San Onofre Parks Foundation

What San Onofre Parks Foundation does

The San Onofre Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public benefit charitable corporation founded in 2008 and based in San Clemente, California, operating as a cooperative nonprofit partner of California State Parks. The foundation supports the educational, interpretive, and preservation needs of San Onofre State Beach (just over 2,000 acres, including the most popular surfing beach in the United States) and San Clemente State Beach (90 acres), which together see more than 2 million visitors annually and serve a population of 12+ million people within a two-hour drive. It is one of 85 cooperative nonprofit partnerships supporting California's 279 state parks.

The foundation's core offerings include annual memberships (Individual $25, Family $50, Friend $100), a Summer Lecture Series, the Historic Cottage Visitor Center and gift shop at San Clemente State Beach, docent and Trail Assistant volunteer programs, field trips and educational outreach for K–12 schools, the annual Butterfly Education Day, and the Earth Day at Panhe celebration honoring the Acjachemen/Juaneño Native American people. It also operates an online merchandise store at sanoparksstore.org and produces educational video content. Notable strategic outcomes include the 2024 renewal of the Navy lease for San Onofre State Beach for an additional 25 years and a successful advocacy campaign that blocked the Foothill-South Toll Road from traversing the park.

The foundation's revenue model is diversified across small-dollar individual contributions: membership fees, tax-deductible donations (typically $25–$200), corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (Surfrider, Marisla, National Environmental Education Foundation, California State Parks cooperative program), event ticket sales, and merchandise. It maintains a six-person staff plus a board of approximately 20 directors and advisors, and relies heavily on volunteer mobilization. The foundation does not develop or sell proprietary technology products; its competitive position rests on its formal partnership with California State Parks, decades of community relationships across surfers, environmentalists, and Native American stakeholders, and its stewardship of cultural and natural heritage assets including the 9,500-year-old Panhe village site.

Name

San Onofre Parks Foundation

Legal name

San Onofre Parks Foundation

Website

https://sanoparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The San Onofre Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that supports California State Parks at San Onofre and San Clemente State Beaches through education, interpretation, visitor services, volunteer programs, and advocacy, funded by memberships, donations, grants, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Park preservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Volunteer trail stewardship
• State park cooperative association
• Coastal recreation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

San Clemente

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions providing e-mail notifications of events and quarterly newsletters. Tiers include Individual ($25), Family ($50), and Friend ($100).
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting park preservation and educational programs. Donation amounts ranging from $25 to $200+ are accepted.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program where businesses sponsor events and programs. Sponsors receive recognition and benefits in exchange for financial support.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise to support the foundation's work at sanoparksstore.org.
5. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for the Summer Lecture Series events ($10 online, $15 at door) and special event parking fees.
6. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from organizations including Surfrider Foundation, Marisla Foundation, National Environmental Education Foundation, and California State Parks cooperative association program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

San Onofre Parks Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cooperative association supporting California State Parks at San Onofre and San Clemente State Beaches. Its core offerings include educational and interpretive programs (Summer Lecture Series, docent tours, school field trips, Butterfly Education Day, Panhe Earth Day celebration), the Historic Cottage Visitor Center and gift shop, volunteer trail and stewardship programs, and an online merchandise store. The foundation is funded through memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, event revenue, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

