We back people who move the needle of conservation forward.

Marine Ventures Fund invests in people and ideas that improve the future of our planet. Since 2000, we've supported conservation efforts that combine rigorous science, local knowledge, and entrepreneurial thinking to solve problems that matter.

And we believe that the people closest to an ecosystem are often the ones best equipped to protect it.

Our Story

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. We have been blessed to work with some extraordinary people dedicating their careers to making the world a better place.

Project Areas

  • Our grants program dates back to our first year of operation in 2000 where we funded marine conservation projects exclusively. We evolved over the years to fund a wider range of programs from ocean and freshwater conservation to mental health projects to educational programs. It became obvious that it did indeed take a village to protect both the environment and cultural lifestyle of the people for a healthy community. People decide what is protected and what is exploited. Their lives determine their environment and the health of the landscape.

  • We have funded a number of startup nonprofits where a new approach to solving an existing conservation challenge was needed. Some of the groups funded are: The Ocean Foundation, Tag a Giant, Ocean Champions, iNaturalist and Adventure Scientists. We believe these founders are those who can help solve environmental and societal problems with a different mindset, approach, and true entrepreneurial creativity.

  • We started a documentary film project in 2010 where we provide a complete documentary film production service to nonprofits as a pro bono service. Our production team works with the nonprofit to craft their story and message and we collaborate to produce a final film ready for the film festival circuit. The film list includes Remains of A River, A changing Delta, Tiny Trees, and Coastal Walkabout. We also develop and make original films about cultural landscapes where humans and nature thrive, sometimes in harmony.

Organizations We Support

From the MVF Journal

Journal
Who decides?

Protecting endangered species is a law in the US. The question arises when one species can kill another species to protect a species at risk. Or do we let nature take its course or do we intervene and eliminate the predator? Could be a bird, a shark its predating so we can kill them off to save a species. Protection of endangered species requires humans to decide who lives or dies…

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Sea of Cortez

The Colorado River runs 1450 miles from the mountains of Wyoming to the Sea of Cortez south of Mexicali. But the river never reaches the sea. The entire river is diverted at the Morelos Dam and channeled into an irrigation system that feeds a massive agricultural industry.

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Wealth Extraction

When you think of wealth extraction I suspect that gold mining or oil and gas wells covering the countryside. But to better understand this process let’s read the definition first:

Wealth extraction - the process of extracting the most valuable elements of an ecosystem for human benefit at the expense of everything else.

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Art, Wild and Terra Nullius

The fantasy of wilderness is a lie. There is no wilderness, but there are cultural landscapes. 

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Our team

Andrew Quinn

Brandon White

TOM MCMURRAY

Get in touch

While we don’t accept grant applications, we are always happy to hear from people doing meaningful work in the world who need a little help. Does that sound like you?

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