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Great Lakes Fishery Commission

EIN 38-1539304 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is an international treaty organization established in 1955 by the Canadian/U.S. Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. The commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management among the state, provincial, tribal, and federal agencies.

Income
$80.3 million
Spending
$70.0 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
34
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$299,333, communications program director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $16.1 million spent. Research Program - Research contracts, workshops, and task forces were elements of a coordinated program of the Great Lakes Research Program designed to recommend to the U.S. and Canadian federal governments the measures needed to permit maximum sustained productivity of fish stocks.
  2. $21.7 million spent. Sea Lamprey Management Program - Great Lakes Fishery Commission contracts annually with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conduct a program that eradicates or minimizes sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes. This is a current and long-term goal. Lampricides are chemicals used as the major means of controlling sea lamprey in the commission's ongoing program of sea lamprey management in the Great Lakes. These chemicals are purchased annually.
  3. $9.1 million spent. Infrastructure - The Great Lakes Fishery Commission relies on physical infrastructure in its programs including 1) sea lamprey barriers, 2) sea lamprey traps, 3) biological stations, 4) workspace, and 5) researcher accommodations. Sea lamprey barriers are extremely cost-effective and provide an assumed 50-year life span. Barriers are used as a means of controlling sea lamprey by blocking streams and rivers in which they migrate to spawn. These are current and long-term projects.
  4. $17.7 million spent. Professional development, memberships, sponsorships, along with Lake Champlain and CARES Act II expenditures. Lake Champlain is explained on Schedule O. All other functional expenses related to running programs.
  5. The commission has partnered with regional, federal, state, and local officials who manage and improve Lake Champlain, including efforts to control sea lamprey populations. The commission receives government appropriations on behalf of Lake Champlain, which is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Vermont, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. These organizations protect and improve the wildlife habitat in Lake Champlain. $11,039,624 was spent. Other program expenses totaling $6,705,655 were for functional expenses related to program areas not included in Part III, Lines 4a-4c.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 December 1987.

    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.