Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE IN THE GULF OF MAINE THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND INSPIRING ACTION. OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES ARE STUDYING MARINE LIFE OFF THE NH COAST, CONDUCTING OVER 200 COMMUNITY BEACH CLEANUPS EACH YEAR, RUNNING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT OUR BLUE OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTER IN HAMPTON BEACH, NH, AND LASTLY CONDUCTING INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS FOR SCHOOLS AND GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE NEW ENGLAND REGION.
- Income
- $461,055
- Spending
- $494,737
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Highest pay
- $76,081, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $123,272 spent. INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - PROVIDE HANDS-ON PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND AT OUR BLUE OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTER IN HAMPTON BEACH, TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT MARINE LIFE AND INSPIRE THEM TO PROTECT THE OCEAN. SCHOOL PROGRAMS FEATURE OUR LIFE-SIZED INFLATABLE WHALE AND POLLUTION PREVENTION EDUCATION. OUR BLUE OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTER FEATURES TOUCH TANKS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER EXHIBITS ABOUT THE GULF OF MAINE AND MARINE CONSERVATION. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS REACH APPROXIMATELY 22,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
- $128,056 spent. WHALE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION - PROVIDE NATURALISTS ON ONE LOCAL WHALE WATCH VESSELS WHO RUN A HANDS-ON EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INFORM OVER 10,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. COLLECT BEHAVIORAL DATA ON WHALES THAT IS PART OF A LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC STUDY TO IDENTIFY, CATALOG AND STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF GULF OF MAINE MARINE LIFE, FOCUSING ON LARGE WHALE SPECIES.
- $45,222 spent. BEACH CLEANUP AND MARINE DEBRIS MONITORING - ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS IN CONDUCTING OVER 200 BEACH CLEANUPS A YEAR, STUDY MICROPLASTICS AND DOCUMENT LITTER AS PART OF OUR LONG-TERM STUDY ON MARINE POLLUTION. USE THIS DATA TO DEVELOP TARGETED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
- $23,086 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE A HEALTHY MARINE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE BLUE OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTER AND SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, AND PROJECTS TO INSPIRE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.