Ocean Blue Project — Major Gifts & Program Support
Protect Our Ocean at Scale
Make a Major Gift That Funds Cleanup, Education, and Long-Term Ocean Recovery
Ocean Blue Project helps stop plastic pollution before it reaches marine ecosystems by supporting beach cleanups, river cleanups, coastal restoration, youth education, and community action across the United States. Your major gift can fund immediate removal of debris and the long-term systems that protect waterways, wildlife, and coastal communities.
Speak With Our Team
Explore Funding Opportunities
Ocean Blue Project – 501(c)(3) nonprofit • Tax-deductible giving • National cleanup programs • Community-driven impact
6699 Fox Centra Pkwy Gloucester, Va 23061
Suit 104-146
Why Major Gifts Matter
Ocean plastic pollution is a visible crisis, but the strongest solutions happen both on the shoreline and upstream. Ocean Blue Project’s model connects direct cleanup work with education, restoration, and prevention—helping remove debris now while reducing what reaches the ocean later.
Major gifts allow us to:
- Expand national beach and river cleanup programs
- Equip volunteers and cleanup leaders
- Support youth environmental education
- Strengthen restoration and prevention initiatives
- Build capacity for long-term, measurable impact
For donors who want to create durable change, major giving makes it possible to fund entire programs—not just isolated events.
Your Gift Can Power Solutions Across Every Program
Ocean Blue Project’s work spans the full pathway of plastic pollution, from inland waterways to coastal ecosystems. By investing across programs, you help build a stronger ocean protection system.
Areas your gift can support
- Beach Cleanup Programs — Mobilize volunteers to remove debris from shorelines before it harms wildlife and habitats.
- River Cleanup Programs — Intercept plastic upstream, where much ocean pollution begins.
- Youth Education — Help students understand the watershed-to-ocean connection through hands-on learning.
- Community Engagement — Build local stewardship through volunteer action, events, and outreach.
- Restoration & Prevention — Support solutions that reduce future pollution and improve ecosystem health.
- National Program Growth — Expand operations, equipment, logistics, and leadership capacity across regions.
CTA: View Program Funding Priorities
Give Where Your Values and Vision Meet
Some donors want to fund urgent cleanup. Others care most about education, prevention, or long-term program growth. Ocean Blue Project offers meaningful ways to align a major gift with the outcomes you care about most.
Whether you want to support one initiative or all programs, our team can help structure a gift that reflects your philanthropic goals.
Ways to give
- Unrestricted Major Gifts
Provide flexible support where it is needed most across cleanup, education, restoration, and program operations. - Program-Directed Gifts
Fund a specific area such as beach cleanups, river cleanups, youth education, or restoration. - Regional Support
Help expand work in communities and coastlines where needs are growing. - Capacity-Building Gifts
Invest in tools, staffing, volunteer infrastructure, logistics, and systems that make every future program stronger. - Campaign or Challenge Gifts
Inspire other donors by creating a match opportunity for a special campaign.
CTA: Start a Major Gift Conversation
Fund the Programs That Move Plastic Pollution Backward
1. Beach Cleanup Programs
Support volunteer-driven cleanups that remove plastic and debris from beaches and coastal areas. These efforts protect wildlife, preserve public shorelines, and create visible community impact.
Good fit for donors interested in: direct action, marine wildlife, coastal protection, community engagement
2. River Cleanup Programs
Many plastics reach the ocean through rivers and waterways. Funding river cleanups helps stop pollution earlier in its journey and improves watershed health.
Good fit for donors interested in: prevention, watershed protection, upstream solutions, scalable impact
3. Youth Education Programs
Hands-on education helps students connect daily choices to ocean health. Gifts in this area support environmental learning, stewardship, and future leadership.
Good fit for donors interested in: youth, education, long-term culture change, community leadership
4. Restoration & Prevention
Support efforts that improve environmental resilience and reduce future pollution pressure on coastal ecosystems.
Good fit for donors interested in: ecosystem health, sustainability, long-term solutions, measurable environmental outcomes
5. National Program Expansion
Major gifts can help Ocean Blue Project strengthen operations, train leaders, expand geographic reach, and scale successful models.
Good fit for donors interested in: growth, systems change, nonprofit capacity, national impact
Illustrative Major Gift Opportunities
These examples help show how leadership giving can be applied. Final gift structures can be tailored to donor intent, geography, and campaign priorities.
$5,000+
Support volunteer mobilization, cleanup supplies, transportation, and event logistics for community cleanup efforts.
$10,000+
Fund a series of cleanup events or provide meaningful support for youth education and outreach programming.
$25,000+
Underwrite a regional program focus, help launch new cleanup initiatives, or expand educational engagement.
$50,000+
Create transformational support for multi-program work, infrastructure, or long-term regional growth.
$100,000+
Help build enduring capacity across cleanup, education, prevention, and national expansion.
CTA: Discuss Leadership Giving
Recognition and Partnership Opportunities
Ocean Blue Project welcomes conversations about donor recognition, partnership storytelling, and custom reporting.
Depending on your giving level and preferences, opportunities may include:
- Program or campaign recognition
- Featured support of a cleanup or educational initiative
- Updates tied to the area you fund
- Stewardship conversations with organizational leadership
- Multi-year partnership planning
We also understand that some donors prefer to give quietly. Anonymous giving options are available.
