Fly Fishing Collaborative

What Fly Fishing Collaborative does

Fly Fishing Collaborative (dba Fish Farm Collaborative) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by Bucky Buchstaber and headquartered in Tigard, Oregon. Its stated mission is to prevent human trafficking through upstream interventions, operating on the thesis that food insecurity is a primary vulnerability factor for exploitation. The organization pursues this mission through two parallel programmatic pillars: the design and construction of closed-loop aquaponics farms in partnership with local NGOs across 11 countries on 4 continents (14 farms built to date, producing approximately 100,000+ pounds of fish and vegetables annually using up to 90% less water than conventional agriculture), and trauma-informed fly-fishing camps serving foster youth in the Pacific Northwest, alongside a local advocacy sponsorship program supporting trafficking survivors in Portland through partner organization Safety Compass. The organization is led by Founder & CEO Bucky Buchstaber with a core staff of approximately 5 (Aquaponic Farm Director Alyson Wells, Head of Operations Janey Sletten, Marketing & Creative Director Luke Renard) overseen by an 8-person Board of Directors chaired by Drake Van Zante.

The underlying technology is biological and mechanical rather than digital: site-specific aquaponics systems integrating fish aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable production, designed by FFC, constructed in collaboration with local partners, and then transferred to local leadership for community-led operations. The organization reports no proprietary software, APIs, or AI systems; its digital footprint is a Squarespace-hosted website with e-commerce, blog, and donation infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding stack rather than a product sales model. Primary streams include a tiered monthly Sustainable Partnership Program ($50/$100/$500 per month with branded perks), one-time online donations, the Annual Auction & Banquet (over $300,000 raised in 2024 vs. approximately $212,000 in 2022), a three-year $2.5 million capital campaign launched in 2024, branded merchandise sales (leather fly-fishing accessories and a Casey Underwood–designed apparel collection), and a Corporate Sustainable Partnership Program. A sister platform, Fish Well. Do Good., extends fly-fishing community engagement through storytelling and events including the Fly Fusion Magazine Trout Tour, which is distributed in 50+ Orvis retail stores. Marketing is community-led, relying on an ambassador program, a collaborator network of 100+ fly shops, guides, and outfitters, content marketing, and earned media across the outdoor industry (Patagonia, Filson, Simms, Wet Fly Swing, Midcurrent, Flylords, American Angler).

Name

Fly Fishing Collaborative

Legal name

Fly Fishing Collaborative

Website

https://flyfishingcollaborative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fly Fishing Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs and builds aquaponics farms in 11 countries to address food insecurity and runs foster-care fly-fishing camps domestically, framing both as upstream interventions against human trafficking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Aquaponics farming
• Anti-trafficking prevention
• Foster care support
• Sustainable agriculture
• Humanitarian nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

TIGARD, Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations - One-time and Monthly: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring monthly donations. Monthly giving program (Sustainable Partnership Program) with tiered perks. Capital campaign of $2.5 million over three years.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded FFC merchandise including fly wallets, apparel, reel cases, and accessories. Profit from gear sales funds aquaponics farm building globally and justice initiatives locally.
3. Annual Auction & Banquet: Primary annual fundraiser featuring live and silent auctions. 2024 event raised over $300,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Fly Fishing Collaborative (also known as Fish Farm Collaborative) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs and builds aquaponics farms in partnership with local organizations serving vulnerable communities, then transfers ownership to local leaders for sustainable operation. The farms grow fish and vegetables in closed-loop systems to address food insecurity and prevent human trafficking. Domestically, the organization runs trauma-informed fly fishing camps for foster youth and sponsors survivors of trafficking in Portland, Oregon.

Product overview

Fish Farm Collaborative (formerly Fly Fishing Collaborative) operates a multi-faceted humanitarian organization centered on preventing human trafficking through food security. The core offerings include aquaponics farm design and construction services delivered through local partnerships, a monthly giving program with partner perks, trauma-informed foster youth fishing camps, and local advocacy sponsorship for trafficking survivors. The commercial portfolio includes FFC-branded leather gear (fly wallets, reel cases, accessories) and an artist-designed apparel collection featuring trout-themed apparel made from recycled materials. A sister platform called Fish Well. Do Good. extends the mission through fly-fishing community engagement and storytelling, complementing the direct-service programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fish Well. Do Good. Sister platform that mobilizes the fly-fishing community through storytelling, engagement, and awareness to support the mission.
• FFC Artist Apparel Collection

