About Us

Our mission is to engage and empower diverse groups to take actions that enrich natural resources and local communities.

An osprey spreads its wings on a wooden nest platform above marsh at Jug Bay
An osprey at Jug Bay on the Patuxent River.

Our History

The Maryland General Assembly created the Chesapeake Bay Trust in 1985. Since then, the Trust has awarded $140 million in grants and engaged hundreds of thousands of resident stewards in projects with measurable impact. What began as a way to involve citizens in Bay restoration is now a force for environmental change, community greening, and education across the Chesapeake, Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny watersheds.

Leadership

Our President, Jana Davis, Ph.D., a marine ecologist who has been with the Trust since 2005, leads the organization. A Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor of Maryland, provides oversight. Together they make sure every dollar goes where it matters most.

Financial Transparency

We take our fiduciary responsibility seriously. On average, 90 percent of the Trust's expenditures go directly to its restoration and education programs.

  • Charity Navigator's highest rating, held for over two decades
  • Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (GuideStar)
Neighbors of all ages plant young trees together at a community eco park
A community planting day at Harris Creek Eco Park in Baltimore.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ)

The Trust is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in everything we do. Restoring the Bay means including all communities, especially those hit hardest by environmental problems.

Read Our DEIJ Position


Our Team

The people who support our grantees, from first application to final report.

Leadership

The President and Vice President of Finance and Administration

View the Leadership Team →

Programs

Program officers for education, restoration, community engagement, and science grants

Full Staff Directory →

Finance & Administration

Accounting, compliance, human resources, and grants administration

Full Staff Directory →