Mote announces $50 million fundraising push

Although the future of Mote Marine Laboratory’s plans to open a new aquarium facility is still murky, the organization is charging forward to meet its other goals for growth.

At a celebration of Mote’s 60th anniversary Thursday evening, leaders announced a $50 million fundraising campaign to a crowd of hundreds at the City Island campus. That campaign, called Oceans of Opportunity, hopes to meet its target by the end of the year — though it’s gotten a head start, as Mote has already raised $30 million toward that goal before its public unveiling.

As part of the group’s 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan, Mote leadership has outlined a number of targets for the organization over the next five years. Although plans to move the aquarium to a site off of the city island campus — and potentially to the bayfront, before the Sarasota City Commission passed on the proposal — Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby has stressed that the growth efforts are focused on the group’s research wing.

The Oceans for Opportunity campaign is focused specifically on meeting those elements of the plan for growth. Some of Mote’s benchmarks for 2020 include:

+ Increasing the number of Ph.D. scientists from 35 to more than 45
+ Increasing staff from 210 to 235 employees
+ Increasing the laboratory’s membership from 9,000 to more than 12,000

In order to facilitate those plans, Mote’s budget would grow from $21 million to more than $25 million annually. Mote hopes to grow its economic impact in Florida from $86.8 million to $145.8 million.

Already, key donors have stepped forward to contribute to the effort. The Gardener Foundation has donated $5.14 million to improve Mote’s research infrastructure in the Keys, including a new facility on Summerland Key. Carol and Barney Barnett donated $3 million toward the implementation of Mote’s Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Initiative.

Now, Mote is calling on the public to help its push toward continued growth.

“Since that important moment six decades ago when Genie Clark followed her dream, Mote’s impact has rippled through the community and around the globe,” Crosby said. “Now it is time to recognize how much Mote has achieved and to unite in support of our oceans for generations to come."

More information about the campaign, including how to donate, can be found at Mote’s website.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].