Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Secure a sustainable future for fisheries and fishing communities in Eastern Maine and beyond.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $158,200, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2516 of 16 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 June 30, 2025, 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)
- $245,275 spent. Education programs include the Eastern Maine Skippers Program which is the major educational program of the Organization. The Organization serves as fiscal and organizational home for the collaborative program that provides aspiring commercial fishermen in eastern Maine high schools and in their early careers with the core knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the 21st century, on the water or in other careers. It prepares students to be effective participants in fisheries co-management roles: as fishermen, scientists, or regulators. (Continues on schedule O)Education also includes the Organization's Fisheries Education Center at its waterfront headquarters, with touch tank, interactive wall, and a virtual reality experience that provides fisheries information for all ages. Additional educational outreach to the public includes a summer internship program, a monthly Lunch and Learn webinar series, a weekly newspaper column, and hosting college field trips.
- $157,812 spent. Convening programs include all of the Organization's outreach to fishermen, its River Herring (Alewife) restoration, activities, support for community shellfish co-management, and collaboration on watershed restoration initiatives with the Downeast Fisheries Partnership.
- $728,112 spent. Science programs include the Organization's ongoing work with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Maine Dept. of Marine Resources in community outreach, asset mapping and data management to develop the research framework to support a co-managed, ecosystem-based fisheries management pilot in eastern Maine. it includes all of the Organization's collaborative research including Sentinel Survey, lobster research, investigation of larval scallop distribution in support of scallop aquaculture, and coastal ocean observation and monitoring in collaboration with the Passamaquoddy.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.