THE WAHINE PROJECT INC

What THE WAHINE PROJECT INC does

The Wahine Project Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Dionne Ybarra and headquartered in Pacific Grove/Monterey, California. The organization delivers inclusive ocean-based programming centered on surfing, with a portfolio that includes summer beach camps, after-school beach PE, private and group surf lessons, surf therapy, and destination retreats in Mexico. Programs serve youth ages 4 and up, women and gender-diverse adults, men's surf cohorts, and people with disabilities, with no swimming prerequisite and all equipment provided. The organization reports 20,000+ cumulative program participants across 5 countries over 15 years of operating history.

Name

THE WAHINE PROJECT INC

Legal name

The Wahine Project Inc

Website

https://thewahineproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Wahine Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 in Monterey Bay, California, providing inclusive surf lessons, beach camps, surf therapy, and destination retreats for youth, adults, and people with disabilities across the U.S. and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Recreation & Wellness Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Ocean recreation programs
• Surf lessons
• Surf therapy
• Adaptive beach camps
• Ocean wellness retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Pacific Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from beach camps, surf lessons, after-school programs, and destination retreats for youth and adults. Programs include week-long camps, monthly sessions, private lessons, and international surf trips.
2. Consulting Services: Executive Director consulting services for organizations seeking to replicate The Wahine Project's equity-focused ocean access programming model. Offered at $75/hour with package rates available.
3. Retail Store (Alma Del Mar): Eco-friendly household products store including soaps and bath bombs made in-house. Located at 269 Bonifacio Pl. Monterey, established in 2020 to create a revenue stream for The Wahine Project.
4. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations through GoFundMe and grants from sponsors including Nancy Buck Ransom, Montage Health, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation/Children's Miracle Network, and the Natural Resources Agency.
5. Destination Retreats: International surf retreats to Mexico (Sayulita) and Northern Baja for teens, men, and women, with accommodation packages ranging from $1,500-$2,500 per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Wahine Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers equity-focused ocean recreation programming including week-long summer beach camps, after-school beach PE, private and group surf lessons, surf therapy, and destination retreats to Mexico for youth and adults. It serves underserved youth, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and women, providing all equipment, scholarships, and adaptive programming with no swimming requirement. The organization also operates Alma Del Mar, a retail storefront selling eco-friendly household products with proceeds benefiting Wahine Programs.

Product overview

The Wahine Project is a nonprofit organization offering ocean recreation and wellness programs centered on surfing, beach activities, and surf therapy. The portfolio includes in-water programs (summer camps, school-year sessions, private/group surf lessons, teen and adult destination retreats in Mexico), mental health services (surf therapy), and consulting for organizations seeking to replicate their equity-focused ocean access model. Core programs serve youth ages 4+ and adults with a focus on accessibility for people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alma Del Mar: Eco-friendly store established in 2020 to create a revenue stream for The Wahine Project. Offers refills for household items, soaps, and bath products made in-house. Located at 269 Bonifacio Pl. Monterey.

