The organization sells public eco-tourism experiences (Turtle Walks, Turtle Digs, Turtle Trips), runs free community sustainability programs (Beach Baskets, Coastal Cleanups, Fishing Line Recycling, WRAP Recycling), and partners with universities on the Florida Turtle Cam research project.

Product overview

Coastal Connections, Inc is a sea turtle conservation nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs including public wildlife experiences (Turtle Digs, Turtle Walks, Turtle Trips), direct rescue operations, the Florida Turtle Cam research project with university partners, sustainability initiatives (Beach Baskets, Coastal Cleanups, Fishing Line and WRAP Recycling), and K-12 STEM education programs. The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit rather than a software platform, with supporter engagement through nest adoption, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events (Tipsy Turtle Fun Run, International Coastal Cleanup Day, Shell'ebration).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Turtle Digs Public nest success evaluations where participants learn how scientists collect data on sea turtle nests 3 days after hatchling emergence and may help release any remaining hatchlings. Held July-August in Vero Beach, FL; suggested donation.
• Turtle Walks Nighttime guided experiences during June and July where participants observe nesting loggerhead sea turtles, learn about Florida sea turtles, and practice proper observation procedures. $20 refundable reservation deposit per person.
• Turtle Trips One-week eco-volunteer vacations supporting sea turtle conservation, including guided itinerary with dining, hiking, boating, birding, VIP rehabilitation tour, and Turtle Walk. Spaces very limited.
• Sea Turtle Rescue Services Permitted sea turtle rescue response operating under FWC Marine Turtle Permits #259 and #279, documenting over 250 sick, injured, exhausted, and dead sea turtles annually and transporting them to rehabilitation partners such as East Coast Zoological Foundation and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
• Florida Turtle Cam Project Collaborative research project using animal-borne camera systems deployed on loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles in partnership with FSU and UCF Marine Turtle Research Groups to study underwater behaviors and threats.
• Beach Baskets Free lending basket system at public and private beach access points across Florida that allows beachgoers to collect debris while visiting the beach, with an interactive map showing 5 stations.
• Coastal Cleanups Beach and waterway cleanup events including monthly Sunrise at Sexton cleanups, quarterly community cleanups (approximately 100 lbs of debris each), and private cleanup events for service groups or businesses.
• Fishing Line Recycling Monofilament recovery and recycling program with collection tubes at beach accesses, jetties, boat ramps, and piers along the ocean and Indian River Lagoon, with 49 tubes total across Indian River County.
• WRAP Recycling Free recycling service for single-use soft plastic film waste (bags, shrink wrap, pallet wrap, packaging) for local businesses, operating as an extension of the FDEP WRAP initiative. Materials are diverted to Trex for transformation into outdoor decking, furniture, and playground equipment.
• Career-Based STEM School Programs Hands-on STEM education programs for grades K-12 translating real CCinc conservation programs into immersive learning opportunities, including Simply Sea Turtles, Sea Turtle Biologist-in-Training, Survive and Thrive, The Debris Near Me, and Sea Turtle E.R.
• Guest Speaker Presentations Guest speaker services for service groups and neighborhood associations covering sea turtle conservation and environmental topics.
• Adopt-A-Nest Sea turtle nest adoption program where supporters follow a nest through its two-month incubation, receiving a certificate, hatching results, special gift, and VIP access to public Turtle Digs. Available December through June annually.
• Corporate Sponsorship Annual corporate gifts supporting all CCinc events year-round. Corporate sponsors receive prominent advertising spots on event materials, reserved seating, and recognition on the website and social media.
• Tipsy Turtle 2 Mile Fun Run Annual Easter weekend 2-mile race along Ocean Drive to kick off sea turtle nesting season, including kids hatchling dash, eco-egg hunt, beverages, raffle items, and local vendors at Jaycee Beach Park.
• International Coastal Cleanup Day Annual September event as local host of International Coastal Cleanup in Indian River County, cleaning up 25 waterfront park locations and contributing debris data to Ocean Conservancy's international database.
• Shell'ebration Gala End-of-season brunch gala celebrating major accomplishments, acknowledging partners and sponsors, and highlighting organizational forward direction and development advancements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Documenting over 250 sick, injured, exhausted, and dead sea turtles annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FSU Marine Turtle Research Ecology and Conservation GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research collaborator on Florida Turtle Cam Project. Provides research equipment, supplies, and funding support to explore underwater life of loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles. CCinc serves as expert science communications partner.
• UCF Marine Turtle Research GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research collaborator on Florida Turtle Cam Project. Academic research partnership exploring underwater behaviors of sea turtles in Florida foraging grounds.
• East Coast Zoological Foundation (Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation partner for rescued sea turtles. Sick and injured sea turtles are transported to their facility for treatment and rehabilitation. Notable rescues include Falafel (loggerhead with flipper amputation) and Liberty (loggerhead entanglement case).
• Loggerhead Marinelife CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation partner for rescued sea turtles. Turtles with bubble butt syndrome and other conditions transported for treatment. Notable rescues include Vader (fishing line injury) and Budapest (buoyancy issues).
• Florida Sea Turtle Stranding Network (STSSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCinc is proud member of the Florida Sea Turtle Stranding Network. Works directly with FWC and multiple permit holders to transport stranded sea turtles to rehabilitation facilities.
• Indian River CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner providing support and collaboration. CCinc contributes to Indian River County's Habitat Conservation Plan for Sea Turtle Protection. Daily nesting surveys May-August.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCinc operates as extension of statewide WRAP (Wrap Recycling Action Program) initiative led by FDEP. Provides educational resources and complimentary recycling removal service.
• Trex CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnd recycling partner that transforms collected WRAP plastic film materials into outdoor decking, furniture, and playground equipment.
• Learning Alliance (Moonshot Moment/Moonshot School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfterschool program partner. CCinc provides educational visits as part of Learning Alliance's Moonshot Moment or Moonshot School programs.
• WRAP Recycling Business Partners (50+ businesses)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal businesses providing complimentary recycling removal service. Includes major partners: Anthony's Ladies Apparel (5,000+ lb), Columbia Sportswear, Dyer Subaru, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store (2,500+ lb), and others including Calvin Klein, Tommy Bahama, J.McLaughlin, Jockey, Lane Bryant, and many more retail locations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Larger-scale marine conservation, rescue, and education organization in Clearwater, FL with a permanent aquarium facility. Overlaps on sea turtle rescue and STEM education but operates at materially larger scale and budget.
• SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund: Marine conservation grant funder supporting sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs nationally. A potential funder and overlap in mission focus with CCinc's rescue and education portfolio.
• The Ocean Conservancy: National marine conservation and policy nonprofit operating the International Coastal Cleanup Day program — the same event CCinc hosts locally. Provides broader-scale funder, advocacy, and debris data infrastructure relevant to CCinc's sustainability programs.

