Billion Oyster Project
Billion Oyster Project reported $12.9 million in revenue and $8.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.49 went to program services, $7.94 to management and general costs and $13.57 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.7% of the total. Government grants made up 6.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $241,464 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 199% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.9MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$92.72 $12M
- Government grants$6.49 $838K
- Program service revenue$0.79 $102K
Investment income was negative: −$6,673. The bar shows the positive sources only.
Other revenue was negative: −$53,761. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $241,464 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.72% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseBillion Oyster Project co-creates oyster reef habitats through interdisciplinary partnerships and hands-on collaboration with new yorkers. Restoration program services include (I) building structures for oyster restoration by engaging technical, educational and volunteer networks; (ii) restoring oysters to new york harbor through aquaculture and other restoration activities; (iii) restoring reef habitats to the harbor by installing reef structures that promote self-sustaining oyster populations; and (iv) diverting mollusk shells from the waste stream to create a source of cured shell for…
Billion Oyster Project fosters stewardship of new york harbor's urban estuary through community-focused environmental actions. Community engagement program services include (I) providing opportunities for volunteers to create materials for restoration during public and corporate days of service; (ii) developing place-based learning centers (field stations) that provide waterfront access and oyster restoration-related engagement activities; (iii) conducting community-based research that improves understanding of reef development, performance, and water quality; and (iv) improving conditions in…
Billion Oyster Project builds a community of schools and teachers who use and contribute to bop's field-based curriculum to enrich students' educational experience. Education program services include (I) publishing free, field-based curricula written for public school teachers through the lens of oyster restoration; (ii) providing opportunities for teachers and students to work and learn alongside bop staff; (iii) supporting new york harbor school as a model of providing bipoc and/or low-income students with a pathway to post- secondary and life-long career opportunities, and promoting the…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,053 | $0 | $22,411 | $241,464 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOP. & COMM. Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,394 | $0 | $34,633 | $173,027 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $127,554 | $0 | $22,411 | $149,965 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $115,769 | $0 | $25,207 | $140,976 |
| DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC IMPACT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,574 | $0 | $16,768 | $120,342 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,159 | $0 | $59 | $103,218 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Billion Oyster Project (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $242K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 554
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,902
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OZTECH MEDIA Event services; jazz band | $411,121 |
| CELTIC MARINE SERVICES Soundview park installation | $183,623 |
| MARINE INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING Bathymetric survey; marine engineering | $174,650 |
| THE LOBSTER PLACE Shell collection services | $160,329 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
71 private foundations reported grants to Billion Oyster Project totaling $2.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Billion Oyster Project's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Billion Oyster Project, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Billion Oyster Project spent in FY2025, $78.49 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Citizens Committee for Education dba Homer A Plessy Community SchoolNew Orleans, LA · revenue $13M · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- Bowman SchoolPalo Alto, CA · revenue $13M · programs 91.5% · FY2025
- Friends of McGill UniversityNew Rochelle, NY · revenue $13M · programs 99.5% · FY2025
- The Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter SchoolWashington, DC · revenue $13M · programs 92.4% · FY2025
- Penn Hills Charter School of EntrepreneurshipPittsburgh, PA · revenue $13M · programs 95.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Billion Oyster Project's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Billion Oyster Project reported that 78.5% of its $8.9 million in expenses went to program services, 7.9% to management and general and 13.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Billion Oyster Project pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Billion Oyster Project reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $241,464, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Billion Oyster Project get its money?
Of $12.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 99.7% came from contributions and grants (including 6.5% from government grants) and 0.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Billion Oyster Project a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-2918478 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202610139349302621 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510769349300436 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202400339349301610 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310819349300716 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220759349300227 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110829349301566 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-2918478: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.