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Non-profit

California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA)

Website:

www.aclu-md.org/
Location:

Sacramento, CA
Tax ID:

95-4834043
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $909,716
Expenses: $707,779
Assets: $768,858
Type:

Environmental advocacy group
Formation:

1999
Executive Director:

Sean Bothwell
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $619,544

Expenses: $637,783

Asset Valuation: $750,744 40

References

  1. California Coastkeeper Alliance, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part I, Lines 12, 18, and 20. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954834043/202401779349301630/full

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The California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA) is a left-of-center environmentalist advocacy group focused on California’s coastal waters that is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. The group acts as a watchdog for local, county, state, and federal environmentalist policy. 1

California Coastkeeper Alliance consists of a coalition of Waterkeeper groups covering the area from the Oregon border to San Diego, California. CCKA also participates in advocacy activities on the implementation of climate change policy and stricter government oversight and laws to protect both land and water. 2

Organizational Partnerships and Alliances

The California Coastkeeper Alliance is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of organizations focused on water with over 300 programs and 350 Waterkeeper groups in 44 countries across six continents. 3 4 The group was formerly led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. since 1999; he worked as the organization’s president until 2020 and was named president emeritus upon his resignation. The Waterkeeper Alliance is the world’s largest nonprofit focused entirely on clean water. 4

There are several groups in the California Coastkeeper Alliance, including San Francisco Baykeeper, the Russian Riverkeeper, Monterey Coastkeeper, and others. 5 The Waterkeeper groups are intertwined with one another. For example, the Orange County Waterkeeper, founded in 1999 by Garry Brown to protect the waterways in Orange County, created Inland Empire Waterkeeper in 2005 to focus on upstream water quality issues in the Upper Santa Anna River Watershed. Both Orange County Waterkeeper and Inland Empire Waterkeeper share programs, staff members, and management, with over 20 employees. 6 7

Employees often work at multiple Waterkeeper groups throughout their careers, moving from one to another. For example, the executive director of the San Diego Coastkeeper, Phillip Musegaas, was once the vice president of programs and litigation at the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as the Hudson River program director of the Riverkeeper. 8 The executive director of San Francisco Baykeeper, Sejal Choksi-Chugu, was on the Waterkeeper council as a founding member, as well as a board member for the California Coastkeeper Alliance. 9

Acquisitions

The Otter Project merged with and is now a program of California Coastkeeper Alliance. Instead of the Otter Project closing in 2018 when its founder, Steve Shimek, decided to retire, CCKA acquired it. Founded in 1998, The Otter Project worked to restore the southern sea otter to California coasts and protect the otter population through policy advocacy. 10

Advocacy and Litigation

California Coastkeeper Alliance has filed several lawsuits against local governments, the government of California, and the federal government. The group’s advocacy efforts focus on clean water, ocean climate, coastal and ocean protection, and educating the public on water use and responsibility. 11

To compel water companies to create a more equitable rate structure, the Irvine Ranch Water District and CCKA co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1827. The bill would allow water companies to use “reasonable and well-accepted” methods of assessing how much of a burden “high-water” users place on the water infrastructure, resulting in higher bills paid to the water companies by those users. On September 22, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the bill into California state law. 12

In 2021, CCKA filed a lawsuit against Sonoma County for the way it pumped groundwater in the Russian River watershed. 13

CCKA, along with the Waterkeeper Alliance and Waterkeepers Chesapeake, filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019 for putting the public health, water quality, and water safety at risk of harm due to the EPA’s multiple delays in regulating contaminants in drinking water. 14 In 2020, a settlement was reached requiring the EPA to propose new regulations, as well as stipulating specific deadlines to which the EPA had to adhere. 15

People

Sean Bothwell is the executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance as of 2024. In his role, he oversees CCKA’s legal program, including litigation and overseeing CCKA’s Legal Committee. 16 His compensation for 2023 totaled $161,139. 17 He was previously with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), a California state commission that regulates land use, where he provided legal expertise. 18 He holds a law degree from Vermont Law School. 16

Financials

From 2019 to 2023, the Resources Legacy Fund, a left-of-center grantmaking and political advocacy environmentalist group, granted California Coastkeeper Alliance a total of $650,000. 19 20 21 22 23

Environment Now, a California-based left-of-center environmental advocacy organization focused on forests, waterways, and, climate change, has given CCKA $322,000 from 2020 through 2022. 24 25 26

The Marisla Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking foundation that supports human and health services organizations, as well as environmentalist groups, allocated a total of $350,000 to CCKA between 2016 to 2022. 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, a Cleveland, Ohio-based private foundation that primarily funds general financial support, has given $41,000 to CCKA from 2021 to 2023. 34 35 36 The Trust gave $36,473 The Otter Project from 2016 to 2018, which has since been acquired by CCKA. 37 38 39

