Other Ways to Help
09 Feb 2022
Help protect our sanctuary islands
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems.
There are three primary funding components sustaining our annual operations. The first is the grant monies and other income generated by our professional staff. The second is comprised of matching funds for those grants generously given by a small group of major donors. The third critical component is the Annual Fund Drive for which we seek the broadest possible community support. It is a goal we must meet in order to balance SCCF’s budget. Please click here to support the Annual Fund Drive.
Tax-deductible gifts to SCCF are put to good use in many ways.
We have permanently preserved approximately 2,000 acres of wildlife habitat. The staff biologists manage that habitat and conduct research and monitoring for the wide variety of wildlife species that can be found on Sanibel and Captiva.
Our Marine Laboratory studies the estuarine environment and the impact of water quality issues most visibly by using the data from SCCF’s RECON (River, Estuarine, and Coastal Observing Network) sensors. The sensors allow the Lab scientists to effectively monitor 90 linear miles of aquatic habitat in our watershed. The RECON sensor locations range from Beautiful Island (the closest sensor to Lake Okeechobee) to Redfish Pass (which separates Captiva from North Captiva). The sensors provide real-time monitoring of key water quality and weather parameters, and are accessible on our web site. These data are key to our natural resource policy outreach that encourages science-based governmental regulations and management practices. SCCF is an effective advocate in policy issues involving both land use and water quality, at the local, state and federal levels.
Over 65,000 people a year are introduced to barrier island ecology through SCCF’s activities, events and programs. SCCF program activities would not be possible without the hundreds of volunteers who are essential for sea turtle and nesting shorebird monitoring, plant propagation, and other wide-ranging duties. All islanders are also encouraged to landscape for wildlife on their own property through our Native Plant Nursery.
We could not do this without the strong support of our community. We encourage you to volunteer, to become a member, to support our Legacy Funds and to support our Annual Fund Drive.
SCCF is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations supporting our mission are fully tax-deductible.
SCCF gratefully acknowledges the Charitable Foundation for the Islands which generously funded development of this website.
To protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems.