Sea of Clouds

What Sea of Clouds does

Sea of Clouds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit preservation practice (EIN #82-1980331) founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Diego, California, with a mission to recognize and protect America's special coastal places. The organization operates at the intersection of historic preservation, public history, and environmental conservation, specializing in securing federal and state heritage designations for culturally significant coastal and surfing landscapes. Its core methodology involves preparing and shepherding nominations through the National Register of Historic Places process and California Point of Historical Interest program, with a focus on surf breaks and underrepresented histories that lack traditional physical structures but possess rich cultural significance.

The organization's project portfolio comprises three completed designations: the Malibu Historic District (160 acres, listed 2018) as the first National Register listing centered on surfing history; the Bay Street Beach Historic District in Santa Monica (53 acres, listed 2019) as a significant site of African American recreation during the Jim Crow era; and the Long Beach Surfing Point of Historical Interest (28.5 acres, designated 2024) commemorating the 1938 National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships. Sea of Clouds also maintains an ongoing Maritime Heritage Conservation practice under California's Marine Managed Areas framework. The organization's work is supported by a broad coalition of 30+ partners including the National Park Service, California SHPO, California State Parks, California Coastal Commission, multiple Surfrider Foundation chapters, Save The Waves Coalition, CSU Channel Islands, and community organizations such as Black Surfers Collective and Quinn Research Center.

Sea of Clouds operates with a minimal team of four staff and board members (Michael Blum as Executive Director, Justin Rauzon as Secretary, Bret Leece as Treasurer, and Steve Mahr as Board Member) and is funded entirely by tax-deductible charitable donations. The organization distributes its work through direct community engagement, public presentations, conference speaking engagements, earned media coverage, and organic social media rather than commercial sales channels. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there is no evidence of institutional investment, foundation grants, or government contracts.

Name

Sea of Clouds

Legal name

Sea of Clouds

Website

https://seaofclouds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sea of Clouds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit preservation practice founded in 2017 that secures federal and state heritage designations for culturally significant coastal and surfing landscapes through National Register nominations, serving coastal communities, government agencies, and heritage conservation organizations in California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Coastal heritage conservation
• Surf break protection
• National register nominations
• Cultural landscape preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Sea of Clouds relies on charitable donations from individuals who support coastal landscape preservation. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, making donations tax-deductible to donors.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sea of Clouds is a nonprofit preservation practice that recognizes and protects America's special coastal places by preparing and securing historic preservation designations. The organization prepares National Register of Historic Places nominations, California Points of Historical Interest designations, and ongoing Maritime Heritage Conservation projects focused on coastal and surfing landscapes. Services span historic preservation, public history, and environmental conservation, with completed projects at Malibu (160 acres), Bay Street Beach in Santa Monica (53 acres), and Long Beach (28.5 acres).

