Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

EIN 45-2596726 · Honolulu, HI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE REDUCTION OF POLLUTION ON COASTLINES THROUGH LARGE SCALE BEACH CLEANUPS AND EDUCATION TO INSPIRE BETTER CONSUMER BEHAVIORS AND CONTINUED COASTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
10
Volunteers
3,675
Highest pay
$113,169, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $216,324 spent. OUR LARGE-SCALE CLEANUPS ARE HANDS-ON AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY BEACH CLEANUPS HELD ACROSS THE ISLANDS. WITH A FOCUS ON FUN AND EDUCATION, OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE GRASS-ROOTS ACTION TO INSPIRE GLOBAL CHANGE. PLASTIC POLLUTION IS AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE AND WITH THE HELP OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, OVER HALF A MILLION POUNDS OF DEBRIS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR COASTLINES. HOWEVER, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY IS THAT CLEANING CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION; CLEANUPS ARE THE GATEWAY TO BEHAVIOR CHANGE. AFTER SPENDING A COUPLE OF HOURS DOING THE HARD WORK WITH THE SCH CREW, WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT PLASTIC THE SAME. SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAI'I CLEANUPS ARE IMMERSIVE, INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LOOK DEEPER INTO THE PRODUCTSTHEY PURCHASE AND USE ON A DAILY BASIS. TOGETHER, WE CAN TURN OFF THE TAP TO PLASTIC POLLUTION BY CHANGING HOW WE CONSUME AND ASKING MORE FROM THE BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE US WITH GOODS AND SERVICES. WE'LL NEVER ASK YOU TOBE PERFECT AT CLEANUPS, JUST TO TAKE NOTICE AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY OF POSITIVE CHANGE. OUR LARGE-SCALE CLEANUPS ARE HANDS-ON AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY BEACH CLEANUPS HELD ACROSS THE ISLANDS. WITH A FOCUS ON FUN AND EDUCATION, OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE GRASS-ROOTS ACTION TO INSPIRE GLOBAL CHANGE. PLASTIC POLLUTION IS AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE AND WITH THE HELP OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, OVER HALF A MILLION POUNDS OF DEBRIS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR COASTLINES. HOWEVER, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY IS THAT CLEANING CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION; CLEANUPS ARE THE GATEWAY TO BEHAVIOR CHANGE. AFTER SPENDING A COUPLE OF HOURS DOING THE HARD WORK WITH THE SCH CREW, WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT PLASTIC THE SAME. SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAI'I CLEANUPS ARE IMMERSIVE, INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LOOK DEEPER INTO THE PRODUCTSTHEY PURCHASE AND USE ON A DAILY BASIS. TOGETHER, WE CAN TURN OFF THE TAP TO PLASTIC POLLUTION BY CHANGING HOW WE CONSUME AND ASKING MORE FROM THE BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE US WITH GOODS AND SERVICES. WE'LL NEVER ASK YOU TOBE PERFECT AT CLEANUPS, JUST TO TAKE NOTICE AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY OF POSITIVE CHANGE.
  2. $507,991 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DLNR) AND DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES (DAR), SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAIIS MARINE DEBRIS RAPID RESPONSE (MDRR) PROGRAM DIRECTLY ADDRESSES WILDLIFE ENTANGLEMENT AND PLASTIC POLLUTION IMPACTING HAWAIIS COASTLINES. BY PROVIDING THE PUBLIC AN EFFICIENT MEANS OF REPORTING MARINE DEBRIS WITH QUICK RESPONSE AND ACTION FROM THE SCH TEAM, COASTAL LOCATIONS IN NEED WILL BE ADDRESSED AND REMEDIED FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
  3. $163,715 spent. SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAI'IS (RE)LEARNING PROGRAM IS SOLUTIONS-BASED, INTERACTIVE, AND FUN. OUR EDUCATORS FOCUS ON DEFINING MARINE DEBRIS AND EXPLAINING WHERE IT COMES FROM, HOW IT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS PEOPLE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, ANDMOST IMPORTANTLYWHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. SCH EMPOWERS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES TO ADDRESS PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO GET THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVED. SCH (RE)LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALWAYS FREE FOR SCHOOLS AND STUDENT GROUPS
  4. $7,631 spent. SINCE 2012, SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAI'I HAS BEEN WORKING WITH DIVERSE CLIENTS TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CHOICES WHEN PLANNING EVENTS, DIVERTING WASTE ALL WHILE EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GUESTS IN THE PROCESS. HOSTING A ZERO WASTE OR SUSTAINABLE EVENT CAN BE SIMPLE AND REWARDING. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE TO HELP YOU MINIMIZE YOUR EVENTS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PRE-EVENT CONSULTING AND DURING EVENT IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR WASTE DIVERSION SYSTEMS AND TRAINED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT/EDUCATION STAFF. ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY BACK INTO OUR PROGRAM TO PERPETUATE OUR MISSION. SUSTAINEVENTS IS AVAILABLE FOR: FUNDRAISERS WEDDINGS PRIVATE EVENTS SCHOOL EVENTS
  5. SINCE 2012, SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES HAWAI'I HAS BEEN WORKING WITH DIVERSE CLIENTS TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CHOICES WHEN PLANNING EVENTS, DIVERTING WASTE ALL WHILE EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GUESTS IN THE PROCESS. HOSTING A ZERO WASTE OR SUSTAINABLE EVENT CAN BE SIMPLE AND REWARDING. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE TO HELP YOU MINIMIZE YOUR EVENTS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PRE-EVENT CONSULTING AND DURING EVENT IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR WASTE DIVERSION SYSTEMS AND TRAINED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT/EDUCATION STAFF. ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY BACK INTO OUR PROGRAM TO PERPETUATE OUR MISSION. SUSTAINEVENTS IS AVAILABLE FOR: FUNDRAISERS WEDDINGS PRIVATE EVENTS SCHOOL EVENTS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.