named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Ka Pae 'Āina o Hawai'i Nei Mosaic Mural
Community-driven public art installation at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge that visually represents the Hawaiian Archipelago’s geological formation and cultural significance, integrating science, art, and Indigenous knowledge to promote stewardship of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Winter Wildlife Ecotours
Urban ecotourism initiative in New York City that offers guided boat tours of the Hudson River and New York Harbor to observe wintering seals and seabirds, led in partnership with naturalists and local tour operators to raise awareness of local marine biodiversity
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Climate Change Public Awareness & Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocating for environmental awareness through public engagement and mediaEngages in public discussions, publishes essays and blog content, and collaborates with media figures to promote environmental awareness and explore connections between culture, art, and conservation.
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Ocean Ecosystem Restoration & Research 1 activity
- Conducting scientific research on ocean life and conservationConducts and publishes scientific research on ecology, animal behavior, and open-ocean ecosystems, including the impacts of fishing, whaling, and war, and reviews national and international scientific literature to advance public understanding of ocean conservation.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
- Funding mid- and early-career creators and connectors in conservationFunds 27 mid- and early-career creators and connectors working in conservation and social justice through targeted grantmaking initiatives.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Implementing on-the-ground conservation initiativesImplements targeted conservation plans, such as protecting albatross and shearwater seabird species on Kaua’i, to address wildlife threats and improve ecosystem resilience.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Operating fellowship programs for conservation and social justice professionalsHosts 10–12 early- and mid-career professionals annually through the Senior and Junior Fellows Programs, providing support and development opportunities in conservation and social justice.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Producing and distributing educational podcasts and public contentProduces and distributes a podcast featuring fellows and affiliates discussing their work, and organizes public wildlife observation events such as Hudson River tours to engage the public with local ecology.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Producing interdisciplinary content combining science, art, and storytellingCreates and disseminates books, articles, films, photography, sound art, and spoken word performances that integrate science, art, and literature to explore conservation, animal consciousness, and human relationships with nature.
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Supporting environmental journalism and creative projectsSupports environmental journalism fellows and collaborates with artists, such as on the Kīlauea Point mosaic mural, to document urban wildlife and amplify environmental narratives through creative expression.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$756K
Contributions & grants$548K72%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$190K25%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$666K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$214K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$2.49M
Cash$388K
Investments$1.60M
Liabilities$141K
Net assets$2.35M
Liquid reserves35.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Safina | President | 40 | $100K |
board members · 6
- B Eric Graham — Chairman
- Daniela Kronemeyer — Board Member
- Jane F Ross — Board Member
- Rainer Judd — Board Member
- Robert E Reuter — Treasurer
- Sven-Olof Lindblad — Board Member
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Alan Alda Partner — Engaged in a podcast interview discussing Carl Safina's book _Alfie & Me_.
- Dr. Carl Safina Partner — Founded the Safina Center in 2003 and serves as President.
- Eric Gilman Partner — Collaborates on research and advocacy related to fisheries, bycatch, and blue-water ecosystem impacts.
- Friends of the Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges Partner — Partnered with the Garden Island Arts Council and others in support of the mosaic mural project at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
- Gabriel Willow Partner — Collaborated with urban naturalist Gabriel Willow on a Hudson River wildlife tour and environmental storytelling.
- Garden Island Arts Council Partner — Provided early support for the mosaic mural project and partnered with Friends of the Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges to advance the initiative.
- Hob Osterlund Partner — Collaborates on storytelling and conservation initiatives related to Hawaiian seabirds and cultural connections to nature.
- IPCC Network — Cites the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report in examining the long-term ecological consequences of war and environmental degradation.
- Kalpana Chawla Partner — Honored through the Junior Fellows Program, which was funded by an endowment she willed to the Safina Center.
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Partner — Collaborated on the publication of a conversation about a mosaic mural installed at the refuge.
- Oprah Winfrey Partner — Collaborated on a public discussion about animal emotions featured on the Oprah Podcast.
- Oprah Winfrey Partner — Collaborated on a public discussion about human connections to the natural world.
- Raffi Khatchadourian Partner — Collaborates on narrative projects exploring human conflict, oil, and marine ecology.
- Russell Jacobs Partner — Collaborated with urban naturalist Russell Jacobs on a Hudson River wildlife tour and environmental storytelling.
- Terry Gross Partner — Hosted Paul Greenberg on Fresh Air to discuss his book _The Omega Principle_.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Government — Provided support for the mosaic mural project at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
- World-class fellows and affiliates Partner — Fellows and affiliates contribute to the Safina Center Podcast by sharing their stories and expertise.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Art and Storytelling for Conservation Engagementmethodology: art-and-culture-for-conservationBy using interdisciplinary storytelling, art, and cultural narratives, we produce broader and more emotionally resonant public engagement with environmental issues, because creative expression makes ecological values accessible and meaningful across diverse audiences.
- Evidence-Based Public Educationmethodology: evidence-based public educationBy conducting and synthesizing scientific research, we produce informed public understanding of ocean conservation, because authoritative, accessible knowledge is foundational to effective advocacy and policy change.
- Investing in Conservation Leaders Through a Dual-Tier Fellowshipmethodology: dual-tier fellowship modelBy supporting both emerging and established leaders through a dual-tier fellowship model, we produce greater innovation and impact in conservation and social justice, because transformative change requires nurturing new voices while amplifying proven leaders.
- Relational and Historical Ecology Frameworkmethodology: relational-ecologyBy framing environmental harm through relational breakdowns—both between humans and nature and across communities historically severed from land—we produce a more just and holistic conservation approach, because ecological degradation is inseparable from historical and racial injustice.
- Science-Emotion-Morality Integrationmethodology: science-emotion-morality integrationBy combining scientific research with emotional resonance and moral advocacy, we produce deeper public engagement in conservation, because facts alone are insufficient to inspire behavioral and societal change.