Others

• 1% for the Planet: Global network of which CCinc is a member nonprofit, channeling corporate donations to environmental causes. Functions as a critical funding channel and brand/distribution partner for CCinc's corporate sponsorship pipeline.

Direct peers

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach, FL-based nonprofit permitted for sea turtle research, rescue, and education on the same Florida coastline. Already a CCinc rehabilitation partner and offers a directly overlapping programmatic mix (rescue, education, hatchling releases).
• Brevard Zoo (East Coast Zoological Foundation): Operates the Sea Turtle Healing Center in Melbourne, FL. Already a CCinc rehabilitation partner with overlapping rescue, education, and community outreach programs in the same coastal Florida region.
• Sea Turtle Conservancy: The world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation organization, headquartered in Gainesville, FL. Operates conservation, research, and education programs for sea turtles in Florida and globally — directly comparable mission and revenue model.
• Florida Oceanographic Society: Stuart, FL-based nonprofit on the Treasure Coast adjacent to CCinc's footprint. Operates coastal education, sea turtle monitoring, and lagoon conservation programs with a similar community-and-school-based programming model.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Sarasota, FL-based marine research, conservation, and education nonprofit operating its own Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Comparable combination of research, education, and rehabilitation plus a stronger aquarium-based eco-tourism revenue stream.
• Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: Boca Raton, FL coastal nature center with a permitted sea turtle nesting monitoring program and public hatchling releases. Same operating model combining permitted conservation with community-facing eco-experiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coastalconnectionsinc.6926
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoastalConnectionsInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-connections-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastalconnections_inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Coastal Connections, Inc