YOUR DONATION MATTERS
As an independent non-profit organization and a registered charity in Nova Scotia, MARS relies on your donations to function. As first responders on the scene, MARS provides emergency service for marine animals in distress – but our mission goes beyond emergency response. Conservation is at the core of everything we do and while every marine animal that we save is vital, it is equally important that we learn everything we can from the dead animals that end up on our shores. With your support, we can do our part to conserve marine life and build resilient ocean ecosystems.
YOUR DONATION MATTERS
As an independent non-profit organization and a registered charity in Nova Scotia, MARS relies on your donations to function. As first responders on the scene, MARS provides emergency service for marine animals in distress – but our mission goes beyond emergency response. Conservation is at the core of everything we do and while every marine animal that we save is vital, it is equally important that we learn everything we can from the dead animals that end up on our shores. With your support, we can do our part to conserve marine life and build resilient ocean ecosystems.
Your support helps ensure Atlantic Canada’s marine life has a voice and a future.
YOUR DONATION POWERS
Rapid Response and Training: The MARS Hotline is available to the public 365 days a year and MARS has a team of experts ready to respond throughout the Maritimes at any given time. Your supports ensures that funding is available for Hotline Operators and Responders, specialized equipment and supplies, travel to incidents, as well as training for staff, volunteers and partners.
Investigations and data collection: We learn from the dead to save the living. You support ensures that MARS can investigate as many animals as possible and conduct sampling and necropsies (animal autopsies) as often as possible. This information drives conservation research and informs policy and management decisions to mitigate human-induced threats like climate change, gear entanglements, vessel strikes, ocean noise, and pollution.
The MARS Lab: The MARS Lab is first and only, dedicated marine animal necropsy facility in Atlantic Canada. This ground-breaking facility allows us to increase the number of necropsies we conduct (more necropsies = more data), gives us access to better quality data (fresh carcasses = better samples), and provides a safe, well-equipped space for our Responders to work. Your support ensures that sustainable funding is available to operate the MARS Lab, continuing MARS’ legacy of contributing to the conservation of marine species in our oceans.
Research and Conservation Initiatives: MARS leads targeted conservation projects and collaborates with partners in developing programs to investigate overall marine animal health, while also supporting directed research through sample collection and curation. Your support ensures that this important work continues.
Community Engagement and Responsible Stewardship: Informed and engaged communities can make a difference. Your support helps us engage with the public about ocean conservation and marine animal response, and in particular, the important role they can play in conservation. Together we can make a difference.
Operations: All organizations incur operational costs and MARS prides itself on ensuring we maintain a low administrative overhead (<10%) so the majority of funds can directly support our mission-driven work. Your support helps ensure MARS operations are sustainable, enabling us to continue doing this vital conservation work.
Be a lifeline for marine animals – every dollar helps save lives and protect our ocean for generations to come.
OTHER WAYS TO GIVE TO MARS
Consider a Corporate Donation or a Legacy Gift
Corporate Donations and Legacy Gifts help MARS make a difference. For more information, reach out to Coburn Maclean at cmaclean@marineanimals.ca.
Consider Workplace Giving Programs
Find MARS listed on CanadaHelps, Charities Aid Foundation, and others that make workplace giving easy for employers.
Donations can also be made by mailing a cheque or money order to the following address:
Marine Animal Response Society
c/o NS Museum
1747 Summer Street
Halifax, NS
B3H 3A6
Canada
1% for the Planet
MARS is proud to be a part of the 1% for the Planet network, which connects businesses and nonprofits to protect the planet. If you own a business, consider joining 1% for the Planet and naming MARS as your beneficiary. Everyone wins! More info at onepercentfortheplanet.org.
