Friends of the Dunes

What Friends of the Dunes does

Friends of the Dunes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 68-0373871) founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arcata, California, with its primary physical site at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center in Manila. The organization is dedicated to conserving the natural diversity of coastal dune environments in Northern California through community-supported education and stewardship programs, serving K-12 students, community volunteers, and the general public across the Humboldt Bay region. Its core program portfolio includes K-12 School Programs (Friday field trips during spring and fall), Coastal Naturalist Training (an 8-week volunteer certification course), the Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT, meeting twice monthly), Summer Camp, and Nature Newbies introductory programs, along with educational content assets such as the photographic Dune Plant Guide (Release 2.0, April 2018) and the Naturalist Notes webinar series. It also operates the Acmon Blue Native Plant Garden and is active in the Humboldt Coastal Dunes Cooperative, coordinating management of protected lands with BLM, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the Wiyot Tribe's Table Bluff Reservation.

The organization's revenue model is purely contribution-based, with no paid program offerings. Funding streams include individual tax-deductible donations (one-time and monthly), membership tiers (Beacon of Light, Capstone Club), corporate business partnerships, federal and state grants (USFWS, BLM, Humboldt County Resource and Conservation District), and small foundation support (e.g., Gerald O. and Susan Hanson Family Fund). All programs are provided free of charge to participants. Distribution occurs through the physical Nature Center, community events (Gear Sale, Tunes in the Dunes, Ocean Day, Sand Sculpture Festival), partner distribution points (California Welcome Center, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, wildlife refuge visitor centers, BLM office), and digital channels (website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, email newsletter).

Name

Friends of the Dunes

Legal name

Friends of the Dunes

Website

https://friendsofthedunes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of the Dunes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1984 that conserves Northern California coastal dune ecosystems through free community education, K-12 field trips, volunteer restoration, and a naturalist training program, operating from the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center in Manila, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Coastal conservation
• Habitat restoration
• Volunteer stewardship
• Nature education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcata

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting coastal conservation mission
2. Membership Program: Annual membership with tiers including Beacon of Light and Capstone Club giving levels
3. Business Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship and business partner programs supporting the organization's mission
4. Grant Funding: Funding from agencies including US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and conservation districts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Friends of the Dunes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that conserves coastal dune ecosystems in northern California through free, community-supported environmental education and stewardship programs. It operates the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center as its primary visitor hub and delivers K-12 school field trips, an 8-week Coastal Naturalist Training course, the Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT), Summer Camp, and educational resources such as the Dune Plant Guide and Naturalist Notes webinar series. All programs are provided at no cost to participants.

Product overview

Friends of the Dunes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural diversity of coastal environments in northern California through community-supported education and stewardship programs. The organization operates the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center as its primary hub and offers a portfolio of interconnected educational and conservation programs. Core offerings include K-12 School Programs featuring guided field trip experiences, the Coastal Naturalist Training course for volunteer education, and the Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT) for hands-on conservation work. The organization provides educational resources including the photographic Dune Plant Guide (Release 2.0, April 2018) and the Naturalist Notes Webinar Series featuring expert presentations on coastal ecology. Visitors and community members can access trail maps (Area Map & Guide, Ma-le'l Dunes Map, Wild Places With Your Dog Map) and participate in volunteer roles including Field Trip Guide, Walk Leader, and Coastal Trail Steward. Additional programs include Summer Camp, Nature Newbies introductory programs, and the Acmon Blue Native Plant Garden at the nature center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Humboldt Coastal Nature Center: The main nature center facility operated by Friends of the Dunes, located at 220 Stamps Lane in Manila, offering environmental education and visitor services.

