Two Decades of Sharing and Preserving Ossabaw Island
1998 – 2018
The Ossabaw Island Foundation (TOIF) was established in 1994 to manage programming and facilities on Ossabaw Island. Our partnership with the State of Georgia was formalized in 1998 with the signing of the Ossabaw Island Use Agreement. This renewable “contract” gives TOIF exclusive right of use of the North End of Ossabaw Island, and shared use, with the State, of the island’s southern portion.
TOIF pays an annual use fee to the State of Georgia for this privilege. The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for management of Ossabaw’s infrastructure and for “environmentally sound preservation, conservation and management of the Island’s ecosystem.”
Download 25 Years of Accomplishments
Download the Executive Summary of our 2023-2028 Plan
Mission
The non-profit Ossabaw Island Foundation, through a public-private partnership with the State of Georgia, inspires, promotes and manages exceptional educational, cultural and scientific resources that are designed to maximize the experience of Ossabaw Island, while minimizing the impact on its resources.
Donations make up 1/3 of TOIF’s operating budget. TOIF is a 501 c 3 non profit organization located in Savannah, Georgia. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our Values
- Stewardship of Ossabaw Island and its resources while facilitating island access where humans lightly tread, through adhering to the letter and the spirit of Ossabaw Island Heritage Preserve, the terms of the sale of the island, and the Use Agreement requirements.
- Excellence in education and scholarship through the integration of disciplines.
- Passion and Respect for Ossabaw Island’s unique role of restoring people’s sense of place within the world.
- Integrity in thought, word and action demonstrated through open communications and transparent operations.
