Board of Directors at Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

What Board of Directors at Santa Barbara Channelkeeper does

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (SBCK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1999 in Santa Barbara, California, operating independently since 2001. Its mission is to protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds through science-based advocacy, citizen science monitoring, community engagement, policy work, and enforcement actions. SBCK operates across approximately 500 square miles of coastal watersheds stretching from the Gaviota Coast to the Ventura River, serving community volunteers (5,900+ engaged), K-12 students (~2,000 annually; 41,000+ cumulative), local schools, ocean recreation users, and government policymakers.

SBCK's core technical assets include the 31-foot R/V Channelkeeper research vessel (acquired 2008), the Stream Team citizen science program conducting monthly water quality sampling at 45 stream sites across Goleta Valley, Carpinteria Valley, and Ventura River watersheds, automated sensors measuring dissolved oxygen and flow, quarterly tar ball surveys at 14 beaches, plankton sampling for harmful algal bloom monitoring, and an online Stream Team Data Portal providing downloadable datasets. Complementary programs include MPA Watch (citizen science monitoring of 19 Marine Protected Areas covering 350+ square miles), beach water quality testing published via the Swim Guide App, the Seafari educational cruise program, the Watershed Brigade cleanup initiative, and the Report Pollution portal. The organization is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance (340+ affiliates, 2.7M+ square miles globally) and the California Coastkeeper Alliance, and pursues legal action under citizen suit provisions of the Clean Water Act, with a documented enforcement track record including closure of the Halaco smelting facility, a 91% reduction in Santa Barbara sewage spills, SB 44 enactment, and the 2025 Sable Offshore pipeline lawsuit.

SBCK is funded through a diversified mix of individual tax-deductible donations (suggested tiers $25-$500 plus monthly giving), foundation grants (Patagonia, Fund for Santa Barbara, J.S. Bower Foundation, Crawford Idema Family Foundation, among others), corporate sponsorships (Trillium Enterprises, City of Goleta grant), membership dues, and annual fundraising events including the Blue Water Ball gala and Student Art Show. Go-to-market is community-led grassroots engagement, with distribution via the sbck.org website, eNews newsletter, social media, 50+ community events per year, video storytelling, and earned media. Headquarters are at 714 Bond Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93103; the core team comprises approximately 10 staff including Executive Director Ted Morton, plus a volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Council.

Name

Board of Directors at Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Legal name

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Website

https://sbck.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental watchdog, founded 1999, that protects the Santa Barbara Channel and ~500 sq mi of coastal watersheds through citizen science water quality monitoring, advocacy, legal enforcement, and education programs serving community volunteers, students, and policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality & Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health & Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR, boil-water advisories, notifications) (EUANAJAL), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Marine conservation advocacy
• Citizen science programs
• Watershed protection services
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting clean water advocacy. Suggested donation tiers include $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500. Monthly giving programs available.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from environmental foundations and family foundations to support specific programs and initiatives, including marine conservation, education, and advocacy work.
3. Annual Fundraising Events: Blue Water Ball annual fundraising gala and other events to raise funds and community awareness.
4. Membership Program: Organizational membership supporting ongoing operations and mission delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that protects the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds through citizen science water quality monitoring, environmental advocacy, community engagement, and youth education. Its primary offerings include the Stream Team monthly water quality monitoring program at 45 sites, the MPA Watch citizen science initiative, weekly beach water quality testing, Seafari educational cruises aboard the R/V Channelkeeper research vessel, the Watershed Brigade cleanup program, and policy advocacy and legal enforcement actions to enforce clean water laws.

Product overview

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper offers a suite of environmental protection programs and services focused on water quality monitoring, advocacy, education, and community engagement. The organization's core offerings include the Stream Team citizen science water quality monitoring program (conducting monthly sampling at 45 stream sites), the MPA Watch citizen science monitoring initiative, beach water quality testing with Swim Guide App integration, and Seafari educational cruises on the R/V Channelkeeper research vessel. Additional services include an online Stream Team Data Portal for data access, an Oil Spill Resource Guide, annual Student Art Show program, a Report Pollution portal for community reporting, and the Watershed Brigade volunteer cleanup program with corporate challenge component. The organization operates a 31-foot research vessel for fieldwork including cruise ship monitoring and scientific research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stream Team Water Quality Monitoring

