Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges

What Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges does

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges is a registered 501(c)(3) all-volunteer charitable organization that supports three federally designated National Wildlife Refuges in the Tampa Bay area of Florida: Egmont Key (established 1974), Passage Key (established 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt), and the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge (established 1951). The organization assists the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida State Parks in managing these refuges by coordinating volunteer programs — including monthly bird surveys, bird steward and guardhouse docent programs, and refuge cleanups — and by sponsoring public education, field trips, and advocacy efforts. Core activities are directed at protecting nesting and migratory birds (up to 30,000 nesting pairs), loggerhead sea turtles on a designated index nesting beach, and island habitat that has eroded from 535 acres in 1942 to roughly 200 acres today.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; operations are coordinated through volunteer management, a website (tampabayrefuges.org), PayPal-based donation processing, the Bonfire e-commerce platform for Respect The Refuge branded merchandise, and Google reCAPTCHA for spam protection. Revenue is generated through five streams: annual membership dues and one-time donations, merchandise sales (t-shirts, tote bags, hats), the $100 Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest Program on Egmont Key (which produces a wooden turtle plaque with the adopter's name and hatchling count), Legacy Giving via estate planning, and merchandise proceeds through Bonfire. The only publicly disclosed program price is the $100 sea turtle nest adoption; membership tiers are available but specific amounts are not listed.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and volunteer-driven: supporters are acquired through in-person presence at local festivals and markets (SharkCon, Geckofest, Shopapalooza), word-of-mouth referrals, volunteer program participation, and a grassroots Save Egmont Key advocacy campaign. The organization is governed by a 10-person Board of Directors (President Patrick Mundus, Vice President Debi Lanning, Secretary Julia Opaleski, Treasurer Barb Howard, plus six additional board members) and partners with a broad coalition including Tampa Bay Watch, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Audubon, Eckerd College, National Wildlife Refuge Association, Hubbard's Marina, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Two of its flagship volunteer programs (Bird Stewards and Guardhouse Docents) are currently on hold for the 2025 season due to 2024 hurricane damage and federal staffing reductions.

Name

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges

Legal name

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges

Website

https://tampabayrefuges.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit that supports three federally designated National Wildlife Refuges in Tampa Bay (Egmont Key, Passage Key, Pinellas) by coordinating volunteer conservation programs, education, and fundraising in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida State Parks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAB

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAGAA

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Nonprofit fundraising programs
• Volunteer habitat protection
• Sea turtle nest adoption
• Bird stewardship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Annual membership dues and one-time donations from individuals supporting wildlife conservation. Membership fees are processed through PayPal.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Respect The Refuge branded apparel including t-shirts, tote bags, and hats through Bonfire e-commerce platform. A portion of proceeds supports refuge programs.
3. Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest Program: $100 adoption fee per nest on Egmont Key. Includes wooden turtle plaque recognition with adopter's name and hatchling count displayed at the Egmont Key Guard House.
4. Legacy Giving: Estate planning donations where supporters include the organization in their wills or estate plans to support long-term conservation efforts.
5. Donation Processing: Secure PayPal donations accepting credit cards without requiring a PayPal account.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports three National Wildlife Refuges in Tampa Bay (Egmont Key, Passage Key, and Pinellas Refuges) through volunteer coordination, conservation programs, member and donor fundraising, public education, and advocacy. It sells branded merchandise and offers a paid Sea Turtle Nest Adoption program to raise funds for refuge conservation and outreach.

Product overview

Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges is a registered 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit organization that supports three National Wildlife Refuges (Egmont Key, Passage Key, and The Pinellas Refuges) through conservation, education, and volunteer programs. The organization offers membership and donation programs for financial support, a Sea Turtle Nest Adoption program for direct conservation impact, and multiple volunteer opportunities including monthly bird surveys, refuge cleanups, and docent programs. The merchandise line (Respect The Refuge Apparel) and Featured Artist Program provide additional outreach and fundraising channels. All programs work in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect nesting birds, seabirds, sea turtles, and other wildlife on the refuges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest Program A conservation adoption program on Egmont Key. For $100 per nest, donors adopt a sea turtle nest and receive a wooden turtle plaque with their name and hatchling count, displayed at the Egmont Key Guard House.
• Annual Membership Annual membership program with dues funding conservation, preservation, restoration, and education programs at the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. Membership dues processed through PayPal.
• Respect The Refuge Apparel Branded merchandise line including t-shirts, tote bags, and hats sold through the Bonfire e-commerce platform. A portion of proceeds supports Tampa Bay refuge programs.
• Monthly Bird Surveys Volunteer program where participants survey nesting islands by boat, identifying bird species and monitoring population changes to evaluate conservation effectiveness at the Pinellas Refuges.
• Bird Steward Program Volunteer program training participants to safeguard nesting bird colonies on Egmont Key. Currently paused for the 2025 nesting season due to 2024 hurricane damage and USFWS staffing reductions; expected to resume in spring/summer 2026.
• Guardhouse Docent Program Volunteer docent staffing at the Egmont Key Guardhouse, providing visitor information and historical interpretation. Currently on hold due to 2024 hurricane damage and staffing reductions.
• Refuge Cleanups Volunteer program removing plastic, styrofoam, balloons, fishing line, and debris from beaches to protect seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals at the Tampa Bay refuges.
• Legacy Giving Estate planning program allowing supporters to include the organization in their will or trust to support long-term wildlife conservation at the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges.
• Donations Secure donation program processed via PayPal (credit cards accepted without requiring a PayPal account), supporting the mission and programs of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges.
• Featured Wildlife Artist Program Outreach program celebrating local wildlife artists whose work brings visibility to the beauty and ecological value of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. Launched in 2025 with Luci Westphal as the inaugural featured artist.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports protection of up to 30,000 pairs of nesting birds including gulls, terns, pelicans, skimmers, ibis, and osprey
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner managing the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. The Friends organization assists USFWS with their mission through volunteer coordination, conservation programs, advocacy, and fundraising support.
• Florida State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner managing Egmont Key State Park jointly with USFWS for 30 years. Florida Park Service works hand-in-hand with USFWS to manage visitor use and protect wildlife. Recent staffing reductions have raised concerns about continued partnership.
• Tampa Bay WatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental organization focused on Tampa Bay restoration and protection. Listed as a partner in the Tampa Bay Wildlife Refuges network.
• Tampa Bay Estuary ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional program dedicated to protecting and restoring Tampa Bay estuary. Partner in broader Tampa Bay conservation efforts.
• Hubbard's Marina Egmont Key FerrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides daily ferry service from Fort De Soto boat ramp to Egmont Key, enabling public access to the refuge. The only commercial ferry operator serving the island.
• Florida AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Audubon Society focused on bird conservation. Partner in conservation efforts and bird protection programs.
• Eckerd CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal educational institution engaged in conservation partnerships and environmental research.
• National Wildlife Refuge AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational advocacy organization for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Provides action center for contacting congressional representatives about refuge funding.
• St. Pete AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Audubon chapter in St. Petersburg focused on bird conservation in the Tampa Bay area.
• The Center for Biological DiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit organization focused on species protection. Listed as a partner in the refuges network.
• Coalition of Refuge Friends GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Friends groups supporting various National Wildlife Refuges, providing peer support and shared resources.
• EcomersionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner organization supporting Tampa Bay conservation efforts.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Project will use dredged material to restore and stabilize Egmont Key. Pre-construction engineering and design phase to be completed in 2026 with construction to follow. Will provide beach restoration, dune construction, and historic structure protection.
• Seminole Tribe of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal Historic Preservation Office published detailed history of Egmont Key and The Seminole. Investigating history of Seminole removal and imprisonment on Egmont Key during 1800s.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• St. Pete Audubon: Local Audubon chapter in St. Petersburg focused on bird conservation in the Tampa Bay area. Listed as a direct partner and shares the same volunteer/membership-driven model around bird habitat protection.
• Florida Audubon Society: State-level Audubon organization focused on bird and habitat conservation across Florida, including coastal and colonial nesting species similar to those protected in the Tampa Bay refuges. Listed as a direct conservation partner.
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program: Regional program dedicated to protecting and restoring Tampa Bay estuary. Listed as a direct partner and shares the same geographic and ecosystem focus on Tampa Bay water quality and habitat.
• Tampa Bay Watch: Local Tampa Bay nonprofit focused on habitat restoration, community education, and volunteer-led conservation along the same shorelines the Friends group protects. Direct partner listed in the organization's partner network.
• Friends of the Everglades: A Florida-based Friends-style conservation nonprofit advocating for protection of a major natural ecosystem. Highly comparable structure (volunteer-led, donation-driven, advocacy-focused) applied to a different Florida habitat.
• National Wildlife Refuge Association: National nonprofit dedicated to supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System through advocacy, funding, and Friends-group coordination. Direct partner that provides the congressional action tools used by the organization.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Global environmental nonprofit focused on land and water conservation, including significant Florida coastal and marine work. Broad incumbent with much larger operating capacity and overlapping habitat-protection objectives.
• National Wildlife Federation: Largest U.S. private nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation; broad incumbent with national advocacy, education, and on-the-ground habitat programs overlapping the organization's mission space at significantly greater scale.
• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife advocacy nonprofit focused on imperiled species and habitat protection. Operates at much broader geographic and policy scale than the Friends group, with overlapping mission on endangered/threatened species and federal land protection.
• Center for Biological Diversity: National nonprofit focused on species protection and biodiversity through legal advocacy and public campaigns. Listed as a direct partner and shares an overlapping species-protection mission at national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges