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Ocean Institute

EIN 33-0203488 · Dana Point, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OCEAN INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS "USING THE OCEAN AS OUR CLASSROOM, WE INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LEARN". OUR ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING OCEAN AND MARITIME HISTORY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH HIGH-TOUCH REAL-WORLD PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A FIERCE COMMITMENT TO "ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT AND THROUGH OUR ADOPT-A-CLASS AND STUDENT AID PROGRAMS WE REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ENSURE SUCH ACCESS.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
117
Volunteers
1,716
Highest pay
$230,272, president & ceo

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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)
  1. $4.5 million spent. SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE: OCEAN INSTITUTE OFFERS HANDS ON FIELD TRIP AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT IMMERSE STUDENTS IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES BOTH ON LAND AND AT SEA. PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE ON CAMPUS IN OUR LEARNING LABS, ON THE WATER ONBOARD THE R/V SEA EXPLORER AND SPIRIT OF DANA POINT, AND IN OUR LOCAL COASTAL ENVIRONMENT. OCEAN INSTITUTE VALUES ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO LOCAL AND VISITING SCHOOLS, TITLE 1 SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOL GROUPS, SCOUT GROUPS, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR OCEAN IN MOTION PROGRAMS EXTEND OUR REACH BEYOND OUR CAMPUS, BRINGING THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN TO STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL - THROUGH HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY LIBRARIES, SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSES, AND MORE.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 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 July 1997.

    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 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.