California Central Coast Nature Nonprofits

Between the sprawl of the south and the fog forests of the north lies a stretch of California that keeps its own counsel. Here the Transverse Ranges break the state’s north-south grain and run east to west instead, cradling valleys that open to the sea and catching the marine air that keeps the oaks green. Santa Barbara sits with its back to the mountains and its face to the channel, and offshore the Channel Islands hold an evolutionary world all their own.

The organizations along this coast protect the Santa Clara and Ventura rivers, restore the dunes and estuaries where fresh water meets the Pacific, and defend the oak savanna and chaparral of the coastal ranges. This is a bioregion that has quietly avoided becoming Los Angeles, and the people here mean to keep it that way.

Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion

97 organizations working across this landscape.

Apples to Zucchini Cooking School

Santa Barbara, CA

Cooking School focused on seasonal and local ingredients, teaching where our food comes from.

Education AdvocacyOutdoor Recreation Access

Blue Sky Center

New Cuyama, CA

No matter where you live in America, you should have the opportunity to thrive. At Blue Sky, we are providing access to opportunity in our rural communities by: c...

Climate EnergySustainable Food Agriculture

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN)

Santa Barbara, CA
Water Rivers

CAUSE

Ventura, CA

JOINT MARKET PROGRAMS BETWEEN CONTRACTORS AND UNION MEMBERS

Climate Energy

Center for Regenerative Agriculture

Ojai, CA

Center for Regenerative Agriculture is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate adaptation. Based in Ojai, CA, United States of America, ...

Climate Energy

Channel Islands Bicycle Club

Ventura, CA

Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike)

Climate Energy

Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute (CIMWI)

Santa Barbara, CA
Wildlife Biodiversity

Channel Islands Park Foundation

Ventura, CA

Channel Islands Park Foundation is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with wildlife / biodiversity. Based in Ventura, CA, United States of Ameri...

Wildlife BiodiversityParks Trails Outdoor Access

Channel Islands Restoration

Carpinteria, CA

We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to restore habitat on the Channel Islands and adjacent mainland.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Citizens Planning Foundation

Santa Barbara, CA

Citizens Planning Foundation is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with terrestrial ecosystems. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, United States of Ame...

Land Conservation

Clean International

Ventura, CA

CLEAN International protects and provides clean water through sustainable, community-driven projects worldwide.

Water RiversClimate Energy

CLIMATE FIRST: REPLACING OIL & GAS

Ventura, CA

All human beings deserve a world with clean air, land, and water. We work to ensure that in our little corner of the world, Ventura County, California.

Climate EnergyWaste Circular Economy

Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST)

Santa Barbara, CA
Climate Energy

Community Environmental Council

Santa Barbara, CA

For more than 50 years, the Community Environmental Council has advanced rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis on California's Central Coast.

Climate EnergyOther

Embers Foundation

Ventura, CA

The Embers Foundation builds wild resilience in first responders, communities, and surrounding habitats.

Land ConservationClimate Energy

Empowerment Works!

Santa Barbara, CA

Inspired by indigenous wisdom since 2001, Empowerment WORKS (EW) is a social change organization uniting local action with global movements for a socially just and e...

Climate Energy

Environmental Defense Center

Santa Barbara, CA

  The Environmental Defense Center was established as a response to the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill and has consistently served our central coast communities as t...

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Explore Ecology

Santa Barbara, CA

Educating and empowering the next generation of environmental stewards.

Marine OceansSustainable Food Agriculture

Fish Reef Project

Santa Barbara, CA

At the Fish Reef Project, our mission is to restore marine ecosystems and uplift coastal communities worldwide. Through innovative solutions such as biogenic Sea Cav...

Marine OceansSustainable Food Agriculture

Foodbank of Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara, CA

The Foodbank is Santa Barbara County's nutritional safety net, building food and health equity and community resilience.

Sustainable Food AgricultureOther

Food for Thought Ojai

Ojai, CA

FOOD FOR THOUGHT was organized to improve the nutritional status and food awareness of children in the Ojai Unified School Distict. With the help of staff, board vol...

Sustainable Food Agriculture

Friends of California Condors Wild & Free

Ventura, CA

Friends of California Condors mission is to enhance public awareness of the endangered California Condor & ensure they are protected, healthy, and free.

Wildlife Biodiversity

Friends of the Island Fox

Camarillo, CA

We strive to create public awareness about the rare island fox and the California Channel Islands and support efforts to ensure the fox's continued survival.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Fund for Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

PROVIDE CASH GRANTS AND FREE CONSULTING TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

Climate Energy

Gaviota Coast Conservancy

Goleta, CA

GCC is an environmental conservation organization protecting natural and cultural resources as well as provide public access to the Gaviota Coast

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary

Santa Ynez, CA

to provide a safe haven for all livestock whether from abuse, neglect or injured farm animals

Sustainable Food Agriculture

Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute

Santa Barbara, CA
Climate Energy

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center

Guadalupe, CA

Promoting the conservation of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes ecosystem through education, research and the support of cooperative stewardship.

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Heal The Ocean

Santa Barbara, CA

Heal the Ocean focuses on reducing ocean pollution and providing science-based solutions to improve the health of our ocean and resilience of our coasts to benefit p...

