The Marine Mammal Center
The Marine Mammal Center reported $18.6 million in revenue and $23.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.26 went to program services, $8.67 to management and general costs and $12.07 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.6% of the total. Government grants made up 7.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $309,773 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 5% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $23MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.3% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.1% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 7.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $309,773 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.32% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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 expenseProgram #1: rescue and rehabilitation: the Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured marine mammals at its state-of-the-art veterinary facilities by engaging a dedicated workforce and a supportive community. Since 1975, the center has responded to more than 27,000 marine mammals, including sea lions, elephant seals, harbor seals, fur seals, sea otters, and more. In an effort to save hawaiian monk seals from extinction, the center opened the first-ever rehabilitation facility devoted to this endangered species in 2014, and since then has rehabilitated nearly 30 percent of…
Program #2: education: the Marine Mammal Center leads as a teaching hospital by training veterinary professionals locally and internationally, and inspiring future ocean stewards through innovative school and public education programs. In 2025, the center engaged more than 44,000 children and adults through in-person programming with hands-on trainings, supporting the next generation of scientists and engaged citizens
Program #3: scientific research: the Marine Mammal Center learns from the patients in its care and contributes to scientific understanding of the changing health of our ocean, taking action to address ocean threats and save endangered species
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $277,566 | $0 | $32,207 | $309,773 |
| CHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $284,594 | $0 | $9,012 | $293,606 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,494 | $0 | $16,996 | $273,490 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,819 | $0 | $25,433 | $268,252 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,961 | $0 | $26,689 | $232,650 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $196,728 | $0 | $27,324 | $224,052 |
| DIRECTOR OF PATHOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,149 | $0 | $16,624 | $170,773 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Marine Mammal Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $533K (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–1b16 · 16 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 2Yes
- 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 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5156
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,200
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| NEXT GENERATION FUNDRAISING INC Direct mail printing and processing | $431,431 |
| UPTIME USA INTERMEDIATE INC Information technology support | $333,557 |
| THE COMPASS GROUP INC Fundraising professional services | $225,000 |
| UNICORN GROUP Custom printshop | $176,538 |
| B TAYLOR PAINTING INC Exterior facility maintanence | $133,409 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
107 private foundations reported grants to The Marine Mammal Center totaling $2.5M 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 The Marine Mammal Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Marine Mammal Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Marine Mammal Center spent in FY2025, $79.26 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Safari Club International FoundationSan Antonio, TX · revenue $19M · programs 37.1% · FY2025
- The Humane Society of Rochester & Monroe County for the Prevention of Cruelty toFairport, NY · revenue $19M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
- Big Dog Ranch RescueLoxahatchee Groves, FL · revenue $19M · programs 89.0% · 2024
- SPCA of TexasDallas, TX · revenue $19M · programs 79.2% · 2024
- Friends of the Topeka ZooTopeka, KS · revenue $18M · programs 73.4% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of The Marine Mammal Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Marine Mammal Center reported that 79.3% of its $23.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.7% to management and general and 12.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Marine Mammal Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Marine Mammal Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $309,773, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Marine Mammal Center get its money?
Of $18.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 88.6% came from contributions and grants (including 7.8% from government grants) and 1.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Marine Mammal Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0144434 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 September 30, 2025, object 202642309349302604 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202512239349301116 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202432209349301868 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332269349301008 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202202229349300300 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122229349301767 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0144434: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.