One People One Reef

What One People One Reef does

One People One Reef (OPOR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in California (EIN 85-0658879) with administrative offices in Soquel, California, that supports Micronesian Outer Islander communities in the remote atolls of Yap and Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. The organization develops community-led marine conservation solutions that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern marine science to protect coral reef ecosystems and the food security of the communities that depend on them. Its portfolio includes scientific programs (reef surveys, stable isotope and human signature analysis, genetics and connectivity, metabolomics and transcriptomics, drone monitoring, ROV exploration, sea turtle studies), the Coral Toolkit for scaling local reef management, a Youth Action Program (YAP) with scholarship support, and multimedia initiatives including the Storytelling Project, a seven-episode podcast with 25 interviews, an Ulithian Vibes music album, and animated conservation videos.

The organization is co-led by John Rulmal Jr. (Co-Executive Director and Community Organizer) and Nicole Crane, MSc, MAR (Co-Executive Director and Senior Conservation Scientist), with Dr. Michelle Paddack serving as Senior Conservation Scientist. OPOR does not sell products or services; it is funded through tax-deductible individual donations and grants from a coalition of major institutional funders including NSF, NOAA, National Geographic Society, and the Packard Foundation, with additional support from The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, the Acacia Foundation, The Explorers Club, Backscatter, and Avasol. Strategic partners include Bluecology (mutual collaboration), WHOI Sea Grant (Girls in Science Fellowship), and the Long Now Foundation (Biotech for Wildlife Conservation seminar, April 2023). The team is lean (1-10 employees) and the operating footprint is geographically concentrated on Ulithi Atoll with stated reach across Yap and Chuuk outer islands.

Name

One People One Reef

Legal name

One People One Reef

Website

https://onepeopleonereef.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

One People One Reef is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with Micronesian Outer Islander communities in Yap and Chuuk atolls to deliver community-led coral reef conservation, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with reef surveys, genetics, drones, ROVs, and youth capacity-building programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Coral reef science
• Community-led conservation
• Traditional ecological knowledge
• Fisheries management

Headquarters

HQ city

La Selva Beach, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals. Donations can be made via credit/debit card or check. EIN: 85-0658879.
2. Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from organizations including NSF, NOAA, National Geographic Society, Packard Foundation, and other conservation funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

One People One Reef is a collaborative conservation organization partnering Micronesian coastal communities with scientists to develop inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable conservation solutions for critical coral reef marine habitats. The organization delivers programs including reef surveys, drone and ROV monitoring, genetics and metabolomics research, a Youth Action Program, and a Storytelling Project that bridges traditional ecological knowledge with modern marine science. All programs are provided at no cost to participating communities and are funded through donations and grants.

Product overview

One People One Reef is a collaborative conservation organization, not a technology product company. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs combining Micronesian traditional ecological knowledge with modern marine science. The core offerings include the Coral Toolkit (scientific tools for local reef management), the Storytelling Project (multimedia knowledge preservation), the Youth Action Program (capacity building), and various research programs covering reef surveys, drone monitoring, ROV exploration, genetics, metabolomics, and sea turtle studies. These programs work together to achieve the organization's mission of protecting coral reef marine habitat and the communities who depend on them through inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable conservation solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Action Program (YAP) A youth engagement and capacity-building program that develops local youth leadership in marine stewardship and conservation science, with scholarship opportunities and annual program cohorts for young people from Micronesian communities.
• Coral Toolkit A set of scientific tools and strategies developed in partnership with collaborators to enhance local reef management and scale community-led conservation efforts across the Pacific, including reef surveys, isotopes and human signatures analysis, genetics and connectivity research, and metabolomics and transcriptomics.
• Storytelling Project A multimedia initiative linking the science and traditions of coral reef stewardship through the revitalization of storytelling on the outer islands of Ulithi Atoll, including community interviews and visual content.
• One People One Reef Podcast A seven-episode podcast series featuring 25 interviews with elders, youth, and community leaders across Ulithi and neighboring islands, covering reef conservation, intergenerational knowledge, migration, and identity.
• Ulithian Vibes Album A music album celebrating Ulithian culture, environmental change, and island wisdom, developed as part of the organization's multimedia and community engagement efforts.
• Ulithi Sea Turtle Project A scientific study and monitoring program of sea turtle populations and their habitats in the Ulithi Atoll region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2012, OPOR has collected data across Ulithi Atoll, developing a rich database of reef health.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BluecologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBluecology works closely with OPOR. Their mission is to preserve marine wildlife and ecosystems through community-based programs which foster informed choices that will reduce adverse human impact on the marine environment. OPOR collaborates with Bluecology on conservation initiatives.
• Avasol SunscreenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership spotlight featured in November 2022. Avasol is an eco-friendly sunscreen brand.
• WHOI Sea GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Earthwatch Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on the Girls in Science Fellowship program.
• Long Now FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPOR participated in Long Now Foundation's seminar on 'Bringing Biotech to Wildlife Conservation' in April 2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: Largest international advocacy organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation, with significant Pacific reef and fisheries policy work. Broader incumbent peer in marine conservation funding and influence.
• Conservation International: Global nonprofit working on ocean health, biodiversity, and indigenous-led conservation at scale. Comparable in mission scope and funding sources, but operating at much larger scale and broader geography than OPOR.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest conservation organizations operating across marine and terrestrial ecosystems globally, including Pacific reef work. Listed as an OPOR funder and a broader-incumbent peer in marine conservation funding and policy.
• Waitt Foundation: Foundation funding ocean conservation including the 'Blue Halo Initiative' that partners with Pacific island communities on marine management. Highly comparable peer in supporting community-led Pacific marine conservation.
• National Geographic Society - Pristine Seas: Major exploration-led ocean conservation program conducting scientific expeditions and supporting marine protected areas worldwide. Listed as an OPOR funder and a broader peer in reef science expeditions and storytelling.

Direct peers

• Bluecology: Marine wildlife and ecosystem conservation organization focused on community-based programs reducing human impact on marine environments. Shares a board member (Birgit Winning) and explicitly partners with OPOR on conservation initiatives, making it the closest peer in mission and approach.
• Reef Check: Global citizen-science reef monitoring organization using volunteer diver surveys to assess reef health worldwide. Closely aligned with OPOR's reef survey methodology and citizen/community science ethos.
• Coral Reef Alliance: International nonprofit dedicated to coral reef conservation through community partnerships and science-based approaches. Comparable in its combination of reef science, community engagement, and global donor-funded model.

Emerging players

• WildAid: Marine-focused conservation nonprofit that uses communications and partnerships to protect ocean wildlife. Comparable as a similarly-sized nonprofit combining science, community partnerships, and media-driven engagement.
• SeaLegacy: Marine conservation organization using storytelling, film, and expeditions to drive ocean protection. Comparable in its emphasis on narrative-driven conservation engagement and youth-focused content creation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/1People1Reef
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMMNTcc4a4HiiW3IczMOngw
• Facebookfacebook.com/onepeopleonereef
• Instagraminstagram.com/onepeopleonereef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/one-people-one-reef

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 One People One Reef