Alliance For A Living Ocean

What Alliance For A Living Ocean does

Alliance for a Living Ocean (ALO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered at P.O. Box 2250, Long Beach Township, New Jersey. It was established in direct response to the 1987 "Syringe Tide" — a 50-mile garbage slick of medical waste and debris that washed ashore Long Beach Island — after a "Hands Across the Beach" demonstration drew over 40,000 participants. The organization's stated mission is to safeguard the waters of Long Beach Island (LBI) and Barnegat Bay through coastal conservation, education, and advocacy.

ALO's core offerings are organized around free, community-facing programs: beach cleanups, Critter Round-Ups (marine biodiversity seine-net sessions held Tuesday/Thursday in summer), dune grass planting for coastal habitat restoration, and school-based environmental education. The annual ALO Longboard Classic surf contest, now in its 18th year, serves as the organization's signature fundraising event. Supplementary initiatives include surfboard recycling in partnership with SwellColors Glass Studio, the Community Toy Box (Take a Toy, Leave a Toy) program operated with six island taxpayer associations, and the Balloons Pop Pledge campaign. ALO also runs advocacy efforts, having historically influenced the NJ Medical Waste Tracking Law (1989) and Clean Water Enforcement Act (1990), and currently campaigns on the NJ Plastic Bag Ban and against offshore drilling in NJ waters.

The organization's business model is donation- and membership-driven, with no fee-for-service revenue (all community programs are free). Revenue streams comprise individual/family memberships, business memberships, planned giving (bequests, IRA rollovers, stock gifts), one-time donations, event sponsorships, and registration fees from the Longboard Classic. Operations are supported by a volunteer Board of Directors, an Executive Director (Nick Delfico), a recently added Communications Specialist, and a small annual cohort of paid summer interns. Day-to-day programming is delivered through direct community engagement across LBI municipalities, partnerships with local schools, and the Long Beach Township Marine Field Station in Holgate.

Name

Alliance For A Living Ocean

Legal name

Alliance for a Living Ocean

Website

https://alolbi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alliance for a Living Ocean is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that runs free coastal conservation, beach cleanup, and education programs on Long Beach Island and Barnegat Bay, NJ, funded by memberships, donations, and its annual Longboard Classic surf contest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coastal Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Coastal conservation programs
• Beach cleanup services
• Marine environmental education
• Ocean nonprofit advocacy
• Community volunteer programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Jersey

HQ country

Trinidad & Tobago

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual & Family Memberships: Community members join as individual or family members to support the organization's mission and receive benefits including member stickers, event discounts, and ALO merchandise.
2. Business Memberships: Local businesses become members receiving recognition on website and social media, custom window decals, newsletter features, and event opportunities in exchange for their support.
3. Donations & Planned Giving: Accepts cash/check gifts, gift memberships, tribute/memorial gifts, stock gifts, IRA charitable rollovers, donor advised fund gifts, and bequests through wills and estate plans.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual ALO Longboard Classic surf contest serves as primary fundraiser supporting year-round free environmental education programs. Also accepts event sponsorships.
5. Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for ALO Longboard Classic surf contest participants in various divisions including Men's, Women's, 15&under, and Tandem categories.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alliance for a Living Ocean is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, community-driven coastal conservation programs for Long Beach Island and Barnegat Bay. Core deliverables include organized beach cleanups, marine biodiversity Critter Round-Ups, dune grass habitat restoration, school-based environmental education, surfboard recycling, and the annual ALO Longboard Classic surf contest fundraiser. Membership, donation, planned-giving, business partnership, and sponsorship programs fund the operations.

Product overview

Alliance for a Living Ocean is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a single unified environmental organization offering community-focused conservation programs. The core offerings include beach cleanups, Critter Round-Ups educational sessions, the annual ALO Longboard Classic surf contest, and dune grass planting events. The organization provides membership programs (Individual/Family and Business), planned giving options, and summer internships. ALO also runs environmental initiatives including surfboard recycling, the Community Toy Box, and the Balloons Pop Pledge campaign. All programs support ALO's mission to safeguard the waters of Long Beach Island and Barnegat Bay through education, volunteerism, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beach Cleanups
• Critter Round-Ups Free family-friendly marine biology events held along Barnegat Bay shores every Tuesday and Thursday starting in late June, where participants join trained ALO staff to pull seine nets through shallows and discover fish, crabs, shrimp, and other marine life.
• ALO Longboard Classic Annual signature surf contest and fundraiser celebrating traditional longboard surfing, with divisions including Men's, Women's, 15&under, and Tandem categories. The 18th Annual event is scheduled for August 8, 2026 at 68th Street beach in Brant Beach. Features traditional surf rules with pre-1967 board models.
• Dune Grass Planting Seasonal habitat restoration events (held in fall and spring) focused on planting native dune grass to prevent coastal erosion, stabilize dunes, and create safe spaces for wildlife on Long Beach Island.
• School Beach Cleanups & Education Outreach Partnership program with nearby K-12 schools organizing hands-on beach cleanups that combine environmental education with community action, teaching students about marine debris, sustainability, and local ecosystems.
• LBT Marine Field Station Programming Support ALO's support and promotion of family-friendly programming at the Long Beach Township Marine Field Station in Holgate, including What's Happening Wednesdays, Terrapin Tuesdays, and Kids' Corner programming throughout the summer.
• Surfboard Recycling Partnership with SwellColors Glass Studio (Mary Tantillo) that redirects used surfboards from landfills by transforming them into glass art, accessible via scheduled board drop-off.
• Community Toy Box (Take a Toy, Leave a Toy) Collaborative initiative with the Joint Council of Taxpayers Associations of Long Beach Island placing communal toy boxes at beach locations to provide upcycled toys and reduce plastic waste while fostering community engagement.
• Balloons Pop Pledge Advocacy campaign encouraging individuals and event organizers to stop balloon use, discourage balloons as gifts or decor, and adopt sustainable balloon alternatives to protect marine wildlife.
• Surf City: Covered Cans, Clean Sands Advocacy proposal supporting installation of covered trash receptacles along the Surf City shoreline to prevent litter scattering, reduce waste overflow, and maintain beach cleanliness.
• Individual & Family Memberships Recurring membership program for individuals and families supporting ALO's mission, with benefits including a member sticker, event discounts, and ALO merchandise discounts.
• Business Memberships Annual partnership program for local businesses offering website and social media recognition, custom window decals, newsletter features, and event opportunities in exchange for membership support.
• Planned Giving Program Estate and planned giving options accepting bequests (specific, percentage, residuary, contingent), IRA charitable rollovers, stock gifts, donor-advised fund gifts, and tribute/memorial gifts.
• Summer Internship Program Paid summer internship program for current college students supporting ALO's education and outreach programming, volunteer coordination, and environmental advocacy (2 paid positions annually).

