Dollar Donation Club

// INTEGRATED IMPACT SCORE //

Organization

Coralition

Regenerating Marine Ecosystems through Art, Science and Community

🛡️ Trust Rating

🧐 Coralition Risk Rating

Return On Donation

$1

0.25Coral Fragments Planted
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89 %

Integrated Impact ScoreVetted By

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Expert Consensus

Coralition restores coral reefs by fusing art, science, and local culture—building underwater ecosystems and coastal economies at once.

Snapshot

The Problem

50% of coral reefs have been lost globally. Reef degradation affects marine biodiversity, local economies, and climate resilience—particularly in coastal communities dependent on tourism and fisheries.

The Solution

The Global Coalition restores coral reef ecosystems by merging science, art, and community, empowering local stewardship, biodiversity regeneration, and climate resilience.

Impact to Date

5,000 corals restored across 200 m² in Thailand by Global Coalition—still thriving today—demonstrating the proven effectiveness of the approach.

Location of Impact

Sosúa Bay, Dominican Republic

Impact Per $1

$1 = 0.25 coral fragments planted and maintained for one year, restoring 0.25 m² of reef

Proof of Impact

Coral growth and biodiversity gains are monitored through quantitative biological and environmental indicators, including fragment survival (80%), coral cover, and fish presence. The team employs underwater imagery, electronic water sensors, and quarterly field surveys, verified internally and by a local NGO partner for independent validation.

Time to Realize Impact

 < 3 months, as coral fragments are stabilized in tanks for 1–3 months before being transplanted onto underwater domes.

Fund Usage

100% of donations directly fund restoration activities, with 35.7% for field technicians and training, 31.8% for monitoring and management, 15.5% for domes and materials, 9.3% for equipment, water maintenance, and outreach, and 6.2% for coral collection and planting.

Will it actually make a difference?

Yes! Without Coralition’s restoration efforts, coral reefs in Sosúa Bay would continue to decline from pollution and heat stress, threatening marine life and local livelihoods. Your donation helps restore living reef habitats that shelter fish, improve coastal protection, and sustain eco-tourism income for nearby communities.

How is the donation used?

100% of your donation goes directly toward restoring coral reefs in Sosúa Bay. This includes the costs of coral propagation, dome materials, diver stipends, and community training. Each contribution supports field technicians, coral planting, and long-term reef monitoring — ensuring that every dollar actively rebuilds marine ecosystems.

DDC's Favorites

A creative, community driven way to spawn coral reefs through interactive underwater, living sculptures. These sculptures create cultural, ecological, and economic benefits.

Key Drawbacks

Still in early stages of scale; current data is verified internally or by local NGO collaborators—third-party validation is still developing.

Integrated Impact Score

Total Score89%

Effectiveness

80%

Per dollar, how effective is this organization at creating measurable impact?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely ineffective
Ineffective
Average effectiveness
Effective
Extremely effective

For every $1 donated, Coralition restores approximately 0.25 square meters of coral reef, cultivating and maintaining 0.25 coral fragments for one year. Each restored area supports the biodiversity recovery.

Is the organization's team credible and effective?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely ineffective
Ineffective
Average effectiveness
Effective
Extremely effective

Global Coralition’s team brings together over a decade of experience in marine restoration, ecological design, and community-driven conservation. The leadership has implemented successful reef and mangrove projects in Thailand and the Dominican Republic, partnering with the Ministry of Environment, Fundación Ecológica Maguá, and local dive centers to ensure scientific rigor and local empowerment. 

Learn more about the teamhere.

Does the organization have a clearly defined mission, vision and values?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Undefined
Unclearly defined
Relatively clearly defined
Clearly defined
Extremely clearly defined

Mission: Uniting Art, Science and Communities to accelerate marine ecosystem regeneration


Vision: A world where corals and coastal communities are thriving together.


Values: Environmental stewardship, innovation, creativity, community empowerment, collaboration, education, awareness, sustainability, cultural heritage

How simple/elegant is the solution?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely complex
Complex
Simple
Very simple
Extremely simple

Coralition’s model excels in its simplicity. It restores coral reefs by combining scientifically proven methods such as microfragmentation and direct outplanting with active local community participation. The process involves collecting coral fragments, stabilizing them in tanks, and planting them onto underwater domes. This clear and efficient approach minimizes administrative complexity, empowers local stakeholders, and ensures that resources are focused directly on reef recovery.

