Our Purpose & Principles
Advancing scientific understanding and responsible stewardship of oceans, coasts, and watersheds to ensure a sustainable future.
For three decades, CMSF has championed science-based solutions to protect ecosystems and strengthen community resilience, from coastal mountains to the sea. Today, we stand at an inflection point: as climate change accelerates, population pressures grow, and ecosystems strain under historic droughts, extreme precipitation and changing ocean conditions, our work is more urgent—and our impact more critical—than ever.
Guiding Principles
Science at the Core
Every project we undertake—from water‐quality testing in creeks that feed Monterey Bay to tracking whales in the Santa Barbara Channel—is grounded in rigorous fieldwork, cutting-edge monitoring tools, and close collaboration with leading research institutions.
Catalyzing Partnerships
Beyond our own staff of 29, CMSF has served as a close foundational partner to staff from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, a number of state and federal agencies, along with a fiscal sponsor to more than 30 aligned projects and programs—leveraging our 501(c)(3) status to amplify impact, streamline fundraising, and keep administrative costs among the lowest in our sector.
Integrated Conservation
We leverage expertise across four interlocking program areas (Marine Conservation, Water Quality, Coastal Restoration, and Climate Resilience) so that solving one challenge—like reducing agricultural runoff—yields benefits across entire coastal and ocean ecosystems.
Leveraging Funds
For every $1 invested in our programs from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we obtain $7 in additional funding to amplify our collective conservation goals.
Community
Coastal stewardship begins with people. We work hand-in-hand with coastal communities, government agencies, Tribal communities, universities, research institutions, and social scientists, to ensure that solutions are equitable, culturally informed, and locally driven.