Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Established in 2010 by local community leaders, the Friends of TBNMS is a nonprofit 501(c)3. Its founders envisioned the significant opportunity the sanctuary offered for protecting our Great Lakes and their rich maritime history, hands-on educational experiences for area students, and local economic development. Today, that vision has become a reality with the Friends of TBNMS sharing a close working relationship with the sanctuary staff, playing a critical role in funding the sanctuary’s education programs, community outreach efforts, unique museum experiences, and research. Learn more about Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary here.
Greater Farallones Association
The GFA supports the NOAA and Marine Sanctuary with science programs, restoring habitat, addressing climate change, youth education, and research funding. Learn more about the Greater Farallones Association here.
Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation
The Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation was incorporated in 2008 by a group of dedicated individuals who saw a need to increase support and awareness of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS). These three people, Joe Smith, Tom Lambert, and Doreen Gurrola realized that the research and education goals of the CBNMS staff could not be attained with the federal government funding levels at the time, so they started the Foundation to increase the public awareness of the ecological importance of the Cordell Bank, and support the efforts of the Sanctuary staff to protect this vital area off the Northern California coast. In 2010, the size of the CMSF Board was increased and since then CMSF has continued to support many CBNMS educational and research programs. CMSF presented a series of lectures in Sonoma and Marin counties to educate people about the richness of this unique marine environment. The Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation continues its important role in supporting the research, education, and protection of this unseen wonder, just offshore. Learn more about The Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation here.