How scalable is the solution-set beyond its use-case geography?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely unscalable
Very unscalable
Relatively scalable
Very scalable
Extremely scalable

Coralition’s restoration approach is highly adaptable to coastal regions worldwide that face similar coral degradation challenges. The use of modular reef domes, microfragmentation techniques, and community-led maintenance allows the model to be replicated across different marine environments. The organization has already demonstrated this scalability through successful coral restoration projects in Thailand and the Dominican Republic, showing that the same framework can thrive under varying ecological and cultural contexts.

How well does the solution create self-generating capabilities rather than rely on ongoing investment?

3
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely reliant
Very reliant
Somewhat self-generating
Very self-generating
Extremely self-generating

While ongoing support helps accelerate restoration, Coralition’s model incorporates self-sustaining mechanisms through eco-tourism, and paid volunteer experiences. Collaborations with dive centers and tour operators provide recurring income that supports maintenance and monitoring while creating local jobs and educational opportunities. Over time, these revenue streams strengthen community stewardship and reduce dependence on external funding, creating a more self-reliant restoration economy.

How efficient is the process of achieving a self-sustaining solution?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely dependent
Very dependent
Fairly independent
Very independent
Extremely independent

Reaching full self-sufficiency takes several years, because both the reef and the community need time to mature. Coralition’s roadmap includes:

  • Training local divers and technicians

  • Building partnerships with dive centers and tour operators

  • Developing eco-tourism products and Adopt-a-Coral programs

Over time, these elements give local teams the skills and income needed to maintain and expand restoration sites with less outside support, while Coralition shifts into more of a mentor and data-sharing role.

How much risk is there that the impact will be reversed for any reason?

3
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely risky
Very risky
Relatively risky
Very low risk
Extremely low risk

Coral reefs face serious ongoing threats—especially rising sea temperatures, pollution, and storm damage. Coralition reduces the risk of losing progress by:

  • Prioritizing heat-tolerant coral species

  • Using storm-resistant modular domes

  • Doing daily to quarterly reef checks to catch problems early (e.g., algae overgrowth, disease, or damage)

  • Maintaining strong community and government partnerships

Climate events can never be fully controlled, but this adaptive design and high local stewardship significantly lower the chances that restored reefs will fail.

Transparency

93%

How transparent is the organization financially?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely non-transparent
Very non-transparent
Somewhat transparent
Very transparent
Extremely transparent

Global Coralition maintains financial transparency by making its reports, budgets, and audited statements available to stakeholders upon request. Financial records are accessible through direct communication with the finance department, and annual filings are shared publicly to ensure accountability. You can view the 2023 Annual Filings here.

How transparent is the organization operationally?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely non-transparent
Very non-transparent
Somewhat transparent
Very transparent
Extremely transparent

Global Coralition provides clear and detailed updates about its projects and partnerships through its website, social media channels, and educational outreach. The organization reports on coral survival rates, community participation, and monitoring outcomes every month.. Transparency is also reinforced through open collaboration with local NGOs and the Ministry of Environment, ensuring that all activities are publicly traceable and verifiable.

Are regular updates on progress made readily available to donors?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Not at all
Very infrequently
Occasionally
Very frequently
Extremely frequently

Global Coralition provides monthly updates on restoration progress, including coral survival data, new plantings, biodiversity observations, and community outreach. These are delivered through reports, visual media (photos/videos), and shared data summaries.

Track record

80%

How many years has the organization been in operation?

4
1
2
3
4
5
0-1
1-3
3-5
5-10
10+

Global Coralition has been operating since 2019, building on project experience that began in 2017. The team has demonstrated consistent growth and stability through multiple successful restoration initiatives, including coral restoration in the Dominican Republic and Thailand, and mangrove regeneration in Haiti.

How much positive impact has the organization created in the past in its category?

