Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reported $15.1 million in revenue and $11.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.89 went to program services, $7.63 to management and general costs and $6.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $222,584 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - UNTIL 9/2024). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 75% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor 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
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.6% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $222,584 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.87% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 6 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseConservation campaigns:during 2024, 4 ships (seahorse, martin sheen, bob barker and martin sheen) were in operation to support the various campaigns.operation milagro: it was our 11th consecutive year working on the front lines to protect the world's most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita porpoise, along with the highly sought after totoaba. The totoaba is valuable and in high demand by cartels from mexico and asia. Working in conjunction with the mexican navy, sscs vessels were on the front lines, to stand against the cartels and prevent this species from total extinction.(continued on…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - UNTIL 9/2024 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $220,349 | $0 | $2,235 | $222,584 |
| MEXICO COUNTRY DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,000 | $0 | $12,000 | $197,000 |
| DIRECTOR OF SHIP OPERATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,243 | $0 | $110 | $166,353 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,000 | $0 | $0 | $150,000 |
| SENIOR GIFTS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,000 | $0 | $0 | $140,000 |
| DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,000 | $0 | $0 | $113,000 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $736K (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
2024 · 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–1b6 · 5 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 4No
- 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 511
- Volunteers Part I, line 6110
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| YAMASEC LTD Professional services-milagro | $345,820 |
| FOSTERFILM PRODUCTIONS LLC Content creation for social media | $289,663 |
| THINK FINANCE INC Accounting and consulting services | $191,000 |
| SINGH INVESTOR LLC Consulting services | $170,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society totaling $453K 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 Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Sea Shepherd Conservation Society spent in 2024, $85.89 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Animal Protective Association of MissouriSaint Louis, MO · revenue $15M · programs 84.2% · FY2025
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- Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSacramento, CA · revenue $15M · programs 82.6% · 2024
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Questions people ask
How much of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reported that 85.9% of its $11.9 million in expenses went to program services, 7.6% to management and general and 6.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Sea Shepherd Conservation Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $222,584, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - UNTIL 9/2024 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Sea Shepherd Conservation Society get its money?
Of $15.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 99.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Sea Shepherd Conservation Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 93-0792021 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532979349301633 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412729349300101 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022 (amended), object 202322859349302272 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212529349301301 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142469349300649 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012379349300851 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 93-0792021: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.