Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI)

What Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) does

Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit marine conservation organization established in 2019 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was spun off from Coral World Ocean Park to access funding and donation channels unavailable to its predecessor. CWORI operates four core programs: Coral Reef Conservation (including the 2023-launched Coral Genetic Rescue Propagation Ark with six advanced life support systems for gene-banking and both asexual and sexual coral propagation), Sargassum Research (drone-based quantification of brown algae influxes and assessment of nearshore habitat impacts), Education & Outreach (undergraduate and graduate internships and school group visits to land-based coral nurseries), and Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation (sea turtle and bird treatment with diagnostic imaging, medical-grade wound therapy, and emergency first response).

The organization relies on a specialized team of 8, including a Conservation Manager (Logan Williams), Director of Research and Conservation (Dr. Sam Eliades), a Veterinarian (Dr. Heidi Stout), a Rehabilitation Manager (Erica Palmer), and an Education and Outreach Coordinator (Kelsey). Technology is centered on coral propagation techniques (asexual and sexual), coral disease treatment including Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, herbivore rearing, and drone-based sargassum surveys. Federal and territorial partnerships include NPS, NOAA, USFWS, the DOI Office of Insular Affairs, and VI DPNR; academic and NGO partners include UVI, Coral Restoration Foundation, STAR, Reef Response USVI, and VI-CRAG.

CWORI's revenue model is donation-based: tax-deductible contributions are accepted online (PayPal/credit card), by mail, and on-site at Coral World Ocean Park. The organization also secures funding through cooperative agreements with federal agencies (e.g., a two-year NPS agreement signed in 2022). It does not charge for products or services, and specific donation tiers or financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Its customer base comprises individual donors, student interns, volunteers, school groups, and government/NGO partners.

Name

Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI)

Legal name

Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative, Inc.

Website

https://cwori.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CWORI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit marine conservation organization in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, operating coral reef restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, Sargassum research, and education programs funded through donations and federal partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Aquaculture (1125), Other Aquaculture (112519)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAE

Marine & Freshwater Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYAFAEAAAO

Stock Enhancement & Restocking / Conservation Aquaculture

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Coral reef restoration
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Marine research programs
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Thomas

HQ country

U.S. Virgin Islands

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: CWORI operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and are processed in U.S. dollars. Donations support coral conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, research initiatives, and education/outreach programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CWORI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that conducts coral reef restoration through land-based and in-water coral nurseries, rescues and rehabilitates injured sea turtles and birds, studies Sargassum influx impacts on nearshore habitats, and delivers conservation-focused education and internship programs. Its flagship facility, the Coral Genetic Rescue Propagation Ark, gene-banks coral species using six advanced life support systems and supports both asexual and sexual propagation. Services are delivered from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, primarily under cooperative agreements and donations rather than fees.

Product overview

Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) is a non-profit marine conservation organization established in 2019 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected conservation programs centered on four core initiatives: Coral Reef Conservation (including the 2023-launched Coral Genetic Rescue Propagation Ark with six advanced life support systems for coral gene-banking), Sargassum Research (studying brown algae influx impacts on nearshore ecosystems), Education & Outreach (workforce development through internships and school programs), and Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation (specializing in sea turtles and birds with veterinary diagnostics and treatment). These programs work synergistically—coral restoration supports reef ecosystem health, research informs conservation strategies, education builds the next generation of conservationists, and wildlife rehabilitation addresses immediate animal welfare needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coral Reef Conservation

Quantifiable outcome

• Coral reef restoration projects at Coki Point and within Virgin Islands National Park
• +2 more outcomes

