Silver Spring, Md. – January 9, 2025 – The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is pleased to announce that Jason Donofrio has been named the Foundation’s new Vice President of Development effective January 2025.
Donofrio brings vision and strategy to the Foundation cultivating a culture of philanthropy, spearheading giving campaigns, and identifying avenues to communicate the organization’s vision and mission to new markets and among new audiences at local, state, national, and global levels. He will be leading a growing and skilled Development Department and contribute as an invaluable leader for the Foundation’s Executive Team.
He will work closely with the Board of Trustees, President and CEO, and Chapter Directors to achieve the new strategic plan and execute a diversified fundraising strategy for the transformation of Foundation giving at an exciting time for sanctuaries. Donofrio will amplify and build support for the Foundation’s work showcasing sanctuaries as sources of solutions to address the most pressing conservation challenges of our time, on a national level.
“We have ambitious goals to elevate national marine sanctuaries, and Jason will lead our growing fundraising team and 25th anniversary campaigns,” said Joel R. Johnson, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. “His expertise and influence in marine conservation philanthropy is exactly what our most treasured waters need right now.”
With over 16 years of experience in development and building partnerships, Donofrio has served as a visionary fundraiser at nonprofit organizations, including The Ocean Foundation as the former Chief Development Officer and External Relations Officer. Donofrio has also served in leadership positions with WildAid, where he was Chief Development Officer and currently serves as an Advisor to The Climate Strong Islands Network (CSIN), the first ever U.S.-wide Island coalition, and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Governors to The School of Architecture, an accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program founded by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1932 focusing on experimental design and environmental sustainability.
As a Chief Development Officer of various development departments, he has helped oversee multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, develop and advocate public policy, and has experience cultivating donors to support organizational programs. Donofrio’s continued knowledge of ocean funding, institutional and private philanthropy, and his expertise in ocean conservation issues make him a significant addition to the executive team of the Foundation. He has also served on special projects such as co-facilitating the first ever Ocean Giving Circle for the Network of Engaged International Donors alongside the New England Aquarium, Chairing the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network’s Urban Waters Working Group, and Chairing the Climate Strong Island’s Network’s Development Committee.
Jason lives in Washington, D.C. and is a Phoenix native who loves to spend time kayaking on the Potomac, reading novels about history and nature, and performing standup comedy for fun in his free time.
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org.
Contact: Chip Weiskotten
Director of Strategic Communications
301-754-6134
chip@marinesanctuary.org