Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observation Syste
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS' (NERACOOS) MISSION IS TO PRODUCE, INTEGRATE AND COMMUNICATE HIGH- QUALITY INFORMATION THAT HELPS ENSURE SAFETY, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE, AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE COASTAL OCEAN.
- Income
- $5.4 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $220,332, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $4.7 million spent. NERACOOS MONITORS THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHEASTERN REGION, AN AREA THAT STRETCHES FROM THE GULF OF MAINE TO LONG ISLAND SOUND. THIS IS A LARGE, DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT CHANGES CONTINUOUSLY. PEOPLE WHO WORK AND PLAY ON THE WATER, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LIVE IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES, DEPEND ON THE DATA AND FORECASTS WE PROVIDE TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS. PEOPLE USE OUR PRODUCTS TO DECIDE WHEN TO BRING LARGE OIL TANKERS INTO PORT, WHERE TO GO FOR THE BEST WAVES FOR SURFING, AND WHETHER IT'S SAFE TO GO FISHING. IN ADDITION, SCIENTISTS AND METEOROLOGISTS USE OUR DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OCEAN - SUCH AS STORMS, SEA-LEVEL CHANGE, ANIMAL MIGRATIONS, AND HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. WE DELIVER ALL THIS INFORMATION TO HELP PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY, EMPOWER COASTAL ECONOMIES, AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEANS. NERACOOS MONITORS THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHEASTERN REGION, AN AREA THAT STRETCHES FROM THE GULF OF MAINE TO LONG ISLAND SOUND. THIS IS A LARGE, DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT CHANGES CONTINUOUSLY. PEOPLE WHO WORK AND PLAY ON THE WATER, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LIVE IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES, DEPEND ON THE DATA AND FORECASTS WE PROVIDE TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS. PEOPLE USE OUR PRODUCTS TO DECIDE WHEN TO BRING LARGE OIL TANKERS INTO PORT, WHERE TO GO FOR THE BEST WAVES FOR SURFING, AND WHETHER IT'S SAFE TO GO FISHING. IN ADDITION, SCIENTISTS AND METEOROLOGISTS USE OUR DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OCEAN - SUCH AS STORMS, SEA-LEVEL CHANGE, ANIMAL MIGRATIONS, AND HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. WE DELIVER ALL THIS INFORMATION TO HELP PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY, EMPOWER COASTAL ECONOMIES, AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEANS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.