Oceanic Preservation Society
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Academy Award-winning documentary production house that creates environmental films, large-scale projection events on global landmarks, and impact campaigns. Founded by Louie Psihoyos in 2005, it combines covert filmmaking, drone shows, and K-12 educational programs to drive conservation policy and behavioral change.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersGreenbrae, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Oceanic Preservation Society does
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Academy Award-winning director Louie Psihoyos and headquartered in Greenbrae, California (originally established at Skywalker Ranch). The organization operates an Academy Award-winning production house, OPS Productions, that creates documentary films and large-scale visual installations to expose environmental crimes and drive conservation impact. Its film catalog includes The Cove (2009, Academy Award winner), Racing Extinction (2015), The Game Changers (2019), Mission: Joy (2021), You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (2024), The Last Place on Earth (2025), and The Plastic Detox (2025). Beyond films, OPS operates projection events on iconic global architecture (St. Peter's Basilica, Empire State Building, United Nations), 1,000-drone light shows, and an educational program that has reached 50,000+ K-12 teachers since 2018. Technology stack centers on covert filming equipment, FLIR carbon dioxide sensing cameras, Tesla-powered mobile projection units, and drone arrays; OPS does not have disclosed AI/ML, API, or proprietary software assets.
OPS generates revenue through individual donations (monthly tiers of $15, $35, $75, and $150 plus one-time gifts), grants from institutional philanthropic partners including MacArthur Foundation and Vulcan Productions, branded merchandise sales ($9.99-$50 unit pricing), and licensing arrangements. Distribution channels include free K-12 educational screenings, public performance licenses, Netflix streaming for its most recent two titles, and partnerships with PONANT Cruises and e-commerce resellers. Customer segments span environmental activists, K-12 educators, individual donors, and community event organizers, with named impact partners including Conservation International, WildAid, Misool Foundation, Reef Check Indonesia, HAkA, FKL, SOCP, and Rainforest Action Network. The organization does not publicly disclose its headcount or financial figures.
Oceanic Preservation Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oceanic Preservation Society
- Legal name
- Oceanic Preservation Society
- Website
- https://opsociety.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Academy Award-winning documentary production house that creates environmental films, large-scale projection events on global landmarks, and impact campaigns. Founded by Louie Psihoyos in 2005, it combines covert filmmaking, drone shows, and K-12 educational programs to drive conservation policy and behavioral change.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oceanic Preservation Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Documentary Filmmaking
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Environmental & Sustainability Events (Earth Day, Clean-Up Festivals) (MPAGAEAO)
Keywords
Where Oceanic Preservation Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenbrae
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oceanic Preservation Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: OPS receives donations from individual supporters through monthly membership programs ($15-$150/month) and one-time gifts. Additional giving options include stocks, bonds, cryptocurrency, check/wire transfer, matching gifts, and payroll giving.
- Merchandise Sales: OPS sells branded merchandise including t-shirts ($28-$30), reusable bags ($20), DVDs ($9.99-$50), posters ($15-$50), and specialty items. Feature artists donate 20% of sales to OPS.
- Fundraising: OPS conducts fundraising campaigns and events to generate support, including partnerships with platforms like Funraise.org for online fundraising.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | $15/month supports campaign activists on the ground |
| Subscription | Monthly | $35/month supplies resources for legislative efforts |
| Subscription | Monthly | $75/month provides equipment for documentation |
| Subscription | Monthly | $150/month builds mass-reach campaigns |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | T-shirts and merchandise $15-$30 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Oceanic Preservation Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is an Academy Award-winning nonprofit documentary film production house that produces high-impact environmental documentaries and visual storytelling projects to expose crimes against nature and inspire conservation action. The organization sells and licenses documentary films including The Cove, Racing Extinction, The Game Changers, Mission: Joy, You Are What You Eat, The Last Place on Earth, and The Plastic Detox, while also offering global projection events on iconic architecture, drone light shows, and K-12 educational curricula. Revenue is generated through individual donations and monthly memberships, merchandise sales, grants, and film licensing (including Netflix streaming and public performance licenses).
Product overview
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is an Academy Award®-winning documentary film production house that produces high-impact environmental films and visual storytelling projects. The core offering consists of documentary films including The Cove, Racing Extinction, The Game Changers, The Last Place on Earth, Mission: Joy, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, and The Plastic Detox. OPS complements its film portfolio with large-scale global projection events featuring environmental imagery on iconic buildings worldwide, drone light shows, educational teaching guides and curricula, Racing Extinction educational video series, online learning resources, and branded merchandise. The organization functions as a platform connecting documentary filmmaking with impact campaigns, community action, and educational outreach to drive environmental conservation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OPS Productions: Academy Award-winning production house specializing in documentary filmmaking and large-scale artistic installations.
