From Software to Conservation: Diving into the Unfamiliar World of Nonprofits

The first time I looked under the surface of the ocean was on my honeymoon. Tammy and I had flown to Maui the morning after our wedding, and before we even made it to our hotel, we pulled off at a turnout somewhere along the Kihei road and waded out into a calm little bay.

I clearly remember struggling to get our snorkeling gear on, flopping around in the small waves and battling a healthy fear of sharks as I put my face under water and pulled in a lungful of air. We were on a tiny, rocky reef just a few feet from the road, and yet within a few kicks, we were surrounded by a maze of colorful coral, hordes of fish, and more bustling wildlife than I could have ever imagined existing in one place.

I've loved visiting coral reefs ever since. I took my first dive on that trip, and have tried to sneak in diving whenever I could as I've travelled the world for work over the last 25 years. Slipping under water still holds the same thrill it always has, but unfortunately, over the last two decades, it's been painfully obvious as I've travelled the world that these magical ecosystems are dying a slow and brutal death.

Global warming, overfishing and pollution have presented a three pronged attack on coral reefs that they have not been able to withstand. Over the last 30 years, more than 50% of coral reefs have died. If nothing is done, scientists expect that we could lose 90% of reefs within the next century.

Over the last few years I started looking at ways to get involved with organizations that are fighting to preserve and restore healthy coral reef ecosystems. After some research, I began following and making small donations to the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), an incredible nonprofit that works at both the local and global level to protect reefs and conduct research on improving their adaptability.

After a while, I started thinking about how I might be able to get a little more deeply involved in supporting CORAL. As an entrepreneur, I've cold called hundreds of early customers to introduce new products or get feedback on ideas, but it didn't make me any less nervous to reach out to CORAL.

I don't think it is unusual for those of us who work in tech to feel nervous getting involved in areas like government and nonprofit organizations. TV and movies are littered with examples of oblivious "bros" barging into other areas and ending up behaving like an ass and wreacking havoc. I was honestly unsure of how I could help, as I didn't know much about how nonprofits worked, and had absolutely no scientific or conservation background to offer.

Nonetheless, I sent an email to one of the execs listed on the website, and got a friendly response back within a few hours. The team at CORAL was immediately friendly and disarming, they asked loads of questions about my background and quickly invited me to attend their regular information meetings for volunteers. After a few months, I got to know the team well enough that they asked me to help in areas I knew well from my time in tech, like alliances, sales and marketing.

After a few years of working with different teams, this year, I joined CORAL's board of directors. I joined in part because I've been really impressed with the work CORAL's Executive Director, Heather Starck, and her team are doing to align a broad network of organizations in the fight to preserve coral reefs. Not only is the team working with government agencies, scientists and other conservation organizations in the field, but they are building new relationships directly with companies in the cruise, hotel and tourism industries to collaborate on addressing threats to reefs.

I'm absolutely convinced that this type of collaboration between conservation organizations and industry partners can play a critical role in saving endangered ecosystems. By sharing the latest science with industry, and providing clear guidance on how to educate customers, minimize their own impact and fund critical projects, nonprofits can have an impact far beyond their direct efforts.

Now, I'm starting to think about what role our industry, Tech and IT, can play in helping organizations like CORAL on their mission. Nonprofits rarely have deep IT organizations or teams skilled in software development, data analytics or emerging fields like AI. They are incredibly eager for tech companies to support their work, and share our expertise.

Getting involved personally is an amazing experience, and incredibly easy. Start by just signing up for a newsletter at a nonprofit addressing an issue that motivates you and maybe making a small annual donation. Then after you are convinced it is an organization you'd like to support with your time, reach out and ask if they need any help. It really is that simple.

If you'd like to learn more about CORAL or get involved in the fight to save coral reefs, please just reach out to me or visit www.coral.org. If you love these environments as much as I do, I'd love to hear your story.

I've included an short documentary below about some of the work CORAL has been doing in Honduras to work with local organizations and improve water quality.