Gnome Surf

What Gnome Surf does

Gnome Surf is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts, that delivers inclusive surf therapy to children, young adults, and families of all abilities. Its core service is one-on-one Individual Surf Therapy, conducted primarily at Nahant Beach, in which trained instructors and clinicians work with athletes to build confidence, resilience, and social-emotional skills through ocean-based activities. The organization complements individual sessions with group programs (Happy Camp & Day Camps), land-based conditioning (Surf-Fit and Wellness), caregiver support (Caregiver Wellness, Salty Tribe, Rad Dads), Youth Mentorship, a Financial Aid Scholarship program, the Little Legends Wave Fest mobile travel clinic, and an immersive Costa Rica program.

The business model blends earned revenue and philanthropy. Program fees flow through a Shopify storefront for season passes, four-packs, individual sessions, and camps; events are registered through Eventbrite; branded merchandise is sold via the same Shopify shop with proceeds funding program delivery. Donations and corporate/foundation sponsorships (e.g., Mass Mutual, Matouk, Dunkin Joy Foundation, Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism, Christopher Dana Reeve Foundation, Rathmann Family Foundation, Mass Cultural Council) provide the majority of mission-support funding. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: word-of-mouth referrals, social media presence across Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/TikTok/LinkedIn, email newsletters, paddle outs and community gatherings, and earned press coverage.

Operations are intentionally human-delivery-intensive: clinical credibility, trained mentorship, and a strong community "tribe" culture form the core of the offering. The organization states a research-based, clinically informed methodology and an identity-versus-performance orientation, but there are no disclosed proprietary technology platforms, AI/ML capabilities, or APIs. Team size is 1-10 employees, and the active operating footprint covers Massachusetts and Costa Rica.

Name

Gnome Surf

Legal name

Gnome Surf

Website

https://gnomesurf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gnome Surf is a Massachusetts-based 501c3 nonprofit that delivers inclusive surf therapy, camps, and wellness programs to children and families of all abilities, with an international program in Costa Rica. Funded through program fees, merchandise, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Surf Therapy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ), Aquatic Physical Therapy & Hydrotherapy (HSADAIAL), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Adaptive surf therapy
• Inclusive recreation programs
• Nonprofit wellness services
• Caregiver support programs
• Ocean-based therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Fall River

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from season passes, four-packs, individual surf therapy sessions, Happy Camps, Day Camps, and off-season wellness events. Registration is handled through Shopify storefront and Eventbrite.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Gnome Surf branded merchandise (apparel, accessories) through their Shopify store. Proceeds fund surf therapy programs for athletes.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate sponsors who support the nonprofit mission of inclusive surf therapy. The organization actively seeks sponsors and partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gnome Surf is a 501c3 nonprofit that delivers adaptive surf therapy programs to children, young adults, and families of all abilities, primarily operating from Nahant Beach in Massachusetts. Its offerings include one-on-one surf therapy sessions, group Happy Camp and Day Camp beach experiences, caregiver wellness programs, youth mentorship, land-based Surf-Fit training, a Little Legends Wave Fest travel clinic, an immersive Costa Rica program, and a branded merchandise store whose proceeds fund the therapy mission.

Product overview

Gnome Surf is a nonprofit surf therapy organization offering a portfolio of programs centered around individualized and group surf therapy services. The core offerings include Individual Surf Therapy (one-on-one sessions) and Happy Camp & Day Camps (inclusive group beach experiences). Supporting programs include Financial Aid Scholarships, Surf-Fit and Wellness (land-based training), CareGIVER Wellness/Salty Tribe (caregiver support), Youth Mentorship, Little Legends Wave Fest Travel Clinic, and the Costa Rica immersive travel program. The organization also hosts community Events and operates a Merchandise Shop. All programs are designed to be clinically-informed, family-centric, and create inclusive spaces for athletes of all abilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Salty Tribe: A women-led sanctuary where surfing meets soul care—combining ocean sessions with yoga, sound healing, and authentic community connection for caretakers.
• Rad Dads
• Happy Camp
• Surf-Fit and Wellness
• Little Legends Wave Fest
• Youth Mentorship

Products and services

• Individual Surf Therapy
• Happy Camp & Day Camps Inclusive group beach-day experience combining surf therapy, ocean activities, and social connection for athletes of all abilities.
• Gnome Surf Financial Aid Scholarships Need-based scholarship program that funds access to Gnome Surf therapy services for individuals and families who require financial assistance.
• Surf-Fit and Wellness Land-based fitness and pool training program designed to support mind, body, and ocean readiness for surf therapy participants.
• CareGIVER Wellness (Salty Tribe) Restorative program for caregivers combining mindfulness, movement, and community support. Includes the women-focused Salty Tribe sub-brand with ocean sessions, yoga, and sound healing.
• Little Legends Wave Fest Travel Clinic Traveling surf therapy clinic that brings inclusive surf sessions, celebration, and shared growth to new beaches and communities, extending Gnome Surf's mission beyond Massachusetts.
• Youth Mentorship Program guiding young athletes through connection, responsibility, and growth with support from trained mentors to build confidence and inclusive surf community belonging.
• Costa Rica Program Immersive surf therapy adventure for Gnome Surf families and the local Costa Rican community, combining surfing, connection, and wellness in warm tropical waters.
• Events Community gatherings including paddle outs and celebrations that bring athletes, families, and supporters together to strengthen connection and spread the mission of inclusive surf therapy.
• Gnome Surf Merchandise Shop Official Gnome Surf merchandise store selling apparel and accessories, with proceeds funding life-changing surf therapy programs for athletes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drastically improved confidence and social performance for athletes with learning disabilities after 3 years of consistent surf therapy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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.

• Social Enterprise GreenhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator program that supported Gnome Surf's founder Chris through the program in fall 2020. The partnership helped facilitate connections with corporate sponsors like Matouk and provided business development support.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Surfers Healing: Founded in 1996, Surfers Healing runs free surf camps for children with autism nationwide. It is the most directly comparable nonprofit to Gnome Surf in mission (adaptive surf therapy for special-needs children), delivery model (one-on-one and group beach sessions), and funding approach (donations and volunteer-driven).
• Life Rolls On Foundation: Life Rolls On provides adaptive surfing and other quality-of-life programs for people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. It shares Gnome Surf's adaptive-surf nonprofit positioning, reliance on volunteer instructors, and donation-funded model, while operating at larger geographic scale.
• Best Day Foundation: Best Day Foundation runs surf and beach programs for children and young adults with special needs, including autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Comparable to Gnome Surf in target population, event-based delivery, and volunteer-instructor structure.

Emerging players

• Special Surf (Fundación Special Surf): Special Surf runs adaptive surf programs for children and adults with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities, primarily in Latin America. Comparable to Gnome Surf's Costa Rica program in target population and therapeutic-surf methodology.
• Waves for Change: South Africa-based nonprofit using surf therapy to support young people facing mental health challenges. Comparable therapeutic-surf nonprofit model with a similar mental-health and social-emotional outcomes focus, though operating on a different continent.

Broad incumbents

• National Ability Center: Park City-based nonprofit providing adaptive sports and recreation including skiing, horseback riding, and water sports for people of all abilities. Comparable mission in inclusive adaptive recreation, but operates a much broader multi-sport portfolio versus Gnome Surf's surf-therapy focus.
• Disabled Sports USA: National nonprofit network providing adaptive sports opportunities across many disciplines. Overlaps with Gnome Surf in inclusive-recreation mission and donation-funded structure, but lacks a dedicated surf therapy specialty.

Others

• Surfrider Foundation: Large ocean-conservation nonprofit with chapters in coastal communities including Massachusetts. While not a direct therapeutic-surf peer, it shares the surf/beach community context, coastal Massachusetts presence, and volunteer-led nonprofit structure that supports Gnome Surf's ecosystem.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (in its adaptive-sports programming): Major spinal cord injury nonprofit that already funds Gnome Surf via partnership and also operates adaptive-sports grants nationwide. They are a funder and partial ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but represent an adjacent adaptive-recovery programming organization.

Regional players

• AccesSurf Hawaii: AccesSurf Hawaii delivers adaptive surf lessons and beach programs for people with disabilities in Hawaii. Comparable service offering but geographically focused on Hawaii rather than the Northeast, making it a regional rather than direct competitor to Gnome Surf.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gnomesurf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv9oJQSOBoHPGT_yGjVR6Dw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/gnomesurf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gnome-surf
• Instagraminstagram.com/gnomesurf
• TikToktiktok.com/@gnomesurf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Gnome Surf