Leadership

Local leadership, in the water

The program is run by Nicaraguan surfers the community already knows.

The Team

Who runs the club

Benjamin Kaye

Founder

Benjamin is a San Francisco high school student and avid surfer with personal connections to Nicaragua's coastal communities. He started Surf Club Nicaragua after seeing young people his own age watching visiting surfers enjoy waves they could not access themselves. He believes young people growing up near Nicaragua's waves deserve access to the same experiences and an opportunity to build skills connected to their local economy. Benjamin created the original concept and remains the youth founder and public voice of the project.

Loren Pogir

US Program Director

Loren is Benjamin's mother and legal guardian. Because Benjamin is 16, she will serve as the adult project lead and primary contact for fiscal sponsorship, contracts, financial oversight, risk management, and legal compliance. Loren is a social impact consultant and founder of Transforming Care Partners, with experience in nonprofit strategy, program design, fundraising, operations, and organizational growth.

Matteo Blevins

Local Program Director

Matteo is a former head coach of Nicaragua's national surf team, a surf lodge owner, and an experienced local surf guide. He has deep relationships with surfers, families, businesses, and community leaders across Nicaragua's coastal communities. As Local Program Director, Matteo will oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, equipment management, community relationships, local partnerships, and coordination with the United States-based team.

Kevin Cortez

Surf Instructor and Mentor

Kevin is a professional Nicaraguan surfer who lives in Gigante. Young people in the community know and respect him. Kevin will lead surf instruction, support water-safety activities, mentor participants, and help young people develop confidence in the ocean.

Jackson Obando

Surf Instructor and Mentor

Jackson is a local surfer and role model for young people in Gigante. Jackson will help recruit and welcome participants, lead surf instruction, support equipment management, and mentor the first group of Surf Club members.

Structure & Accountability

How the program is organized

Surf Club Nicaragua plans to operate as a sponsored project of a United States 501(c)(3) organization. The fiscal sponsor will contract with qualified Nicaragua-based individuals or organizations to operate the program locally.

A Nicaragua-based team will manage daily operations, instruction, staffing, family relationships, equipment, and local partnerships. A United States-based team will lead fundraising, planning, communications, financial review, and coordination with the fiscal sponsor.

Partner Recognition

How we recognize partners

Recognition will be developed in coordination with the fiscal sponsor and local program leaders. Partners may receive recognition on the Surf Club Nicaragua website and program materials, appropriate logo placement at the club or on shared equipment, updates on participation and outcomes, participant stories and photographs shared with proper consent, opportunities to learn directly from local leaders, and appropriate site visits coordinated with local leaders and the fiscal sponsor.

Recognition practices will protect participant privacy and keep the program focused on young people and their communities.