Marine OceansClimate Energy

Home Planet Fund

Ventura, CA

Underfunded people, places, solutions: we fund Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, in frontline communities, to rehabilitate and preserve lands and waters

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society

Santa Barbara, CA
Water Rivers

Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation

Goleta, CA

TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND ART AND MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Climate Energy

Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara, CA

The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County conserves natural resources, agricultural land and open spaces for the benefit of present and future generations.

Land ConservationLand Resources

Leap Lab

Santa Paula, CA

To Inspire Action Toward Local Resilience Through a Love of Nature and Science

Climate EnergyEducation Advocacy

Los Padres Forest Association

Goleta, CA

Caring for the Los Padres Forest and its users

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Los Padres ForestWatch

Santa Barbara, CA

Protecting public lands and wildlife along California's central coast

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Meiners Oaks Parks

Ojai, CA

Meiners Oaks Botanical Park, a nature-focused park on two acres, encourages young and young at heart to engage with nature; explore, play, imagine, and create.

Wildlife BiodiversityOutdoor Recreation Access

MERITO (Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans) Foundation

Ventura, CA

Ocean protection through enhancing ocean and climate science literacy among multicultural communities while supporting conservation and citizen science in order to ...

Water RiversClimate Energy

MESA

Ojai, CA

Mesa cultivates possibility for young adults facing homelessness.

Sustainable Food AgricultureEnvironmental Justice

MiniNature Reserve

Oxnard, CA

We hold free workshops for the community to learn how to propagate native plants. The plants they help grow are then used in MiniNature Reserves across Ventura

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

More Than Conquerors, Inc.

Ventura, CA

MTCSurf hosts surf therapy events for foster youth, adoptive and kinship families, and trafficked youth ages 2 – 25 in San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura CA.

Marine OceansEducation Advocacy

MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

Santa Barbara, CA

As Santa Barbara’s newest hands-on destination for families and curious minds of all ages, MOXI is a place where you can explore and discover new things about the w...

Education AdvocacyOther

Naples Coalition

Goleta, CA

Naples Coalition is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with terrestrial ecosystems. Based in Goleta, CA, United States of America, it is include...

Land Conservation

NatureTrack Foundation

Buellton, CA

NatureTrack provides free, inclusive outdoor experiences, ensuring everyone, including wheelchair users, can access, explore, and connect with nature.

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Ojai Community Farmers' Market

Ojai, CA

To provide access to healthy food, cultivate community and promote education.  

Sustainable Food Agriculture

Ojai Raptor Center

Oak View, CA

The Ojai Raptor Center is a state and federally-permitted, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the care and protection of wildlife through the rehabilitat...

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

Ojai Valley Defense Fund

Ojai, CA

Ojai Valley Defense Fund is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with toxics & pollution. Based in Ojai, CA, United States of America, it is inclu...

Waste Circular Economy

Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council

Ojai, CA

Dedicated to wildfire safety and building resilient, fire-adapted communities and ecosystems.

Land ConservationClimate Energy

Ojai Valley Green Coalition

Ojai, CA

 We aim to serve as a local resource for raising awareness while encouraging and empowering stewardship among our community members, and for building and maintainin...

Land ConservationClimate Energy

Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

Ojai, CA

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is a community based nonprofit that protects and restores the open

Land ConservationLand Resources

Once Upon a Wetland...

Ojai, CA
Climate Energy

Organic Soup Kitchen

Santa Barbara, CA

Organic Soup Kitchen provides clean nutrition, food security and bridges the gap for those who are most impacted by medical and financial inequities.

Sustainable Food AgricultureOther

Paso Pacifico

Ventura, CA

By working with local communities, landowners, and partner organizations in Central America, we restore and protect biodiversity where people already live.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Planet Protectors

Santa Barbara, CA

Planet Protectors is organized to reduce the quantity of refuse going into landfills and ultimately into the environment through reuse, recycling and reduction of us...

Land ConservationOther

Poco Farm

Ojai, CA

Our mission is to create a culture of ecological inquiry that reconnects all humans to the wholeness of life on our planet, our community, and ourselves.

Sustainable Food AgricultureEducation Advocacy

Runners for Public Lands

Ventura, CA

Runners for Public Lands was founded to give runners a seat at the national outdoor advocacy table. We build inclusive running communities dedicated to protecting t...

Land ConservationOutdoor Recreation Access

Sage Trail Alliance

Santa Barbara, CA

Our mission is to create and maintain sustainable trails, advocate for equitable access to outdoor recreation, and protect natural environments, in collaboration wit...

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Santa Barbara Audubon Society, Inc.

Santa Barbara, CA

We work to protect birds and biodiversity, conserve and improve bird habitat and natural ecosystems, and connect people with birds.

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition

Santa Barbara, CA

THE MISSION OF THE SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION IS TO PROMOTE WALKING, BICYCLING AND PUBLIC TRANSIT COUNTY-WIDE TO CREATE HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE COMMU...

Climate Energy

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc.

Santa Barbara, CA

TO CONSERVE NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET.

Climate Energy