Donate To Think Waves Ocean Safety
Save Lives This Summer 2026
The Smart Surfers Way
Rips Out, Waves In
Surfers making waves in ocean safety.
Removing panic, fear, and misinformation associated with rip currents — and replacing it with accurate, proven information Thinkwaves.org 501(c)3 ein#61-1961189.
Help Us Teach 10,000 People
How to Survive Rip Currents This Summer
Rip currents are the leading cause of ocean rescues — yet most people don’t know how to spot them, avoid them, or escape them. This summer, Think Waves Lifesaving Organization is launching our largest education effort ever.
With your support, we can reach 10,000 beachgoers, students, and families with proven techniques "The Surfers Way" to stay calm, stay safe, and survive. Every donation helps us get our message out and save lives.
Your Tax-Deductible Gift
Donate $19 or more per month and get your Think Waves The Surfers Way T-Shirt
More Ways to Give
Call 1-888-880-SURF(7873)
Text THINKWAVES to 53-555
Think Waves is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
The Ripple Effect of Your Generosity
Your $20 Gift: Sparks the Conversation That Saves a Life
Every year, rip currents claim over 100 lives in the U.S. alone — and almost all of those deaths are preventable with one piece of knowledge. Your $20 puts the Surfers Way directly in front of the people who need it most.
What $20 powers:
Digital outreach reaching dozens of beachgoers with life-saving rip current education
Social content that replaces fear and panic with calm, proven technique
A share of the tools and infrastructure that keep ThinkWaves.org running 24/7 as a free resource for swimmers, surfers, and families everywhere
$20 is a few gallons of gas to get to the beach. It’s also the cost of teaching someone how to come back from it safely.
Your $50 Gift: Trains a Community
Fifty dollars moves ThinkWaves from a webpage to a real-world presence. It helps fund the outreach that brings the Surfers Way off the screen and into the hands of real swimmers.
What $50 powers:
Printed safety materials distributed at beaches, surf schools, or community events
A meaningful share of our collaboration with USLA and NOAA to push ocean safety standards further
Educational campaigns that reach families, kids, and first-time beach visitors who are statistically most at risk
Rip currents don’t discriminate. Your $50 makes sure our education doesn’t either.
Your $100 Gift: Puts a Lifesaver in the Water
A $100 contribution is where ThinkWaves.org starts to scale. This level funds the kind of targeted, sustained outreach that changes behavior — not just awareness.
What $100 powers:
Digital ad campaigns that deliver the Surfers Way message to beachgoers actively searching for ocean safety information
Workshop and event support, bringing certified instruction directly to coastal communities
Ongoing website and content infrastructure so our free education remains accessible to anyone, anywhere, for free
A lifeguard can save one person at a time. Your $100 helps ThinkWaves reach thousands.
Your $1,000 Gift: Changes the Standard
At $1,000, you’re not just supporting ThinkWaves — you’re helping rewrite how the world thinks about rip currents. This is the level that funds campaigns, builds partnerships, and puts the Surfers Way in front of the millions of people who swim in the ocean every year without knowing what to do when the water pulls them out.
What $1,000 powers:
A full digital outreach campaign, including Google Ad Grants-amplified messaging reaching tens of thousands of at-risk swimmers
Development of new educational resources in partnership with USLA and NOAA
Community events, surf safety clinics, and direct instruction from world-class big wave surfers who have lived the Surfers Way their entire careers
The operational backbone — legal compliance, communications, and program development — that keeps ThinkWaves.org growing and effective
Rip currents are the leading cause of lifeguard rescues in the U.S. Your $1,000 gift is a serious investment in making that number go down.
DONATE MONTHLY TO SUPPORT OCEAN SAFETY EDUCATION AND RECEIVE A THINK WAVES THE SURFERS WAY T-SHIRT
It works…..rip out waves in……Saved my life several years ago in Nicaragua….. I mean taken in an offshore rip way out to sea from Land/Nicaragua…
Only to use the Willis Brothers Rip current method to be with everyone today.
Think Waves Founders
ThinkWaves.org was co-founded by twin brothers Milton Willis and Michael Willis — experienced big wave surfers and officially recognized lifesavers. After learning about multiple drownings at beaches — including lifeguarded beaches — the brothers launched an ocean safety campaign to teach others how surfers mentally and physically approach rip currents.
Think Waves Lifesaving Organization works tirelessly on beach safety to reduce rip current risks and prevent drowning. We do this with the generous support of people like yourself.
Both Milton and Michael are notable big wave riders who were part of the legendary group that surfed “Biggest Wednesday,” widely recognized for surfing some of the largest waves ever attempted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ThinkWaves.org use my donation?
Digital Education Initiatives
We create and distribute free online resources — videos, guides, and safety content — that reach people far beyond our local San Diego community, spreading ocean safety awareness at scale.
Community Programs & Events
Your gift helps us organize and run hands-on workshops, events, and community outreach programs led by experienced surfers and water safety educators.
ThinkWaves.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 61-1961189), so your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. 100% of online donations support our programs.
How can I manage my Monthly Donation?
You can manage your monthly donation at any time through your GiveButter Donor Portal. When you set up a recurring gift on our ThinkWaves campaign, GiveButter automatically sends a confirmation email that includes a secure link to your personal portal. From there, you can:
Update your payment method
Change your monthly donation amount
Pause or resume your recurring donation
Cancel your monthly donation
If you no longer have the original email, you can request a new Donor Portal link anytime by entering the same email address you used when donating. GiveButter will instantly send you a fresh access link.
Your ongoing support helps fuel ThinkWaves’ mission, and managing your recurring gift is always simple, secure, and fully in your control.
How do I make a donation in someone's name?
You can dedicate your donation to someone directly through our GiveButter donation form. When you make a gift, simply look for the “Give in honor/memory” option. Once selected, you’ll be able to:
- Add the honoree’s name
- Choose whether the donation is in honor or in memory
- Include a personal message
- Send a notification to the honoree or their family (optional)
All dedication details will appear in our records, and the honoree will receive your message if you choose to send one.
Can my donation be matched by my employer?
Yes — many employers offer matching gift programs, and donations made through our ThinkWaves GiveButter campaign can often be matched. After you complete your donation, you can check with your employer’s HR or benefits department to see if they participate in charitable matching.
If your employer uses a matching platform (such as Benevity, CyberGrants, or YourCause), you can submit your donation receipt from GiveButter, and they will process the match directly with us.
If your employer requires additional information to complete the match, you can contact us anytime and we’ll provide whatever documentation they need.
Are Donations to ThinkWaves.org tax-deductible?
ThinkWaves.org is a tax-exempt organization, as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. ThinkWaves is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170. Therefore your gift to ThinkWaves is a tax-deductible donation to the full extent provided by law.
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