WHALE SCOUT INC

What WHALE SCOUT INC does

Whale Scout Inc is a Pacific Northwest conservation nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered in Bothell, Washington, that operates at the intersection of land-based whale watching, salmon habitat restoration, and environmental education. The organization runs guided naturalist experiences from shoreline viewing sites, primarily in the Puget Sound region, and operates two dedicated salmon habitat restoration projects: the Bear Creek site in Redmond and the former Wayne Golf Course site in Bothell, developed in partnership with Bothell Parks & Recreation and King County. Programming is delivered by a small staff (1–10 employees) supplemented by more than 50 trained volunteer naturalists, with educational offerings including the Diverse Voices initiative, the Seeds to Sky program, and a recurring UW Bothell Senior Capstone Research Program.

The organization's underlying "platform" is operational rather than technological: a coalition of municipal, academic, and NGO partnerships (including the City of Bothell, King County, The Nature Conservancy, and UW Bothell) that grants access to restoration sites and a pipeline of student research, combined with credentialed in-house biological expertise. Its revenue model is donation- and grant-driven, supplemented by community fundraising events such as the annual Holiday Silent Auction, co-branded fundraisers with consumer brands (e.g., MOD Pizza), and a newly launched online merchandise store at shop.whalescout.org. Leadership is anchored by founder Whitney Neugebauer, with governance support from board members including Juliana Houghton, Valerye Perez, and Kailey Garson, and program delivery led by staff such as Field Biologist and Education Manager Rachael Kutz.

Name

WHALE SCOUT INC

Legal name

Whale Scout Inc

Website

https://whalescout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whale Scout Inc is a Bothell, Washington nonprofit founded in 2013 that delivers land-based whale watching, salmon habitat restoration at two sites in Redmond and Bothell, and conservation education programs to Pacific Northwest communities, funded by donations, grants, and community fundraisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Habitat restoration programs
• Wildlife education programs
• Environmental nonprofit services
• Volunteer community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Whale Scout accepts donations from the public via PayPal, Venmo, and paper checks mailed to their Bothell address. Donations fund salmon habitat restoration, public education, and conservation efforts.
2. Grants: The organization has received grant funding, including from The Nature Conservancy to support Bear Creek restoration work. Grants support specific restoration projects and conservation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Whale Scout is a nonprofit organization that leads land-based whale watching experiences and conducts salmon habitat restoration projects in the Puget Sound region. The organization channels public interest in Southern Resident killer whales into on-the-ground habitat restoration through volunteer events, student internship programs, and educational outreach. Operations include managing two primary restoration sites (Bear Creek in Redmond and the Former Wayne Golf Course in Bothell) and running a network of more than 50 volunteer naturalists across the region.

