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Rock the Ocean Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Rock the Ocean Foundation

Increase public awareness about the issues impacting the world's ocean and to support scientific research, education and ocean conservation initiatives through benefit concerts and entertainment industry events.

$298k
Granted FY2024still arriving
21
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$48k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Environment$663kAnimals$310kEducation$209kScience & Tech$83k
02FY2024 · 21 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 21 grants below total $262,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $297,876 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $35,376 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k8 grants · $56k
  • $10k–50k13 grants · $207k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$431k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY$47,500
SHARKS4KIDS INC$22,500
BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION$15,000
OCEARCH$15,000
LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER$15,000
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI$13,500
SOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER INC$12,500
GUY HARVEY OCEAN FUND INC$12,500
RIC O'BARRY'S DOLPHIN PROJECT$12,500
REEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC$10,500
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HCAS$10,000
SEA TURTLE OVERSIGHT PROTECTION$10,000
RESCUE A REEF PROGRAM$10,000
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY CRRAM LAB$7,500
CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION$7,500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 88% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%RIC O'BARRY'S DOLPHIN PROJECT: $15k → 14%SEA TURTLE ADVENTURES: $11k → 11%RIC O'BARRY'S DOLPHIN PROJECT: $13k → 12%The Coral Restoration Foundat: $8k → 13%BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION: $45k → 13%University of Miami: $24k → 15%UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION: $8k → 19%OCEARCH: $15k → 5%LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER: $25k → 11%REEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $15k → 13%BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION: $20k → 13%University of Miami: $23k → 15%LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER: $18k → 11%REEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $13k → 13%BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION: $15k → 13%UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SHARK RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM: $15k → 15%LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER: $15k → 11%REEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC: $11k → 13%RESCUE A REEF PROGRAM: $11k → 15%Loggerhead Marinelife Center: $10k → 11%RESCUE A REEF PROGRAM: $10k → 15%NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: $48k → 13%Bimini Biological Field Stati: $20k → 15%Sea Turtle Oversight Protecti: $28k → 13%Bimini Biological Field Stati: $8k → 15%NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HCAS: $10k → 13%Sea Turle Oversight Protectio: $11k → 13%Nova Southeastern University: $8k → 13%SEA TURTLE OVERSIGHT PROTECTION: $10k → 13%SEA TURTLE OVERSIGHT PROTECTION: $10k → 13%NSU FISHERIES & AVIAN ECOLOGY LABORATORY: $10k → 13%Nova Southeastern University: $71k → 13%SHARKS4KIDS: $47k → 13%Sharks4Kids: $35k → 13%NSU BROWARD COUNTY SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM: $33k → 13%SHARKS4KIDS: $25k → 13%SHARKS4KIDS INC: $23k → 13%GUY HARVEY OCEAN FOUNDATION: $20k → 13%Nova Southeastern University: $19k → 13%NSU GUY HARVEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: $15k → 13%NSU MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (MEEC): $13k → 13%FRIENDS OF OUR FLORIDA REEFS INC: $8k → 13%SOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER INC: $13k → 13%SOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER: $13k → 13%GUY HARVEY FOUNDATION: $15k → 13%SOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER: $10k → 13%GUY HARVEY OCEAN FUND INC: $13k → 13%South Florida Wildlife Center: $9k → 13%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 16 repeat orgs$76k to everyone else

16 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
7

Total granted

$1.2M
$49k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+24%
+35%

Still filing today

94%
86%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $27k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’22’23’24
AnimalsEnvironmentEducationScience & TechYouth DevelopmentRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • Nova Southeastern University Inc
    6× · 2017–2024 · $355k · revenue +57%
  • SI
    SHARKS4KIDS INC
    5× · 2017–2024 · $137k · revenue +158% · 41% of their budget
  • UO
    University of Miami
    5× · 2018–2024 · $106k · revenue +87%

Funded once

  • ST
    SEA TURTLE ADVENTURES INC
    one grant, 2022 · $11k · revenue +24%
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2019 · $9k · revenue -43%
  • CI
    COASTLOVE INC
    one grant, 2023 · $7k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Coral Reef and Marine Science Foundation Inc C/O James Bildner
—
2
Ocean Research and Educational
Science & Tech
3
Schmidt Ocean Institute
Science & Tech
4
Mote Marine Laboratory Inc

