Corporate Partnerships

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) was founded in 1966 by local business leaders who believed the private sector should be part of the solution to restore the Chesapeake Bay. That spirit of corporate leadership is as vital today as it was then.

CBF partners with companies that bring a genuine commitment to environmental sustainability and a desire to invest in the long-term health of the Chesapeake Bay and its communities. Together, we create partnerships that deliver meaningful conservation impact while connecting employees, customers, and stakeholders to the nation’s largest estuary and the communities that depend on it.

Partnering with CBF means aligning your brand with a proven conservation leader, connecting your employees to hands-on experiences that build culture and purpose, and contributing directly to the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.

Why Partner with CBF

As the largest independent conservation organization focused solely on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, CBF is one of the region’s most trusted environmental organizations, with more than 200,000 members and supporters across Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. CBF brings unmatched regional credibility to every partnership we form. Our work is backed by the highest ratings from the biggest charity watchdogs—a Charity Navigator four-star rating, Candid Platinum Transparency designation, and CBF meets all 20 Better Business Bureau’s Charity Standards.

Reputation

Since the 1960s, CBF has combined science, advocacy, and restoration to deliver measurable results for the Chesapeake Bay—making a partnership with CBF a meaningful signal to customers, employees, and communities.

Impact

Each year, CBF:

• Provides more than 23,000 students, teachers, and principals with hands-on environmental education across 14 field programs throughout the region.
• Inspires tens of thousands of advocates to take action for clean water.
• Plants trees, restores oyster reefs, constructs living shorelines, and advances watershed restoration across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
• Advocates for and litigates on behalf of clean water policy at the state and federal levels.

The Bay is showing signs of recovery—and corporate partners play a meaningful role in sustaining that progress. For six decades, companies have partnered with CBF because a healthy Chesapeake Bay is vital to the region’s economy, quality of life, and future workforce. Whether your goals center on employee engagement, community investment, customer connection, or environmental stewardship, partnering with CBF is a meaningful way to make a visible difference in the communities where your employees and customers live, work, and play.

Corporate Partnerships Across the Watershed

CBF works with businesses of all sizes, from locally owned companies to nationally recognized brands, across sectors ranging from financial services and hospitality to manufacturing, construction, and technology. Each partnership is built around shared values, business objectives, and a commitment to a healthier Chesapeake Bay.

Meet our current corporate partners.

The Business Case

Companies that align their business practices with a clear corporate purpose saw a 32 percent increase in median revenue and a 45 percent boost in median pre-tax profits in 2023 (Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose). Consumers, employees, investors, and communities increasingly expect companies to demonstrate authentic environmental stewardship.

A partnership with CBF provides a credible, locally relevant way to meet those expectations while contributing to measurable conservation outcomes. A partnership can connect your company to a mission that resonates across the region, engage employees in meaningful ways, and demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility. Benefits are tailored to your level of engagement. [Benefit details below.]

Pathways to Partnership

CBF works with businesses of all sizes across the watershed. Every partnership is customized to align with your company’s goals and reflect your organization’s values. Opportunities include:

Event Sponsorship

Support CBF’s signature events, which draw thousands of environmentally engaged attendees annually.

• Bands in the Sand—our annual beach concert at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, drawing more than 1,600 guests each summer.
• DC on the Half Shell—our biennial gala honoring an exemplary Conservationist of the Year.
• Clean the Bay Day—now spanning six days, this event has engaged more than 162,000 volunteers to remove more than 7.1 million pounds of debris from Bay shorelines since 1989.

Sponsorship opportunities exist at regional and local levels to fit your market and goals.

Brands for the Bay

Boost customer loyalty and drive sales through cause marketing campaigns that connect your brand with Bay recovery. These partnerships follow established regulatory guidelines. Learn more about our Brands for the Bay program and see who we’re currently working with.

Workplace Giving & Volunteerism

CBF offers a variety of opportunities to engage employees in the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay, from workplace giving and matching gift campaigns to hands-on volunteer experiences in the field and in our offices. These opportunities can strengthen team culture, support employee engagement goals, and connect employees directly to the communities and natural resources of our region.

Workplace giving campaigns and matching gift programs are welcome at any level and can be paired with volunteer activities for a more comprehensive partnership.

Companies may participate in existing volunteer opportunities throughout the year, including restoration projects, cleanups, and community events. Organizations seeking a more customized employee engagement experience may work with CBF staff to design volunteer opportunities aligned with their interests and goals.

Customized volunteer experiences are generally available for companies making direct corporate investments of $5,000 or more. Submit an inquiry here.

To explore the full range of volunteer experiences available to your team, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Mission Support

Direct investment in CBF’s mission-critical work—including cash grants and in-kind gifts—supports conservation, education, and advocacy across the watershed. CBF’s current strategic priorities are:

• Driving the policy and accountability actions needed to protect clean water.
• Building the next generation of conservation leaders through hands-on education.
• Advancing restoration of the Bay’s natural infrastructure.

Because these partnerships are highly customized and include dedicated stewardship and impact reporting, mission support investments typically begin at $10,000. CBF staff will work with you to connect your investment to specific programs and outcomes you can measure and share.

Corporate Partner Benefits

When you partner with CBF, you become part of a network of companies helping advance a healthier and more resilient Chesapeake Bay. Your company gains meaningful recognition for its support of the Bay, and your employees gain experiences that connect them to something larger than the workday. Because every partnership is built around shared goals rather than off-the-shelf packages, benefits are customized to reflect your level of engagement and the nature of our partnership.