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Billion Oyster Project

EIN 27-2918478 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BILLION OYSTER PROJECT'S ("BOP") MISSION IS TO RESTORE OYSTER REEFS TO NEW YORK HARBOR THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
54
Volunteers
2,902
Highest pay
$241,464, president and ceo

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 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 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.9 million spent. BILLION OYSTER PROJECT CO-CREATES OYSTER REEF HABITATS THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS AND HANDS-ON COLLABORATION WITH NEW YORKERS. RESTORATION PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE (I) BUILDING STRUCTURES FOR OYSTER RESTORATION BY ENGAGING TECHNICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; (II) RESTORING OYSTERS TO NEW YORK HARBOR THROUGH AQUACULTURE AND OTHER RESTORATION ACTIVITIES; (III) RESTORING REEF HABITATS TO THE HARBOR BY INSTALLING REEF STRUCTURES THAT PROMOTE SELF-SUSTAINING OYSTER POPULATIONS; AND (IV) DIVERTING MOLLUSK SHELLS FROM THE WASTE STREAM TO CREATE A SOURCE OF CURED SHELL FOR RESTORATION PURPOSES THROUGH RESTAURANT, STATE, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. BILLION OYSTER PROJECT FOSTERS STEWARDSHIP OF NEW YORK HARBOR'S URBAN ESTUARY THROUGH COMMUNITY-FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE (I) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS TO CREATE MATERIALS FOR RESTORATION DURING PUBLIC AND CORPORATE DAYS OF SERVICE; (II) DEVELOPING PLACE-BASED LEARNING CENTERS (FIELD STATIONS) THAT PROVIDE WATERFRONT ACCESS AND OYSTER RESTORATION-RELATED ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES; (III) CONDUCTING COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH THAT IMPROVES UNDERSTANDING OF REEF DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE, AND WATER QUALITY; AND (IV) IMPROVING CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK HARBOR BY ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT MATTER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND OYSTERS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. BILLION OYSTER PROJECT BUILDS A COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS WHO USE AND CONTRIBUTE TO BOP'S FIELD-BASED CURRICULUM TO ENRICH STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE (I) PUBLISHING FREE, FIELD-BASED CURRICULA WRITTEN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS THROUGH THE LENS OF OYSTER RESTORATION; (II) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO WORK AND LEARN ALONGSIDE BOP STAFF; (III) SUPPORTING NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL AS A MODEL OF PROVIDING BIPOC AND/OR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH A PATHWAY TO POST- SECONDARY AND LIFE-LONG CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF A NETWORK OF HARBOR SCHOOLS; AND (IV) OFFERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS.
  4. $1.3 million spent. WATER FRONT; HARBOR SCHOOL; SCIENCE & RESEARCH

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 September 2010.

    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 October 21, 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.