Programs and results
What we aim to solve
AMPSURF (Assoc. of Amputee Surfers) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to rehabilitating people with disabilities, especially our veteran heroes, through Adaptive Surf Therapy. Founded 18+ years ago, AMPSURF works with people with all kinds of disabilities, including those who are Amputees, blind, suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, autism and spinal cord injuries. AMPSURF’S unique surfing program utilizes the healing power of the ocean for an experience that is physically, mentally and spiritually healing.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Learn to Surf Program
Teaching people living with disabilities how to use adaptive surfing therapy to rehabilitate and heal through both physical and mental health related injuries and conditions.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Learn to Surf Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These are unique participants served over the course of each year. Some participants participate in multiple clinics
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Learn to Surf Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These are unique volunteers that help at our clinics, contest and special activities. Many will help at multiple events each year and include our instructors, water assists, beach helpers, etc.….
Number of Disabled Veterans served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Learn to Surf Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These are unique veterans served in each of these years. Many of theses veterans participated in Multiple events. for example we had 696 veterans at events in 2019.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is simple, we want to help our disabled veterans, adults and children focus on their abilities not their disabilities. To do this we strive to Promote, Inspire, Educate, and Rehabilitate (PIER™) by providing a quality program and the opportunity for the participants and volunteers to come together and feel the joy and healing of the ocean via Adaptive Surf Therapy. AmpSurf™ has provided our Learn to Surf Clinics to hundreds of our disabled veterans, adults and children who probably never would have had this experience if it hadn’t been for our program.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Surf instruction is provided by Certified Instructor staff who have completed the AMPSURF Adaptive Surf Instructor Certification Program and are AED, CPR/First-Aid certified as well. Instruction is done on a one-to-one basis. We work to meet the needs and abilities of each and every participant. We use soft and tradition surfboards. Most participants will learn to ride solo, while others will ride tandem with their instructor. Life vests and helmets are provided and maybe required, depending on ability. During multi-day events other activities are available like Kayaking, outrigger canoeing, sailing, golf and other outdoor activities. All clinics are free for the disabled (a small refundable deposit is required to reserve a spot) and we work hard to sponsor the lodging and travel for our disabled veterans, Firefighters, police and active duty military participants.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are able to meet are goals of sharing the healing power of the ocean via Adaptive Surf Therapy with those living with disabilities by having 4 chapters across the country in; California, New York, Oregon and New England. Each chapter runs single day and multi-day Learn to Surf clinics and serve people from all over the country and some participants come from over-seas as well.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For 18+ years AmpSurf™ has been providing our Learn to Surf clinics to serve those who need us. We have served hundreds of our disabled veterans as well as disabled adults and children who probably never would have had this experience if it hadn’t been for our program. We have had 5 participants go on to be Paralympic athletes in other sports as well.
Below is a list of some of the things we have
accomplished over the years:
2003-Present - AmpSurf California holds Adaptive Surf Clinics
each year in various locations.
2003-Present - Operation Restoration: a 4 day event held in
Pismo Beach CA, providing 3+ days surfing, kayaking,
SUP, fishing, golfing and other events with local community and
Veterans groups.
2008-2011, 2019 - National Disabled Veterans Summer Sports
Clinic, San Diego, CA: AmpSurf provided surf
instruction to 80-150 disabled Veterans per year, and their
family.
2013-Present - San Luis Obispo County Veterans Outreach, Annual Learn to Surf Clinic for local Veterans and
families. Serving 20 Veterans per year
2013 – Present - AmpSurf launches VetSurf, a weekly
program running 42 weeks a year serving 3+ veterans a
session. These sessions are not “surf clinics”, rather an
organized group of local Veterans who surf, and want to
share their love of surfing with other Veterans. AmpSurf
provides all equipment and supplies.
2010 – Present - Rockaway Warriors Weekend, Breezy
Point, New York. 4 day Adaptive Water Sports Clinic for
disabled Veterans providing them with the opportunity to
achieve success in sports, providing the foundation for an active lifestyle. AmpSurf provides adaptive surf
instruction, stand up paddle boarding and Kayaking to 50+ Veterans and family members each year. We are
the only organization to provide ongoing services for this event since the program’s inception.
2011-Present - AmpSurf New England holds 12 Adaptive Surf Clinics each year in various states including
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.
2016 – Present: AmpSurf New York holds 4 Adaptive Learn to Surf Clinics each year in Rockaway NY and 1
clinic in Breezy Point, NY is for Disabled Veterans and family members only. AmpSurf provides Surfing,
Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddle Boarding at this event.
2018 - AmpSurf was invited to be a member of the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO), whose
mission is to promote understanding, share best practices and advocate excellence in surf therapy. I
2019 – AmpSurf held its first Adaptive Surf Therapy, Learn
to Surf Clinic in Oregon and begins the planning phases of
launching its Pacific North West Chapter in the summer of
2020. AmpSurf was also able to sponsor 10 Disabled
Veterans as they competed in contest around the world and
exemplified the benefits adaptive surf therapy, and highest
level of competitive skill in the sport.
2020 – AmpSurf is the title sponsor/partner for the 2020
AmpSurf ISA Para Surfing Championships a
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Association of Amputee Surfers
Board of directorsas of 3/31/2020
Dana Cummings
Brian Kellar
Retired Teacher
Randi Woodrow
VA Physical Therapist
Justin Speegle
Retired Marine
Pam Forister
Retired Book Keeper
Jim Stitt
Retired Army
Steve Carbonier
Data Analyst
Dana Cummings
Disabled Veteran
Board leadership practices
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes