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Orange County Coastkeeper

EIN 33-0847892 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Orange County Coastkeeper OCCK is a California non-profit public benefit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of California marine habitats and watersheds through programs of education, advocacy, restoration, and enforcement. Affiliated with the National Waterkeeper Alliance consisting of over 200 keeper organizations worldwide, OCCK maintains a full-time staff of skilled, dedicated professionals, including geologists, marine biologists, and attorneys.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
47
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$239,592, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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 (6)
  1. $677,106 spent. Legal- the Organization monitors pollution from industrial discharges throughout the region. We meet with regulators as stakeholders and participate in writing the various permits that regulate stormwater and urban runoff. Using the Federal Clean Water Act, we litigate polluters in Federal Court in order to clean up the region one polluter at a time.
  2. $558,939 spent. Education- The Organization interacts with thousands of students and citizens at schools and public outreach events to raise regional awareness about watersheds and marine issues. Currently, in more than 40 schools, the Organization promotes stewardship and environmental careers through its Whales program, which provides in-class and field experience to junior high school and high school students each year.
  3. $521,205 spent. Advocacy- The Organization collaborates on various projects and advocates for stricter storm water and runoff regulations at regulatory agencies and commissions, as well as state, county, and local governments. The Organization promotes collaborative solutions to enhance coastal protection, including ensure public access to coastal resources, and healthy marine habitats.
  4. $272,875 spent. Restoration- The Organization has restored local marine habitats. In the near shore water, giant Kelp was brought back from Newport Beach to Dana Point. In Upper Newport Harbor and Alamitos Bay eelgrass was planted and it thrives to now, four acres. Next to the eelgrass beds, we installed substrates to restore Olympia Oysters. Restoring eelgrass next to Oysters is part of the California Living Shoreline program and is proving a natural buffer against sediment erosion in sea level rise.
  5. $271,873 spent. Special Projects - The Inland Empire Waterkeeper is a separately licensed waterkeeper program through the Waterkeeper Alliance and is a program of Orange County Coastkeeper. This program covers San Bernardino and North Riverside County and includes most of the Mojave Desert east to the Colorado River. OCCK maintains an office for this program in the City of Riverside. The Coachella Waterkeeper is a separately licensed waterkeeper program through the Waterkeeper Alliance and is a program of Orange County Coastkeeper. This program covers Coachella Valley and South Riverside County.
  6. $186,715 spent. Research- The Organization conducts numerous monitoring of activities such as its Marine Protected Area (MPA), Santa Ana River Mouth (SAR), Aliso Creek Berm, and collects water samples throughout the region. The data is collected and reports are prepared to assist in public policy decisions. Special Projects include programs to engage residents of the region on specific issues in collaboration with the State. The Organization conducts campaigns to support or oppose specific proposed development projects, permits, utilities, actions that impact coastal or inland waterways.

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 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 June 1999.

    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.