California Coastkeeper Alliance

What California Coastkeeper Alliance does

California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA) is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that serves as the statewide umbrella organization for local Waterkeeper programs across California, including San Diego Coastkeeper, Los Angeles Waterkeeper, Humboldt Baykeeper, Russian Riverkeeper, and Yuba River Waterkeeper. Its mission is to secure swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians through policy advocacy, legal enforcement actions, and coalition-building directed at the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the California Legislature, and local governments. CCKA runs programmatic initiatives including the Ocean Life Protection Project (addressing coastal sewage, acidification, and oxygen loss), CII commercial stormwater permit advocacy (filing petitions across six Regional Water Boards in June 2025), a data center water use oversight campaign targeting AI infrastructure, the Blueprint to Climate-Ready Water Policy framework, and the Safe to Swim for All initiative anchored by the annually proclaimed Swimmable California Day.

The organization generates revenue through tax-deductible donations (processed via Donorbox), foundation grants, and coalition support, with no commercial product line and no disclosed financial figures. CCKA operates with a lean staff of nine employees including Executive Director Sean Bothwell, Associate Director Natalie Caulk, Staff Attorneys Madi Richards and Marty Farrell, Policy Analyst Leah Campbell, and Communications Consultant Lola Dvorak. In 2021 CCKA acquired The Otter Project to extend marine wildlife protection work into sea otter recovery. The organization is independently operated and affiliated with the global Waterkeeper Alliance movement, with additional affiliations to 1% For the Planet and the Blue Business Council.

Name

California Coastkeeper Alliance

Legal name

California Coastkeeper Alliance

Website

https://cacoastkeeper.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Coastkeeper Alliance is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that unites local Waterkeeper programs statewide to advocate for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters through policy advocacy, litigation, and coalition-building directed at California regulators and the legislature.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Water quality advocacy
• Environmental policy advocacy
• Clean water protection
• Watershed conservation
• Environmental litigation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CCKA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unites Waterkeeper programs statewide to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians through policy advocacy, legal enforcement actions, and public awareness campaigns. The organization pursues environmental justice, tribal leadership, and climate-ready water policy, and coordinates named initiatives such as the Ocean Life Protection Project, CII Stormwater Permit advocacy, Data Center Water Use Oversight, Blueprint to Climate-Ready Water Policy, and the Safe to Swim for All Initiative.

Product overview

California Coastkeeper Alliance is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit organization that fights for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians. Rather than offering a software product, CCKA operates advocacy programs including the Ocean Life Protection Project addressing coastal pollution and acidification, CII Stormwater Permit advocacy to establish statewide commercial stormwater regulation, Data Center Water Use oversight for AI facility water accountability, the Blueprint to Climate-Ready Water Policy providing a statewide water governance framework, and the Safe to Swim for All initiative promoting freshwater access and water quality monitoring. These programs work through policy advocacy, legislative engagement, enforcement actions, and coalition-building with local Waterkeepers statewide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Life Protection Project Advocacy campaign focused on protecting California's coastal and marine ecosystems through policy advocacy and public awareness.
• Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Stormwater Permit Advocacy Regulatory advocacy program engaging with the CII Stormwater Permit process to influence stormwater policy for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in California.
• Data Center Water Use Oversight Advocacy initiative to monitor and address water consumption associated with data center operations in California.
• Blueprint to Climate-Ready Water Policy Policy framework integrating environmental justice and tribal leadership into climate-resilient water policy across California.
• Safe to Swim for All Initiative Public awareness campaign advocating for safe, swimmable waters for all Californians, including disadvantaged communities.
• The Otter Project (subsidiary) Subsidiary program of CCKA, acquired in 2021, extending the organization's marine and coastal ecosystem protection work.

Quantifiable outcome

• California's ocean economy generates more than $44 billion annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Earthjustice: Public-interest environmental law firm that has employed CCKA staff (Marty Farrell interned at Earthjustice) and frequently litigates Clean Water Act and water rights cases alongside or against CCKA's advocacy positions.

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: Coastal water quality and ocean protection nonprofit with strong California chapter presence; overlaps significantly with CCKA on beach water quality, plastic pollution, and coastal advocacy.
• Clean Water Fund: National nonprofit dedicated exclusively to clean water advocacy, pollution prevention, and water justice — directly comparable mission, advocacy model, and policy focus areas to CCKA.
• San Diego Coastkeeper: One of CCKA's constituent local Waterkeeper programs; independently operates water quality monitoring, advocacy, and litigation in the San Diego region with the same Waterkeeper model and branding.
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based nonprofit focused on Southern California coastal water quality, pollution prevention, and policy advocacy — directly comparable mission, geography, and advocacy approach to CCKA.
• Los Angeles Waterkeeper: Local Waterkeeper affiliate of CCKA focused on LA region's waterways; mirrors CCKA's swimmable/fishable/drinkable water mission at the watershed level.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major environmental advocacy organization with California-focused water quality, agricultural pollution, and climate-ready water work; competes with CCKA for donor mindshare and policy influence in Sacramento.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large national environmental organization with active California water program including Clean Water Act defense, drinking water advocacy, and litigation — overlapping substantially with CCKA's policy and legal strategies.
• Sierra Club: One of the largest US environmental organizations with active California water, coastal, and environmental justice programs; overlaps with CCKA's water policy and member mobilization work.
• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global umbrella organization connecting Waterkeeper programs worldwide; CCKA is an affiliate and directly references Waterkeeper Alliance on its site, making it the closest structural peer and parent network.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CA_Waterkeepers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WaterkeeperMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/cacoastkeeper
• Instagraminstagram.com/ca_waterkeepers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-coastkeeper-alliance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 California Coastkeeper Alliance