The Ocean Foundation
The Ocean Foundation reported $13.2 million in revenue and $15.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.53 went to program services, $9.86 to management and general costs and $0.61 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.2% of the total. Government grants made up 17.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $293,265 (President). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 29% 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 $16MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 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 $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.5% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.6% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.2% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 17.3% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 7.4% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $293,265 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.85% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.4 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 14 | 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 expenseProtecting Marine Habitats and Special Places - Our oceans are a mosaic of special places, from the bustling vibrancy of coral reefs to the tidal pools of rocky coasts, to the stark, glistening beauty of the frozen Arctic. These habitats and ecosystems are more than just picturesque; they all provide vital benefits to the health of the ocean, the plants and animals that live in them, and the human communities that depend on them
Expanding Ocean Literacy and Public Awareness - One of the most significant barriers to progress in the marine conservation sector is the lack of genuine understanding about the vulnerability and connectivity of ocean systems. It is easy to view the oceans as vast, nearly unlimited sources of food and recreation, filled with abundant animals, plants, and protected spaces. As a result, it can be difficult to recognize the destructive consequences of human activities along the coast and beneath the surface. This lack of awareness creates a substantial need for programs that effectively…
Building the Capacity of the Marine Conservation Community- There are many outstanding conservation organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving our oceans. The Ocean Foundation provides assistance to these entities, which have a need to develop a certain skill or competence, or for general upgrading of performance ability. The Ocean Foundation was created in part to bring new financial and technical resources to the table so that we can increase the capacity of these organizations to pursue their missions
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 Director/trustee, officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $271,551 | $0 | $21,714 | $293,265 |
| Program Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,629 | $0 | $1,208 | $169,837 |
| Program Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,630 | $0 | $16,456 | $153,086 |
| Program Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,100 | $0 | $9,498 | $139,598 |
| Human Resources Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,026 | $0 | $10,999 | $134,025 |
| Fin. & Ops. Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,546 | $0 | $12,297 | $130,843 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Ocean Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $293K (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–1b14 · 13 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 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 547
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| High Street Strategies LLC Consulting | $156,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
36 private foundations reported grants to The Ocean Foundation totaling $1.8M 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 Ocean Foundation'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 Ocean Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Ocean Foundation spent in FY2025, $89.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nova Scotia Nature TrustCanada, · revenue $13M · programs 95.3% · FY2025
- Empire Discovery InstituteRochester, NY · revenue $13M · programs 73.9% · 2024
- Japanese Garden Society of OregonPortland, OR · revenue $13M · programs 77.0% · 2024
- IslandwoodBainbridge Island, WA · revenue $13M · programs 76.5% · FY2025
- Santa Barbara Botanic GardenSanta Barbara, CA · revenue $13M · programs 73.1% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Ocean Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Ocean Foundation reported that 89.5% of its $15.8 million in expenses went to program services, 9.9% to management and general and 0.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Ocean Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Ocean Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $293,265, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Ocean Foundation get its money?
Of $13.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 92.2% came from contributions and grants (including 17.3% from government grants) and 7.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Ocean Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 71-0863908 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 202611189349301036 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521359349306157 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202443099349300764 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202243139349301029 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202143149349302324 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043189349305974 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 71-0863908: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.