Sponsored Beach Cleanups
Learn about our private and other sponsored beach cleanups in San Diego County
Support clean water and healthy beaches.
Beach cleanups help protect our coastlines, waves, and beaches while promoting employees' healthy lifestyles and establishing your company as a good corporate community member.
Beach cleanups encourage employees to be engaged in their community, strengthen employee team building and morale, and encourage brand loyalty.
By holding a private Surfrider beach cleanup, your group:
- Helps protect our ocean, waves, and beaches through both the action of cleaning up and financial support for our chapter's mission to protect San Diego's 72 miles of coastline
- Demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship through a corporate social responsibility activity
- Encourages employee engagement in the community and strengthens team building and morale
- Directly supports educational resources and opportunities for students, NGOs, and community members to learn about the impact of plastic pollution, marine conservation, and sustainable practices
Types of sponsored beach cleanups.
Beach Cleanup in a Box
The beach cleanup in a box is an excellent option for a small group of go-getters! We supply the cleanup gear, and you manage your cleanup.
A beach cleanup in a box requires that you pick up/drop off your team's beach cleanup supplies from our office in Hillcrest (92103). You manage the cleanup with the help of written instructions and a quick 15 minute orientation with our Beach Cleanup Coordinator.
A beach cleanup in a box requires that you pick up/drop off your team's beach cleanup supplies from our office in Hillcrest (92103). You manage the cleanup with the help of written instructions and a quick 15 minute orientation with our Beach Cleanup Coordinator.
We require a minimum of 2 weeks' notice after confirming a date and location for event approval and confirmation. One box supplies a maximum of 25 people. This option is best for groups of 25 and under.
Surfrider San Diego Provides:
- Trash Grabbers and a utility tote filled with reusable bags, reusable gloves, data cards, a scale, and extra large trash bags for consolidating, weighing and disposing of your team's collected trash.
Donation: $500 per beach cleanup box, per date. Additional $75 for weekend dates.
Private Beach Cleanup
A private beach cleanup provides the planning ease of our public beach cleanups in a private group setting for your team only. Once your team and ours have coordinated a date and location for your private beach cleanup, all you need to do is attend and enjoy.
A Surfrider San Diego staff member will meet you at your predetermined location with all of the gear you'll need—ready to go for your team.
Surfrider San Diego Provides:
- Surfrider San Diego staff to lead cleanup, all cleanup supplies, event permitting, event insurance, 2-hour beach cleanup, online registration, and post-event waste management and cleanup report.
- $1,500 – 0 to 25 people
- $2,000 – 26 to 50 people
- $2,500 – 51 to 75 people
- $3,000 – 76 to 100 people*
- An additional $500 fee will be added to beach cleanups requested for Saturdays, key environmental dates, and the months of April, July, and August.
*Groups larger than 100 may be accommodated for an extra fee, please inquire with the Beach Cleanup Coordinator if your request exceeds 100 participants.
Beach cleanups require advanced permitting. A minimum of 30 days after confirming a date and location is necessary to secure a permit. Cities have the ability to decline a permit for any reason.
Sponsored Public Beach Cleanup
Surfrider San Diego also allows the sponsorship of our regularly scheduled public beach cleanups.
- 1st Saturday of each month in Ocean Beach and Oceanside
- 3rd Saturday of each month in Imperial Beach and Encinitas
- 4th Saturday of each month in Tamarack State Beach (Summer months at South Ponto)
- 4th Saturday of each month in Pacific Beach or Downtown
Any partnerships made with the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation are specific only to our chapter, not Surfrider Foundation's national presence.
Donation: $3,500. An additional $500 fee will be added to key environmental dates and the months of July to August. We require a 45-60 day lead time depending on the date and location.
For any questions regarding a beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation San Diego County, please email beachcleanups@sandiego.surfrider.org.
What is a sponsored beach cleanup?
Sponsored beach cleanups are private beach cleanups, beach cleanups in a box, and public-facing sponsored cleanups. More information on each of these can be found above.
Are sponsored beach cleanups tax deductible?
Sponsorships for a private beach cleanups, beach cleanups in a box, and a public-facing sponsored cleanups are tax deductible.
Can we bring coffee, water or food to our sponsored beach cleanup?
All Surfrider San Diego cleanups are waste free events. As such we ask that each participant bring their own water in a reusable bottle. A sponsor is allowed to provide food, coffee and water refill stations for their members, as long as the sponsor follows Surfrider San Diego’s plastic-free guidelines for the duration of the cleanup (no single-use plastic or EPS foam packaging, cutlery, bags, bottles, etc.)
Can members of my team bring their children to our sponsored beach cleanup?
Yes, volunteers under the age of 18 are welcome to any Surfrider cleanup, including private cleanups and beach cleanups in a box, provided that a parent/guardian consent to the required waiver. Any participants under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult for the duration of the cleanup.
How do we process a donation for a sponsored beach cleanup?
Once the sponsored cleanup has been approved (permitting and event insurance approval) and confirmed, Surfrider San Diego will provide sponsors with an invoice with instructions on how to process the donation. Donations can be made via ACH transfer, check, or credit card (2.9% processing fee).
Can media attend and cover public beach cleanups?
Yes, media are welcome to attend and cover our public beach cleanups. We encourage coverage to help raise awareness about environmental issues and promote community involvement. However, we request that all media outlets coordinate with our communications team in advance to ensure smooth and respectful coverage.
Are media allowed at private or invitation-only beach cleanups?
Media access to private or invitation-only cleanups is limited and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. These events may involve sensitive partnerships or specific privacy concerns. Media representatives must seek approval from the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County's Chapter Manager before attending.
How do I get approval for media coverage at a beach cleanup?
To request approval, please contact info@surfridersd.org at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Include details about your media outlet, the intended coverage, and any specific interview or filming requests. We will review your request and provide further instructions or guidelines as needed.
What are the guidelines for interviewing participants at beach cleanups?
Media are encouraged to interview participants, but it’s important to respect their privacy. Please ask for consent before conducting interviews or filming individuals. If the participant is a minor, consent must be obtained from a parent or guardian. Surfrider Foundation San Diego County reserves the right to decline or limit interviews to protect the well-being and comfort of our volunteers.
Can Surfrider Foundation San Diego County provide spokespersons or experts for interviews?
Yes, we can arrange for a spokesperson or environmental expert to speak with your media outlet. Please request this in advance when seeking approval for coverage. Our team will coordinate to ensure you have the appropriate contact available for your story.
How should media credit Surfrider Foundation San Diego County in their coverage?
We ask that all media outlets include a credit to Surfrider Foundation San Diego County in their coverage. Please mention our name and, where appropriate, include a link to our website or social media channels. This helps spread the word about our mission and encourages further community engagement.
What should I do if I have additional questions or need further clarification?
For any further questions or specific requests, please reach out to our communications team at info@surfridersd.org. We are here to help ensure that your coverage is accurate, respectful, and supportive of our environmental goals.
When posting or publishing content from the cleanup, please credit Surfrider Foundation San Diego County and tag our official social media accounts where applicable.
Important: Use of any Surfrider logo requires prior approval. Logo requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance to info@surfridersd.org. No use of any Surfrider logo is allowed without written approval.