Product overview

Whale Scout is a nonprofit organization offering land-based whale watching experiences and salmon habitat restoration programs. The organization operates volunteer 'Helpin' Out' events, manages two restoration sites (Bear Creek and Former Wayne Golf Course), and provides student internship programs (Diverse Voices, UW Bothell Capstone, Seeds to Sky). Additional offerings include the #OrcaHero monthly action program, educational content, and donation processing via PayPal and Venmo. An external resource, PodMatch, connects users with restoration projects across the West Coast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land-Based Whale Watching Experiences Guided land-based whale watching experiences led by volunteer naturalists stationed throughout Puget Sound, including a summer program at San Juan Island. Visitors observe whales from local beaches with binoculars and educational materials provided.
• Helpin' Out Volunteer Restoration Events Public volunteer events for salmon habitat restoration at sites in King County where participants plant native trees, remove invasive plants, and restore riparian habitat. Private group events available for schools, churches, clubs, businesses, and scout groups of 5-125 people.
• #OrcaHero Monthly Action Program Year-round monthly checklist program guiding participants through conservation actions to protect killer whales, their food sources, and habitats, with actions shared via social media using the #OrcaHero tag.
• Diverse Voices Student Leadership Internship Spring and summer internship program for students from varied backgrounds featuring volunteer restoration event leadership, community engagement, and direct habitat restoration projects benefiting salmon and orcas.
• UW Bothell Senior Capstone Research Program Fall and winter partnership program with University of Washington Bothell allowing senior undergraduates to complete capstone research projects on applied topics such as salmon habitat restoration, environmental monitoring, and community engagement.
• Seeds to Sky High School Career Building Program Fall, winter, and spring program connecting high school students with career pathways in environmental science and conservation through fieldwork, career exploration, and stewardship projects.
• Bear Creek Restoration Site Riparian restoration project on private property along Bear Creek in Redmond, WA, transforming former logged land into native habitat to support Chinook and sockeye salmon spawning.
• Former Wayne Golf Course Restoration Site 89-acre park restoration project along the Sammamish River in Bothell, WA, conducted in partnership with Bothell Parks and Recreation, removing invasive plants and replacing them with native trees to improve water quality and salmon habitat.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Bear Creek restoration project with grant funding. The Nature Conservancy is referenced as supporting the riparian restoration work on the private property along Bear Creek in Redmond, WA.
• Bothell Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 to restore habitat at the Former Wayne Golf Course, an 89-acre property now Bothell's largest park, located along the Sammamish River.
• City of BothellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Bothell purchased the Former Wayne Golf Course property in 2017 with help from Forterra and King County. The land is now Bothell's largest park where Whale Scout conducts restoration work.
• ForterracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand preservation nonprofit that helped OneBothell community group and King County purchase the Former Wayne Golf Course property in 2017 to prevent development.
• University of Washington BothellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the UW Bothell Senior Capstone Research Program allowing undergraduate students to complete capstone research projects with Whale Scout on salmon habitat restoration, environmental monitoring, and community engagement.
• King CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing County Parks and King County Wastewater Treatment Division partner with Whale Scout. King County helped purchase the Former Wayne Golf Course property.
• OneBothellmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group formed to protect the Wayne Golf Course property from development. Worked with Forterra and King County to preserve the land.
• San Juan Island Naturalist ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative effort stationing naturalists on San Juan Island from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Whale Scout participates as part of this program at Westside Preserve and Lime Kiln State Park.
• Orca NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhale Scout volunteers and community follow Orca Network on Facebook for whale sighting updates and contribute their own observations.
• Center for Whale ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhale research organization listed as a partner in Whale Scout's network of conservation collaborators.
• The Whale MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting marine mammal education and conservation in the San Juan Islands.
• EarthCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization providing volunteer support and restoration expertise in the Pacific Northwest.
• MidSound Fisheries Enhancement GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFisheries enhancement organization working on salmon habitat restoration in the Puget Sound region.
• Skagit Fisheries Enhancement GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that helped develop educational content about the connection between trees and salmon (6 C's Thanks to Trees).
• Seattle AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner aquarium organization supporting marine education and conservation programs.
• Tulalip TribesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative American tribal organization partnered in conservation efforts for the region.
• Defenders of Wildlife NWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional office of national wildlife conservation organization.
• Friends of North Creek ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservationFriends organization focused on forest preservation.
• Keta Legacy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting conservation and environmental initiatives.
• Orca Behavior InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization studying orca behavior in the Salish Sea.
• Orca ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to orca conservation in the Pacific Northwest.
• Orca Salmon AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance focused on salmon recovery to benefit orca populations.
• WA Department of Fish and WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency supporting fish and wildlife conservation efforts.
• WA Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency managing natural resources including forests and waterways.
• F.O.L.K.S. (Friends of Lime Kiln Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends society supporting the Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island.
• Salish SEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Marine Naturalists in the Salish Sea region.
• San Juan County Land BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency managing land preservation in San Juan County.
• WRIA 8minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater resource inventory area organization focused on watershed management.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Whale Foundation: Established Hawaii-based whale and ocean conservation nonprofit with a similar whale-watching-plus-research model. Comparable mission though operating in a different ocean basin.
• Forterra: Pacific Northwest land conservation nonprofit that helped acquire the Former Wayne Golf Course property. Comparable as a larger, regional land/conservation organization working on overlapping geographies.
• EarthCorps: Larger Pacific Northwest restoration nonprofit providing volunteer support and ecological expertise to Whale Scout. Comparable as a more established, broader habitat restoration organization in the same region.

Others

• Seattle Aquarium: Regional marine education and conservation institution listed as a Whale Scout partner. Comparable marine education programming for Puget Sound audiences, though operating as an aquarium rather than a land-based restoration nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Center for Whale Research: Long-standing San Juan Islands nonprofit dedicated to Southern Resident killer whale research and conservation, listed as a Whale Scout partner. Closely comparable mission and geographic footprint focused on the same orca population.
• Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group: Pacific Northwest salmon habitat restoration nonprofit that co-developed educational content with Whale Scout. Comparable volunteer-driven salmon recovery work in the same region.
• Orca Network: Puget Sound-based nonprofit operating the whale sighting hotline and community whale reports that Whale Scout already integrates. Highly comparable as a Pacific Northwest orca-focused nonprofit using volunteer engagement and education.
• The Whale Museum: Friday Harbor-based marine mammal education and conservation organization partnering with Whale Scout at Lime Kiln State Park. Comparable as a San Juan Islands nonprofit delivering whale-focused education and community programming.
• Orca Conservancy: Pacific Northwest nonprofit dedicated to orca conservation, listed among Whale Scout's partners. Directly comparable as a regional advocacy and conservation organization targeting the same orca population.
• MidSound Fisheries Enhancement Group: Puget Sound salmon habitat restoration nonprofit partnering with Whale Scout. Closely comparable in mission (salmon recovery) and community volunteer-event model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whale-scout-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 WHALE SCOUT INC