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Algalita Marine Research and Education

EIN 33-0657882 · Long Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS WATERSHEDS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND RESTORATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN FOCUS IS ONTHE ISSUE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND POTENTIAL RISKS TO HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH THE TRANSFER OF TOXINS FROM INGESTED PLASTIC DEBRIS BY FISH AND THROUGH THE FOOD CHAIN. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF PLASTICS ON OUR MARINE ENVIORNMENT BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE AND VULNERABILITIES OF OUR OCEANS AND HOW INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS INFLUENCE THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND HUMAN HEALTH.

Income
$519,253
Spending
$455,879
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
4
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$80,049, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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)
  1. $335,491 spent. IN 2024, ALGALITA CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS GLOBAL IMPACT THROUGH WAYFINDER SOCIETY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, A FREE, OPEN-ACCESS PLATFORM EMPOWERING EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION. MORE THAN JUST A WEBSITE, WAYFINDER SOCIETY IS AN EVOLVING ECOSYSTEM OF RESOURCES, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND REAL-WORLD ACTION TOOLS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ANY SETTING.IN 2024 ALONE:- 4,193 STUDENT SERVICE-LEARNING HOURS WERE LOGGED ACROSS 112 COUNTRIES.- 6,825 EDUCATORS USED WAYFINDER SOCIETY RESOURCES.- 1,839 STUDENTS ENGAGED IN IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS.- 293 TOOLKITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CLASSROOMS NATIONWIDE.- 10 STUDENTS FROM 9 COUNTRIES RECEIVED MINI-GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.BEYOND THE DIGITAL SPACE, WE EXPANDED IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATORS, HOSTING 14 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS ON TOPICS LIKE ECO-ANXIETY, POLICY IN THE CLASSROOM, AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS. THESE SESSIONS PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY INTO THEIR CURRICULA.LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO ALAMITOS BAY IN LONG BEACH, CA, ALGALITA HAS BECOME A HUB FOR IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING. IN 2024, WE:- LAUNCHED FIELD TRIP PROGRAMMING AT THE MOORE PLASTIC POLLUTION RESEARCH & LEARNING CENTER, PROVIDING HANDS-ON MICROPLASTICS RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.- HOSTED FIELD-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING KAYAK-BASED PLASTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND LAB-BASED MICROPLASTICS ANALYSES.- ORGANIZED 43 COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEANUPS, FILM SCREENINGS, AND FIXIT CLINICS, DIVERTING OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF WASTE FROM LANDFILLS.
  2. $33,246 spent. IN 2024, ALGALITA STRENGTHENED ITS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTION, ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH EVENTS AND INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO MAKE PLASTIC POLLUTION UNTHINKABLE.- BYO MONTH: EXPANDING ON THE SUCCESS OF BYO WEEK, WE EXTENDED THE INITIATIVE TO THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER, ENCOURAGING LONG BEACH RESIDENTS TO ADOPT REUSE HABITS. WITH OVER 75 PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS USED REUSABLE CUPS, BAGS, AND CONTAINERS TO REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WASTE. THE MONTH FEATURED REUSE-FOCUSED EVENTS, INCLUDING FILM SCREENINGS, EXPERT PANELS, AND LOCAL BUSINESS PROMOTIONS.- COMMUNITY CLEANUPS: WE ORGANIZED FOUR BEACH AND WATERWAY CLEANUPS, REMOVING OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS. THESE EFFORTS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFIED OUR COASTLINES BUT ALSO PROVIDED HANDS-ON EDUCATION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC WASTE.- COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB & TRIVIA NIGHTS: WE LAUNCHED OUR PLASTIC POLLUTION BOOK CLUB, FEATURING THREE THOUGHT-PROVOKING READS, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS THAT CONNECTED READERS TO REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO HOSTED PLASTIC-FREE TRIVIA NIGHTS, WHERE PARTICIPANTS TESTED THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND WASTE REDUCTION WHILE BUILDING A STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY.- FIXIT CLINICS: OUR FIXIT CLINICS EMPOWERED PARTICIPANTS TO REPAIR THEIR BROKEN HOUSEHOLD ITEMS INSTEAD OF DISCARDING THEM. WITH THE HELP OF SKILLED VOLUNTEERS, WE PREVENTED OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF WASTE FROM HEADING TO LANDFILLS, REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF REUSE AND RESOURCEFULNESS.- ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR REFILL STORE, BYO AT ALGALITA, WHERE 2,178 CONTAINERS WERE REFILLED, PREVENTING THOUSANDS OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FROM ENTERING CIRCULATION.- 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS: ALGALITA PROUDLY CELEBRATED 30 YEARS OF IMPACT WITH A SERIES OF SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING A DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF THE ORV ALGUITA'S LEGACY, A GATHERING OF LONG-TIME SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS, AND A LOOK AHEAD AT OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE FOSTERED A CULTURE OF REUSE, REPAIR, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION.
  3. $16,416 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION, THE MOORE INSTITUTE FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION RESEARCH, WE STRENGTHENED THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE MOORE INSTITUTE REACHED A MAJOR MILESTONE IN 2024 BY BECOMING ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST ACCREDITED LABS FOR MICROPLASTIC TESTING, ALIGNING WITH SENATE BILL 1422. THIS ACCREDITATION ALLOWS US TO INTEGRATE CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE INTO OUR PROGRAMMING, ENSURING THAT STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS ENGAGE WITH REAL-WORLD DATA AND METHODOLOGIES.THE MOORE PLASTIC POLLUTION RESEARCH & LEARNING CENTER, COMPLETED IN 2023, IS NOW AN ACTIVE HUB FOR:- TEACHER WORKSHOPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS.- CLASSROOM FIELD TRIPS, WHERE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AUTHENTIC CITIZEN SCIENCE.- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, CONNECTING LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.