Non-profit

San Francisco Baykeeper

Website:

baykeeper.org/

Location:

Oakland, CA

Tax ID:

68-0120240

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,570,056
Expenses: $1,680,433
Assets: $2,200,661

Type:

Environmentalist Group

Formation:

1989

Executive Director:

Sejal Choksi-Chugu

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San Francisco Baykeeper (also known as Baykeeper) is a left-of-center activist group that promotes environmentalist campaigns with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area. 1 Its primary uses investigations, activism, and litigation on environmentalist issues. 2

San Francisco Baykeeper has previously sued petroleum companies for alleged petroleum pollution in the San Francisco Bay Area with similar left-of-center groups including the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, and Heal the Bay. 3 4

History and Leadership

San Francisco Baykeeper (also known as Baykeeper) was founded in 1989. 5

Sejal Choksi-Chugu is the executive director of Baykeeper as of 2024. Choksi-Chugu joined Baykeeper after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley law school with a certificate in environmental law in 2002. She began as an Equal Justice Works fellow before becoming a program director and in-house attorney. 6 She has previously worked for, or was affiliated with, similar left of-center environmentalist groups including EnviroPros de Color, Sustainable Lafayette, Waterkeeper Alliance, California Coastkeeper Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Earthjustice. 7

Activism

San Francisco Baykeeper is a left-of-center environmentalist activist organization that promotes environmentalist activist policy campaigns surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. 1 Its primary activities have included investigations, activism, and litigation on environmentalist issues. 2

Baykeeper claims to advocate in favor of environmental justice 8 and further claims to have access to resources to patrol and investigate potential pollution within the San Francico bay area including boats, planes, kayaks, and drones. 9 The organization specifically files litigation and legal action against organizations it views as industrial polluters, 10 affiliations with the fossil fuel industry, 11 urban runoff, 12 and sewage spills. 13 14

The group has previously sued petroleum companies for alleged petroleum pollution in the San Francisco bay region. 4 It has partnered with environmentalist groups including the Sierra Club, Marie Harrison Community Foundation, and the Southern Environmental Law Center on releasing public statements including a September 2024 statement opposing the City of San Francisco’s challenge to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule on offshore pollution. 15 5

In 2022, San Francisco Baykeeper celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act. Since its founding, San Francisco Baykeeper claims to have won more than $12 million through litigation for nonprofits working on environmentalist efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of these funds has been distributed as grants through the left-of-center Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment. 16

Through the Rose Foundation, funds from San Francisco Baykeeper’s litigation have supported several environmentalist organizations including Literacy for Environmental Justice, GreenAction for Health and Environmental Justice, the Center for Race, Poverty, and the Environment, Greenbelt Alliance, Communities for a Better Environment, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Student Conservation Association, New Voices Rising, and the Watershed Project. 16

San Francisco Baykeeper has previously joined lawsuits filed by the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, and Heal the Bay to sue energy company ExxonMobil for alleged pollution. 3

Funding

San Francisco Baykeeper receives funding from individual contributions and grants. 14 In 2022, the organization reported revenue of $2,105,029 and $2,268,695 in expenses. San Francisco Baykeeper reported revenue of $2,570,056 and expenses of $1,680,433 in 2021. 17

In 2020, San Francisco Baykeeper received $80,000 from the Resources Legacy Fund. 18 The organization also received $25,000 from the Waterkeeper Alliance in 2018, 19 $190,000 from the California Community Foundation in 2016, 20and $27,000 from the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment in 2016.21 San Francisco Baykeeper also has received support from the Marin Community Foundation. 22

References

  1. “Advocate For The Bay.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/advocate-for-the-bay/.
  2. “Baykeeper Defends San Francisco Bay and Its Watershed From the Biggest Threats.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/our-mission/.
  3. “California Nonprofits.” Center for Climate Integrity. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://climateintegrity.org/lawsuits/case/california-nonprofits.
  4. Mills, Taylor. “Valero, Amports Settle Over Petroleum Pollution in San Francisco.” Bloomberg Law. October 6, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/valero-amports-settle-over-petroleum-pollution-in-san-francisco.
  5. “Our Work.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/our-work/#:~:text=a%20Bay%20Defender-,1989,he%20started%20Baykeeper%20in%201989.
  6. “Our Staff.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/our-staff/.
  7. “Experience.” Sejal Shoksi-Chugh LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sejal-choksi-chugh-189a0679/details/experience/.
  8. “San Francisco Baykeeper.” RAY Fellowship Program. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://rayfellowship.org/users/san-francisco-baykeeper.
  9. “Home.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/.
  10. “Industrial Polluters.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/industrial-polluters/.
  11. “Fossil Fuel Pollution.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/fossil-fuel-pollution/.
  12. “Urban Runoff.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/urban-runoff/.
  13. “Sewage Spills.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/sewage-spills/.
  14. “Defend SF Bay.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/donate/.
  15. “Community Decries Dangerous Lawsuit Threatening Clean Water in San Francisco and Across the U.S.” Sierra Club. September 25, 2024. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/clean-water-act-50-making-lives-better/. https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2024/09/community-decries-dangerous-lawsuit-threatening-clean-water-san-francisco.
  16. “Clean Water Act At 50: Making Lives Better.” San Francisco Baykeeper. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://baykeeper.org/clean-water-act-50-making-lives-better/.
  17. “Baykeeper.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/680120240/202401079349300100/full.
  18. “Resources Legacy Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954703838/202132939349300248/full.
  19. “Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134071318/202011859349300036/full.
  20. “California Community Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2016. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953510055/201801169349301450/IRS990Schedule I.
  21. “Rose Foundation For Communities and the Environment.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2016. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943179772/201733199349305493/full.
  22. “Marin Community Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2013. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943007979/201521359349309652/full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1987

  • 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 Jun Form 990 $2,570,056 $1,680,433 $2,200,661 $457,845 N $2,344,401 $212,900 $6,676 $270,238 PDF
    2021 Jun Form 990 $1,495,238 $1,475,817 $1,747,654 $645,382 N $1,245,090 $239,610 $7,035 $251,716 PDF
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,487,284 $1,502,839 $1,618,708 $601,582 N $1,213,216 $181,260 $7,920 $224,675
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,523,594 $1,593,584 $1,646,395 $546,251 N $1,231,045 $282,506 $10,043 $218,135 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,682,747 $1,675,265 $1,586,973 $422,583 N $809,414 $866,039 $5,044 $209,332 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,638,739 $1,512,332 $1,424,142 $278,940 N $963,689 $649,671 $3,627 $205,901 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,397,733 $1,088,701 $1,221,495 $202,700 N $714,444 $683,808 $3,378 $190,000 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $2,187,584 $2,192,269 $946,864 $237,101 N $631,933 $1,551,913 $3,504 $226,425 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,142,818 $1,254,347 $933,614 $162,350 N $741,435 $392,921 $5,520 $237,440 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $743,089 $1,015,353 $1,011,221 $162,777 N $577,007 $157,266 $6,625 $92,019 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,972,791 $2,089,888 $1,176,549 $475,524 N $532,814 $1,431,106 $6,471 $96,606 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,041,930 $1,167,834 $1,495,139 $674,819 N $480,298 $527,644 $5,888 $92,440 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    San Francisco Baykeeper

    1736 Franklin Street, No. 800
    Oakland, CA