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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (VI DPNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on coral reef restoration projects and wildlife rescue initiatives. VI DPNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife participates in sea turtle rescue operations including the Puzzle case involving international transfer from British Virgin Islands.
• Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue (STAR) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWORI partners closely with STAR to support sea turtle rehabilitation across the U.S. Virgin Islands territory. STAR is a non-profit organization promoting sea turtle-friendly practices and responding to injured, disoriented, or imperiled sea turtles through rescue and rehabilitation.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner supporting coral reef conservation and marine research. NOAA provided assistance in the international transfer of Puzzle the sea turtle from British Virgin Islands to St. Thomas.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPS entered into a two-year cooperative agreement with CWORI to provide technical assistance for coral restoration activities in the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument and Virgin Islands National Park. The project involves coral collection, transport, and propagation in nurseries for outplanting around St. John.
• Coral Restoration FoundationmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartner organization in coral reef restoration efforts, sharing expertise and best practices in coral propagation and restoration techniques.
• U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal office supporting territorial conservation efforts and providing resources for ecological restoration of coral reefs within U.S. Virgin Islands national parks.
• University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Master of Marine and Environmental SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing graduate-level research collaboration. CWORI's Conservation Manager Logan Williams completed graduate work at UVI under Dr. Marilyn E. Brandt. UVI students may participate in conservation projects.
• Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators (VINE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of environmental educators collaborating on educational programs and outreach initiatives to schools throughout the Virgin Islands.
• St. John Wildlife RehabilitationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting rescue and rehabilitation of native birds throughout St. Thomas and St. John.
• Virgin Islands Coral Reef Advisory Group (VI-CRAG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory group focused on coral reef conservation and management initiatives within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Reef Response U.S. Virgin IslandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization responding to coral reef emergencies and supporting restoration efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Canines, Cats, & Critters - BVImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Virgin Islands veterinary clinic that provided initial emergency veterinary care for Puzzle the sea turtle for seven weeks before transfer to CWORI. Worked in collaboration with Association of Reef Keepers.
• Association of Reef Keepers (BVI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBVI organization that transported Puzzle the injured sea turtle to Canines, Cats, & Critters for immediate veterinary intervention following boat strike injuries off Virgin Gorda.
• Government of the British Virgin IslandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency involved in the international transfer approval process for Puzzle the sea turtle from Tortola to St. Thomas.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner in wildlife rescue operations including sea turtle rehabilitation. Participated in the international transfer coordination for Puzzle the sea turtle.
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerritorial agency that aided in the international transfer of Puzzle the sea turtle from British Virgin Islands to U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Coral World Ocean ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWORI was established in 2019 to expand conservation work carried out by Coral World Ocean Park. Land-based coral nurseries are constructed on Coral World Ocean Park property. Coral World is the only approved Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility in the Virgin Islands. Staff including Matthew Tartaglio provide technical expertise for coral tank construction.
• Animal Welfare Center (St. Croix)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Croix veterinary facility that initially monitored and treated the injured loggerhead sea turtle before transfer to CWORI on St. Thomas.
• QE4 Ferry ServiceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTransportation partner that transported the injured loggerhead sea turtle from St. Croix to St. Thomas for continued rehabilitation at CWORI.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Established Florida-based marine research institution conducting coral restoration, sea turtle rehabilitation, and ocean acidification research. Comparable in programmatic scope (restoration + rehab + research + education) but operates at much larger institutional scale.
• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: Non-profit supporting NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary system through conservation, education, and community engagement. Comparable in federal partnership model and sanctuary-adjacent conservation work.
• The Ocean Foundation: U.S.-based community foundation supporting ocean conservation through grantmaking and program partnerships. Comparable as a marine conservation funding intermediary rather than a direct field operator.

Direct peers

• Coral Restoration Foundation: Florida Keys-based nonprofit that pioneered large-scale coral restoration through nursery propagation and outplanting. Directly comparable to CWORI in mission (coral reef restoration), methods (asexual propagation), and partner ecosystem.
• Reef Response U.S. Virgin Islands: USVI-based organization responding to coral reef emergencies and supporting restoration efforts. Directly comparable in geographic focus, coral restoration mission, and small-team non-profit operating model.
• Reef Check Foundation: Global non-profit focused on reef monitoring, citizen science, and community-based reef conservation. Comparable as a non-profit using volunteer engagement, education, and field science for reef protection.
• Association of Reef Keepers (BVI): British Virgin Islands organization partnering with CWORI on marine wildlife rescue and reef conservation. Comparable as a Caribbean non-profit addressing coral reef and marine animal welfare in a neighboring territory.
• Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue (STAR) Network: U.S. Virgin Islands non-profit responding to injured, disoriented, or imperiled sea turtles through rescue and rehabilitation. Directly comparable to CWORI's wildlife rehabilitation program and named as a core CWORI partner.

Regional players

• St. John Wildlife Rehabilitation: U.S. Virgin Islands organization supporting rescue and rehabilitation of native birds across St. Thomas and St. John. Comparable in USVI wildlife rehabilitation scope and named as a CWORI partner.
• Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS): U.S. Virgin Islands-based environmental education and research station on St. John. Comparable as a Caribbean non-profit combining marine science, education, and community engagement in the same territorial footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CWORI
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwori_vi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coral-world-ocean-and-reef-initiative

Compliance1 record

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 Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI)