What We Do
Our Founding Mission
Founded in 2000, Marine Ventures funds innovative conservation programs with a focus on democratization of data to wrestle control from the agencies and return that power to the local communities. Our approach has taken the form of citizen science apps, documentary films, aerial mapping and scientific studies to make the case for ecosystem protection and stop the massive wealth extraction industries (Oil, Gas, Coal and Tourism) from destroying public lands. MVF does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.“I never lose. I either win or learn”
- Nelson Mandela
We have found that Nelson Mandela’s approach to life has worked well for Marine Ventures. By investing in new environmental nonprofits, disrupting the status quo to push forward change or working outside the US, we learn constantly and sometimes… sometimes as is the nature of this business our partners and the planet wins. There is no timetable to this strategy as we clearly see in the state of climate change today. We are all in for the long game by nature of our adaptive focus of our work and grants, by investing the foundation’s endowment in environmentally sustainable companies and teaming up with local groups to create strong partnerships. It is demanding work with setbacks but the journey to protect the planet makes it still exciting 22 years since we started MVF.
What We’ve Learned
Deep research is the first step in making a grants program work. We like to know everything we can before writing our first grant check.
The number one factor in achieving impact is building partnerships as part of a program. Going it alone does not work. It does take a village
We gained incredible experience by working and funding projects outside the US. While we have support a number of the US-based environmental and Outdoor Sports NGOs, we prefer to fund organizations outside the US.
We come from the venture capital and startup world and as a result we prefer to invest in new, novel approaches to change.
We go direct to locations and projects and work on the ground, get our hands dirty working along side our partners on projects.
We do not believe in social media as an agent of change
Wealth extraction is the source of planetary decay and climate degradation. We see tourism at almost an equal level of local destruction as oil and gas extraction. Just look at Yellowstone.
We believe that shaming, embarrassing or legal actions have a futile role in protecting the planet.
Education through stories, films, books and grassroots work are the long term solutions to local community building, repairing the planet and giving the next generation a fighting chance.
We make documentary films about people doing amazing things for the planet like Tiny Trees Preschool.