Dolphin conservation is a team effort — from working together to understand dolphins and their communities, to understanding and mitigating the risks they face around the world.

Every year, we spend thousands of hours on the water gathering data about the status of the dolphins in Sarasota Bay, learning about the animals’ behavior, ecology, and health, teaching others about dolphin research methodologies and conservation, and even rescuing dolphins in distress and making sure they are thriving after a rescue.

The main tools of our ‘trade’ are boats, of course! But we also need things like data servers and even fireproof storage cabinets to protect irreplaceable documents.

When the 2024 Giving Challenge begins Tuesday, April 9, at noon, I hope you will join our team by making a donation to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Your donation — which will have a greater impact thanks to 1:1 matching funds — will be used to provide much-needed equipment:

  • $17,000 to replace an outboard engine on “MJ,” one of our main vessels used in all of our work;
  • $1,500 (each) to add new underwater listening stations to our network. These stations record sounds and help us gain a better understanding of animal movements in their habitat;
  • $12,000 for a new server to store and access the terabytes of data collected by the listening stations;
  • $5,000 for fireproof cabinets to hold irreplaceable physical records;
  • $500 (each, 2 desired) to help educate people about dolphins and how we humans can keep their populations safe and healthy through new Watershed Audio Tour stops in area parks.

To make a donation, simply scan the QR code at the top of this page or click here.

I thank you very much for your support!
Randy Wells

About the Giving Challenge 2024

During this 24-hour online giving event that starts at noon on Tuesday, April 9, and lasts through noon on Wednesday, April 10, every unique donation of $25 to $100 dollars made to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program will be matched dollar for dollar.

  •  That means your $100 gift will have a $200 impact!

The Giving Challenge is hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.