Inspiring ocean optimism

Science is telling us that in order to ensure the viability of our planet, we must commit to protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. Oracle is a longtime supporter of Pristine Seas, a National Geographic initiative that identifies, surveys, protects, and restores the last wild places in the ocean. The team’s work has helped create 22 marine reserves spanning nearly six million square kilometers. This allows biodiversity to flourish and will help protect species from extinction.

We also fund The Marine Mammal Center’s Global Response Initiative, which rescues entangled whales, seals, and sea lions, and The Nature Conservancy’s work to restore kelp forest ecosystems in California.

Protecting and restoring land

Thriving forest ecosystems are critical to maintaining a healthy planet. They protect wildlife habitats, improve waterway health, and build resilience against drought and fire. Oracle supports Save the Redwoods League’s Redwoods Rising program to restore more than 70,000 acres of degraded redwood forest across California.

Local to our offices, we fund organizations such as California State Parks Foundation and Keep Austin Beautiful, which engage volunteers as stewards of the natural world.

Supporting 30 years of gorilla conservation

Since 1990, Oracle has supported the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund) and its protection of gorillas and their habitats in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Often called “the lungs of the Earth,” the rainforests gorillas call home are critical to building climate resilience for the planet. By protecting gorillas and their habitat, we also protect ourselves. As the Fossey Fund’s work continues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has implemented new protocols to ensure the health and safety of field staff and gorillas.

Oracle also hosts all of the Fossey Fund’s data—one of the world’s largest collections of data on any wild animal—for free. Data is globally accessible to scientists at no cost. It’s also featured in the Oracle Education Foundation’s data visualization workshops.

Achieving a zero-waste future

As a global society, we generate two billion tons of waste each year, about a third of which ends up in landfills. Of that, at least eight million tons of unrecycled plastics end up in the ocean. The environmental cost of this is staggering—driving up carbon emissions, exacerbating the global plastic pollution crisis, and negatively impacting marine life and human health.

To turn the tide, we support several organizations working to achieve a zero-waste future. Our grantees include Wecyclers, a social enterprise in Lagos, Nigeria that incentivizes waste recycling in densely populated urban neighborhoods, and the WEEE Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, which promotes public awareness of the environmental and health hazards of e-waste and educates the public about reuse, recycling, and safe disposal. We also support California Coastal Cleanup Day and Eco-Cycle in Boulder, Colorado.

Connecting youth to the environment

We support nonprofit organizations that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through environmental education and immersive outdoor experiences for students. Our grantees include Children’s Discovery Museum, CuriOdyssey, Foundation for Environmental Education Japan, Junior Achievement Kenya, Marine Science Institute, Mirai no Mori, NatureBridge, and Wildmind.