St.Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund

What St.Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund does

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF) is a non-profit charitable incorporated organization founded in 2015 and registered in England and Wales (charity number 1185925), operating from Kingstown in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The organization functions as a grant-making foundation that funds environmental conservation projects across the 32 islands of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines archipelago, supporting local non-profits, community associations, fishing cooperatives, and research centers through a quarterly grant cycle (January, April, July, October). Its programmatic focus spans marine protected areas, sea turtle and conch conservation, sustainable fisheries management, coral reef restoration, invasive species removal, sustainable agriculture, and youth education. Co-founded by Ben Goldsmith, Bryan Adams, and Louise Mitchell, SVGEF operates as an affiliate of the Conservation Collective, an international network of Local Preservation Funds.

SVGEF does not sell products or services commercially; its underlying technology consists of operational tools deployed in the field rather than a software platform. These include Pelagic Data Systems and Remora satellite vessel monitoring devices installed on small-scale fishing vessels as part of the DigiFish project, wildlife camera traps deployed on Pigeon Island for invasive species monitoring, and reef ball artificial nursery structures used for hurricane-resilient coral restoration. Data from these systems supports policy advocacy, including a first-ever conch closed season enacted in 2023/2024 and a January 2017 ban on sea turtle hunting.

SVGEF's revenue model relies on charitable donations collected globally through its website and the JustGiving platform, corporate charity partnerships (including Depeche Mode's Memento Mori Tour and Hublot for the Phil D. Whale project, Edmiston Foundation for the sea turtle program, and The February Foundation for Hurricane Beryl relief), and high-profile fundraising events such as its 2026 London dinner at Wild By Tart. The organization serves local NGOs, fishing communities, youth aged 8-18 through the Youth Ocean Academy, and agricultural communities, with strategic partnerships spanning government ministries (Fisheries, Forestry, Tourism, National Parks) and international conservation bodies (Blue Marine Foundation, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Fundación Cethus).

Name

St.Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund

Legal name

St.Vincent & the Grenadines Environment Fund CIO

Website

https://svgef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund is a 2015-founded nonprofit that grants funds to local organizations across 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for marine and terrestrial conservation projects, supported by donations, corporate partnerships, and international fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation grants
• Marine protected areas
• Community-led conservation
• Wildlife monitoring programs
• Sustainable fisheries management

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingstown

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds from individuals all over the world who care about the Earth's future. They accept donations through their website and partner platforms like JustGiving. Funds are used to support environmental initiatives and promote best practices in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Revenue Sharing: Restaurants can participate in a scheme where customers are asked to have one dollar added to their bill in support of SVGEF. Businesses can collaborate through various support mechanisms including free printing, equipment grants, sponsorship in kind, and advertising/media services.
3. Fundraising Events: The organization hosts fundraising events such as their 2026 fundraising dinner at Wild By Tart in London, which raised £100,000. They also organize events to engage donors and supporters internationally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The SVGEF is a nonprofit charitable incorporated organization that provides grant funding, technical support, and capacity-building for environmental conservation projects across the 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It serves as a community-led grant-making fund accepting applications four times per year from local non-profits, associations, clubs, unions, social cooperative enterprises, and research centers. Funded projects span marine protected areas, sea turtle and conch conservation, sustainable fisheries management, invasive species removal, plastic waste management, wildlife monitoring using vessel tracking and camera traps, and youth ocean education.

