Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sustainable Surf

EIN 45-3220205 · Manhattan Bch, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO REGENERATE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN PLANET AND REVERSE CLIMATE CHANGE. WE PROTECT AND RESTORE BLUE CARBON ECOSYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD, AND CREATE EDUCATIONAL STORIES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS TO TAKE ACTION.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
13
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$180,505, co-founder/ director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $2.9 million spent. SUSTAINABLE SURF STARTED THE SEATREES PROGRAM AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO REVERSE CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESTORE BLUE CARBON COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND SCIENTISTS. ALL-TIME AT THE END OF 2024 OVER 4.7 MILLION SEATREES COMBINED HAVE BEEN RESTORED, PLANTED AND CONSERVED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE PROGRAM. FURTHER 140K CARBON CREDITS HAVE BEEN RETIRED, SEQUESTERING OVER 140,000 TONNES OF C02 FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.
  2. $161,507 spent. SUSTAINABLE SURF ESTABLISHED THE ECOBOARD PROJECT AS THE FIRST INDEPENDENT 3RD PARTY CONSUMER-FACING "ECO-LABEL" FOR SURFBOARDS. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON BUILDING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOARDSHAPERS, WHO SPECIFICALLY USE INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING MATERIALS AND APPROACHES. OVER HALF A MILLION BOARDS HAVE NOW BEEN MANUFACTURED SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM IN 2012. AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING TOGETHER SURFBOARD MANUFACTURERS AND THE SURF COMMUNITY, OUR FOCUS IS TO EDUCATE AND FOSTER COMMUNICATION AND SUSTAINAIBILITY COMMITMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.