About Surfrider Foundation

The Mission

Nearly thirty years ago a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot.

Since our inception in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations with a volunteer-activist network dedicated to its mission to protect and enjoy our oceans, waves and beaches.

Today, we are measurably stronger, with more force and movement than ever before. We have 84 chapters, plus 30 high school and college clubs, and more than 250,000 supporters, volunteers and activists fighting 90 active campaigns around the country. Armed with a model to defend the coast, we have achieved a record of 286 victories (and counting) since 2006.

Our work is critical. Our coasts continue to be threatened by dirty water, single-use plastics, irresponsible coastal development, loss of beach access, and ecosystem destruction.

Not without times of uncertainty, it hasn’t been easy. There’s still a lot of work to be done. Our long-term success and growth is a tribute to our founders’ vision: that taking on an environmental battle may not be easy, but with constant pressure, endlessly applied, it can, and will, be won. The key to this is what makes our organization unique…