San Onofre Parks Foundation operates as a non-profit cooperative association providing educational, interpretive, and preservation services for California State Parks at San Onofre and San Clemente State Beaches. The Foundation offers membership programs, volunteer opportunities (Trail Assistant, Visitor Center, Special Events), educational programs (Summer Lecture Series, Field Trips, Docent Tours), recreational access support (hiking, biking, surfing), and operates the Historic Cottage Visitor Center. Programs are funded through memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, and an online store. The Foundation serves as a voice for community protection and preservation of these coastal parklands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program supporting State Parks at San Onofre and San Clemente State Beaches, available in Individual ($25), Family ($50), and Friend ($100) tiers. Members receive email notification of upcoming events and a quarterly newsletter.
• Online Merchandise Store E-commerce storefront at sanoparksstore.org selling San Onofre Parks Foundation merchandise (apparel, gifts, and branded items) to generate revenue for park preservation.
• Trail Assistant Volunteer Program Organized volunteer program for trail maintenance, guided hikes, and outdoor education support at San Onofre and San Clemente State Parks.
• Butterfly Education Day Annual educational family event celebrating Butterfly Trail stewardship at San Clemente State Beach, featuring presentations, planting activities, butterfly tent exhibits, and guided trail hikes. Includes $5 special event parking.
• Historic Cottage Visitor Center and Gift Shop Historic 1934 ranger's cottage operating as a visitor center and gift shop at San Clemente State Beach, open Sunday through Friday 10am-4pm. Showcases local wildlife, marine life, and park history; free admission and available for weddings and special events.
• Summer Lecture Series Annual ticketed outdoor lecture series featuring environmental education lectures with internationally acclaimed speakers, reception refreshments, entertainment, and raffle prizes. Tickets $10 online in advance and $15 at the door; topics include surf science and coastal preservation.
• Docent Programs Educational volunteer program providing trained docents for public and school group tours, interpretive trail walks, and visitor education at park facilities.
• School Field Trip Programs Structured educational field trips for schools teaching wildlife, watersheds, sand dune and sage scrub habitats, aquatic environments, and Native American history at San Onofre State Beach.
• Panhe Earth Day Celebration Annual Earth Day celebration at Panhe San Mateo Campground honoring the Acjachemen/Juaneño Native American people, featuring cultural demonstrations, educational activities, and intertribal celebrations.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship packages where businesses financially support foundation events and programs in exchange for recognition, visibility, and community engagement benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• San Onofre is the 5th most visited State Park in California with 2+ million annual visitors
• +3 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Environmental Education FoundationminorOthers · 21 August 2013Provided additional grant support for the Summer Lecture Series events. The foundation receives grant funding from this national environmental education organization to support educational programming.
• San Clemente Garden ClubminorOthers · 19 May 2013Provided grant support and collaboration for the Butterfly Education Day event and Butterfly Trail stewardship programs at San Clemente State Beach.
• Orange County CoastkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2012Co-hosted environmental education field trips for students from Shorecliffs Middle School at San Onofre State Beach. Students learned about sand dune, sage scrub, and aquatic habitats, and how pollution reaches the ocean through the watershed.
• United Coalition to Protect Panhe (UCPP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2010Partnership with UCPP to co-host the annual Earth Day Celebration at Panhe San Mateo Campground. The foundation has developed a real partnership with Panhe to preserve, educate, and interpret the Acjachemen village site which is approximately 9,500 years old.
• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is formally recognized as a cooperative nonprofit by California State Parks - one of 85 such partnerships supporting California's 279 State Parks. The foundation assists State Parks in delivering education and interpretive programs at San Onofre and San Clemente State Beaches. California State Parks provides organizational legitimacy, park access, and collaborative programming opportunities.
• Surfrider FoundationminorOthersProvided grant funding to the San Onofre Foundation to support preservation efforts and educational programs.
• Marisla FoundationminorOthersProvided grant funding to support the foundation's mission and programs.
• Department of the NavycoreOthersThe San Onofre State Beach property is leased from the Department of the Navy. The current lease arrangement (50-year term, now renewed for 25 years) allows California State Parks to operate the park on Navy-owned land at Camp Pendleton.
• Camp Pendleton Marine Corps BaseminorOthersAdjacent military base that borders San Onofre State Beach. The relationship has evolved from restrictive access (historically surfers were chased and arrested) to more open access, with the military being 'considerably less proprietary' about the area.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Save the Redwoods League: California nonprofit that protects and restores redwood forests and works with state parks. Comparable as a state park-supporting nonprofit, although focused on forest rather than coastal preservation.
• California State Parks Foundation: Statewide nonprofit supporting all 279 California State Parks through advocacy, grants, and volunteer programs. Most directly comparable as a sister cooperative association, but operates at much larger scale and broader scope than SOPF's two-park focus.
• Sierra Club Foundation: National environmental foundation supporting conservation, education, and advocacy programs. Comparable in environmental nonprofit and grantmaking mission, with several SOPF board members being Sierra Club members, but operates nationally rather than locally.
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Major nonprofit that supports the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in partnership with the National Park Service. Comparable as a cooperative park-supporting nonprofit with volunteer programs, visitor centers, and education, though at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• San Diego River Park Foundation: Southern California nonprofit focused on conservation, education, and stewardship of the San Diego River. Comparable as a regional nonprofit with similar volunteer-based education, trail stewardship, and donor-driven model, though river-focused rather than coastal.
• Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST): Bay Area nonprofit protecting open space lands for public use. Comparable as a regional land conservation organization with similar member, donor, and grant funding model, though focused on Bay Area rather than Southern California coast.
• Sonoma Land Trust: Northern California nonprofit that conserves and stewards natural areas and works with state and regional parks. Comparable as a regional conservation nonprofit with land stewardship, education, and member-based funding.
• Sempervirens Fund: California nonprofit supporting the redwood forests in Santa Cruz Mountains state parks. Comparable as a regional nonprofit that supports specific California State Parks through fundraising, advocacy, and education, although focused on forest rather than coastal habitat.

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves, and beaches. Directly comparable as a coastal preservation funder and partner (SOPF has received Surfrider grants) with overlapping surfing and beach advocacy missions.

Others

• Marisla Foundation: Private foundation funding land conservation, wildlife protection, and marine resources in California and Baja. Comparable as a grant funder to SOPF, providing an upstream funding source for environmental and coastal preservation programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sanonofreparksfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-onofre-parks-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about San Onofre Parks Foundation