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Hawaii Seafood Council

EIN 26-0613665 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAWAII SEAFOOD COUNCIL (HSC) SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES AND SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD IN HAWAII FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH CONSUMER EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND RESEARCH. HSC BELIEVES THAT MARINE FISHERIES, FISHING AND SEAFOOD ARE ESSENTIAL TO HAWAII'S UNIQUE CULTURE, FOOD TRADITIONS, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY, FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

Income
$251,749
Spending
$229,741
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
3
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$51,000, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    6 of 6 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. $24,483 spent. THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY PROGRAM (IND) SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BY PRESERVING HAWAII'S SEAFOOD MARKET REPUTATION RELATED TO THE CONCERNS OF SEAFOOD SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS IS COMPLETED THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
  2. $117,220 spent. THE HAWAII SEAFOOD MARKETING IN THE AGE OF COVID (MAC) PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE BRANDING AND PROMOTION OF HAWAII SEAFOOD IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC IMPACTS AND WHAT LAYS AHEAD IN TERMS OF SURVIVING HAWAII FISHING AND SEAFOOD OPERATIONS AND THE HAWAII AND US SEAFOOD MARKET DEMAND. BRANDING AND PROMOTING HAWAII SEAFOOD WILL RESPOND TO CHANGES IN THE FISHERY, SEAFOOD MARKET AND THE CONSUMER AND HOW SEAFOOD IS PURCHASED AND CONSUMED IN THE COVID ERA.
  3. $37,440 spent. BRANDING HAWAII SEAFOOD WITH FISHING COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT (BHS), WILL DISTINGUISH THE HAWAII SEAFOOD BRAND BY FOCUSING ON THE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF THE SOURCE BY PROVIDING CONSUMERS (RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND OTHERS) THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND BETTER APPRECIATE THE SOURCE OF HAWAII SEAFOOD THROUGH 1) FISHING VILLAGE/FISH AUCTION TOURS, 2) A WEB-BASED VIRTUAL TOUR, AND 3) COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS.

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 2025.

    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 September 2007.

    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.