Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association

EIN 53-0218954 · Beaufort, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN SHORE & BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION (THE ASSOCIATION) RECOGNIZES THAT THE SHORES, BEACHES AND OTHER COASTAL RESOURCES OF AMERICA PROVIDE IMPORTANT QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSETS WITHIN THE REACH OF THE LARGEST POSSIBLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IDEALS OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION BY MEANS OF: PROTECTING AND IMPROVING HEALTHY AND DIVERSE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. MANAGING, PROTECTING AND ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PRESERVING AESTHETIC VALUES. REDUCING DAMAGE FROM NATURAL HAZARDS AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES. MITIGATING HUMAN IMPACTS TO NATURAL PROCESSES.THIS ASSOCIATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING, PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE BEACHES, SHORES AND OTHER COASTAL RESOURCES OF AMERICA.

Income
$787,663
Spending
$652,985
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
0
Volunteers
42

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 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 38 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (9)
  1. $196,574 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE CONTRACTS:THE ASSOCIATION HAS VARIOUS PROGRAM SERVICE CONTRACTS RELATED TO CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE OUR COASTS BY MERGING SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY. DURING 2024, THE ASSOCIATION WAS INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS THAT FUNDED COASTAL RESEARCH, PRODUCED A REPORT ON SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ESTABLISHED A REAL-TIME TIDAL MONITORING SYSTEM ALONG THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST.
  2. $119,601 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE:THE ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES AND PRESENTS AN ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL MEETING, HELD EACH FALL IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE U.S. THE EVENT INCLUDES TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS, EXHIBITS, A PRE-CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP AND (OCCASIONALLY) ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER COASTAL GROUPS.
  3. $49,256 spent. ANNUAL COASTAL SUMMIT:THE ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES AND PRESENTS AN ANNUAL POLICY CONFERENCE, HELD EACH SPRING IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE EVENT INCLUDES POLICY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS BOTH ON CAPITOL HILL AND IN HOTEL MEETING ROOMS, MEETINGS WITH OTHER COASTAL GROUPS HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON, AND EVENTS TO ALLOW COASTAL CONSTITUENTS TO INTERACT WITH THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND STAFF.
  4. $40,993 spent. PUBLICATION OF SHORE & BEACH AND "COASTAL VOICE" E-NEWSLETTER:THE ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES THE QUARTERLY SHORE & BEACH MAGAZINE (A PEER-REVIEWED TECHNICAL JOURNAL) AND THE MONTHLY "COASTAL VOICE" E-NEWSLETTER, TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH REGULAR UPDATES OF ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES AND COASTAL NEWS. BOTH PUBLICATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS AS A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP.
  5. $6,262 spent. BLUE FLAG BEACHES:AS A NATIONAL OPERATOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG PROGRAM, THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM THAT AWARDS BEACHES, MARINAS, AND TOURISM BOAT OPERATORS ANNUALLY BASED ON A SIGNIFICANT BUT ATTAINABLE SET OF OPERATIONS CRITERIA COVERING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, WATER QUALITY, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, AND SAFETY AND SERVICES IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S., ALASKA, AND HAWAII, AS WELL AS SUPPORTS SITES IN REACHING CRITERIA COMPLIANCE.
  6. $3,331 spent. CHAPTER CONFERENCES:THE CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION (CSBPA) DID NOT HOLD ANY CONFERENCES IN 2024, BUT MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN REGIONAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS REGARDING COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION HELD LUNCHEON BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH PRESENTATION BY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO ALLOW FOR NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL SPONSORS, CONSULTING FIRMS, AND COASTAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE MEETINGS WERE HELD ALONG THE TEXAS COAST AND WERE INTENDED TO BRING TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND TECHNICAL EXPERTS IN TEXAS.THE MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION HELD MULTIPLE EVENTS ON SPECIFIC-TOPICS TO AID IN THE TRANSFER OF INFORMATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AMONGST PEERS AND COLLEAGUES. THE EVENTS INCLUDED TOPICS RELATED TO THE MULTITUDE OF COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COASTLINE OF THE UNITED STATES.
  7. $3,500 spent. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND INTERATION:THE ASSOCIATION WORKS WITH AN ADVOCACY FIRM TO ENSURE BEACH ISSUES ARE FAIRLY REPRESENTED IN CONGRESS; TO EDUCATE LEGISLATORS AND STAFF ON BEACH PROCESSES AND DYNAMICS; TO WORK WITH OTHER COASTAL ORGANIZATIONS ON BEHALF OF LEGISLATION BENEFITING NATIONAL COASTAL CONCERNS; AND TO FORGE NEW COALITIONS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES WHOSE INTERESTS INTERSECTS WITH COASTAL CONCERNS.
  8. $2,565 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS A VARIETY OF AWARDS EACH YEAR; HONORS CAN INCLUDE: - TOP RESTORED BEACHES, TO SPOTLIGHT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED THEIR SHORELINES; - CORPS OF ENGINEERS AWARDS, FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECT EFFORTS; - FRIENDS OF THE ASBPA, TO HONOR LAWMAKERS AND OTHERS FOR THEIR SERVICE ON BEHALF OF COASTAL ISSUES; - A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, TO SPOTLIGHT THE LONG-TERM CONTRIBUTIONS OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO COASTAL ISSUES AND RESEARCH; - PROJECT AWARDS, FOR LONG-TERM BEACH MANAGEMENT SUCCESSES; - STUDENT AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS, TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN COASTAL RESEARCH AND STUDY. - OTHER AWARDS AS CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE.
  9. MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION IS OPEN TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SHORES AND BEACHES OF U.S. BAYS, HARBORS, OCEANS AND GREAT LAKES. A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP IS MADE UP OF COASTAL PRACTITIONERS: ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, PLANNERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND OTHERS ENGAGED IN SOME PHASE OF THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION

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 November 6, 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 September 1950.

    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 November 4, 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.