{{Short description|Non-profit environmental organization}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox organization | name = Surfrider Foundation | logo = Surfrider_Foundation_logo_2018.svg | type = Social welfare organization | tax_id = 95-3941826 | status = [[501(c)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] [[charitable organization]] | purpose = The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network | founded = {{start date and age|1984|paren=yes}}<ref name="surfertoday">{{Cite press release |title=Surfrider Foundation launches new logo to celebrate 500 coastal victories |date=2018-08-23 |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/environment/surfrider-foundation-launches-new-logo-to-celebrate-500-coastal-victories |access-date=2019-08-21 |website=Surfertoday}}</ref> | founder = Glenn Hening, Chris Blakely, Lance Carson, and Tom Pratt<ref name="surfertoday" /> | headquarters = 942 Calle Negocio, Suite 350 | location = [[San Clemente, California]], United States | origins = | key_people = Chad Nelsen, CEO | region_served = International | product = | focus = [[Environmental activism]] | methods = local activist network, litigation, research | revenue = $12,434,931<ref name="Ratings">{{cite web | url=https://20811975.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20811975/2022-Annual-Report.pdf | title=The Surfrider Foundation | website=Foundation Center | access-date= 2024-08-03 }}</ref> | revenue_year = 2022 | expenses = $11,651,732<ref name="Ratings" /> | expenses_year = 2022 | endowment = | num_volunteers = ~100,000 (2022) <ref name="Volunteers">{{cite web | url=https://20811975.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20811975/Publications/Surfrider%20Foundation%202022%20Form%20990%20-%20Public%20Disclosure%20Copy.pdf| title=The Surfrider Foundation | website=Foundation Center | access-date= 2024-08-08 }}</ref> | num_employees = 78 (2025)<ref name="Staff">{{cite web | url=https://www.surfrider.org/our-team/staff| title=Our Team - Staff | website=Surfrider Foundation | access-date= 2025-10-27 }}</ref> | num_members = | subsib = | owner = | website = {{URL|www.surfrider.org}} | dissolved = | footnotes = }}
The '''Surfrider Foundation''' is a [[United States|U.S.]] [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit environmental organization that lobbies for the protection of oceans and beaches.
==History== The Surfrider Foundation was started in [[Malibu, California]], in 1984 by a handful of [[surfers]] to protest threats to their local [[surf break]] at Malibu Point. The organization continued on for several years as a loose advocacy group until 1991, when the first chapters were founded. Rob Caughlan served as president from 1984 to 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whiting |first=Sam |date=January 22, 2026 |title=Rob Caughlan, Surfrider Foundation leader and coastal access advocate, dies at 82 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/rob-birdlegs-caughlan-dies-21307239.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>
In their 2025 report on the previous year, it was estimated that the Surfrider Foundation collected {{convert|365000|lb|kg}} of trash with 40,000 volunteers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrah |first1=Jennifer |title=Surfrider's 2024 Beach Cleanup Report: Clean Beaches, Clear Solutions |url=https://www.surfrider.org/news/surfriders-2024-beach-cleanup-report-clean-beaches-clear-solutions |website=www.surfrider.org |publisher=Surfrider Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Of the waste collected, 83% were [[Plastic|plastics]] and 32.5% were plastic fragments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liszewska |first1=Magda |title=The Surfrider Foundation Releases Its Annual Beach Cleanup Report |url=https://shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com/press-releases/the-surfrider-foundation-releases-its-annual-beach-cleanup-report/609791/ |website=Shop Eat Surf Outdoor |publisher=Emerald X |date=16 July 2025}}</ref> The most numerous items collected were [[cigarette butts]].
=== Activism === The foundation was a key plaintiff in the battle to open [[Martin's Beach]] in [[San Mateo County, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fimrite |first=Peter |date=2014-06-22 |title=Surfers sue over blocked beach access |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Surfers-sue-over-blocked-beach-access-4349486.php |access-date=27 July 2014 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> The case resolved in 2018, when the [[United States Supreme Court]] rejected [[Vinod Khosla]]'s appeal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xia |first=Rosanna |date=2018-10-01 |title=U.S. Supreme Court declines to take Martins Beach case — a win for California's landmark coastal access law |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-martins-beach-supreme-court-20181001-story.html |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
Starting in 2005, The Surfrider Foundation was one of several environmental organizations that led efforts to prevent a 6-lane toll road that would have cut through [[San Onofre State Beach]], the Donna O'Neil Land Conservancy, sacred sites of the [[Acjachemen]] and endanger San Mateo Creek Watershed. On September 25, 2020, California governor [[Gavin Newsom]] signed AB1426 prohibiting the development of any roadway(s) that might impact or encroach upon the state beach, ending the decades long battle.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020 |title=Trestles Has Been Saved (For Good, This Time) |url=https://www.surfer.com/news/trestles-has-been-saved-for-good-this-time |work=Surfer}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=This is their own promotional publication. A newspaper would be an Independent Source.|date=August 2024}}
==== Advocacy against housing and rail ==== In 2024, Surfrider opposed legislation that would reduce the ability of the [[California Coastal Commission]] to block housing in already urbanized parts of the coastal zone.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=San Francisco becomes testing ground for battle over California coastal protections |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/coast-housing-wiener-18624806.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>
In 2024, Surfrider called for the closure of the [[Pacific Surfliner]] rail that runs adjacent to the [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]] shoreline.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Angelina |date=2024-07-31 |title=Environmental Groups Say Saving Train Tracks Harms San Clemente's Beaches |url=http://voiceofoc.org/2024/07/environmental-groups-say-saving-train-tracks-harms-san-clementes-beaches/ |website=Voice of OC |language=en-US}}</ref> Surfrider said that the rail service had an adverse environmental impact and should be subjected to a full environmental impact study.<ref name=":0" /> ==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}}[https://www.surfrider.org/mission Surfrider's Five Key Initiatives (Mission)]
[https://www.surfrider.org/campaigns Surfrider Campaigns] *{{Official website|www.surfrider.org}} *[http://www.knowyourh2o.org/ Know Your H2O program and The Cycle of Insanity Film]
{{Surfing}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Environmental organizations based in California]] [[Category:Surfing organizations]] [[Category:Conservation and environmental foundations based in the United States]] [[Category:Non-profit organizations based in California]] [[Category:Organizations based in San Diego County, California]] [[Category:San Clemente, California]] [[Category:Environmental organizations established in 1984]] [[Category:1984 establishments in California]] [[Category:1984 establishments in the United States]] [[Category:Surfing in California]] [[Category:Sports foundations based in the United States]]