3
1
2
3
4
5
No past impact
Very little impact
Some positive impact
Significant impact
Extremely impactful

Global Coralition has restored over 200 m² of reef and planted more than 5,000 coral fragments across Thailand and the Dominican Republic. Its mangrove projects have planted over 240,000 trees in 1.5 years, while also engaging local communities and schools in climate education and hands-on restoration.

How long has the solution-set been demonstrated to be effective?

4
1
2
3
4
5
< 1 year
1-3 years
3-7 years
7-10 years
> 10 years

Coralition’s restoration methods have been refined and proven effective for over a decade through fieldwork led by its ecological restoration experts. The coral microfragmentation technique, modular reef dome structures, and community-led conservation model have consistently shown strong coral survival rates of 80% and early biodiversity gains within months of deployment. These results confirm the long-term viability of Coralition’s approach.

How clearly does the organization embody the values it purports to have?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely unclear
Very unclear
Somewhat clear
Very clearly
Extremely clearly

Global Coralition clearly embodies its values of transparency, community empowerment, ecological innovation, and climate resilience. Its operations are rooted in local partnerships, inclusive education, and scientific monitoring, all of which reflect a deep respect for people and planet. The organization communicates openly with stakeholders, ensuring that its values are not only stated but actively demonstrated through action, accountability, and creative collaboration.

Measurability

88%

Does the organization have a clearly defined big goal that is measurable?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Undefined
Unclearly defined
Relatively clearly defined
Clearly defined
Extremely clearly defined

Yes. Global Coralition’s big goal is to establish 50 active coral reef restoration sites worldwide and to restore entire reef ecosystems through community-led conservation. This goal forms part of their broader ridge-to-reef regeneration strategy, which also includes planting 3 billion mangroves annually to capture residual CO₂ emissions from global air travel.

Does the organization understand the total projected cost to achieve the big goal?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Undefined
Unclearly defined
Relatively clearly defined
Clearly defined
Extremely clearly defined

For its large-scale mangrove program, Global Coralition estimates an annual cost of about $2.4 billion to reach 3 billion trees planted per year, which would remove roughly 37 million metric tons of CO₂.


Coral restoration costs vary by location and logistics, but each site is planned with a detailed budget that covers domes, training, monitoring, and operations. This allows for clear cost estimates and transparent reporting at the project level.

Does the organization have a clear understanding of what $1 can accomplish?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Undefined
Unclearly defined
Relatively clearly defined
Clearly defined
Extremely clearly defined

Yes. Every $1 donated funds the propagation and maintenance of 0.25 coral fragments for one year and restores 0.25 square meters of reef. Each restored area supports the biodiversity recovery.

Is the positive outcome quantifiable?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely unquantifiable
Very unquantifiable
Somewhat quantifiable
Very quantifiable
Extremely quantifiable

Yes. Coralition measures outcomes using biological, environmental, and social indicators, including:


  • Coral survival rates: typically 80–85%

  • Biodiversity changes: up to 6% increase in marine fauna within four months at restored sites

  • CO₂ sequestration: estimated carbon stored through coral calcification and associated organisms

  • Social metrics: number of trained divers, volunteers, and active local partners


All data come from regular underwater monitoring and are verified with partner NGOs.

How well does the organization monitor and verify progress?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely unquantifiable
Very unquantifiable
Somewhat quantifiable
Very quantifiable
Extremely quantifiable

Global Coralition demonstrates strong monitoring and verification through a combination of biological, environmental, and social metrics. Coral survival, growth, and biodiversity are tracked quarterly through underwater surveys, supported by underwater photography and electronic water-quality sensors. Daily and biweekly checks measure pH, temperature, salinity, and turbidity, while quarterly evaluations assess coral cover and species diversity. Results are verified internally and reviewed in collaboration with local NGO partners to ensure transparency and scientific accuracy.

Wisdom

75%

Does the solution address a root cause or a symptom?

4
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely symptom focused
Very symptom focused
Relatively root focused
Very root focused
Extremely root focused

Coralition’s approach addresses both the symptoms and root causes of marine ecosystem decline. While the restoration work directly mitigates coral loss and habitat degradation, the program’s long-term impact comes from tackling root issues such as coastal pollution, unsustainable tourism, and lack of community stewardship. By empowering local residents through education, employment, and environmental training, the initiative creates a durable foundation for ecosystem recovery and behavioral change that extends far beyond the reef itself.

