Sea Scope Inc

Sea Scope Inc is an Indianapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase diversity in science and aquatics for the purpose of increasing conservation efforts of our ocean planet. Founded in 2021, Sea Scope Inc provides high-quality youth development programs that combine ocean science education, aquatic skills training, environmental stewardship, career exploration, and hands-on experiential learning. The organization primarily serves youth and young adults who face barriers to accessing aquatic activities, science education, and related career opportunities.

Sea Scope Inc delivers its mission through four interconnected program pathways. Eco-Warriors introduces participants to ocean literacy, ocean science, environmental conservation, and the connection between local actions and the health of our global ocean. Surface to Seas provides water safety, basic swimming, and snorkeling instruction while helping address disparities in access to aquatic education. Discoverers advances participants into scuba diving, citizen science, and hands-on conservation experiences. AquaForce provides workforce development and career pathways in specific areas of aquatics, including lifeguarding, aquatic instruction, rescue diving, scuba dive professional development, and other conservation-related opportunities (community research diver). Together, these programs create a progressive pathway from education and exposure to skills development, leadership, conservation, and employment. Sea Scope Inc has served over 500 Marion County youth over its first four years, including more than 300 youth who have received swim safety instruction and 39 youth trained as Discoverer scuba divers.

A critical funding need for Sea Scope Inc is general operating support for contracted staff who maintain organizational operations and ensure successful program implementation. As a growing nonprofit, Sea Scope Inc relies heavily on contracted professionals rather than a traditional full-time employee structure. Funding is needed to support contractors responsible for organizational leadership and administration, program management and coordination, financial and grant management, data collection and reporting, participant communication, partnership coordination, aquatic instruction, and direct program implementation.

Investing in contracted staff provides the organizational infrastructure necessary to responsibly manage grants, maintain financial and programmatic compliance, coordinate community and national partnerships, track participant outcomes, communicate with families, manage contractors and volunteers, and safely deliver programs. Flexible operating support for contracted positions will strengthen Sea Scope Inc’s capacity to sustain its existing programs while continuing to provide meaningful science, aquatics, conservation, and workforce-development opportunities for Indianapolis youth and young adults.