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Non-profit

San Diego Coastkeeper

Website:

www.sdcoastkeeper.org
Location:

San Diego, CA
Tax ID:

33-0647946
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $760,562
Expenses: $671,655
Assets: $1,424,768
Executive Director:

Phillip Musegaas

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San Diego Coastkeeper is a left-of-center environmentalist advocacy group and member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. 1 The organization acts as a compliance watchdog for local, county, state, and federal environmentalist policy, using litigation to ensure enforcement. 2 The group also lobbies governments for the implementation of tougher water- and land-use laws and regulations, and climate change mitigation policies. 3

San Diego Coastkeeper has received financial contributions from Earthshare and the Marisla Foundation, nonprofit funding organizations that contribute to left-leaning environmentalist groups. 4

The group is staffed by individuals affiliated with left-of-center causes. Phillip Musegaas, the executive director, was the vice president of programs and litigation of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a left-leaning Potomac River conservation group, and Hudson River program director of Riverkeeper, a left-leaning Hudson River conservation group. 5 He donated to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden in 2020. 6 Lucero Weber, the campaigns manager, was a staffer for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in the 2020 election and the campaign of then-U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA). 7 Chante Coleman, a board director, is a senior vice president of equity and justice at the National Wildlife Federation and worked as a field organizer for the California Democratic Party. 8

Activities

San Diego Coastkeeper was founded in 1995, intended to advocate for environmental protection policies for San Diego Bay as a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. 9 The organization’s activities include environmental monitoring, education, and advocacy. 10 The group acts as an environmentalist watchdog by testing water from rivers, streams, and runoff from industrial sites for pollutants. 11 If its tests render results the group deems unsatisfactory and noncompliant with state and federal laws, San Diego Coastkeeper reports infractions to government enforcement agencies and pursues litigation against parties opposed to their policy stances. 12 The organization also develops and produces environmentalist educational materials to be provided to K-12 schools, including the San Diego public school system. 13

The organization lobbies local, county, and state governments, as well as federal regulatory agencies and commissions, to enact and enforce water and land use laws and regulations, climate change mitigation policies, and adherence to the Clean Water Act. 14

The group also demands that a ballot measure for raising stormwater fees be put to a public vote in San Diego. 15 The money raised would go towards the building of green infrastructure to combat climate change. 16 The group has also been an opponent of the building of offshore industrial fish farming sites, as they see them as a threat to indigenous fish populations of San Diego Bay. 17

Funding

In 2021, San Diego Coastkeeper reported a revenue of $1,128,832. 18 The organization received financial support from Earthshare and the Marisla Foundation, nonprofit funding organizations that contribute to left-leaning environmentalist groups. 19

People

Phillip Musegaas is the executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper. 20 He was the vice president of programs and litigation of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a left-leaning Potomac River conservation group, and Hudson River program director of Riverkeeper, a left-leaning Hudson River conservation group. 21 He donated to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden in 2020. 22

Lucero Weber is the campaigns manager of San Diego Coastkeeper. 23 She is the secretary for a San Diego branch of the Sierra Club. 24 She was president of the board of directors of the San Diego branch of the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), a field manager for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in the 2020 election and the campaign of then-U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA). 25

Chante Coleman is a board director for San Diego Coastkeeper. 26 She is a senior vice president of equity and justice at the National Wildlife Federation and worked as a field organizer for the California Democratic Party. 27 She also donated to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden. 28

Michael Torti is a board director for San Diego Coastkeeper. 29 He was an executive committee chair and policy coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation. 30 He donated to the presidential campaign of Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in 2020. 31