Does the solution have a self-sustaining economic model?

3
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely no model
Very little model
Relatively self-sustaining
Very self-sustaining
Extremely self-sustaining

Coralition integrates a sustainable economic model into its conservation strategy. Through eco-tourism partnerships, Adopt-a-Coral programs, and volunteer restoration experiences, the project generates ongoing local revenue while promoting marine awareness. Collaborations with dive centers and tour operators ensure that a portion of tourism income supports site maintenance and coral monitoring. Although continued donor funding accelerates growth, the local income model strengthens community ownership and reduces dependency over time.

Does the solution integrate into local populations?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Not at all
Very little
Somewhat
Very much
Highly integrated

Absolutely. Coralition’s model is deeply embedded within local communities through direct training, employment, and educational outreach. Local divers, youth, and residents participate in coral planting, dome maintenance, and monitoring activities, while schools and NGOs host land-based nurseries and workshops. Collaborations with organizations such as Fundación Ecológica Maguá, Isla Academy, and the Sosúa Diving Center ensure cultural relevance and long-term community stewardship. This grassroots engagement guarantees that restoration success is shared and sustained locally.

What is the risk of unintended negative consequences?

3
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Very unlikely
Extremely unlikely

Coralition’s restoration model is resilient, adaptive, and rooted in community participation, which helps minimize long-term risks despite the challenges of coral restoration. Any negative impacts that arise are typically temporary, limited in scope, and reversible, including issues such as coral fragment loss from heat stress or sedimentation, damage from severe weather, disease transfer, tourism disturbances, localized pollution, and early reliance on donor support. These risks are further reduced through storm-resistant modular domes, sterilization methods, heat-tolerant coral species, careful reef zoning, and strong community stewardship. As a result, potential setbacks remain minimal compared to the project’s long-lasting ecological, social, and climate benefits.

Impact Innovation

100%

How audacious is the big goal?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Not at all
Very little
Somewhat
Very much
Extremely

Coralition’s “big goal” is extremely audacious. The organization aims to establish 50 active coral reef restoration sites globally while simultaneously contributing to large-scale mangrove reforestation of 3 billion trees annually. Achieving this vision requires coordinating local communities, government agencies, and tourism sectors across continents to restore critical marine and coastal ecosystems. This ambition reflects a bold, system-wide approach to regenerating entire reef networks and tackling climate change through ocean-based solutions.

How difficult is this challenge to solve?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Not difficult
Not very difficult
Difficult
Very difficult
Extremely difficult

Restoring coral reefs is among the most difficult conservation challenges in the world. Coral degradation is driven by rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and physical damage, all of which require complex, multidisciplinary responses. Coralition’s work involves not just biological restoration, but also community mobilization, marine engineering, and climate adaptation, which adds layers of social and technical complexity. Despite these challenges, the organization’s innovative coral dome structures and community-led model make this problem solvable and replicable under the right conditions.

How innovative is the organization?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely non-innovative
Very non-innovative
Somewhat innovative
Very innovative
Extremely innovative

Global Coralition has demonstrated significant innovation by blending art, science, and community engagement to drive environmental restoration. Their coral domes integrate sculpture and functional reef design, encouraging biodiversity while raising awareness through eco-tourism. They have also pioneered the use of microfragmentation and rapid regrowth methods that shorten coral recovery time from years to months. These innovations not only advance reef science but also redefine how communities and visitors interact with restoration projects, transforming conservation into a shared cultural experience.

How urgent is this challenge to solve?

5
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely distant
Relatively distant
Relatively urgent
Very urgent
Immediate threat

The need for coral restoration is immediate. Scientists estimate that up to 50% of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost, and without decisive intervention, up to 90% could disappear by 2050. In Sosúa Bay, where Coralition operates, reefs are rapidly degrading due to heat stress, pollution, and coastal development. These reefs are essential for marine biodiversity, coastal protection, and community livelihoods. Every month of delay increases habitat loss and economic vulnerability, making Coralition’s work not only urgent but critical for regional climate resilience.

