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Surfrider Foundation

EIN 95-3941826 · San Clemente, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE WORLD'S OCEAN, WAVES AND BEACHES, THROUGH A POWERFUL ACTIVIST NETWORK.

Income
$14.5 million
Spending
$14.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
95
Volunteers
50,000
Highest pay
$269,662, ceo

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 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (5)
  1. $5.1 million spent. CHAPTER & STUDENT CLUBS NETWORK SUPPORT - WE DEVELOPED TRAINING MATERIALS, TRAINED AND ASSISTED VOLUNTEERS WITH CAMPAIGN PLANNING, AND FACILITATED THE CHAPTERS IN THEIR GRASS ROOTS ACTIVIST WORKS.
  2. $3.7 million spent. VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GRASS ROOTS VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING, PROMOTING REDUCTION IN SINGLE USE PLASTICS, PROMOTING OCEAN FRIENDLY GARDEN TECHNIQUES, PROMOTING BEACH WATER QUALITY, BEACH ACCESS AND BEACH AND WAVE PRESERVATION.
  3. $1.4 million spent. PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVES - WE ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS, INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENTS TO PROTECT OUR OCEAN, WAVES AND BEACHES BY REDUCING PLASTICS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. OUR RISE ABOVE PLASTICS AND OCEAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS PROGRAMS ADVOCATE FOR A REDUCTION IN SINGLE USE PLASTICS, FOR THE RECYCLING OF ALL PLASTICS AND DRIVES CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT CREATES SCALABLE IMPACT TO REDUCE PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN.
  4. $824,985 spent. CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE - WE PROTECT OUR COASTAL WATERWAYS, COMMUNITIES, AND WIDLIFE FROM WATER POLLUTION BY FOCUSING ON TWO MAIN PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE BLUE WATER TASK FORCE (BWTF) AND OCEAN FRIENDLY GARDENS (OFG). CHAPTERS ALSO RUN CAMPAIGNS AGAINST PROJECTS THAT WILL CAUSE POLLUTION AND ADVOCATE FOR WISE MANAGEMENT OF OUR LAND AND WATER RESOURCES.
  5. $698,318 spent. COAST & CLIMATE INITIATIVE - WE ARE USING POWERFUL NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR COASTS BY PLANTING MANGROVES, RESTORING DUNES AND RESTORING FRESHWATER ESTUARIES.

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 April 1990.

    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.