About
Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit based in Santa Monica, California, dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean. Founded in 1985, the organization pursues its mission through science, education, community action, and advocacy, with a geographic focus on Santa Monica Bay and the broader Los Angeles region.
Mission
Heal the Bay works to make Greater Los Angeles coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean, using science, education, community action, and advocacy as its core tools.
What they do
- Beach and coastal cleanups that mobilize volunteers across the region
- Operation of an aquarium with education and public programs
- Science camps and field trips for students
- Watershed specialist programs covering different regions of the bay
- Water quality monitoring, including the Beach Report Card
- Community engagement and volunteer coordination
- Advocacy for clean water and coastal protection
Beach Report Card
Heal the Bay's signature Beach Report Card assigns A-to-F water-quality grades to beaches based on levels of harmful bacteria, in a comprehensive county-by-county survey of pollution along the California shoreline covering more than 400 beaches statewide. The 2017-18 edition was the report's 28th annual release; that year, 95% of monitored Southern California beaches earned A grades during the summer season, and a record 37 beaches earned perfect year-round grades for the report's Honor Roll. The organization has also launched NowCast, which uses statistical models, environmental data, and past bacteria samples to predict daily beach water quality, alongside a Beach Report Card website and mobile app that deliver water-quality grades to beachgoers.
History
Heal the Bay was founded in 1985. Its founder, Dorothy Green, also served as founding president of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Watershed Council. From its origins in the fight for a healthier Santa Monica Bay, the organization has grown into a regional force for water quality science, environmental education, and policy advocacy in Greater Los Angeles.
Financials
Heal the Bay (EIN 95-4031055) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a tax-exemption ruling dating to July 1987. Per its IRS filing for fiscal year 2025, the organization reported total revenue of $5,270,383, total expenses of $5,516,045, and total assets of $6,645,875. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer classifies it under Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification.