Protect Florida’s beaches for future generations by supporting ocean and shoreline health, beach safety, surfing history, board sports education, coastal ecology, conservation, beach enhancements, accessibility, lifeguard support, and community cleanups.
Surfing's Evolution & Preservation Foundation Inc centers its grantmaking on Florida beaches, surf culture, and the public systems that keep coastal recreation safe and accessible. A single grant to Brevard Zoo for a surfboard exhibit stands out as a large cultural investment, while other major awards support lifeguard tools, water-safety stations, beach cleanup work, and conservation projects tied to dunes, reefs, and wildlife. The foundation backs both infrastructure and public education. Its grants have supported Drown Zero life-saving stations in Brevard County, beach rescue equipment for Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association, and accessibility upgrades such as beach wheelchairs and matting. It also funds preservation work connected to surfing history and storytelling, including the Surfing’s Evolution Experience™ and a surfboard exhibit. Environmental stewardship is another recurring thread. Florida recipients have received support for shoreline conservation, reef education, coastal cleanups, and animal conservation projects such as Perdido Key beach mouse habitat work. Youth programming appears as well, including summer camp and surf programming for children and community participants. Across these awards, the foundation combines safety, preservation, access, and education in a Florida-focused giving pattern.
Beach safety and drowning prevention are a clear priority. The foundation gave $101,000 to Drown Zero International for a Drown Zero initiative, and another $100,000 to Cocoa Beach Rotary Club Inc for Drown Zero programming. Lifeguard support is also prominent. Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association received $96,893 for lifeguard flags and boards, followed by another $84,000 award for the same purpose. Environmental and shoreline work shows up through cleanup and conservation grants. Byrne Ocean Conservation Inc received $61,779 for a clean up and truck, while Keep Florida Beautiful got $62,890 for various activities. The foundation also supports youth and public education. Clearwater Marine Aquarium received $51,875 for summer camp and conservation, and Guy Harvey Foundation received $55,000 for education.
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $12,368, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. That distribution sits alongside a small number of much larger awards, including a seven-figure grant in 2024. The grant list shows repeated support to the same organizations across the year, such as Florida State Parks Foundation Inc, Keep Florida Beautiful, Byrne Ocean Conservation Inc, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Special Olympics, and Coastal Connections. That repetition points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private grantmaker led by Ronald E. Dimenna. It also accepts unsolicited requests in its general sponsorships and grants program.
$1M
$23.9M
$5M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$25K
RONALD E DIMENNA
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Giving is concentrated in Florida, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Florida listed as the top state by grant count. Recent awards reached recipients in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Tallahassee, Delray Beach, Madeira Beach, Clearwater, Clermont, Miami, St. Augustine, Satellite Beach, Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville Beach, North Bay Village, Jacksonville, and Atlantic Beach. The pattern is statewide rather than limited to one coast, though many recipients are on the Atlantic side and in central Florida.
Its funding covers beach safety and lifeguard support, shoreline and coastal conservation, reef education, beach accessibility, public education on beach ecology and safety, youth surf programming, and preservation of surfing history and culture.
Yes, through its general sponsorships and grants program. The active Drown Zero and general partner programs are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests, but the Requests & Grants program does accept them in Florida.
Typical awards are modest but vary: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $12,368, and the 75th percentile is $25,000.
Its giving is local and entirely in Florida. The recipient country distribution is 100% U.S., and the recent grant list shows Florida cities such as Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Tallahassee, Clearwater, Miami, and Jacksonville Beach.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Florida State Parks Foundation Inc, Keep Florida Beautiful, Byrne Ocean Conservation Inc, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Special Olympics, Coastal Connections, and Brevard Zoo.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Surfing's Evolution & Preservation Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Requests must come from Florida 501(c)(3) organizations. Activities must be similar to or associated with the Foundation’s mission. Requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the event or activity.
Deadline: Requests must be submitted at least 90 days before the event or activity; no fixed annual deadline is stated.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a Florida 501(c)(3) organization. Activities must be similar to or associated with the Foundation’s mission. Requests (for events/activities) must be submitted at least 90 days in advance.
Deadline: Requests for event/activity support must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the event or activity. No specific calendar deadlines listed.
