Sustainable Surf
Our mission is to regenerate the health of our ocean planet and reverse climate change. We protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems around the world, and create educational stories that inspire people and corporations to take action.
Sustainable Surf at a glance
In short: Sustainable Surf gave $480K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $160K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $480,000
- +483.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $160,000
- +94.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $2,926,654
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Sustainable Surf funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Scripps Institute of Oceanography ($330K). Together the top 3 received $480K.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $82K (2023) to $480K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $480K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scripps Institute of Oceanography La Jolla, CA | For the purposes of testing multiple hypothesis of restoring kelp, incl. Outplanting lab-grown juveniles and identifying if these more thermally-tolerant strains better survive a warming climate. | $330,000 |
| Philanthropy Works New York, NY | To sponsor artist to build a biodiversity blocks monument to promote biodiversity credit system. | $100,000 |
| Uc San Diego La Jolla, CA | To do a science research for a kelp science project | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,926,654 | $4,046,029 | $3,533,930 | $480,000 | 3 | $44,054 |
| 2023 | $2,436,115 | $3,433,386 | $2,788,402 | $82,250 | 1 | $30,320 |
| 2022 | $1,781,232 | $2,471,342 | $2,030,539 | $130,000 | 1 | $819 |
| 2021 | $1,252,344 | $1,389,368 | $996,926 | — | — | $246 |
| 2020 | $757,880 | $1,004,629 | $498,487 | — | — | $139 |
About Sustainable Surf
Based on IRS filings
Sustainable Surf is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Manhattan Beach, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $480K. Net investment income was $44K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sustainable Surf is led by Jim Moriarty, Ex-Board President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 3 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jim Moriarty
Ex-Board President
Chairman & President → President, 2023
President → Ex-Board President, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Whilden
Co-Founder & Director
Executive Director → Executive Director & Co-Founder, 2023
Executive Director & Co-Founder → Co-Founder & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$72K (2020) → $151K (2024)
Michael Stewart
Co-Founder & Director
Director → Executive Director, 2021
Executive Director → Co-Founder & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $154K (2024)
Alexandra Von Winterfeldt
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2024)
Brian Thurston
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Tighe
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Shipsey
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Campbell
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Wilkenfeld
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danni Washington
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Gonzalez-Blanch
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arne Arens
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Dynan
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Abigail Whilden (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Marovich (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott Coleman (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $154K, to Michael Stewart (Co-Founder/ Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Surf
How much does Sustainable Surf give each year?
Sustainable Surf gave $480K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $82K across 1 grant.
What is Sustainable Surf's typical grant size?
Sustainable Surf's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $160,000, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sustainable Surf give grants?
Sustainable Surf gives mostly in California: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were La Jolla, CA (2 grants).
Does Sustainable Surf give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Sustainable Surf's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Sustainable Surf?
Sustainable Surf reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What is Sustainable Surf?
Sustainable Surf is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Manhattan Beach, CA. It holds $2.9M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Sustainable Surf's EIN?
Sustainable Surf's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3220205. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sustainable Surf funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sustainable Surf's focus areas in our free grants database
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Sustainable Surf down — hundreds of funders to go?