Products and services

• Humboldt Coastal Nature Center Main visitor center and operational hub located at 220 Stamps Lane in Manila, California, offering environmental education resources, hosting volunteer programs, and serving as the base for conservation activities in the Humboldt Bay region.
• School Programs (K-12 Field Trips) Free K-12 educational field trip programs that teach students about coastal environments, dune ecology, habitat restoration, native plants, salt marsh ecology, animal tracking, bird watching, freshwater invertebrates, dune geology, and human history through guided hands-on activities.
• Coastal Naturalist Training Free 8-week in-depth training course covering botany, geology, birds, insects, animal tracking, cultural history, coastal ecology, and interpretation techniques for community members interested in becoming volunteer walk leaders.
• Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT) Volunteer-based dune restoration program that meets twice monthly for invasive plant removal and native habitat restoration activities in Humboldt coastal dune environments.
• Summer Camp Seasonal summer programs for youth focused on coastal exploration, environmental education, and outdoor activities at Humboldt Bay coastal environments.
• Dune Plant Guide A photographic guide to plants of Humboldt Bay Dunes and Wetlands compiled by Gordon Leppig and Andrea Pickart, covering plant families and genera found in the coastal dune environment. Freely available for non-profit use and reproduction with credit to authors.
• Naturalist Notes Webinar Series Educational webinar/video series featuring experts discussing coastal wildlife, flora, and conservation topics including plovers, lichens, pinnipeds, native bees, bats, and dune ecology.
• Area Map & Guide Free printed map and guide highlighting natural areas, coastal habitats, and local natural history information. Available at visitor locations including California Welcome Center, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge visitor center, BLM Arcata office, and by mail request.
• Ma-le'l Dunes Trail Map Trail map for the Ma-le'l Dunes Cooperative Management Area, covering both the northern Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge portion and southern Bureau of Land Management managed area.
• Wild Places With Your Dog Map Color-coded map showing dog-friendly wild places in Humboldt County with site-specific regulations to help dog owners protect wildlife while recreating outdoors.
• Nature Newbies Introductory nature programs for beginners, introducing participants to coastal environments and outdoor exploration in the Humboldt Bay region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs provided free of charge to all participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bureau of Land Management Arcata OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative management of Samoa Dunes Recreation Area and Ma-le'l South. BLM provides trail access information and manages the southern portion of Ma-le'l Dunes where dog walking and equestrian use are permitted.
• Humboldt Bay National Wildlife RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern portion of Ma-le'l is part of the refuge. Organization provides information about Lanphere and Ma-le'l Dunes Unit access.
• Humboldt Coastal Dunes CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates coordinated ecosystem management of coastal dune environments through collaboration among stakeholders. Organization is an active member.
• California Department of Fish and WildlifesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Eel River Wildlife Area; collaborative conservation efforts.
• City of EurekasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Eureka Dunes Protected Area and Elk River Wildlife Area.
• Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative conservation and recreation management efforts.
• Manila Community Services DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Manila Dunes and Manila Community Center.
• HSU Natural History MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational collaboration and natural history resource sharing.
• Northcoast Environmental CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education and advocacy collaboration for the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion.
• California Council of Land TrustssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide land trust network collaboration.
• Table Bluff Reservation, Wiyot TribesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural history collaboration and indigenous knowledge sharing about coastal environments.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Save the Redwoods League: California land trust protecting coastal and forest ecosystems through acquisition, stewardship, and education. Comparable in land-trust structure, agency partnerships, and community education programs.
• Surfrider Foundation: California-rooted coastal conservation non-profit combining advocacy, education, and volunteer stewardship. Direct peer in coastal environmental education, volunteer-driven stewardship, and community outreach programs.
• Northcoast Environmental Center: Humboldt-based environmental education and advocacy non-profit and active Friends of the Dunes partner. Direct peer in regional environmental education, conservation policy, and community engagement.
• Coastwalk California: California coastal trail stewardship and education non-profit. Direct peer in coastal access, trail mapping, free guided nature experiences, and volunteer engagement.
• Heal the Bay: Southern California coastal/beach conservation non-profit delivering free environmental education, volunteer programs, and restoration advocacy. Comparable in mission, education-first delivery, and free-program model.
• Point Reyes National Seashore Association: Non-profit partner of the National Park Service delivering environmental education, field programs, and volunteer stewardship at a California coastal preserve. Comparable in non-profit nature-center operations and school programs.

Regional players

• California Coastkeeper Alliance: Statewide network of Waterkeeper organizations focused on California coastal water quality and ecosystem protection. Adjacent peer focused on coastal advocacy, education, and stewardship at a larger geographic scale.
• Land Trust of Napa County: Northern California land trust providing conservation easements, stewardship, and public-access nature programming. Strong structural and operational similarity as a regional land trust non-profit.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (California): Largest private global conservation organization with major California coastal program. Broad incumbent operating in overlapping conservation, easement, and education space but at a vastly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Catalina Island Conservancy: California island-focused land conservation non-profit delivering education, restoration, and visitor programming at a single geographic site. Comparable operating model to a place-based nature center non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/friendsofthedunes
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendsofthedunesnaturecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsofthedunes/?hl=en
• Xx.com/friendsofdunes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Dunes