Products and services

• Surf Therapy Mental health therapy program led by Executive Director Dionne Ybarra (MSW, pursuing LCSW licensure), offering 1:1 and group therapy sessions conducted in office, beach, or ocean settings. Adaptable for individuals with disabilities and grounded in the founder's lifetime of work with women and youth.
• Teen Trips - Sayulita, Mexico 6-day fully chaperoned international surf retreat for teenage girls in Sayulita, Mexico, including surf lessons, a catamaran day trip, mindfulness sessions, and community-building activities. Pricing ranges from $1,800 to $2,500 per participant.
• Women's Programs - Northern Baja Retreat 7-day women's restorative retreat in Northern Baja, Mexico, leveraging Blue Mind theory, ocean connection, meditation, kayaking, and stand-up paddling. Includes accommodation, meals, and ocean activities, with private room at $2,000 and shared room at $1,500.
• Men's Surf Trips - Sayulita, Mexico 6-day men's surf trip to Sayulita, Mexico featuring daily surfing, meals, and community building. Priced at $2,000 per person for a private room, including accommodation, two beginner surf lessons, airport transportation, and a photographer. Airfare not included.
• Private Surf Lessons 1.5-hour private surf instruction available as single lessons ($225), bundles of 2-4 lessons ($150-$200 each), or monthly Saturday bundles ($750). All equipment provided and lessons must be used within the month.
• Group Surf Lessons and Team Building Group surf lessons combined with team-building experiences for organizations and corporate groups, available on the Monterey Peninsula. Pricing and scheduling by contact.
• Individual Lessons - Wahine Stoke Individual and small group surf lessons at $200 per person or $150 per person for groups of 3+. Each 1.5-hour session includes all equipment and is grounded in 15 years of Wahine experience serving diverse backgrounds.
• Summer Beach Camps Weekly beach camps held Monday through Friday (typically 9am-12pm) for kids ages 4 and up, divided by age and gender groups. Priced at $375 per week with a minimum of 6 kids required and includes ocean play, surfing, and body boarding.
• Spring Programs School-year programs including After School Beach PE on Thursdays from 3:30pm-5pm at $200/month, Fall/Saturday sessions on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at $600 per semester, and Spring Break Camps in March/April.
• Consulting Services Consulting services offered by Executive Director Dionne Ybarra for organizations seeking to replicate The Wahine Project's equity-focused ocean access programming model. Hourly rate of $75/hour, with package rates available for deeper program support.
• Alma Del Mar Retail Store Eco-friendly retail storefront established in 2020 at 269 Bonifacio Pl. Monterey, selling refillable household items, in-house soaps, bath bombs, and merchandise with all proceeds benefiting Wahine Programs. Open Wednesday through Sunday 11am-4pm and Tuesday evenings 4-7pm.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ happy global program participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Natural Resources AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity access project partnership with Natural Resources Agency under Governor Gavin Newsom to improve youth access to natural and cultural resources. Wade Crowfoot serves as Secretary for Natural Resources.
• CSUMB Service LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with California State University Monterey Bay Service Learning department for student volunteers. Eligible students can request to work with The Wahine Project each semester.
• Carmel Surf LessonsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended referral partner for trusted professional surf instruction on the Monterey Peninsula when The Wahine Project is unable to schedule a lesson.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Waves for Change: International nonprofit using surf therapy to support youth mental health and social-emotional development. Directly comparable to The Wahine Project's Surf Therapy product line in mission, methodology, and youth-focused mental health outcomes.
• Surf Diva: Women's surf school offering private lessons, camps, and retreats in Southern California. Comparable in women's-focused surf instruction, camp format, and destination retreat structure, though commercial rather than mission-driven.
• Pacific Surf School: Surf school operating in the Monterey/Carmel area offering lessons, camps, and group sessions. Direct geographic and service-line competitor in the Monterey Peninsula surf instruction market.
• Brown Girls Surf: Nonprofit surf community focused on increasing access for women and girls of color in surfing. Directly comparable to The Wahine Project in mission (equity-focused ocean access), demographic focus (women/girls of color), and delivery (surf instruction and community events).
• Life Rolls On: Nonprofit that runs adaptive surfing programs for people with disabilities, including spinal cord injury, MS, and other mobility challenges. Directly comparable in adaptive/accessible surf programming, a core specialty area for The Wahine Project's youth disability services.
• Carmel Surf Lessons: Surf instruction provider on the Monterey Peninsula that serves as The Wahine Project's documented referral partner when they cannot schedule a lesson. Directly comparable in service (private/group surf lessons), geography, and target customer base, though without the equity-focused mission.

Emerging players

• Stoked Mentoring: Nonprofit providing long-term mentoring through action sports including surfing for underserved youth. Comparable in surf-based youth development model and equity-focused mission.
• Outdoor Afro: Nonprofit that reconnects Black communities with outdoor experiences including surfing and ocean activities. Comparable in equity-focused outdoor access mission and demographic focus, though broader than surfing alone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-wahine-project-inc

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 THE WAHINE PROJECT INC