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Raritan Baykeeper Inc

EIN 22-3617000 · Hazlet, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BAYKEEPER'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE HUDSON-RARITAN ESTUARY - ONE OF THE MOST URBAN ESTUARIES ON THE PLANET. SINCE 1989, THE ORGANIZATION HAS SERVED AS A CITIZEN ADVOCATE FOR THE ESTUARY.

Income
$684,387
Spending
$665,504
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
5
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$90,704, baykeeper an

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (3)
  1. $62,873 spent. THE BAYKEEPER BOAT PROGRAM OPERATES A BOAT THAT PATROLS THE WATERS OF THE NY/NJ HARBOR FOR VIOLATIONS AND ALSO ASSISTS WITH COASTAL RESTORATION OPERATIONS. IT ALSO OPERATES TWO PUMP-OUT BOATS THAT PUMP OUT SEWAGE FROM THE HOLDING TANKS OF RECREATIONAL BOATS AND TRANSPORTS IT TO SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.
  2. $281,554 spent. BAYKEEPER'S ADVOCACY AND LEGAL PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CLEANING, RESTORING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE POST-INDUSTRIAL URBAN WATERWAYS THAT COMPRISE THE NY/NJ HARBOR. WE ADVOCATE FOR SUPERFUND AND WASTE SITE CLEANUPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, SUE POLLUTERS AND STORMWATER VIOLATORS, AND PUSH FOR LEGISLATION AIMED AT THESE GOALS.
  3. $321,079 spent. BAYKEEPER'S "COASTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM" RESTORES OYSTER REEFS AND LIVING SHORELINES TO THE IN AND ALONG THE WATERWAYS OF NY/NJ HARBOR IN BOTH NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK. MUCH OF THIS WORK IS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY. VOLUNTEERS FROM AROUND THE REGION ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE RESTORATIONS THAT IMPROVE NATURAL HABITAT AND COASTAL RESILIENCE, WHILE PROVIDING TREMENDOUS EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.