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Fishchoice Inc

EIN 26-1550374 · Fort Collins, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceFair63 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FISHCHOICE INC IS ORGANIZED AS A PUBLIC CHARITY TO DECREASE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY BY CREATING TOOLS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SEAFOOD PURCHASED FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES AND DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF SEAFOOD PURCHASED FROM SOURCES THAT DEGRADE THE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
12
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$215,555, president/ceo

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 88% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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

    0 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. $1.4 million spent. FISHCHOICE HAS DESIGNED, DEVELOPED NOW MANAGES A SOPHISTICATED WEB SITE THAT PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING: PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.FISHCHOICE.COM. 1) COMMERCIAL SEAFOOD BUYERS ARE CONNECTED WITH THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED AND SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD SUPPLIERS. SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD IS FISH AND SHELLFISH THAT IS CAUGHT OR FARMED IN WAYS THAT MAINTAIN HEALTHY POPULATIONS AND HAVE MINIMUM IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. 2 CONSUMERS OF SEAFOOD PRODUCTS ARE DIRECTED TO A WEB PAGE DESIGNED FOR CONSUMERS THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN PURCHASE SEAFOODS FROM RESTAURANTS OR RETAILERS THAT CARRY SUSTAINABLE SEAFOODS. 3) ALL SEAFOOD PRODUCTS FEATURED ON THE FISHCHOICE WEB SITE MEET THE STRICT RANKING AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY'S LEADING ORGANIZATIONS. 4) FISHCHOICE DOESN'T DO ANY OF THE RANKING OR CERTIFICATION. THE CHARITY TAKES THE CRITERIA AND APPLIES IT TO MATCHING SEAFOOD PRODUCTS. 5) FISHCHOICE COLLABORATES WITH NINE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE SEAFOOD MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL, NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA), FOOD ALLIANCE, FAIR TRADE, FISHWISE, MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL, MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUMS SEAFOOD WATCH PROGRAM, NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM, AND SEACHOICE. FISHCHOICE ALSO CONTAINS A SOPHISTICATED ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT SEAFOOD BUSINESSES USE TO DETERMINE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR SEAFOOD OFFERINGS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. FISHCHOICE HAS DEVELOPED AN ONLINE TOOL TO TRACK THE IMPROVEMENTS OF FISHERIES GLOBALLY. OVER 90% OF GLOBAL FISHERY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE RUN BY VARIOUS NGO'S AROUND THE GLOBE ARE TRACKED IN ONE PLACE, FISHERYPROGRESS.ORG. THIS ENABLES GOVERNMENTS, NGO'S AND INDUSTRY TO EFFICIENTLY PUSH FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT LEAD TO MORE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. FISHERYPROGRESS.ORG IS OVERSEEN BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MANAGED DAY TO DAY BY FISHCHOICE.
  3. $251,859 spent. ORGANIZATION PERSONNEL HAVE ATTENDED NUMEROUS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY CONFERENCES IN ORDER TO EDUCATE BUYERS AND SUPPLIERS OF SEAFOOD PRODUCTS ABOUT FISHCHOICE AND HOW THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE CAN BE USED BY THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY TO INCREASE PURCHASES OF SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PRODUCTS AND DECREASE DEMAND PRESSURES ON FISHES AND AQUACULTURE THAT ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. KNOWLEDGE GLEANED AT THESE CONFERENCES ALLOWS FISHCHOICE TO DEFINE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN A MANNER COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ENTITIES OPERATING IN THE SAME OR SIMILAR NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT SPACE.

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 2009.

    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.