Products and services
- The Cove Academy Award-winning documentary exposing the dolphin drive hunts in Taiji, Japan. The film follows activists who penetrated a hidden cove to reveal the annual tradition of dolphin slaughter and the supply chain supporting the global captivity industry. Targeted at general audiences, policymakers, and educators.
- Racing Extinction Documentary exposing wildlife trafficking, the global shark fin trade, and the Sixth Mass Extinction crisis. Uses state-of-the-art FLIR technology to reveal never-before-seen images of environmental destruction. Targeted at conservation advocates, educators, and policymakers.
- The Game Changers Documentary following elite special forces trainer James Wilks as he travels the world discovering the truth about plant-based diets and their impact on strength, health, and performance. Targeted at health-conscious consumers, athletes, and food systems advocates.
- Mission: Joy Documentary capturing the enduring friendship between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, exploring their quest for joy and life lessons. Targeted at general audiences and spiritual/wellness communities.
- You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment Documentary following eight identical twins through a Stanford nutrition study comparing omnivore and plant-based diets. Uses advanced medical technology to discover how different diets impact individuals with the same DNA. Targeted at health-conscious consumers and global Netflix audiences.
- The Last Place on Earth Documentary following wildlife activists protecting Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem from the illegal palm oil industry. A nine-year journey into one of Earth's last untouched wildernesses where tigers, elephants, rhinos, and orangutans still roam free. Targeted at conservation advocates, policymakers, and general audiences.
- The Plastic Detox Documentary following six couples on a plastic detox journey within their homes, revealing the truth about microplastics, their chemicals, and health impacts including hormone disruption, cancer, and cardiovascular risks. Targeted at health-conscious consumers and environmental advocates on Netflix.
- OPS Shop Merchandise Branded merchandise including t-shirts ($28-$30), reusable bags ($20), coloring books ($15), DVDs ($9.99-$50), and posters ($15-$50), with feature artist collaborations donating 20% of sales back to OPS. Targeted at individual supporters, activists, and conservation advocates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% reduction in manta ray catches in Lamakera, Indonesia through community transition programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Oceanic Preservation Society
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Oceanic Preservation Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Oceanic Preservation Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vulcan ProductionscoreVulcan Productions is a key strategic partner for OPS, co-producing multiple films including Racing Extinction and The Last Place on Earth. Paul G. Allen and Jody Allen are credited as Executive Producers on Racing Extinction. Vulcan Philanthropy has supported OPS community transition programs.
- Misool FoundationcoreMisool Foundation is a core conservation partner working with OPS on the Lamakera community transition program in Indonesia. Together they have reduced manta ray catches by 92% and established a sustainable fishery collective with over 100 ex-hunters.
- Conservation InternationalcoreConservation International is a partner in OPS campaigns including the manta ray sanctuary initiative. They worked with WildAid and others to achieve Indonesia's 2014 national protection for manta rays.
- WildAidcoreWildAid partnered with OPS on the manta ray campaign, contributing to the landmark 2013 CITES victory and Indonesia's 2014 national manta sanctuary legislation.
- Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP)coreOPS collaborates with the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) to develop whale and dolphin sanctuaries, working toward ending the captivity of whales and dolphins in the USA and globally.
- Reef Check IndonesiaminorReef Check Indonesia is a partner in the Lamakera community transition program, supporting marine conservation efforts in Indonesia.
- Indonesian Manta ProjectminorIndonesian Manta Project is a partner in manta ray conservation efforts in Indonesia, contributing to research and protection initiatives.
- HAkA (Hutan Alan Aceh)coreHAkA, led by Farwiza Farhan, is a forest conservation organization featured in The Last Place on Earth, working to protect Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem.
- FKL (Forest, Nature and Climate)coreFKL, led by Rudi Putra, is a conservation organization featured in The Last Place on Earth, working to protect the Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra.
- SOCP (Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme)coreSOCP, led by Ian Singleton, is featured in The Last Place on Earth as a key organization protecting Sumatran orangutans and their habitat.
- Orangutan Information CentercoreOrangutan Information Center, led by Panut Hadisiswoyo, is featured in The Last Place on Earth as a wildlife conservation organization working in Sumatra.
