Since 1995, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) has worked to protect California's coastal ecosystems while strengthening coastal resilience in the face of population growth, urban and industrial uses, climate change, and resource extraction. Working together with local communities, government agencies, tribal communities, harbors and marinas, and NGOs, we identify and then implement practical and effective solutions to lessen human impacts and increase stewardship of our state's coastal resources. CMSF serves a unique and important niche in California's conservation community by fostering strong public-private partnerships that result in greater impact than going it alone. CMSF consistently enlists a strategic approach connecting key players with real solutions. Our core focus is on improving coastal resilience by using an interdisciplinary approach. Core areas of focus include: water quality protection, marine resource protection, science communications and outreach, interpretation and community science, and climate change mitigation.