Surfrider Foundation San Diego County

What Surfrider Foundation San Diego County does

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County is a regional chapter of the national Surfrider Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, waves, and beaches. Founded in 1984 at the national level, the San Diego County chapter operates from San Diego, California, with a team of approximately 16 employees supplemented by a volunteer activist network. The chapter runs a portfolio of ten community programs covering beach cleanups, water quality monitoring (Blue Water Task Force), cross-border pollution advocacy (Clean Border Water Now), coastal preservation, climate action, plastic pollution reduction, and certification programs for Ocean Friendly Restaurants, Hotels, and Gardens.

The organization's core operations are built around grassroots mobilization, environmental advocacy, and certification-driven behavior change rather than any proprietary technology platform. Beach cleanup events, the annual Surf-a-thon Fundraiser (held in October), educational webinars on topics like coastal dune restoration, and direct policy engagement — exemplified by the hand-delivery of over 7,450 petitions to the White House — constitute the principal operational surface. The chapter leverages the national Surfrider Foundation's brand, program frameworks, and activist infrastructure while executing local campaigns.

Revenue is generated entirely through nonprofit mechanisms: individual donations and recurring memberships processed via the mygiving.surfrider.org donation portal, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from the annual Surf-a-thon Fundraiser. There is no product pricing, no transactional revenue, and no AI/ML infrastructure disclosed. The customer base is distributed across three segments: community members and volunteers (primary), corporate sponsors participating in certification programs, and government officials who are the targets of policy advocacy campaigns.

Name

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County

Legal name

Surfrider Foundation

Website

https://surfridersd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chapter, founded in 1984, that runs community-driven ocean and beach protection programs including beach cleanups, water quality testing, plastic reduction advocacy, and certification programs for local restaurants and hotels in San Diego County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation programs
• Beach cleanup services
• Water quality monitoring
• Plastic pollution advocacy
• Coastal environmental protection

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donations from supporters who contribute to ocean and beach protection efforts. The organization accepts donations through its website donation portal.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from businesses that support Surfrider's environmental mission. Referenced as 'Sponsorships' page under Get Involved section.
3. Surf-a-thon Fundraiser: Annual fundraising event held in October that combines community participation with donations to support the chapter's programs and initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chapter that delivers environmental programs protecting oceans, waves, and beaches through volunteer-driven beach cleanups, water quality testing via the Blue Water Task Force, plastic pollution advocacy, coastal preservation campaigns, and certification programs for Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Hotels. The chapter also runs the annual Surf-a-thon Fundraiser and grassroots policy advocacy initiatives such as the Clean Border Water Now campaign.

Product overview

Surfrider Foundation San Diego County is a non-profit organization offering a suite of environmental programs focused on ocean and beach protection. The portfolio includes beach cleanup initiatives, water quality monitoring through the Blue Water Task Force, coastal preservation efforts, and advocacy campaigns addressing plastic pollution, clean border water, and climate action. Additional programs include certification initiatives for Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Hotels, as well as community education through Ocean Friendly Gardens. The organization also hosts an annual Surf-a-thon fundraiser to engage the community and generate support for conservation activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Friendly Restaurants Certification Certification program for restaurants that reduce single-use plastics, eliminate Styrofoam, and adopt ocean-friendly practices. Designed for local restaurants seeking sustainability credentials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,450 petitions delivered to the White House demanding federal emergency declaration on border water pollution

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Surfrider FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe San Diego County Chapter is part of the national Surfrider Foundation network. The national organization provides brand identity, programs, initiatives, and a powerful activist network that the local chapter leverages for its regional ocean protection efforts.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: International ocean conservation advocacy organization running science-based campaigns on plastic pollution, fisheries, and habitat protection. Comparable in advocacy-driven approach to marine conservation.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large environmental advocacy organization with significant work on ocean protection, plastic pollution, and coastal climate issues. Overlaps on policy advocacy tactics and target donor demographic.
• Ocean Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on ocean health through policy, science, and the International Coastal Cleanup. Comparable mission, national policy advocacy reach, and volunteer-driven cleanup model.
• Surfrider Foundation (National): The parent organization and broader activist network to which the San Diego County chapter belongs. Operates the same program portfolio (beach cleanups, Blue Water Task Force, Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly certifications) nationally, making it the most direct organizational analogue.

Direct peers

• Heal the Bay: Los Angeles-based marine conservation nonprofit with beach cleanup programs (Nothin' But Sand), policy advocacy, and water quality monitoring. Closely comparable programmatic structure and California coastal scope.
• Save Our Shores: Santa Cruz, CA-based nonprofit running beach cleanups, marine debris reduction, and coastal advocacy in the Monterey Bay region. Highly comparable mission, programmatic model, and California coastal focus.
• I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD): San Diego-based environmental nonprofit focused on zero waste, cleanup events, and community education. Directly comparable in geography, volunteer-driven cleanup model, and donor base.
• San Diego Coastkeeper: Local San Diego water quality and watershed advocacy nonprofit. Overlaps directly with Surfrider San Diego's Blue Water Task Force and clean water advocacy in the same service area.

Emerging players

• 5 Gyres: Nonprofit focused on plastic pollution research, education, and policy advocacy. Comparable focus area (Rise Above Plastics overlap) but with a narrower, science-driven programmatic model.

Regional players

• WILDCOAST: Imperial Beach, CA-based nonprofit conserving coastal and marine ecosystems in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Highly comparable in geography (San Diego/Baja) and marine conservation focus, including cross-border water issues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks13 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfridersandiego

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Surfrider Foundation San Diego County