Product overview

Sea of Clouds is a nonprofit preservation practice (EIN #82-1980331) that operates as a single integrated service offering focused on recognizing and protecting America's special coastal places. Rather than a platform or software product, the organization provides heritage conservation and surf break protection services through National Register of Historic Places nominations, California Point of Historical Interest designations, and Maritime Heritage Conservation initiatives. Their portfolio includes the Malibu Historic District (first National Register listing based on surfing history), the Bay Street Beach Historic District (recognizing African American beach heritage), the Long Beach Surfing Point of Historical Interest, and ongoing Maritime Heritage Conservation work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bay Street Beach Historic District National Register of Historic Places nomination project recognizing a 53-acre Santa Monica beach as a significant site of African American recreation, leisure, and struggle for equality during the Jim Crow era. Delivered for California State Parks, City of Santa Monica, and partner preservation organizations.
• Malibu Historic District First National Register of Historic Places listing centered on surfing history, recognizing Malibu's worldwide contributions to surfing's history and culture from 1945-1959 across 160 acres. Delivered in partnership with the National Park Service, California State Parks, and Surfrider Foundation chapters.
• Long Beach Surfing Point of Historical Interest California Point of Historical Interest designation project for the 28.5-acre site of the 1938 National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships in the City of Long Beach. Delivered in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation Long Beach Chapter.
• Maritime Heritage Conservation Ongoing conservation practice focused on recognizing and protecting marine areas of recreational, cultural, and historical significance through California's Marine Managed Areas framework. Available to state agencies and coastal stakeholders seeking heritage conservation designations for marine and coastal areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• First National Register listing centered on surfing history (Malibu Historic District, 2018)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• CSU Channel IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop StoryMap digital narrative tools documenting coastal development history at project sites. The partnership produced online visual narrative tools for the Long Beach Surfing Point of Historical Interest and Bay Street Beach Historic District projects.
• Surfrider FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple chapters (Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ventura, Newport Beach, West Los Angeles/Malibu) actively supported National Register nominations and participate in community events and presentations.
• Malibu Lagoon Action CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Malibu Historic District preservation efforts, working on protections for the iconic Malibu surfing area.
• Malibu Surfing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization representing the surfing community at Malibu, collaborating on historic district preservation.
• Save The Waves CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal wave conservation organization that co-sponsored the 5th Global Wave Conference where Sea of Clouds presented. Supports surf break protection efforts.
• Dr. Alison Rose JeffersoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic historian (MHP, PhD) and partner in Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination. Leading scholar of African American beach culture and heritage in Los Angeles.
• Santa Monica ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Cultural Landscape Award to Sea of Clouds for Bay Street Beach Historic District. Collaborates on preservation initiatives.
• Los Angeles ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Los Angeles preservation organization supporting National Register nominations for coastal heritage sites.
• Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Diego-based preservation organization supporting cultural heritage conservation projects.
• Heal the BaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Monica-based environmental group supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination and coastal cleanup efforts.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the National Register of Historic Places. Keeper of the National Register approved Malibu Historic District and Bay Street Beach Historic District listings.
• California State Historic Preservation OfficercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level oversight for National Register nominations in California, reviewed and approved Malibu and Bay Street Beach listings.
• California Coastal CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState coastal management agency reviewing and supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination.
• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwns and manages properties within Malibu Historic District and Bay Street Beach Historic District. Collaborates on preservation planning.
• California State Lands CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages state sovereign lands within the Malibu Historic District nomination boundaries.
• Los Angeles CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner within Malibu Historic District boundaries, supports National Register nomination.
• City of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner and partner in Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination, managing public trust lands.
• Quinn Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican American research and community organization in Santa Monica, co-founder of Nick Gabaldon Day at Bay Street and supporter of the historic district nomination.
• Black Surfers CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization celebrating African American surf heritage, co-organizer of Nick Gabaldon Day at Bay Street.
• Adamson House FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting the Adamson House, a National Register property adjacent to Malibu Historic District.
• Brown Girl SurfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination, focused on diversity in surfing.
• The Bay FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District and Santa Monica Bay conservation.
• California Coastal ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency supporting coastal preservation projects, endorsed Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination.
• Surfrider Foundation - LB ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Beach Chapter partnered with Sea of Clouds on the Long Beach Surfing Point of Historical Interest project, the site of the 1938 National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships.
• Santa Monica History MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Malibu Historic District preservation efforts and Santa Monica coastal history documentation.
• California Preservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide preservation organization supporting National Register nominations.
• Keep-A-Breast FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit supporting Malibu Historic District preservation.
• Wishtoyo FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChumash cultural preservation organization supporting Malibu Historic District efforts.
• Malibu Township CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization supporting Malibu Historic District preservation.
• Project Save Our SurfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurf conservation organization supporting Malibu Historic District efforts.
• Surfing Heritage & Culture CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided surfboard photographs for Malibu Historic District National Register nomination.
• Pepperdine University Special Collections LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided access to rare surfboards and period photography for Malibu Historic District nomination.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Santa Monica Conservancy: Regional preservation nonprofit in Santa Monica that awarded Sea of Clouds its 2020 Cultural Landscape Award for the Bay Street Beach Historic District project. Operates in the same coastal Southern California geography with overlapping cultural landscape preservation mission.
• Los Angeles Conservancy: Major Los Angeles preservation organization that supported Sea of Clouds' National Register nominations for coastal heritage sites including Malibu. Comparable preservation methodology and regional scope.
• Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO): San Diego-based preservation nonprofit supporting cultural heritage conservation projects. SOHO promoted Sea of Clouds' Long Beach Surfing Point nomination and shares the heritage designation mission in Southern California.

Direct peers

• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica-based environmental nonprofit focused on Santa Monica Bay coastal health. Sea of Clouds partner supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District nomination, with overlapping coastal preservation mission in the same geography.
• Surfrider Foundation: Largest U.S. surf and coastal environmental nonprofit, focused on beach access, water quality, and coastal protection. Sea of Clouds partners directly with multiple Surfrider chapters (Long Beach, LA, Ventura, Newport Beach, West LA/Malibu) on National Register nominations, and shares the surf heritage protection mission.
• Save The Waves Coalition: Global surf break protection nonprofit focused on designating and defending World Surfing Reserves and other protected surf areas. Sea of Clouds co-presented at Save The Waves' 5th Global Wave Conference and pursues complementary cultural heritage pathways to surf break protection.
• California Preservation Foundation: Statewide nonprofit supporting preservation of California's historic places. Sea of Clouds lists California Preservation Foundation as a partner organization supporting its National Register nominations, and shares the same mission of recognizing and protecting California heritage sites.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Largest U.S. private historic preservation organization, operating nationally across diverse heritage categories including cultural landscapes. Provides the umbrella framework under which Sea of Clouds' National Register nominations are processed.

Emerging players

• The Bay Foundation: Environmental nonprofit supporting Santa Monica Bay conservation. Listed as a Sea of Clouds partner supporting Bay Street Beach Historic District and broader Santa Monica Bay preservation work.
• Surfing Heritage & Culture Center: Surfing heritage nonprofit that contributed rare surfboard photographs for Sea of Clouds' Malibu Historic District National Register nomination. Shares surf heritage preservation mission with overlapping content resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theseaofclouds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sea-of-clouds

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Sea of Clouds