Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ALLIANCE'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION, ENHANCEMENT, UNDERSTANDING, AWARENESS AND WISE USE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE GULF OF AMERICA THROUGH ALIGNED AND COOPERATIVE EFFORTS INVOLVING RESEARCH, PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 24.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $142,623, executive director & secre
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 December 31, 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 (2)
- $350,126 spent. GULF OF MEXICO RESEARCH INITIATIVE- BECAUSE THE GULF OF MEXICO WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE 2010 DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, THE ALLIANCE WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH A TEN (10) YEAR RESEARCH PROGRAM TO BE FUNDED BY BP EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, INC. (BP). THE PROGRAM, KNOWN AS THE GULF OF MEXICO RESEARCH INITIATIVE (GRI OR GOMRI), STUDIED THE IMPACTS OF THE 2010 DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL ON THE GULF OF MEXICO ECOSYSTEM FROM 2010 TO 2020. THE CONTROLLING DOCUMENT OF THE GOMRI WAS A MASTER RESEARCH AGREEMENT WHICH IDENTIFIED THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REQUIRED OF THE ALLIANCE IN CONNECTION WITH RESEARCH GRANTS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ARE THE SAME TYPES OF SERVICES THE ALLIANCE PROVIDES IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC FUNDS. ALL THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM WAS RECEIVED BY THE END OF 2019. REMAINING BP FUNDS ARE GOVERNMED BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE MASTER RESEARCH AGREEMENT AND ARE USED TO WRAP UP THE PROGRAM, ENSURE PUBLIC DATA AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS THROUGH 2029, AND KEEP THE WEBSITE ACTIVE THROUGH 2029.
- $4.1 million spent. GULF OF AMERICA ALLIANCE- THE GOAA PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHES THE MISSION OF THE ENTITY THROUGH SUBGRANTING FUNDS, EDUCATING THROUGH MEETINGS AND SEMINARS, AND OTHER MEANS TO FACILITATE REGIONAL EDUCATION AND OVERALL WELL BEING OF THE GULF OF AMERICA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 2011.
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.