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% reduction in sewage spills in Santa Barbara over 8-year settlement period
• +7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Waterkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, a coalition of more than 340 independent grassroots organizations on six continents. The alliance collectively patrols and protects more than 2.7 million square miles of watersheds. Waterkeeper Alliance provides support, resources, and legal expertise to member organizations and promotes the Waterkeeper model of environmental activism.
• California Coastkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Barbara Channelkeeper is a member of California Coastkeeper Alliance, which represents California Waterkeepers by using law, policy, science, and creative media to advance statewide policies and programs for healthy and clean waters.
• Environmental Defense Center (EDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally founded as a program of the Environmental Defense Center in 1999. Channelkeeper maintains a close partnership with EDC, frequently collaborating on legal actions, advocacy campaigns, and policy initiatives. EDC provides legal representation for Channelkeeper in lawsuits challenging offshore oil development and pipeline safety.
• UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UCSB Bren School for ocean acidification research, water supply studies, and student projects. Dr. Gretchen Hofmann's lab collaborates on ocean acidification monitoring. Graduate students have conducted water supply cost-benefit analyses for Channelkeeper.
• Surfrider Foundation (Ventura Chapter)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper launched the Ventura Stream Team citizen science water quality monitoring program in 2001 in partnership with the Ventura chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
• MPA Watch NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper is a certified MPA Watch partner in Santa Barbara County. MPA Watch is a network of programs that support healthy oceans through community science by collecting human use data in and around protected areas.
• Channel Islands Restoration ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for eelgrass bed restoration at Anacapa Island. In 2003, successfully restored a historic eelgrass bed in Frenchy's Cove at Anacapa Island which has spread beyond its original extent.
• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2006, Channelkeeper formed a partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center to educate underserved youth about watersheds, marine science and pollution prevention.
• Bureau of Ocean Energy ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper launched the 'Citizens Scientists for Tidepool Assemblage Research' (CSTAR) Project in 2017 in partnership with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and MARIN (Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network) to monitor rocky intertidal habitat at Coal Oil Point.
• Community Environmental Council (CEC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper partnered with CEC to successfully advocate for plastic bag bans in the City and County of Santa Barbara, and for ordinances banning plastic straws and Styrofoam. Also partners on film plastic recycling initiatives.
• Dr. Gretchen Hofmann (UCSB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper works in partnership with UCSB researchers, specifically Dr. Gretchen Hofmann's lab, to collect regular samples at coastal pH sensors for ocean acidification research and calibration purposes.
• Ablitt's Fine CleanersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannelkeeper supports Ablitt's Fine Cleaners' plastic film recycling initiative, with Ablitt's serving as a drop-off location for community film plastic collection events.
• Cate SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Carpinteria Stream Team water quality monitoring program in 2010 in partnership with the Cate School's AP Environmental Science class.
• Trillium Enterprises, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time sponsor of the Student Art Show, donating cash prizes for student award winners.
• City of GoletaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Goleta Grant Program provides support for the Student Art Show.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Baykeeper (San Francisco Bay): San Francisco Bay Waterkeeper organization. Operates with the same Waterkeeper model of on-water patrols, pollution monitoring, and Clean Water Act enforcement, providing a comparable operational template to Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
• Environmental Defense Center: Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that originally housed Channelkeeper as a program from 1999-2001 and continues to provide legal representation. Engages in overlapping environmental litigation, oil and gas advocacy, and coastal protection work in the same geography.
• San Diego Coastkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance member serving the San Diego region. Engages in comparable water quality monitoring, watershed protection, and policy advocacy on stormwater and pollution issues, with similar funding model (donations, grants, events).
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based nonprofit focused on coastal water quality in the Southern California Bight. Shares Channelkeeper's combination of water quality monitoring, beach cleanup programs, policy advocacy, and youth education, and overlaps in donor and partner networks.
• Surfrider Foundation: National grassroots organization protecting oceans and beaches; Channelkeeper already partners with its Ventura chapter on Stream Team. Operates comparable citizen science water quality programs, beach cleanup campaigns, and coastal policy advocacy.
• Orange County Coastkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance member covering Orange County. Runs comparable stream and ocean water quality monitoring, pollution reporting, and policy advocacy programs serving the same Southern California coastal demographic.
• Los Angeles Waterkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance member covering the Los Angeles region. Operates the same Waterkeeper model of citizen science water monitoring, Clean Water Act enforcement, and community advocacy that Channelkeeper applies in Santa Barbara/Ventura.

Regional players

• Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation: Regional nonprofit focused on Santa Monica Bay environmental health. Engages in comparable water quality monitoring, watershed protection, and public education in a neighboring Southern California coastal watershed.

Broad incumbents

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global umbrella network of 340+ Waterkeeper organizations including Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Provides legal resources, brand standards, and coordination across member organizations, making it both an affiliation partner and the closest comparable to Channelkeeper's mission and operating model.
• California Coastkeeper Alliance: Statewide coalition that represents and coordinates California Waterkeepers (including Channelkeeper). Operates at a higher level than Channelkeeper but shares mission alignment on statewide water policy advocacy and legal coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SBChannelkeeper
• Facebookfacebook.com/Channelkeeper
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-barbara-channelkeeper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Board of Directors at Santa Barbara Channelkeeper