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Bayshore Center at Bivalve Inc

EIN 22-3019683 · Port Norris, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceWeak36 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THROUGH THE STATE'S OFFICIAL TALL SHIP, THE OYSTER SCHOONER AJ MEERWALD, AND HISTORIC WATERFRONT MUSEUM, THE BAYSHORE CENTER AT BIVALVE ("BCB") WILL ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN IMPACT ON NEW JERSEY'S AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY & PROGRAMMING.

Income
$986,745
Spending
$971,839
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
32
Highest pay
$104,600, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $487,519 spent. BCB ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING AT THE BIVALVE CENTER, THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS NOT TIED TO THE CENTER, AND ON BOARD THE HISTORIC SCHOONER AJ MEERWALD. BCB'S COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD IN SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES. BCB PARTNERS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL BCB MAINTAINS A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIFACTS, AND PROGRAMS AROUND THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION INCLUDING HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, CIVIC CLUBS, AND OTHER NONPROFITS. BCB'S MOST UNIQUE AND MOST POPULAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING IS ABOARD THE AJ MEERWALD, ON WHICH PASSENGERS LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE REGION AND THE HUMAN IMPACT ON IT. THROUGH THESE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, BCB EDUCATES OVER 2,000 CHILDREN AND NEARLY 4,000 ADULTS EACH YEAR ON THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT USING HISTORY AS A GUIDE. BCB ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING AT THE BIVALVE CENTER, THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS NOT TIED TO THE CENTER, AND ON BOARD THE HISTORIC SCHOONER AJ MEERWALD. BCB'S COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD IN SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES. BCB PARTNERS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL BCB MAINTAINS A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIFACTS, AND PROGRAMS AROUND THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION INCLUDING HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, CIVIC CLUBS, AND OTHER NONPROFITS. BCB'S MOST UNIQUE AND MOST POPULAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING IS ABOARD THE AJ MEERWALD, ON WHICH PASSENGERS LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE REGION AND THE HUMAN IMPACT ON IT. THROUGH THESE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, BCB EDUCATES OVER 2,000 CHILDREN AND NEARLY 4,000 ADULTS EACH YEAR ON THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT USING HISTORY AS A GUIDE.
  2. $171,156 spent. BCB MAINTAINS A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIFACTS, AND EPHEMERA DOCUMENTING AND PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF THE DELAWARE BAY. THE FOLKLIFE CENTER PRESENTS PROGRAMS AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH INCLUDING AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT THAT IS CAPTURING BAYSHORE STORIES AND SHARING THEM WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE RESTORED 1904 BIVALVE SHIPPING SHEDS (ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES) SERVE AS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE MUSEUM AND INTERPRET THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF OYSTERS TO THE SOUTH JERSEY REGIONAL ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.