- Rainforest Action Network (RAN)coreRAN, with Gemma Tillack as Forest Policy Director, is a partner in OPS campaigns to protect forests and the Leuser Ecosystem from palm oil-driven deforestation.
- Okeanos FoundationminorOkeanos Foundation is listed as a partner organization on the OPS website, supporting ocean conservation initiatives.
- National Geographic Photo ArkminorNational Geographic Photo Ark, founded by Joel Sartore, partners with OPS on Racing Extinction and educational content. Joel Sartore appears in Racing Extinction and contributed to the Photo Ark content in OPS educational materials.
- PONANT CruisesminorOPS has partnered with PONANT Cruises for eco-adventure tours, including a 9-night Costa Rica to Panama journey. PONANT is recognized for sustainable ships and responsible ecotourism.
- Participant MediaminorParticipant Media is listed as a supporter of The Cove, contributing to the social action campaign for the documentary.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oceanic Preservation Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Earth Island Institute: Environmental nonprofit incubating and supporting project-based advocacy initiatives, including marine conservation. Comparable to OPS in nonprofit structure, project-based model, and environmental mission focus.
- Participant Media: Impact-driven media company producing documentary and narrative films tied to social action campaigns. Operates a similar model of mission-aligned content combined with advocacy campaigns, and was previously a partner on The Cove.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Marine conservation organization using direct-action campaigns to protect marine wildlife. Comparable to OPS in marine conservation focus and willingness to use confrontational tactics to expose environmental crimes.
- Exposure Labs: Impact-driven documentary production company behind An Inconvenient Truth and An Inconvenient Sequel. Closely comparable to OPS in mission (climate/environmental storytelling), film-led impact model, and nonprofit-adjacent production structure.
- WildAid: Wildlife conservation organization running awareness campaigns against illegal wildlife trade. Active OPS partner on the manta ray campaign and directly comparable in mission, donor base, and campaign-led advocacy model.
- Oceana: International ocean conservation advocacy organization running policy campaigns on marine protection, sustainable fishing, and biodiversity. Direct peer in marine-focused impact advocacy with comparable mission and donor base overlap.
- Vulcan Productions: Paul Allen-founded documentary production company focused on conservation and environmental storytelling. Direct co-production partner on multiple OPS films (Racing Extinction, The Last Place on Earth) and shares the same production-and-impact model.
Broad incumbents
- National Geographic Society: Large-scale nonprofit media organization producing environmental, wildlife, and exploration documentary content with global distribution. Operates in the same storytelling category as OPS but at significantly larger scale and broader editorial scope.
- Conservation International: Large-scale environmental nonprofit operating globally on biodiversity, ocean, and climate conservation. Active OPS partner in manta ray sanctuary work; comparable in mission but substantially larger in scale and institutional reach.
- Greenpeace: Global environmental activism organization running campaigns on oceans, forests, and climate. Comparable in advocacy-led impact model and donor base, but operates at much larger scale and with broader issue coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oceanic Preservation Society social profiles
Digital presenceOceanic Preservation Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oceanic Preservation Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Oceanic Preservation Society subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Oceanic Preservation Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oceanic Preservation Society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oceanic Preservation Society
What does Oceanic Preservation Society do?
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is an Academy Award-winning nonprofit documentary film production house that produces high-impact environmental documentaries and visual storytelling projects to expose crimes against nature and inspire conservation action. The organization sells and licenses documentary films including The Cove, Racing Extinction, The Game Changers, Mission: Joy, You Are What You Eat, The Last Place on Earth, and The Plastic Detox, while also offering global projection events on iconic architecture, drone light shows, and K-12 educational curricula. Revenue is generated through individual donations and monthly memberships, merchandise sales, grants, and film licensing (including Netflix streaming and public performance licenses).
Is Oceanic Preservation Society a public or private company?
Oceanic Preservation Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oceanic Preservation Society founded?
Oceanic Preservation Society was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Oceanic Preservation Society based?
Oceanic Preservation Society is headquartered in Greenbrae, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oceanic Preservation Society make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and fundraising.
Who are Oceanic Preservation Society's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Earth Island Institute, Participant Media, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Exposure Labs, WildAid, Oceana and Vulcan Productions. Broad incumbents are National Geographic Society, Conservation International and Greenpeace.
Does Oceanic Preservation Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oceanic Preservation Society.
What industry is Oceanic Preservation Society in?
Oceanic Preservation Society's product category is Environmental Documentary Filmmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management, with a secondary code of MPAGAEAO, Community Environmental & Sustainability Events (Earth Day, Clean-Up Festivals). Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 7822.