Coral Restoration Foundation

Headquartered in Key Largo, FL, Coral Restoration Foundation™ (CRF) is the global leader in restoring and protecting coral reefs through science, innovative technology, education, and community involvement.

Since 2007, CRF has been working to restore reef sites from Key Largo to Key West, raising hundreds of thousands of critically endangered corals in the world's largest ocean-based coral nurseries. Our programs have mentored 251+ university students, engaged 100,000+ people through outreach events, and attracted 7,000+ participants in public dive programs with local operators. CRF’s mission is not just to restore corals today, but to build resilient, informed, and engaged communities dedicated to protecting the coral reefs for generations to come. 

In the face of a changing planet, long-term success also depends on actively conserving and managing the limited genetic diversity that remains. CRF manages the world's largest open-ocean coral nursery and gene bank system, consisting of more than 760 coral trees, safeguarding 670 unique genotypes across more than 20 coral species. Our work supports the reefs' natural recovery by strategically planting tens of thousands of corals annually. Work that you - our community - have continuously supported.  

This ecosystem-wide approach aims to enhance both coral abundance and genetic diversity, ensuring a resilient future for these vital ecosystems. Our success has made CRF a global resource for other reef restoration initiatives, collaborating with government agencies, non-profits, academic institutions, and private enterprises.

CRF is also a learning organization, and we believe it is important to educate others about the urgent problem of the loss of coral reefs and how individuals' actions can be part of the global solution. Our Education Program is active throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties through partnerships within the school systems, regular outreach events at Zoo Miami, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami Dade College, and the Boys & Girls Club of Miami.

CRF partners with the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, serving Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. We aim to inspire these young women to engage with marine science and conservation and broaden their horizons for the future. Similarly, we partner with Boy Scouts of America SeaBase, a unique scouting program that offers sailing, scuba diving, fishing and rustic camping activities on an undeveloped barrier island in the Florida Keys.

In 2024, we launched the “Coral Reefs and You” program to inspire ocean stewardship among students in South Florida. To date, the program has reached 2,800 students across 15 schools, and provided land-based or snorkeling field trip experiences for over 1,300 students and teachers. We prioritize equity by offering multilingual materials and non-swimmer alternatives.

CRF remains focused on building a future in which coral ecosystems continue to exist for future generations. Florida’s Coral Reef generates $7+ billion annually. Each year, $2.5 billion is from fishing and tourism, which supports over 50% of local jobs. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Restoration Ecology, CRF analyses from 2018–2023 show that restoration is an economic multiplier of 1.4–1.6, returning up to $1.60 in local value for every dollar invested in coral restoration and reef resilience. 

“This isn't just about coral restoration,” explains CRF™ CEO Dr. R Scott Winters, “As we rebuild these habitats, we're also investing in the communities that rely on them. It's an integrated approach to ensuring both ecological and economic resilience in the face of climate challenges."