Surf Happens Foundation

Name

Surf Happens Foundation

Legal name

Surf Happens Foundation

Website

https://surfhappensfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ), Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Youth surf programs
• Ocean stewardship education
• Nonprofit scholarships
• Adaptive surf camps
• Community surf instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Carpinteria

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. Donations and fundraising: The foundation raises funds through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events to provide free surf programs and scholarships to deserving youth. Major annual fundraising events include the Rincon Luau gala.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surf Happens Foundation provides free, in-person surf instruction, ocean safety education, and environmental stewardship programs to physically, financially, and emotionally challenged youth in the Santa Barbara County region. Programs are delivered directly at the beach and through partner nonprofits, with no charge to beneficiaries, and are funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and annual fundraising events such as the Rincon Luau.

Product overview

Surf Happens Foundation operates as a non-profit organization providing a portfolio of free surf programs and environmental education services to children. The core offerings include Surf Days (community beach days with surfing and ocean safety education), Camp Hana Hou (a weeklong surf camp for children surviving cancer), the Grom Surf League (youth competitive surf events), Girls Inc Surf Club partnerships, Scholarship Programs for underprivileged youth, and the HIGH5 Ocean Stewardship Program for environmental education. Additional offerings include The Plastic Experiment documentary for schools and the annual Keiki Bowl youth surf competition. These programs collectively aim to build confidence, teach environmental stewardship, and share the healing power of the ocean with physically, financially, and emotionally challenged children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Hana Hou: A free surfing camp for kids surviving cancer and their families. Hana Hou means 'One More Time' in Hawaiian. The camp encourages overcoming fears, fellowship, and fun through surfing.
• Grom Surf League
• HIGH5 Program
• The Plastic Experiment

Products and services

• Surf Days Free community surf days providing surfing lessons, beach games, and ocean safety education for children referred through partner nonprofits, including youth from Transition House, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, and low-income communities. Each surf day serves 20–50 kids along with their mentors.
• Camp Hana Hou Free weeklong surf camp for children surviving cancer and their families, run annually since 2014. Named 'Hana Hou' meaning 'One More Time' in Hawaiian, it combines surfing, team building, beach games, arts and crafts, and ocean stewardship education; serves 45–50 participants per event (2024).
• Grom Surf League Youth surf competition series for ages 6–17 featuring an inclusive format where all surfers progress past the first round and participants are split into Main Event and Repercharge divisions; flagship events include the Keiki Bowl and Coffin Brothers Surf Out, serving 100+ youth per event.
• Girls Inc Surf Club Free surf club operated in partnership with Girls Inc of Greater Santa Barbara, providing ongoing surfing instruction and ocean education for girls in their youth development programs; aims to build confidence and create Smarter, Stronger, and Bolder females through surfing.
• Scholarship Programs Scholarships providing access to summer surf camps and weekly after-school surf classes for deserving youth who cannot afford such programs independently; awarded to program participants across the foundation's portfolio.
• HIGH5 Ocean Stewardship Program

Named customers9 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surf Happens Surf SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore operating partner - Surf Happens Surf School delivers all surf instruction and programs in partnership with the foundation. The surf school provides instructors, equipment, and surf education expertise.
• Teddy Bear Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for Camp Hana Hou, an annual free surfing camp for kids surviving cancer and their families. Partnership has been ongoing since 2014.
• Girls Inc of Greater Santa BarbaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since 2014 providing Girls Inc Surf Club for girls in their programs, including after-school surfing activities and surf days.
• HurleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing product support and sponsorship for events and programs.
• Channel Islands SurfboardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing surfboard prizes and support for youth surf contests and programs.
• Whole Foods MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal store provides healthy lunches and snacks for program participants at surf days and camps.
• One Percent for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental membership organization linking businesses to environmental causes.
• Rincon BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery sponsor providing support for events and surf days.
• Explore EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner for California Coastal Cleanup Day and environmental education programs.
• Transition HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit housing provider serving families with children; annual surf days bring youth participants to the beach.
• Turner Foundation Santa BarbaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting The Village affordable housing community; annual Village Surf Days for community youth.
• United Way of Santa Barbara CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services organization; surf days serve youth from Fun In The Sun program.
• VolcomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSurf lifestyle brand sponsor providing product support for youth events.
• SanukminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFootwear brand sponsor supporting foundation programs.
• Blind FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization for athletes with visual impairments; partner for annual Blind Surfers events.
• CC Green Building CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen building council supporting environmental cleanup initiatives including California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Life Rolls On: Nonprofit running adaptive surfing programs for people with disabilities, cancer survivors, and others. Comparable mission of using surfing as therapy for underserved populations including the Blind Surfers-style cohort Surf Happens serves.
• Operation Surf: Nonprofit running free adaptive surf programs for veterans and wounded service members. Comparable surf-based therapeutic experience delivery model and dependence on volunteer instructors/equipment partners.
• Outdoor Outreach: San Diego-based nonprofit providing free outdoor adventure experiences (including surfing) for at-risk and underserved youth. Closely comparable mission, California geography, surf component, and youth-development outcome focus.
• City Surf Federation: Nonprofit providing free surf instruction to underserved urban youth. Closely comparable model of using partner surf schools to deliver free lessons to low-income youth, with similar funder base.
• The Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation: Nonprofit delivering surf therapy and ocean-based mental health programs for at-risk youth, veterans, and those impacted by trauma. Closely comparable surf-as-therapy model and beneficiary overlap with Surf Days and Camp Hana Hou.

Emerging players

• Waves for Change: International nonprofit using surf therapy to support youth mental health in underserved coastal communities. Comparable surf-therapy methodology for at-risk youth, though operating primarily in South Africa.
• Save The Waves Coalition: Nonprofit dedicated to preserving surf ecosystems and protecting coastal areas. Comparable marine conservation/environmental stewardship pillar of Surf Happens' mission.

Broad incumbents

• Surfrider Foundation: Large established coastal environmental nonprofit advocating for ocean protection, plastic reduction, and beach cleanup. Directly comparable to Surf Happens Foundation's HIGH5 stewardship and Plastic Experiment program, though at a much larger scale and advocacy-led.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@surfhappensfoundation3786
• Facebookfacebook.com/surfhappensfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/surffoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surf-happens-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Surf Happens Foundation