Impact Stack

3.1

SDG01

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SDG10

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SDG13

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SDG17

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Strong partnership alignment.

Expert Vetters

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Individual Questions

The Context

Coral reefs are among the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet they are also some of the most vulnerable. Often called the “rainforests of the sea,” reefs support an extraordinary diversity of life while providing essential services for coastal protection, food security, and global climate regulation. Despite their importance, coral reefs are disappearing at an unprecedented pace.

Since the mid-20th century, the world has lost an estimated 50% of its coral reefs, with mass bleaching events accelerating in recent decades due to rising ocean temperatures. Marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, pollution, destructive fishing practices, and coastal development continue to push reefs toward ecological collapse. Today, over 75% of the world’s coral reefs are considered threatened, placing this foundational ecosystem at a critical tipping point.

Why Coral Reefs Matter

The ecological, economic, and climate benefits of coral reefs are profound:

  • Biodiversity Hotspots: Coral reefs support nearly 25% of all marine species, providing habitat, shelter, and breeding grounds for fish, invertebrates, and iconic species that underpin ocean food webs.

  • Coastal Protection: Reefs act as natural breakwaters, absorbing wave energy and reducing coastal erosion, flooding, and storm damage for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

  • Food & Livelihoods: Healthy reefs sustain fisheries and tourism economies, supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities and contributing billions of dollars annually to the global economy.

  • Climate Resilience: Coral reef ecosystems play a role in carbon cycling and help stabilize coastal systems that are increasingly exposed to climate-driven extremes.

Despite their value, traditional reef restoration approaches—such as manual coral transplantation—are labor-intensive, expensive, and difficult to scale against the speed of ongoing loss. However, emerging restoration technologies and assisted recovery strategies are beginning to shift what’s possible, enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective reef restoration at meaningful scales. By empowering local communities and conservation practitioners, these innovations offer a path toward rebuilding reef resilience while safeguarding the ecosystems and people that depend on them.

About

We’re levelin’ up philanthropy!


The Dollar Donation Club Integrated Impact Score was designed to ensure that the world’s most powerful and holistic solutions are presented to our members. The goal is to identify acupuncture points of change – solutions that create maximum positive benefit using minimal resources, while triggering a large cascade of additional benefits.


More importantly, the Integrated Impact Score embodies our approach of smart-philanthropy.


It’s not enough for us to give with only our heart. We must also give intelligently – identifying solutions that address root causes, generate outsized measurable outcomes, integrate holistically into existing communities, consider long-term impacts, reduce the risk of unintended consequences and lead to self-reliant capabilities rather than co-dependencies.


It’s time for us to focus less on things like “overhead ratios” and more on the total, holistic positive result per dollar. Oh yeah, and it should be fun!


We believe that the best solutions...


  • Solve root-causes rather than symptoms.
  • Consider their impact 100 years into the future.
  • Produce massive impact efficiently.
  • Care for people and planet holistically.
  • Leverage nature’s and humanity’s best technologies.
  • Are radically transparent – financially and operationally.
  • Are resilient against threats of reversal.
  • Result in self-reliance, rather than dependence.
  • Clearly understand total costs to achieve outcomes.

This vetting methodology was designed with careful care to identify these solutions.



How we calculate the Integrated Impact Score:


Individual Dimension Score


The scores for each individual dimension (e.g. Transparency, Measurability) are calculated by adding up the total points (1-5) per section and dividing by the total possible points for that section.


Impact Stack


The amount of points awarded for the Impact Stack section is based on an assessment of how directly or indirectly and effectively or ineffectively the solution addresses a particular Sustainable Development Goal, using the SDG indicators as a guide. Impact Stack is treated like a bonus of points by adding up the total Impact Stack score and dividing by 10 (i.e. every 10 points gives a bonus of +1 to the final IIS score).


Overall Integrated Impact Score


The overall Integrated Impact Score is calculated by averaging the total scores received in each of the Individual Dimensions (e.g. Transparency, Measurability, etc.). We then add the bonus points awarded by the Impact Stack. Overall scores are rounded up to the nearest integer at 0.5 (e.g. if a score of 94.5 is calculated, the final score will be 95, if a score of 94.4 is calculated, the final score will be 94).

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