Black Surf Santa Cruz Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATIONS PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND COMMUNAL HEALING THROUGH SURFING, EDUCATION AND RECREATION.
- Income
- $221,250
- Spending
- $254,175
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 95
- Highest pay
- $105,867, president & ed
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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $189,663 spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: BLACK SURF SANTA CRUZ PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUATION OUTSIDE OF PUBLICY ACCESSIBLE SURF PROGRAMMING. THIS EDUCATION CONSISTS OF SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE BLACK EXPREIENCE IN RACIST COMMUNITIES AND IMPROTANCE OF BLACK SURF SANTA CRUZ, PRESENTATIONS TO LOCAL SCHOOL GROUPS, EXPERTISE PROVIDED TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES THAT EXPLORE TEH INTERSECTION OF SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE, MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, ACCESS, AND JUSTICE; KEY NOTES AND PANELIST EXPRETISE ON THE LACK OF ACCESS AND THE MANY WAYS THAT THE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION AND RACISM IN OCEAN REGIONS AND SWIMMING POOLS IMPACTS BLACK REPRESENATTION AND SAFETY IN MARINE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SURFING, AND SO MANY MORE INTERSECTIONS. THESE SPECIAL EVENTS, COMMITTEES, FESTIVALS, SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES ARE TAKEN ON BY THE ORGANIZATION AS THERE IS CAPACITY.
- $23,083 spent. POP UP PROGRAM: THE POP-UP PROGRAM (PUP) CONSISTS OF SINGLE-DAY EVENTS WITH 8-12 PARTICIPANTS SURFING TOGETHER, MANY THEIR FIRST TIME SURFING. THIS GROUP DOES NOT MOVE THROUGH THE COHORT BUT SIGN UP FOR THE ONE-DAY COMMITMENT. THE EXPREIENCE IS FREE OF CHARGE, INCLUDING SURFBOARDS, WETSUITS, SURF INSTRUCTION, AND WATER SAFETY AT NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
- $14,000 spent. LIBERATION PADDLE OUT: THE LIBERATION PADDLE OUT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT CELEBRATES THE BLACK SURE COMMUNITY AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR MEMBERS. THE LPO IS AN EVENT HOSTED BY BSSC THAT FEATURES ACTVITIES SUCH AS BEACH CLEAN UP, MUSIC, SPEAKERS, A SURF/PADDLING SAND LESSON, AND A PADDLE OUT THAT CENTERS OUR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT IS SCHEDULED IN ALIGNMENT WITH LOCAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY. IT IS BLACK SURF'S LARGEST SIGNATURE AND ANNUAL EVENT SERVES AS A FUNDRAISER TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FREE AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.