San Diego Coastkeeper

Gina Rogers, Lead Partner

“As we complete our three-year investment from San Diego Social Venture Partners, it is remarkable what we have been able to achieve together. From our change in name from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper and enhanced branding and membership efforts to our move to new offices, Coastkeeper is a far more effective and sustainable organization than we were just three years ago.”
Bruce Reznik, Executive Director

San Diego Coastkeeper’s mission is to protect the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds, and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. Coastkeeper balances community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem.

San Diego Coastkeeper continued its tremendous growth over the past year, starting with a move into larger offices and laboratory space accommodating staff that has swelled to eleven strong. Coastkeeper also put a new boat—Clean Sweep—into operation, supporting their cleanup and water monitoring efforts and helping them keep a watchful eye on our bays and coastal waters. Coming on the heels of the name change from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper in October 2005, SDSVP has been instrumental in helping redesign the “DNA” of the organization through their support of marketing and membership efforts, board development, and strategic planning. In addition, SDSVP provided technical assistance during the office move.

Nearly 10,000 San Diegans volunteered to clean our beaches and make sure debris does not enter the ocean, while another 300 community members are now monitoring the health of waterways throughout San Diego County. More than 40,000 children receive Coastkeeper’s Project SWELL water quality and pollution prevention curriculum annually. The past year saw Coastkeeper reaching a settlement with the City of San Diego which requires the City to reduce chronic sewage spills by 83% and invest nearly $1 billion in collection infrastructure over the next five years. As a result of the increased capacity support from SDSVP, Coastkeeper continues to be the region’s strongest voice for clean water.