Maine Lobster Community Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MLCA'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER THRIVING COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND PRESERVE MAINE'S LOBSTERING HERITAGE. MLCA IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH ACHIEVES ITS CHARITABLE MISSION THROUGH PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND CHARITY.
- Income
- $447,264
- Spending
- $197,341
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 41.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $197,341 spent. PRESERVE MAINE'S LOBSTERING HERITAGETHE MAINE LOBSTER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (MLCA) ADVANCES THE PRESERVATION OF MAINE'S LOBSTERING HERITAGE THROUGH ITS MONTHLY NEWSPAPER, LANDINGS. THIS PUBLICATION SERVES AS A KEY EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM, INFORMING BOTH THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE DISTINCT TRADITIONS, HISTORY, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MAINE'S LOBSTER FISHERY. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS CURRENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SUPPORTING LONG-TERM RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRY'S RESPONSIBLE, NON-WASTEFUL HARVESTING PRACTICES. LANDINGS REACHES MORE THAN 6,500 READERS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE OF MAINE'S LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES. CURRENT AND ARCHIVED ISSUES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN A SEARCHABLE FORMAT AT MLCALLIANCE.ORG.SUPPORT LOBSTERING COMMUNITIES THE MLCA COLLABORATES WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND FISHING ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE A COMMITTEE TO SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES, RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES, AND PROTECTING ACCESS TO THE FISHERY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS AND ONGOING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, MLCA SUPPORTS MAINE'S WORKING WATERFRONT, ADVANCES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT REINFORCES THE INDUSTRY'S STRONG STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, AND HELPS IDENTIFY FISHING METHODS THAT REDUCE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON MARINE MAMMALS WHILE MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LOBSTER RESOURCE. RELIEF FUNDTHE MLCA RELIEF FUND SUPPORTS DISTRESSED COMMERCIAL LOBSTERMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE RELIEF FUND ACCEPTS PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS USED TO SUPPORT LOBSTERING FAMILIES THROUGHOUT MAINE IN TIMES OF NEED.
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 March 2013.
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.