References

  1. News. California Coastkeeper Alliance. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/news/
  2.  California Coastkeeper Alliance, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part IV, Line 4. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954834043/202401779349301630/full
  3. About Us. California Coastkeeper Alliance. Accessed November 6, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/about-us/
  4. “Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Resigns as Waterkeeper Alliance President.” Waterkeeper Alliance. November 10, 2020. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://waterkeeper.org/news/robert-f-kennedy-jr-resigns-as-waterkeeper-alliance-president/
  5. Letter to State Water Resources Control Board. California Coastkeeper Alliance. January 4, 2018. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2018/jan/010918_8_rtc/sara_aminzadeh_2.pdf
  6. History. Orange County Coastkeeper. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.coastkeeper.org/about/our-history/
  7. Our Story. Inland Empire Waterkeeper. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.coastkeeper.org/about/our-history/
  8. Musegaas, Phillip. “Phillip Musegaas – Executive Director and Coastkeeper – LinkedIn.” Phillip Musegaas. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-musegaas-773a1219
  9. “Experience.” Sejal Shoksi-Chugh LinkedIn Profile. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sejal-choksi-chugh-189a0679/details/experience/
  10. “The Otter Project Acquired by California Coastkeeper Alliance to Enhance the Southern Sea Otter’s Recovery. The Otter Project. August 21, 2021. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://theotterproject.org/blog/the-otter-project-and-california-coastkeeper-alliance-integrated-to-enhance-the-southern-sea-otters-recovery
  11.  What We Do. California Coastkeeper Alliance. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/what-we-do/
  12.  Phillips, Cody. “Governor Newsom Signs CCKA Legislation into Law.” California Coastkeeper Alliance. September 23, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/governor-newsom-signs-ccka-legislation-into-law/
  13. Hunt, Drevet. “California Coastkeeper Alliance Files Lawsuit to Protect the Russian River.” California Coastkeeper Alliance. July 1, 2021. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/ccka-files-lawsuit-to-protect-the-russian-river/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
  14. Case 1:19-cv-00899. Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief. January 30, 2019. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-01/documents/complaint_for_declaratory_and_injunctive_relief_1.30.19.pdf
  15.  Case 1:19-cv-00899-LJL. Settlement Agreement. June 1, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://waterkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Settlement-Agreement.pdf
  16. Bio – Sean Bothwell. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.lincolninst.edu/app/uploads/legacy-files/content/docs/Babbitt/bothwell_sean_bio.pdf
  17. California Coastkeeper Alliance, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Schedule J, Part II. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954834043/202401779349301630/full
  18. About Us. California Coastkeeper Alliance. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://cacoastkeeper.org/about-us/
  19. Resources Legacy Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Schedule I, Part II. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://resourceslegacyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RLF-2023-12-Form-990-PUBLIC-Disclosure.pdf
  20. Resources Legacy Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule I, Part II. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://resourceslegacyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RLF-2022-IRS-Form-990.pdf
  21. Resources Legacy Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021, Schedule I, Part II. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://resourceslegacyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RLF-2021-IRS-Form-990-Public-Copy-4887-1715-9990.pdf
  22. Resources Legacy Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule I, Part II. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://resourceslegacyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RLF-2020-IRS-Form-990-Public-Copy-Amended.pdf
  23. Resources Legacy Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://resourceslegacyfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RLF-Public-Copy-IRS-Form-990-12.31.19-4824-7483-1056.pdf
  24. Environment Now, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Part XIV. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954247242/202333189349104003/full
  25. Environment Now, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XIV. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954247242/202223199349106082/full
  26. Environment Now, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2020, Part XIV. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954247242/202143199349106339/full
  27. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330200133/202343199349107564/full
  28. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330200133/202213189349103806/full
  29. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2020, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330200133/202143199349109564/full
  30. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/330200133/05_2021_prefixes_31-34%2F330200133_201912_990PF_2021050518064293
  31. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/330200133/01_2020_prefixes_32-34%2F330200133_201812_990PF_2020010817003068
  32. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/330200133/01_2019_prefixes_27-43%2F330200133_201712_990PF_2019013016045308
  33. The Marisla Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2016. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/330200133/IRS%2F330200133_201612_990PF_2017112714977655
  34. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2023, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/816360422/a026593affbba4b4493ed42699049ce9
  35. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://irs-efile-renderer.instrumentl.com/render?object_id=202321309349100842
  36. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Part XIV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://irs-efile-renderer.instrumentl.com/render?object_id=202211319349104921
  37. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://filing-service.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/990-collections-from-IRS/July-2019-990PF-pdf-2018-printable-only/816360422_990PF_201812.pdf
  38. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://filing-service.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/scanned-pdfs/201712/816360422/15098602/816360422_201712_990PF_2018102315821655.pdf
  39. Belina Lee Lazzar Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2016, Part XV, 3a. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://filing-service.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/scanned-pdfs/201612/816360422/7034161/81-6360422_990PF_201612.pdf
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2001

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $909,716 $707,779 $768,858 $389,827 N $590,192 $318,572 $952 $149,766 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $720,124 $757,608 $486,239 $309,145 N $442,976 $276,129 $1,019 $144,422
    2020 Dec Form 990 $512,922 $467,873 $462,334 $247,756 N $499,261 $12,000 $1,161 $117,085
    2019 Dec Form 990 $314,249 $432,524 $197,511 $27,982 N $313,265 $0 $484 $118,983 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $527,728 $565,494 $312,482 $24,678 N $517,256 $10,000 $472 $218,726 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $478,758 $585,291 $373,217 $47,647 N $468,284 $10,000 $474 $123,028
    2016 Dec Form 990 $530,193 $524,461 $477,142 $45,039 N $529,666 $0 $527 $123,484 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $566,811 $618,869 $474,318 $47,947 N $566,086 $0 $725 $114,740 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $389,153 $445,487 $505,077 $26,648 N $387,931 $0 $1,222 $109,456 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $372,839 $312,865 $558,173 $23,410 N $371,860 $0 $979 $90,000 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $224,558 $316,976 $490,238 $15,449 N $223,337 $0 $1,221 $125,764 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $276,563 $317,373 $581,741 $14,534 N $274,147 $0 $2,416 $152,104 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA)


    Sacramento, CA