Who can apply: Requests must come from Florida 501(c)(3) organizations, activities must be similar to or associated with the foundation's mission, and requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the event or activity.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the event/activity.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLORIDA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION INC | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $120,000 | 2025 | UTV/ATV |
| FLORIDA BEACH PATROL CHIEFS ASSOCIA | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $108,858 | 2025 | LIFEGUARD FLAGS/BOAR |
| DROWN ZERO INTERNATIONAL | COCOA BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | — |
| GUY HARVEY FOUNDATION | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| KEEP FLORIDA BEAUTIFUL | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $44,285 | 2025 | VARIOUS |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | CLERMONT, FL | $40,000 | 2025 | SURF PROGRAM |
| BLUE SCHOLARS INITIATIVE INC | MIAMI, FL | $35,000 | 2025 | — |
| FLORIDA SURF FILM FESTIVAL INC | NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | SURF STORIES PODCAST |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL FLORI | ORLANDO, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| BEACHES GO GREEN | JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL | $22,900 | 2025 | CLEAN UP/RACK CARD |
| CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM | CLEARWATER, FL | $22,125 | 2025 | SUMMER CAMP/CONSERV |
| BREVARD ZOO | MELBOURNE, FL | $22,000 | 2025 | SURFBOARD EXHIBIT |
| BYRNE OCEAN CONSERVATION INC | MADEIRA BEACH, FL | $21,000 | 2025 | CLEAN UP / TRUCK |
| MORAES INC | MIAMI, FL | $20,750 | 2025 | — |
| LOGGERHEAD MARINE LIFE CENTER INC | JUNO BEACH, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| KEEP PINELLAS BEAUTIFUL | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $18,000 | 2025 | WATERGOAT |
| FLORIDA BOARD RIDERS | ATLANTIC BEACH, FL | $17,000 | 2025 | BEACH RESCUE/EDUC |
| COASTAL CONNECTIONS | VERO BEACH, FL | $16,500 | 2025 | — |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE | MIAMI, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | SEA OATS PLANTING |
| BEACH BUCKET FOUNDATION | LOXAHATCHEE, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | BEACH RESCUE/EDUC |
| CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL | CAPE CANAVERAL, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | — |
| SURFEARNEGRA | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | BEACH RESCUE/EDUC |
| THE HEALTHY EARTH | ESTERO, FL | $13,000 | 2025 | — |
| WILDBLUESEA INC | JUPITER, FL | $12,000 | 2025 | BEACH CLEANUP |
| DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION | ORLANDO, FL | $12,000 | 2025 | — |
| BREVARD COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION | MELBOURNE, FL | $11,313 | 2025 | — |
| STREETWAVES CORPORATION | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $11,000 | 2025 | SURF PROGRAMS |
| MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL OF EAST FL | PALM BAY, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | CLEAN UP / CAMP |
| SOL MARGIN FISHING & CONSERVATION | STJOHNS, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | CLEAN UP |
| SPACE COAST SURFRIDERS | MELBOURNE, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | — |
| VOLUNTEER CLEANUPORG | NORTH BAY VILLAGE, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | — |
| HUBBS-SEA WORLD RESEARCH INSTITUTE | MELBOURNE BEACH, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| YMCA OF SOUTH FLORIDA | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| OCEANS OF HOPE | NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| WAVES OF IMPACT | ORMOND BEACH, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| YMCA OF TITUSVILLE | TITUSVILLE, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| THE GIFT OF SWIMMING | WINTER GARDEN, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| SISTERS OF THE SEA | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | SURF CLASSIC |
| SURFERS FOR AUTISM | JENSEN BEACH, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | — |
| MARINE DISCOVERY CENTER | NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | CLEAN UP |
| FRIENDS OF A1A | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $7,000 | 2025 | CLEAN UP |
| FRIENDS OF GUANA TOLOMATO MATANZAS | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $6,350 | 2025 | — |
| KEEP WAKULLA COUNTY BEAUTIFUL | CRAWFORDVILLE, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | — |
| COSTA THERAPY INC | MELBOURNE, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | BEACH RESCUE/EDUC |
| TASK FORCE HYDRO | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | — |
| GETABOARD FOUNDATION | OCOEE, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | READING/SKATEBOARD P |
| BREVARD ZOO | MELBOURNE, FL | $1,022,000 | 2024 | SURFBOARD EXHIBIT |
| FLORIDA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION INC | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $104,000 | 2024 | UTV/ATV |
| DROWN ZERO INTERNATIONAL | COCOA BEACH, FL | $101,000 | 2024 | — |
| COCOA BEACH ROTARY CLUB INC | COCOA BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | DROWN ZERO PROG |
FLORIDA BEACH PATROL CHIEFS ASSOCIA
$108,858LIFEGUARD FLAGS/BOAR
DROWN ZERO INTERNATIONAL
$100,000GUY HARVEY FOUNDATION
$60,000EDUCATION
KEEP FLORIDA BEAUTIFUL
$44,285VARIOUS
SURF PROGRAM
BLUE SCHOLARS INITIATIVE INC
$35,000FLORIDA SURF FILM FESTIVAL INC
$30,000SURF STORIES PODCAST
BEACHES GO GREEN
$22,900CLEAN UP/RACK CARD
CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM
$22,125SUMMER CAMP/CONSERV
BYRNE OCEAN CONSERVATION INC
$21,000CLEAN UP / TRUCK
MORAES INC
$20,750LOGGERHEAD MARINE LIFE CENTER INC
$20,000KEEP PINELLAS BEAUTIFUL
$18,000WATERGOAT
FLORIDA BOARD RIDERS
$17,000BEACH RESCUE/EDUC
COASTAL CONNECTIONS
$16,500BEACH BUCKET FOUNDATION
$15,000BEACH RESCUE/EDUC
CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL
$15,000SURFEARNEGRA
$15,000BEACH RESCUE/EDUC
THE HEALTHY EARTH
$13,000WILDBLUESEA INC
$12,000BEACH CLEANUP
DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION
$12,000BREVARD COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
$11,313STREETWAVES CORPORATION
$11,000SURF PROGRAMS
MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL OF EAST FL
$10,000CLEAN UP / CAMP
SOL MARGIN FISHING & CONSERVATION
$10,000CLEAN UP
SPACE COAST SURFRIDERS
$10,000VOLUNTEER CLEANUPORG
$10,000OCEANS OF HOPE
$8,000WAVES OF IMPACT
$8,000YMCA OF TITUSVILLE
$8,000THE GIFT OF SWIMMING
$8,000SISTERS OF THE SEA
$8,000SURF CLASSIC
SURFERS FOR AUTISM
$8,000FRIENDS OF A1A
$7,000CLEAN UP
FRIENDS OF GUANA TOLOMATO MATANZAS
$6,350KEEP WAKULLA COUNTY BEAUTIFUL
$6,000COSTA THERAPY INC
$6,000BEACH RESCUE/EDUC
TASK FORCE HYDRO
$6,000GETABOARD FOUNDATION
$6,000READING/SKATEBOARD P
DROWN ZERO INTERNATIONAL
$101,000COCOA BEACH ROTARY CLUB INC
$100,000DROWN ZERO PROG