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of pieces of litter removed annually from LBI beaches
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Long Beach Township Marine Field StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALO proudly supports and promotes programming at the Long Beach Township Marine Field Station in Holgate. This facility serves as a hub for coastal education, offering hands-on learning experiences that deepen understanding of local marine and estuarine ecosystems. Throughout the summer, the Field Station hosts family-friendly programs like What's Happening Wednesdays, Terrapin Tuesdays, and Kids' Corner.
• Joint Council of Taxpayers Associations of Long Beach IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALO collaborates with the Joint Council of Taxpayers Associations on the Community Toy Box Initiative - a Take a Toy, Leave a Toy program combating plastic waste while fostering community engagement. Includes partnerships with Ship Bottom Taxpayers Association, Brant Beach Taxpayers Association, LB10 Taxpayers Association, Surf City Taxpayers Association, North Beach Taxpayers Association, and Loveladies Taxpayers Association.
• SwellColors Glass StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALO partners with SwellColors glass studio to help redirect used surfboards from landfills. Contact Mary Tantillo at 609-494-7600 to schedule board drop-off, where she transforms them into art, keeping them out of the environment.
• Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALO partners with nearby schools to organize hands-on beach cleanups that combine environmental education with community action. These events teach students about marine debris, sustainability, and preserving local ecosystems.
• Like-Minded OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALO collaborates with like-minded organizations to strengthen the resiliency of Ocean County's natural wonders, working on advocacy for issues like the NJ Plastic Bag Ban and preventing offshore drilling in NJ waters.
• Ship Bottom Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative, working together to combat plastic waste and foster community engagement on Long Beach Island.
• Brant Beach Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative working to minimize plastic waste at beaches.
• LB10 Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative working to minimize plastic waste at beaches.
• Surf City Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative working to minimize plastic waste at beaches.
• North Beach Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative working to minimize plastic waste at beaches.
• Loveladies Taxpayers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Toy Box Initiative working to minimize plastic waste at beaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: National nonprofit focused on beach cleanups, coastal protection, and plastic pollution advocacy with a strong surf culture identity. Closest comparable to ALO in mission, volunteer-driven model, and event-based fundraising (e.g., surf contests).
• Clean Ocean Action: New Jersey-based nonprofit focused on protecting the NY/NJ Harbor and Atlantic coast through beach cleanups, policy advocacy, and education. Nearly identical geographic and programmatic overlap with ALO.
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based marine conservation nonprofit running beach cleanups (Nothin' But Sand), education programs, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable programmatic mix and volunteer-driven coastal conservation model.
• Center for Coastal Studies: Cape Cod-based nonprofit focused on marine research, marine debris, and coastal education including citizen science programs. Comparable educational and conservation programmatic mix.
• NY/NJ Baykeeper: Regional environmental advocacy nonprofit focused on the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary, with beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, and litigation-based advocacy. Highly comparable mission and Northeast coastal geography.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: National ocean advocacy nonprofit running the International Coastal Cleanup and major policy campaigns. Operates at greater scale but addresses the same plastic pollution and ocean health issues.

Regional players

• ReClam the Bay: New Jersey-based nonprofit focused on Barnegat Bay shellfish restoration and marine education. Directly overlaps ALO's Barnegat Bay geography and citizen science/education mission.
• Save the Sound: Regional nonprofit focused on Long Island Sound and Connecticut/NY coastal waters; runs beach cleanups, restoration, and advocacy. Comparable regional nonprofit model with a different (but nearby) watershed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alliance-for-a-living-ocean
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-for-a-living-ocean

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Alliance For A Living Ocean