The advancement of marine and environmental sciences through scientific research, education and public outreach, leading new discoveries, revitalization and sustainability of our oceans and greater public understanding of our marine…

—
5
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
—
6
Clean Reefs
Environment
7
Marine Conservation Science Institute
Philanthropy
8
Symbioseas

Marine research

Science & Tech
9
Galapagos Whale Shark Project
—
10
For the Fishes

To address, educate, coordinate, and enhance enforcement capacity to end teh trade in coral reef wildlife for household and other small display aquariums. our supply and demand side strategies are directed locally and globally to…

Animals
11
Oceanit Research Foundation
Science & Tech
12
Ocean First Institute

The mission of Ocean First Institute is ocean conservation through research and education. We work to deepen the natural connection between people and the ocean. We educate and empower people to understand the ocean is our life support…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Reef Environmental Education Foundation; the most unlike its peers is University of Miami. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 27 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
17/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Nova Southeastern University Inc: $355,000 · EducationNova Southeastern University IncUniversity of Miami: $105,500 · EducationUniversity of Miami+3 more: $22,500 · EducationOCEARCH: $75,000 · AnimalsOCEARCHSea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc: $58,500 · AnimalsSea Turtle Oversight P…SOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER INC: $44,000 · AnimalsSOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE…Ric OBarrys Dolphin Project: $27,500 · AnimalsRic OBarrys Dolphin Pr…THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION INC: $22,500 · AnimalsTHE BILLFISH FOUNDATIO…SEA TURTLE ADVENTURES INC: $10,500 · Animals+2 more: $11,500 · AnimalsBIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION INC: $115,500 · Science & TechBIMINI BIOLOGICAL…LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER INC: $67,500 · Science & TechLOGGERHEAD MARINE…+2 more: $13,000 · Science & Tech+2 moreSHARKS4KIDS INC: $136,974 · Youth DevelopmentSHARKS4KIDS …GUY HARVEY OCEAN FUND INC: $53,100 · EnvironmentGUY HARVEY…FRIENDS OF OUR FLORIDA REEFS: $21,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF…COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $16,500 · EnvironmentCOASTAL CO…THE CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 · EnvironmentTHE CORAL …Oceanic Preservation Society: $6,000 · EnvironmentOCEAN SOLE AFRICA INC: $5,500 · EnvironmentPROJECT BASELINE: $37,500 · OtherCOASTLOVE INC: $6,500 · OtherREEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $38,000 · Recreation & Sports
Education$483,000Animals$249,500Science & Tech$196,000Youth Development$136,974Environment$117,100Other$44,000Recreation & Sports$38,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNova Southeastern University Inc: $355,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetSHARKS4KIDS INC: $136,974 over 5y, 41% of budgetBIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION INC: $115,500 over 6y, 4.5% of budgetUniversity of Miami: $105,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOCEARCH: $75,000 over 3y, 3.5% of budgetLOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER INC: $67,500 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetSea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc: $58,500 over 4y, 20% of budgetGUY HARVEY OCEAN FUND INC: $53,100 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetSOUTH FLORIDA WILDLIFE CENTER INC: $44,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetREEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $38,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetRic OBarrys Dolphin Project: $27,500 over 2y, 3.4% of budgetTHE BILLFISH FOUNDATION INC: $22,500 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetCOASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $16,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetSEA TURTLE ADVENTURES INC: $10,500 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC: $8,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH: $6,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetORCA BEHAVIOR INSTITUTE: $6,500 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetFLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $6,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOceanic Preservation Society: $6,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOCEAN SOLE AFRICA INC: $5,500 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetSEA TURTLE RECOVERY INC: $5,500 over 1y, 4.5% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Wye Foundation IncAmerican Express Foun…Shell USA Company Fou…Enterprise Holdings F…The Pfizer Foundation…Raymond James Charita…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…Paypal Charitable Giv…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…
Wye Foundation IncFL13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Wye Foundation Inc · American Express Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Rock the Ocean Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rock the Ocean Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 120%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 5%
  • The Coral Restoration Foundation Inc: 16% of income from government
  • University of Miami: 5% of income from government
  • Nova Southeastern University Inc: 2% of income from government
  • Guy Harvey Ocean Fund Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
12get no government money at all
2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Rock the Ocean Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Rock the Ocean Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 27 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Rock the Ocean’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home