References

  1. “Our History.” San Diego Coastkeeper, February 18, 2020. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/our-history.
  2. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  3. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  4. “Supporters.” San Diego Coastkeeper, October 7, 2022. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/our-history/our-story-2/supporters#
  5. Musegaas, Phillip. “Phillip Musegaas – Executive Director and Coastkeeper – LinkedIn.” Phillip Musegaas. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-musegaas-773a1219.
  6. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 28, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Phillip%2BMusegaas.
  7. Weber, Lucero. “Lucero Weber – Secretary – Sierra Club San Diego North … – Linkedin.” Lucero Weber. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucero-b-weber.
  8. Coleman, Chanté. “Chanté Coleman, Esq. – Senior Vice President – Linkedin.” Chanté Coleman. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chante-coleman.
  9. “Our History.” San Diego Coastkeeper, February 18, 2020. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/our-history.
  10. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  11. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  12. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  13. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  14. San Diego Coastkeeper Financial Statements and Independent Auditor’s Report. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2021-San-Diego-Coastkeeper-Audit-Report.pdf.
  15. “Stormwater Infrastructure Funding.” San Diego Coastkeeper, October 7, 2022. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/campaigns/stormwater-infrastructure-funding.
  16. “Stormwater Infrastructure Funding.” San Diego Coastkeeper, October 7, 2022. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/campaigns/stormwater-infrastructure-funding.
  17. “Offshore Industrial Fish Farming.” San Diego Coastkeeper, March 9, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/offshore-industrial-fish-farming.
  18. [1] “IRS Form.” San Diego Coastkeeper. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Public-SanDiegoCoastkeeper-2021-990.pdf
  19. “Supporters.” San Diego Coastkeeper, October 7, 2022. https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/our-history/our-story-2/supporters#.
  20. Musegaas, Phillip. “Phillip Musegaas – Executive Director and Coastkeeper – LinkedIn.” Phillip Musegaas. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-musegaas-773a1219.
  21. Musegaas, Phillip. “Phillip Musegaas – Executive Director and Coastkeeper – LinkedIn.” Phillip Musegaas. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-musegaas-773a1219.
  22. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 28, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Phillip%2BMusegaas
  23. Weber, Lucero. “Lucero Weber – Secretary – Sierra Club San Diego North … – Linkedin.” Lucero Weber. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucero-b-weber.
  24. Weber, Lucero. “Lucero Weber – Secretary – Sierra Club San Diego North … – Linkedin.” Lucero Weber. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucero-b-weber.
  25. Weber, Lucero. “Lucero Weber – Secretary – Sierra Club San Diego North … – Linkedin.” Lucero Weber. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucero-b-weber.
  26. Coleman, Chanté. “Chanté Coleman, Esq. – Senior Vice President – Linkedin.” Chanté Coleman. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chante-coleman.
  27. Coleman, Chanté. “Chanté Coleman, Esq. – Senior Vice President – Linkedin.” Chanté Coleman. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chante-coleman.
  28. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Chante%2BColeman
  29. Torti, Michael. “Michael Torti – Chief Executive Officer – C&M Motors, Inc … – Linkedin.” Michael Torti. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljtorti
  30. Torti, Michael. “Michael Torti – Chief Executive Officer – C&M Motors, Inc … – Linkedin.” Michael Torti. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljtorti.
  31. [1] “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Michael%2BTorti.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1995

    • 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
    2020 Dec Form 990 $760,562 $671,655 $1,424,768 $102,560 N $764,516 $0 $3,418 $140,798
    2019 Dec Form 990 $1,060,137 $643,719 $1,250,345 $17,044 N $1,004,514 $0 $2,631 $115,000 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $869,205 $580,524 $866,949 $50,066 N $832,248 $0 $667 $111,900 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $906,812 $586,384 $541,836 $13,634 N $860,642 $0 $3,207 $99,860 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $680,344 $668,734 $238,537 $30,763 N $648,061 $0 $1,507 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $636,402 $648,379 $202,041 $5,877 N $598,945 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $616,155 $580,807 $257,168 $49,027 N $631,510 $0 $0 $85,000 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $605,086 $501,142 $393,683 $111,942 N $497,207 $0 $1,693 $154,092 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $775,676 $707,088 $389,334 $221,923 N $796,250 $0 $939 $259,229 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,180,340 $1,146,408 $273,811 $174,988 N $1,180,337 $0 $3 $52,708 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $1,458,353 $1,699,837 $394,844 $321,421 N $1,462,269 $0 $1,388 $109,214 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    San Diego Coastkeeper


    San Diego, CA