Product overview

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF) is a charitable nonprofit organization that does not operate a commercial software product or technology platform. Instead, it functions as a grant-making foundation that funds environmental conservation projects and initiatives throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The organization supports various conservation programs including marine protection, species preservation, community education, and sustainable livelihoods through grants to local organizations and partners. Key project areas include sea turtle monitoring, marine fisheries management, coral reef conservation, invasive species removal, and youth ocean education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SVGEF Grant Program Direct grants awarded to local non-profits, associations, clubs, unions, social cooperative enterprises, and research centers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for fieldwork, community engagement, campaigns, networking, and technical support projects. Grant amounts vary by project (e.g., US$15,865.39 for the Fresh and Brackish Water Fish Inventory project). No application fee is charged.
• Youth Ocean Academy Six-month experiential ocean literacy program for young Vincentians aged 8-18, covering six modules: sailing, cetaceans, coral, sea turtles, water quality, and seabirds. Delivered with partners including the SVG Sailing Association, CLEAR Caribbean, and Richmond Vale Academy Marine Team.
• Rewilding Pigeon Island Project Invasive species monitoring and removal program on Pigeon Island using wildlife camera traps to track rats, goats, and sheep with minimal disturbance to the natural environment, supporting rewilding of endemic flora and fauna.
• Wild Nurseries Project Marine Protected Area establishment program in Adams Bay and Isle De Quatre, including conch surveys, sustainable fisheries management, and the first-ever lobster V-Notching exercise conducted in SVG.
• DigiFish Vessel Monitoring Program Vessel monitoring program that installs Pelagic Data Systems (PDS) and Remora satellite tracking devices on small-scale fishing vessels and whaling boats to gather real-time data on fishing activities, map fishing efforts, monitor protected areas, and provide safety/security features for fisherfolk with tracking accessible to the Coast Guard. 30 PDS devices installed in initial phase; 172 trips recorded from tracked Barrouallie whaling vessels in Digifish II.
• Phil D. Whale Plastic Waste Management Project Plastic waste management project on Bequia featuring 16 steel whale sculpture structures deployed as collection sites for visitors passing through installation points, funded through a charity partnership with Depeche Mode (Memento Mori Tour) and Hublot.
• Sea Turtle Conservation Program Long-running sea turtle monitoring and conservation program across the Leeward and South Coast of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including beach monitoring, tagging, and nesting activity tracking. Funded with US$25,000 from Edmiston Yachts/Edmiston Foundation.
• Hurricane Beryl Relief Program Disaster relief and recovery program for communities affected by Hurricane Beryl across the Grenadines, including 98% home loss and 100% forest/mangrove damage on Union Island. US$250,000 funding goal backed by The February Foundation matching funds up to US$125,000. Includes dive boat replacement for We Are Mayreau.
• Barrouallie Orca Protection Agreement Community-led conservation agreement with Barrouallie whalers who agreed to end orca hunting in exchange for two Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) for tuna fishing support, supporting the transition from whaling to sustainable livelihoods.
• Cumberland Trail Restoration Project Trail restoration project to restore the approximately one-mile-long Cumberland Nature Trail, delivered in partnership with the National Parks Authority, Ministry of Forestry, and Ministry of Tourism for eco-tourism development.
• Fresh and Brackish Water Fish Inventory Project Biodiversity research project documenting fresh and brackish water fish and crustacean species across St. Vincent's river systems, led by John Renton with the Department of Forestry and local river fisherfolk. Includes traditional fishing practices documentation and a plastic freshwater picture fish identification card for students and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• First conch closed season (Sept 1-Nov 30) implemented in SVG history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Blue Marine FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Wild Nurseries project establishing Marine Protected Areas, conch surveys, and sustainable fisheries management. BLUE conducts baseline assessments of marine resources and provides scientific expertise.
• Conservation CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The SVGEF is a member of the Conservation Collective, an international network of Local Preservation Funds co-founded by Ben Goldsmith. The network provides shared philosophy of engaging local communities and building local philanthropy to meet local needs.
• Barbados Environmental Conservation TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the DigiFish Project for sustainable fisheries management using vessel monitoring technology.
• Pelagic Data SystemsmajorTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Vessel Monitoring Devices installed on fishing vessels as part of the DigiFish project for real-time fishing activity tracking.
• National Parks AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cumberland Trail Restoration Project to restore the approximately one-mile-long Cumberland Nature Trail.
• Ministry of ForestrymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Cumberland Trail restoration and various conservation projects including fish inventory and marine surveys.
• Ministry of TourismmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cumberland Trail Restoration Project for eco-tourism development.
• Ministry of FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for fisheries management, conch surveys, and sustainable fisheries policy. Co-advocated for conch closed season regulations.
• Fundación CethusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in whale and dolphin conservation efforts, supporting transition from whaling to sustainable livelihoods in Barrouallie.
• Whale and Dolphin ConservationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evaluating and finding sustainable alternatives to small cetacean hunting in Barrouallie.
• SVG Sailing AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for sailing module in Youth Ocean Academy, providing professional coaching and youth leadership examples.
• CLEAR CaribbeanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for coral module in Youth Ocean Academy, providing expertise in coral biology and reef conservation.
• Richmond Vale Academy Marine TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in coral module and marine conservation activities, including hurricane-resistant artificial reef ball structures.
• Jory & CominorOthersWebsite development provider for svgef.org

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ibiza Preservation Fund: Sister fund in the Conservation Collective network covering the island of Ibiza. Shares SVGEF's model of community-driven environmental grantmaking, local philanthropy building, and island-scale marine/terrestrial conservation in a Mediterranean context.
• Cyclades Preservation Fund: Conservation Collective member fund operating across the Cyclades islands. Same community-led, multi-island grantmaking approach, providing a peer benchmark on scaling across an archipelago of comparable size to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Aeolian Islands Preservation Fund: Conservation Collective sister fund focused on the Aeolian Islands. Same local-preservation-fund template, marine-coastal conservation themes, and small-team operating model directly comparable to SVGEF.
• Mallorca Preservation Fund: Another Conservation Collective sister fund focused on Mallorca. Closely comparable structure: small team, donor-led funding, grants to local environmental NGOs on a Mediterranean island with marine and terrestrial priorities overlapping SVGEF's scope.
• Conservation Collective: International network of local preservation funds co-founded by Ben Goldsmith, of which SVGEF is an affiliate member. Operates an identical grantmaking-plus-community-led-conservation model across multiple geographies, sharing philosophy, donors, and best-practice exchange.

Regional players

• Caribbean Biodiversity Fund: Regional environmental fund financing conservation across the Caribbean. Directly comparable in function — a pooled grantmaking vehicle for biodiversity — though operating at a multi-country scale rather than the single-island focus of SVGEF.
• Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust: Caribbean island-level environmental trust and SVGEF partner on the DigiFish vessel-monitoring project. Directly comparable as a fellow Caribbean small-island grantmaker for marine and fisheries projects.

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International: Long-established global conservation NGO working across species, habitats, and policy. Comparable Caribbean marine and threatened-species programmes (sea turtles, conch, coral), but with a vastly larger global portfolio and institutional donor base.
• The Nature Conservancy (Caribbean Program): Global conservation organization with active Caribbean marine and climate-resilience programmes. Comparable in marine protected areas, reef restoration, and policy engagement, but operates at much greater scale across multiple Caribbean states.

Emerging players

• Blue Marine Foundation: UK-based marine conservation NGO and SVGEF partner on the Wild Nurseries project establishing Marine Protected Areas in Adams Bay and Isle De Quatre. Comparable in marine biodiversity focus, ocean policy advocacy, and Caribbean/expedition-based project delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/svgef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/svgef

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 St.Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund