Surfrider Foundation

Analysis

Surfrider Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in San Clemente, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1990, 36 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Surfrider Foundation reported income of $14.3m and spending of $13.5m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $11.5m to $14.3m (+25%), an average of +5.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 77% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Surfrider Foundation sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Grand Canyon Conservancy ($14.2m), Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy ($14.5m) and Land Legacy ($14.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 86% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $472k (3.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $5.7m. It paid $315k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $21.3m against liabilities of $1.4m, net assets of $19.8m. It reported 90 employees.