Products and services

• Aquaponics Farms Sustainable aquaponic farming systems that grow fish and vegetables together in a closed-loop environment. FFC designs and builds these farms in partnership with local organizations serving vulnerable communities, then transfers ownership to local leaders.
• Sustainable Partnership Program Monthly giving program where donors contribute recurring funds to support FFC's mission. Partners receive exclusive perks including FFC merchandise and event access.
• Foster Care Kids Fishing Camps Trauma-informed fly fishing camps for children in foster care, providing healing, mentorship, and life skills through outdoor experiences on the water.
• Advocacy Sponsorship Program Local initiative sponsoring human trafficking survivors in Portland, OR with trauma-informed advocacy services through partner organization Safety Compass. Every $2,000 provides an advocate for a survivor for one year.
• FFC Gear (Leather Accessories) Heirloom-quality leather fly fishing accessories including wallets (Fly Wallet Classic, Large Fly Wallet, Compact Fly Wallet, Easy Wallet, Trico Wallet), Reel Cases, Floatant Holders, and Fly Dryer & Leader Straighteners. Profits fund aquaponics farm construction globally.
• FFC Apparel (Artist Collection) Artist-designed apparel collection featuring trout-themed t-shirts (Brown Trout Tee, Rainbow Trout Tee, Steelhead Tee, Youth Rainbow Trout Tee, Gold Logo T, Brown Trout Pocket Tee, A Decade of Impact). Designed by Casey Underwood with sustainable materials including recycled fabrics and water-based inks.
• Fish Well. Do Good. Sister platform that mobilizes the fly-fishing community to support FFC's mission through storytelling, engagement, and awareness. Partners with Fly Fusion Magazine's Trout Tour for nationwide events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 aquaponics farms built across 11 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZOE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ZOE International to build an aquaponics farm at one of their off-grid safe homes in Thailand. Farm provides rescued children with fresh food, hands-on training, and a path toward long-term independence. Les Ginoza, VP of ZOE International, testified to the critical impact of FFC's technical knowledge and support.
• Help One NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to build aquaponics farm for safe home in Iquitos, Peru serving survivors of human trafficking. Help One Now empowers indigenous leaders by helping them find sustainable solutions to poverty and trafficking.
• El Pozo de VidacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe home in Mexico City for sex-slave and sex trafficking victims. FFC built aquaponics farm (2018) and water purification system. Home has cared for 170 young trafficking survivors since 2010.
• Empowering Lives International (ELI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya partner where FFC built aquaponics farm in 2017. At ELI homes, over 130 children are currently fed, housed, educated, and loved. Farm has been sustainably operating for 5+ years.
• Five14NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal freedom company in Kathmandu, Nepal. FFC built farm (2018) at their headquarters and launched training program teaching aquaponics to community leaders and villagers.
• New Life Children's HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrphanage in Jalaca, Honduras providing loving home for abandoned/abused children. FFC built 1500 sq. ft. aquaponics farm (2020) to support sustainability.
• TEARScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Dominican Republic providing clean drinking water to 30,000 people through water purification system. FFC also consulting to improve efficiency of their aquaculture program.
• Safety CompasscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-trafficking organization in Portland, OR. FFC sponsors trafficking survivors through Advocacy Sponsorship Program. Safety Compass provided training to 1,200+ law enforcement officers in 2018.
• Water Time OutfittersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPortland-based fly fishing guide service that guided final day of fishing camp on Clackamas River. Long-term supporter of foster care fishing events.
• Fly Fusion MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on Trout Tour series featuring Fish Well. Do Good. in cities across the country. Tour was picked up by Orvis and will be shown in 50+ stores nationwide.
• Irwin GuidesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKickback program where Irwin Guides donates 15% of reservation costs to FFC when mentioned as referral source. Located in Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: Major child sponsorship organization working in developing countries including several where FFC operates (Kenya, Honduras, Dominican Republic). Comparable to FFC in supporting vulnerable children through international partnerships, though at vastly larger scale.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian organization that includes agriculture, food security, and anti-trafficking work in its portfolio. Comparable to FFC's development-through-agriculture and anti-trafficking mission at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Polaris Project: One of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States, operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline and global programs. Comparable mission overlap with FFC's anti-trafficking prevention work, but at substantially larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• Trout Unlimited: Largest coldwater fisheries conservation nonprofit in the United States. Comparable to FFC in mobilizing the fly fishing community for mission-related giving, though focused on habitat conservation rather than anti-trafficking prevention.

Direct peers

• Casting for Recovery: National nonprofit that uses fly fishing as a therapeutic retreat program for women with breast cancer. Directly comparable to FFC in the fly-fishing-for-healing model, both serving vulnerable populations through outdoor recreation-based programs.
• Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing: Nonprofit dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing. Closely comparable to FFC's use of fly fishing as a healing modality for trauma-affected populations.
• Not For Sale: Nonprofit combating human trafficking and slavery through social enterprises, survivor rehabilitation, and community-based prevention. Comparable to FFC's direct-service anti-trafficking mission combined with income-generating activities.
• Splash International: Nonprofit focused on clean water access, child nutrition, and hygiene programs in developing countries. Comparable to FFC in the international development through safe water and food security model, with similar partnership-based execution approach.
• Love Justice International: Anti-trafficking nonprofit focused on prevention through transit-monitoring and community development in developing countries. Directly comparable to FFC's upstream prevention model in partnership with local organizations in vulnerable communities.
• A21: Global anti-trafficking nonprofit working to abolish human trafficking through prevention, protection, and prosecution. Directly comparable to FFC's anti-trafficking mission focus, though A21 operates at significantly larger scale across more geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bucky_buchstaber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fly-fishing-collaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Fly Fishing Collaborative