Captains for Clean Water
Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) is an activist group that advocates environmentalist policies including increased environmental protections and restoration efforts for the Everglades region as well as improved water quality management within south Florida. The group was founded in 2016 by fishing guides Daniel Andrews and Chris Wittman and has also opposed pollution from agricultural discharge by industrial farming interests. 1 The group has also advocated through public awareness campaigns, lobbying in both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. as well as coalition-building with groups within the outdoor industry. 2 3
Contents
Activities
Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) has previously advocated the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a federally authorized group of restoration projects approved by Congress in 2000, as well as the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a $1.6 billion project designed to direct excess water from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades. 4
In February 2022, the CFCW announced its opposition to Florida Senate Bill 2508 (SB 2508), a budget appropriations bill that would authorize the “release of state funds for specified water project components” while allowing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to “acquire land or certain related interests in land for specified public purpose.” 5 6 The group claimed the bill would negatively impact coastal communities and would take part in efforts to prevent its passage through social media outreach and organized protests at the state capital. The bill would later be vetoed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). 6
CFCW has also organized public education tours of the Everglades region, produced documentary films about water policy, and partnered with business brands like Yeti and Costa. 2 7
As of 2026, CFCW was listed as a client of the Everglades Law Center, a left-of-center public-interest law firm that uses litigation, advocacy, and negotiation to oppose development and resource-use decisions it claims will affect South Florida ecosystems. 8
Financials
In 2024, Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) reported $2,501,816 in revenue, $2,718,770 in total expenses, and $2,798,472 in net assets. 9
Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) received an estimated $275,000 from the Everglades Foundation between 2016 and 2023. 10
Leadership
Daniel Andrews is the co-founder of Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) and as of 2026 is the CEO of the group. Previously working as a charter fishing guide, Andrews went full-time at CFCW in 2017. In 2024, Andrews reportedly earned $153,952 in direct compensation from the organization. 11 12
Co-founder Chris Wittman is the co-founder of CFCW and was program director as of 2023. 13 11
As of 2026, the organization’s board included chairman Gene Nesbeda, vice chairman Michael Collins, secretary Christopher Kelly, and treasurer Chauncey Goss. 11
Controversies
Hiring of Gene Nesbeda
In 2021, activist group Floridians For Clean Water criticized Captains for Clean Water for appointing businessman and investor Gene Nesbeda to its board of directors, calling him a “retired Plastics Executive from GE…[c]ant make this stuff up.” 14 15
Ties to Everglades Foundation
In 2022, the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee questioned CFCW on its ties to the Everglades Foundation after CFCW announced opposition to the “SB 2508: Environmental Resources” appropriation bill that would authorize the “release of state funds for specified water project components” while allowing the Florida state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to “acquire land or certain related interests in land for specified public purpose.” 16 5
A report by the Fort Myers News-Press claimed there were financial ties between the Everglades Foundation and the Florida chapters of the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. Additionally, a past Instagram post allegedly showed a meeting between CFCW members and Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg. 16 17
Funding from Patagonia
In June 2024, then-state Sen. Randy Fine (R) called on CFCW to return money to companies with what he called “terrorism ties” after disclosures showed that CFCW received financial support from clothing company Patagonia, which had allegedly made grants to the anti-Israel fiscal sponsorship group Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ). 18 19
Southland Water Resource Rock Mine
In June 2025, Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden (R) issued a public statement on Facebook accusing CFCW-affiliated activists of having “fueled hostility and provoked violent rhetoric” with social media messaging against the development of the proposed Southland Water Resource rock mine project near the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) by U.S. Sugar and Okeelanta Corporation. 3 20 21 CFCW later released a statement denying any connection to threats and denying it encouraged threatening speech, while free-speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) claimed the social media posts Whidden highlighted were constitutionally protected speech. 20
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,903,421 | $1,398,255 | $1,471,418 | View |
| 2024 | $3,952,653 | $2,501,816 | $2,718,770 | View |
| 2023 | $3,059,231 | $2,586,748 | $3,154,385 | View |
| 2022 | $3,522,236 | $3,529,139 | $1,942,081 | View |
| 2021 | $1,974,237 | $1,999,090 | $1,541,727 | View |
| 2020 | $1,487,750 | $1,283,956 | $1,121,790 | View |
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 20
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $4,417,914
- Number of Grants: 344
- Number of Funders: 160
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $127,781
- Number of Grants: 12
- Number of Recipients: 8
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years: