The Secure World Foundation promotes peace and international cooperation in space based on the left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The foundation works with private industry, international associations, and national governments on subjects such as space debris, lunar governance, and the demilitarization of outer space. ^{1 2}

Activities

The Secure World Foundation works with governments, international organizations, and industry to promote peace in outer space. The organization argues that international cooperation is necessary to avoid a tragedy of the commons in space where different nations and actors using space deplete limited resources and harm everyone’s long term interests. The foundation also argues that discussions on subjects of space security, sustainability, and peace must be “more diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible.” ¹

The foundation engages in three primary activities to promote peace in space. First, the foundation produces research and analysis to help policymakers. Second, the foundation convenes private and public meetings on space issues. Third, the foundation promotes policy approaches to support its vision of space. ¹

As of July 2024, the Secure World Foundation’s latest annual report was from 2022. In the 2022 annual report, the Secure World Foundation stated it worked that year with the Republic of Korea to develop information on the debris caused by anti-satellite weaponry, produced a report on global counterspace capabilities, participated in a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded initiative to develop technical and operations standards for commercial satellite servicing activities, and hosted scholarships and fellowship programs for students interested in space. ²

In 2022, the Secure World Foundation also held its 4th Summit for Space Sustainability. Topics of the summit included orbital capacity, space traffic management, discussions on banning the deliberate creation of space debris, space debris removal and mitigation, and lunar governance. ²

The Secure World Foundation has two offices, one in Broomfield, Colorado, and the other in Washington, D.C. ³

People

The executive director of the Secure World Foundation is Peter Martinez. From 2011 to 2018, Martinez chaired the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Working Group. In 2012 and 2013, he represented South Africa on the United Nations Group of Government Experts on transparency and confidence-building measures for space activities. From 2010 to 2014, Martinez was chairman of South Africa’s national regulatory authority for space activities, the Council for Space Affairs. ⁴

The Secure World Foundation was founded by Marcel Arsenault. Arsenault is also the founder and chairman of Real Capital Solutions, a real estate investment company, and the One Earth Foundation, an organization devoted to preventing war. Arsenault also sits on the board of the Secure World Foundation. ^{5 6 7}

Other board members include Cynda Collins Arsenault, Angie Bukley, William Van Rensalier Parker, Michael Simpson, and Marcia Smith. ⁷

Sponsors and Partners

Sponsors and partners of the Secure World Foundation include the Aerospace Corporation, the Chinese Academy of Science, Open University, the Paris Peace Forum, the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Space Court Foundation, SpaceNews, the U.K. Space Agency, United Nations Disarmament Research, Viasat, and Virgin Orbit. ²

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2022, the Secure World Foundation reported $3,148,688 in revenue, $13,716,003 in assets, and $2,416,078 in expenses. Of those expenses, the organization spent $308,605 on its fourth Summit for Space Sustainability at the London Science Museum on the subject, “Global Priorities for Space Sustainability.” The Secure World Foundation also spent $85,532 raising awareness of space security and sustainability at the 2022 G-77. That same year, founder Marciel Arsenault contributed $1,150,000 to the foundation. Arsenault is the co-founder of the One Earth Future, the Arsenault Family Foundation, and the Secure World Foundation. ^{8 6}

1. “Who We Are.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://swfound.org/about-us/who-we-are/.
2. “Secure World Foundation: 2022 Annual Report.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://swfound.org/media/207756/swf-annual-report-22.pdf./
3. “Our Offices.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://swfound.org/about-us/our-offices/.
4. “Dr. Peter Martinez.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed July 3, 2024.  https://swfound.org/about-us/our-team/dr-peter-martinez/.
5. “Marcel Arsenault.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelrcs/.
6. “Marcel Arsenault.” One Earth Future. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://oneearthfuture.org/en/staff/marcel-arsenault. https://oneearthfuture.org/en/staff/marcel-arsenault.
7. “Our Board.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed July 3, 2024. https://swfound.org/about-us/our-board/.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Secure World Foundation. 2022.