Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

What Delaware Center for the Inland Bays does

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (legal entity: Center for the Inland Bays, Inc.) is a Delaware-domiciled nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered at 39375 Inlet Rd., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It is the primary organization dedicated specifically to the protection, restoration, and wise use of Delaware's three Inland Bays — Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and Little Assawoman Bay — and their watershed within Sussex County. The Center operates four programmatic pillars: scientific research and water-quality monitoring (a network of Sondes collecting data every 30 minutes across multiple sites, plus longitudinal citizen science surveys for fish, horseshoe crabs, and diamondback terrapins), habitat restoration (oyster gardening, oyster shell recycling via 'Don't Chuck Your Shucks,' and stream channel enhancement), environmental education (the Student Estuary Exploration/SEE Program for preschool through high school, the Inland Bays Homeschool Series, free public programs), and community/stewardship engagement through a multi-decade volunteer network supported by Better Impact volunteer-management software.

The Center manages the 150-acre James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View, Delaware — donated to Sussex County in 1992 by Mary Lighthipe — as its primary physical asset for education and restoration. It is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Chris Bason (appointed 2018) with formal advisory committees including a Citizens Advisory Committee, Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee, Development Committee, and CCMP Implementation Committee. The staff comprises approximately 12 identified professionals across environmental education, science/restoration, watershed coordination, communications, and development functions.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The funding mix documented in the data consists of grants from state agencies (DNREC Community Water Quality Improvement Grant $42K in 2014; DNREC Universal Recycling Grant $23.45K in 2021) and private foundations (Longwood Foundation $200K in 2024), supplemented by individual donations and ticketed fundraising events (Decked Out, Bay Banter & Brews, Vine & Brine boat cruises, Native Plant Sales). Pricing across programming is heavily subsidized or free — public and youth education is free; homeschool sessions are $10 per student; fundraiser tickets priced at $15 — indicating a donor/grantee-subsidized model rather than a fee-for-service commercial model. Distribution is regional (Sussex County, Delaware) and delivered through the preserve, an office, school/library/community-organization partnerships, and off-site partner venues.

Name

Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

Legal name

Center for the Inland Bays, Inc.

Website

https://inlandbays.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a nonprofit (founded 1994) that protects, restores, and conducts research on Delaware's three Inland Bays (Rehoboth, Indian River, Little Assawoman) and their Sussex County watershed through citizen-science water-quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and free youth/public environmental education anchored at the 150-acre James Farm Ecological Preserve.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)

Keywords

• Environmental restoration services
• Citizen science monitoring
• Watershed conservation programs
• Environmental education programs
• Estuary habitat protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Rehoboth Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a nonprofit organization that delivers free environmental education programs (youth, public, and homeschool), runs citizen science surveys (fish, horseshoe crab, diamondback terrapin), coordinates volunteer-based oyster gardening and shell recycling for habitat restoration, and manages the 150-acre James Farm Ecological Preserve. It also conducts watershed restoration projects, publishes scientific reports (CCMP, State of the Bays, Economic Valuation), and advocates for policies supporting clean water in Delaware's Inland Bays watershed.

Product overview

Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a non-profit environmental organization offering environmental education and restoration programs rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the Student Estuary Exploration (SEE) Program for youth education, Public Education Programs at the James Farm Ecological Preserve, the Inland Bays Homeschool Series, and various citizen science programs including Oyster Gardening, Horseshoe Crab Survey, and Inshore Fish Survey. The organization also runs the James Farm Ecological Preserve and conducts restoration projects focused on water quality improvement and habitat protection in Delaware's Inland Bays watershed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Estuary Exploration (SEE) Program
• Public Education Programs
• Inland Bays Homeschool Series
• Oyster Gardening Program
• Horseshoe Crab Survey
• Inshore Fish Survey
• Native Plant Sale
• James Farm Ecological Preserve

Quantifiable outcome

• Water quality in the Inland Bays rated 'POOR' or 'D' in 2021 State of the Bays Report
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit with beach/water quality monitoring programs (Blue Water Task Force), coastal advocacy, and grassroots chapters. Comparable on the citizen science water quality testing and coastal stewardship model, though broader and more volunteer-driven nationally.
• Coastal Conservation Association: National nonprofit focused on marine resource conservation, habitat restoration, and fisheries advocacy. Comparable on coastal restoration and policy engagement, but sports-fishing-anchored rather than watershed/water-quality driven.
• Izaak Walton League of America: National conservation organization with chapters focused on watershed protection, water quality monitoring (Save Our Streams), and outdoor education. Comparable citizen-science and education orientation, though national rather than single-watershed focused.
• The Nature Conservancy (Delaware Chapter): Global conservation organization with an active Delaware presence focused on coastal and inland waters, land conservation, and science-based stewardship. Comparable as a science-driven conservation nonprofit working in the same geography, though with a far broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: The largest independent conservation organization dedicated solely to restoring a major U.S. bay (Chesapeake). Highly comparable to the Center: watershed restoration, citizen science, school-based environmental education, and policy advocacy on bay water quality.
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based nonprofit focused on protecting the Santa Monica Bay through citizen science (e.g., beach cleanups, MPA Watch), policy advocacy, and youth education. Closely mirrors the Center's blend of volunteer-driven science, K-12 programs, and water-quality advocacy.
• Save the Sound: A program of Connecticut Fund for the Environment focused on Long Island Sound, combining water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, citizen science, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable mission structure to the Center's work on Delaware's Inland Bays.
• Winyah Rivers Foundation: South Carolina-based nonprofit protecting the Winyah Bay and surrounding watershed through water quality monitoring, advocacy, education, and volunteer engagement. Directly analogous structure to a single-watershed-focused restoration and education nonprofit.
• Center for Coastal Studies (Provincetown): Cape Cod-based nonprofit conducting coastal research, marine animal studies (including horseshoe crab work), and environmental education. Directly comparable to the Center's blend of citizen science surveys, species monitoring, and educational programming at a coastal preserve.

Regional players

• Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association: Local community association in the same geography that engages homeowners on bay-friendly practices. Adjacent but less science-focused; useful for understanding local community partnerships and audience overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/deinlandbays
• Xx.com/deinlandbays
• Facebookfacebook.com/DEInlandBays
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-center-for-the-inland-bays

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 Delaware Center for the Inland Bays