See the Difference Your Gift Makes
Major donors want to know their giving is producing real results. Ocean Blue Project can provide stewardship centered on the programs and outcomes that matter most to you.
Depending on gift type, stewardship may include:
- Program updates
- Stories from cleanup and education efforts
- Milestone reporting
- Photos and field highlights
- Strategy conversations for future impact
CTA: Talk About Stewardship Options
Planned Giving / Legacy Section
Build a Legacy for Cleaner Oceans
For donors thinking beyond annual giving, legacy and long-range commitments can help protect waterways for future generations.
If you are interested in a multi-year commitment, legacy conversation, or gifts through a donor-advised fund, family foundation, or estate plan, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
Donor Testimonial Section
Why Donors Invest in Ocean Blue Project
“We chose Ocean Blue Project because the work is tangible, community-based, and forward-looking. It combines direct cleanup with education and prevention, which is exactly the kind of long-term environmental impact we want to support.”
Oregon State Universities Athletics Coach
FAQ Section
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I direct my gift to a specific program?
Yes. Major gifts can often be directed to areas such as beach cleanups, river cleanups, education, restoration, or broader program growth.
Can I support all programs at once?
Yes. Unrestricted or broadly designated gifts help Ocean Blue Project allocate resources where they are most needed across programs.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Ocean Blue Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Can I make a multi-year pledge?
Yes. Multi-year giving conversations are welcome and can be aligned with campaign priorities or long-term strategy.
Can I give through a donor-advised fund or family foundation?
Yes. Donors can discuss the best structure for giving with the organization.
Who should I contact about a major gift?
Use the contact form or major gifts inquiry button below to connect with the Ocean Blue Project team.
Bottom CTA Section
Fund Cleaner Waterways, Healthier Wildlife, and Stronger Communities
Your philanthropy can help Ocean Blue Project remove plastic pollution, educate future stewards, strengthen restoration, and expand community-driven solutions across the United States.
Make a Major Gift
Contact the Development Team
Contact Form Copy
Let’s Build the Right Giving Opportunity Together
Please share your interests and a member of our team will follow up.
Email: Office@oceanblueproject.org
Institutional Giving (Family Foundations & Donor-Advised Funds)
Structured Philanthropy for Ocean Protection and Plastic Reduction
Ocean Blue Project offers strategic funding opportunities for family foundations and donor-advised funds seeking measurable, scalable environmental impact. Our work addresses ocean plastic pollution through a combination of direct cleanup, upstream intervention, education, and long-term prevention strategies.
This section is designed to support institutional donors who prioritize:
- Clear funding categories
- Defined outcomes
- Scalable program models
- Accountability and reporting
Funding Framework
We organize our work into four core investment areas aligned with the lifecycle of plastic pollution:
1. Direct Removal (Cleanup Programs)
- Beach cleanup initiatives
- River and watershed cleanup programs
- Volunteer mobilization and equipment
Outcome: Immediate removal of plastic waste from ecosystems
2. Upstream Prevention (River & Community Interception)
- River cleanup expansion
- Community-based waste reduction efforts
- Local engagement in pollution prevention
Outcome: Reduced volume of plastic entering oceans
3. Education & Behavior Change
- Youth environmental education programs
- Community awareness campaigns
- Stewardship development
Outcome: Long-term reduction in plastic use and improved environmental literacy
4. Capacity & National Expansion
- Program scaling across regions
- Operational infrastructure
- Leadership development and logistics systems
Outcome: Increased geographic reach and sustained program delivery
Giving Structures for Foundations & DAFs
Ocean Blue Project supports a range of structured giving approaches:
Program-Restricted Grants
Fund a specific program area such as cleanup, education, or prevention.
Multi-Program Investment
Support integrated efforts across cleanup, prevention, and education.
Capacity-Building Grants
Strengthen organizational infrastructure, staffing, and systems.
Multi-Year Commitments
Enable long-term planning and sustained program impact.
Challenge & Matching Grants
Leverage additional donor participation and campaign growth.
Example Investment Ranges
These ranges are illustrative and can be customized:
- $25,000 – $50,000 → Program-level support (cleanup series, education rollout)
- $50,000 – $100,000 → Regional expansion or multi-program funding
- $100,000+ → Strategic investment across multiple initiatives or national growth
Measurement & Reporting
We recognize that institutional donors require transparency and accountability.
Available reporting elements may include:
- Program activity summaries
- Quantitative outputs (e.g., cleanup events, engagement metrics)
- Narrative impact stories
- Photos and field documentation
- Strategic updates and planning conversations
Reporting can be aligned with donor preferences and grant structures.
Partnership Approach
Ocean Blue Project values collaborative relationships with foundations and donor-advised fund holders. We aim to align philanthropic intent with practical, high-impact environmental outcomes.
Our team is available to:
- Discuss funding priorities
- Develop customized giving strategies
- Align programs with your mission areas
Institutional Call to Action
Partner With Us to Advance Scalable Ocean Solutions
Your investment can help accelerate cleanup, expand prevention efforts, and build the systems needed to reduce plastic pollution long-term.
Initiate a Funding Conversation
Request Institutional Briefing Materials
Contact Addendum for Institutional Donors
Please indicate if you are representing a:
- Family foundation
- Donor-advised fund
- Corporate foundation
- Individual major gift
This helps us tailor follow-up and materials to your needs.
