What Orange County Coastkeeper does

Orange County Coastkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in March 1999 by Garry Brown in Costa Mesa, California, and incorporated as the 27th licensed Waterkeeper program in the United States. The organization operates as part of the global Waterkeeper Alliance network of more than 300 programs and pursues a mission of protecting swimmable, drinkable, fishable water and promoting watershed resilience across Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the Coachella Valley.

The organization delivers its work through six core programmatic lines: Education (WHALES, Kids Ocean Day, Kids Care) reaching over 75,000 students, primarily at Title I schools; Marine Restoration (Living Shorelines, oyster reef and eelgrass restoration, Stop Caulerpa invasive algae removal); Research (MPA Watch citizen science surveys, PFAS testing, stormwater pollution monitoring); Environmental Litigation enforcing the Clean Water Act against industrial polluters with a documented 160+ case track record and 100% success rate; the Beach & Coast Accessibility Program that has deployed approximately $475,000 in accessibility grants; and Community Events including the Toast the Coast Gala, Oysterpalooza, and Coastal Cleanup Day. Underlying capabilities include scientific research methodologies, water quality monitoring, marine ecosystem restoration techniques, and combined science-engineering-legal enforcement.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of private foundation grants, federal, state, and local government grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and event fundraising. The organization operates from a single headquarters in Costa Mesa with 22+ employees as of 2019, has wholly-owned Inland Empire Waterkeeper and Coachella Valley Waterkeeper affiliates, and holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, and 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year designation.

Name

Orange County Coastkeeper

Legal name

Orange County Coastkeeper

Website

https://coastkeeper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Orange County Coastkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that protects water resources across Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the Coachella Valley through education, restoration, research, advocacy, and Clean Water Act litigation. It serves students, communities, and people with disabilities while enforcing environmental compliance against industrial polluters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality Protection and Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Water quality protection
• Environmental education programs
• Marine habitat restoration
• Clean water advocacy
• Watershed conservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations supporting environmental conservation and education programs
2. Government Program Grants: Federal, state, and local government grants for coastal accessibility, environmental protection, and education initiatives
3. Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals supporting clean water mission
4. Corporate Sponsorships and Event Sponsorships: Financial sponsorships from businesses for events like Toast the Coast Gala and Oysterpalooza, offering brand visibility and community engagement opportunities
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including gala fundraising and community festivals

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Orange County Coastkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a portfolio of water-protection programs: free environmental education for Title I schools, community-powered marine restoration (oyster reefs, eelgrass, invasive algae removal), scientific research and citizen-science monitoring (MPA Watch, PFAS testing), Clean Water Act enforcement litigation against industrial polluters, and a Beach & Coast Accessibility program. Programs are funded through grants, donations, and event sponsorships, and delivered via school-based curricula, volunteer cleanups, restoration sites, and legal action.

Product overview

Orange County Coastkeeper is a nonprofit clean water organization offering a portfolio of environmental programs rather than a unified tech product. Its core offerings include: Education Programs (WHALES, Kids Ocean Day, Kids Care) that connect students with watersheds; Marine Restoration (Living Shorelines, Shells for Shorelines, Shell Strings, Stop Caulerpa) for ecosystem recovery; Research Programs (MPA Watch, PFAS Testing, Stormwater Pollution monitoring); Environmental Litigation enforcing the Clean Water Act against polluters; Beach & Coast Accessibility Programs improving coastal access for all; and Community Events (Toast the Coast Gala, Oysterpalooza!, Coastal Cleanup Day) for engagement and fundraising. The organization operates as a programmatic nonprofit rather than a product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs Free environmental education programs for Title I schools and underserved communities, including the WHALES program (Watershed Heroes: Actions Linking Education to Stewardship) for middle and high school students, Kids Ocean Day bringing over 1,000 underserved elementary students to the beach, and Kids Care. Programs include field trips, in-class lessons, and hands-on watershed experiences reaching 75,000+ students.
• Marine Restoration Community-powered marine ecosystem restoration projects including Living Shorelines (native oyster reef and eelgrass bed restoration creating climate-ready shorelines), Shells for Shorelines (oyster shell recycling), Shell Strings, and Stop Caulerpa invasive algae removal in Newport Bay. Partners include the World Surf League and Shiseido.
• Advocacy Programs Policy advocacy addressing water quality issues including the Cadiz Water Project, stormwater pollution, desalination proposals, copper reduction, offshore drilling, trash in waters, climate change, and water-efficient landscaping.
• Research Programs Scientific research and monitoring including MPA Watch (Marine Protected Area monitoring) with 5,000+ surveys conducted, Santa Ana River Mouth Monitoring, Berm Buddies, Eco-friendly Gardening (FireScape and SmartScape), Stormwater Pollution monitoring, and PFAS Testing.
• Environmental Litigation Clean Water Act enforcement through legal action against industrial polluters. Over 160 cases filed with a 100% success rate, redirecting $3 million+ in settlement funds to local environmental restoration projects. Includes industrial stormwater pollution investigation, water quality testing, and violation identification at industrial facilities.
• Beach & Coast Accessibility Program Grant funding and advocacy to improve coastal access for individuals with disabilities, including accessible beach wheelchairs, coastal access grants distributed to California organizations, agencies, and tribes, and management of public access sites in Huntington Beach. Partnership with California Coastal Commission and California Coastal Conservancy.
• Beach Cleanups & Volunteer Programs Community trash cleanup events including Monthly Trash Cleanups, annual Coastal Cleanup Day OC (with 40+ sites countywide), and volunteer opportunities. Has resulted in 200,000+ pounds of trash removed from local waterways and beaches.
• Annual Community Events Annual community events including Toast the Coast Gala (largest fundraising gala in Newport Beach), Oysterpalooza! (oyster celebration in Sunset Beach with food, music, and education), and Coastal Cleanup Day OC, bringing together thousands of community members for clean water advocacy and fundraising.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,000+ students reached through education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

