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The Sea Turtle Conservancy is proud to announce the launch of the Century Fund Endowment Campaign. As the world’s oldest and most accomplished sea turtle research and conservation organization, STC has been working for over 65 years on behalf of all marine turtle species. Since our founding in 1959, STC has spawned a global movement to protect sea turtles. Today, our ongoing programs are helping protect and recover sea turtle populations in the US, Central America and the Wider Caribbean, and our initiatives will soon expand to reach turtle populations in Europe, the Middle East and Polynesia.

STC’s notable achievements over the last seven decades:
  • Helping establish Tortuguero National Park—protecting the largest nesting colony of green turtles in the Western Hemisphere;
  • Helping establish the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (named after STC’s founder) to protect the largest nesting colony of loggerhead turtles in the world and the largest green turtle population in the US;
  • Training generations of sea turtle biologists, who are in key positions around the world;
  • Carrying out the longest-continuous nesting beach and in-water turtle monitoring/research projects in the world;
  • Creating Florida’s Sea Turtle License Plate—one of the largest sustained sources of sea turtle grant funding over the last quarter century;
  • Converting tens of thousands of beachfront lights on nesting beaches to “sea turtle-friendly” lighting—saving tens of thousands of hatchlings each year;
  • Pioneering the use of satellite-telemetry to track sea turtle migrations online and raise international awareness and support for conservation;
  • Successfully defending international laws that prevent the trade of sea turtle meat and products;
  • Being honored by the Smithsonian Institute for conducting one of the greatest marine conservation success stories (at Tortuguero, Costa Rica);
  • Being honored at the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act for being the most effective marine conservation organization in the US over the last half century; and
  • Maintaining the highest possible rating for fiscal responsibility and administrative transparency by the independent Charity Navigator.
How STC allocates funding:
Where STC works geographically:

We chose the name “Century Fund” for two reasons: 1) the establishment of a stable and perpetual source of income will ensure STC reaches its 100th anniversary and beyond, and 2) hatchling sea turtles born today can live 100 years, meaning STC must continue its role as an effective voice for their protection for the next 100 years.

The goal of the Century Campaign is to grow an endowment that will perpetually cover STC’s essential financial needs, allowing our professional staff to focus more on the mission – and expand our work to address emerging threats to sea turtles. STC’s “essential needs” include a base level of funding for the keystone projects in Costa Rica and Panama, as well as a minimum amount of administrative support—roughly estimated at $800,000 per year. With a sustainable 4% spending rule, an endowment of $20 million would ensure STC remains a global leader in sea turtle conservation for the next 100 years.

How to Donate

STC Board members have kickstarted the campaign with pledges of $2 million. Our Century Fund Campaign is soliciting immediate donations, pledges, bequests and planned estate gifts to reach our goal of $20 million. Please contact STC Executive Director David Godfrey (david@conserveturtles.org or 352-373-6441) if you would like to discuss a contribution toward the Century Fund or make a donation online using the form below.

Include STC in your Will or Revocable/Living Trust

If you would like to make a gift or pledge to the Century Fund through, your will or revocable (or living) trust can be a way of ensuring your legacy of support for sea turtles. Your gift through your will or revocable/living trust, called a bequest, can be of a specific dollar amount, a portion or percentage of your estate or trust, or as the remainder after all other gifts or provisions are satisfied.

Suggested language and information to share with your attorney:
For a Will:

I leave [($X) or ((X%) or (the balance) of my estate)] to Sea Turtle Conservancy, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation (EIN: 59-6151069), currently located in Gainesville, Florida, [for its general and unrestricted uses and purposes] [to be allocated to the Century Fund].

For a Revocable/Living Trust:

The Trustee(s) shall distribute [($X) or ((X%) or (the balance) of the residue of such trust)] to Sea Turtle Conservancy, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation (EIN: 59-6151069), currently located in Gainesville, Florida, [for its general and unrestricted uses and purposes] [to be allocated to the Century Fund].

Retirement Accounts:

You may also choose to leave all or a portion of a retirement account to the Century Fund. If you choose to give through your retirement account, you can name Sea Turtle Conservancy, Inc. as your beneficiary, using our full name, EIN and Gainesville address (see below) on the beneficiary designation form. If you would like your retirement gift to be used for a specific purpose (e.g., the Century Fund) and your beneficiary designation form does not allow you to designate a specific purpose or use, you can contact STC and inform us of your intent that the retirement proceeds be allocated to the Century Fund or for the general purposes of the organization.

STC Address & EIN:

Sea Turtle Conservancy Inc.
4581 NW 6th Street, Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32609
EIN: 59-6151069