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

• Waterkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange County Coastkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of over 300 Keeper programs dedicated to protecting waters. This affiliation provides access to resources, best practices, and collective advocacy power for clean water protection.
• California Coastal CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coastal management and the Beach and Coast Accessibility Program providing grant funding for improved coastal access.
• World Surf LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for oyster restoration projects including Living Shorelines initiative at Huntington Harbour and Alamitos Bay.
• ShiseidomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting oyster restoration efforts as part of environmental sustainability initiatives.
• California Coastal ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for the Beach and Coast Accessibility Program providing nearly $300,000 in grants for coastal access improvements.
• California Coastal Commission (Whale Tail)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation program sponsor providing funding for environmental education programs in Orange County schools.
• Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of education programs supporting no-cost educational offerings for Orange County students.
• Bolsa Chica ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization receiving settlement funds from Clean Water Act enforcement cases for wetland restoration projects.
• Newport Bay ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservancy receiving settlement funds for bay restoration and protection efforts.
• Inland Empire WaterkeepercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated Waterkeeper organization extending clean water protection to Inland Empire and Coachella Valley regions.
• CaltransmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerState transportation agency partner supporting Cleanup OC beach cleanup events with continued support enabling public cleanup events year after year.
• Back Bay Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting Marine Life Inventory field trips where students learn about Newport Bay wildlife through hands-on activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inland Empire Waterkeeper: Wholly-owned affiliated Waterkeeper program of Orange County Coastkeeper; operates identical Clean Water Act enforcement, education, and restoration model in the Inland Empire region.
• Coachella Valley Waterkeeper: Wholly-owned affiliated Waterkeeper of Coastkeeper applying the same litigation, education, and restoration framework to Coachella Valley waterways.
• Heal the Bay: Santa Monica Bay-based nonprofit running overlapping beach cleanup, education, policy advocacy, and water-quality monitoring programs in coastal Southern California.
• Surfrider Foundation: Coastal water-quality advocacy nonprofit operating beach cleanups, Blue Water Task Force testing, and policy campaigns on the same West Coast geography Coastkeeper serves.
• Baykeeper (San Francisco Bay): Fellow licensed Waterkeeper running pollution enforcement, restoration, and advocacy under the same Waterkeeper Alliance model in a different California bay system.

Broad incumbents

• California Coastkeeper Alliance: Statewide umbrella for California Waterkeeper programs including Orange County Coastkeeper; runs policy advocacy on water quality, stormwater, and desalination across California.
• Hudson Riverkeeper: Original Waterkeeper program and alliance founder; runs the same citizen-suit enforcement, habitat restoration, and watchdog advocacy model Coastkeeper uses, at larger scale in the Northeast.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): National environmental advocacy organization with overlapping work on Clean Water Act enforcement, stormwater policy, coastal protection, and ocean health.
• The Nature Conservancy (California): Global conservation nonprofit funding and executing marine/coastal restoration, including living shorelines and oyster reef projects comparable to Coastkeeper's portfolio.

Emerging players

• WILDCOAST: California-Baja conservation nonprofit focused on coastal and marine ecosystem protection, beach cleanups, and climate-resilient coastal programs with similar programmatic mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OCCoastkeeper/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/occoastkeeper
• Instagraminstagram.com/occoastkeeper

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Orange County Coastkeeper