Merito Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MERITO is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to protecting the ocean by facilitating education, conservation, and scientific research opportunities for multicultural youth and their communities while increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of the ocean, ocean-related threats, and environmentally friendly practices. MERITO also strives to motivate diverse youth to pursue science, technology or engineering careers that relate to the ocean.
- Income
- $557,421
- Spending
- $546,270
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 4
- Highest pay
- $103,200, exec. 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 254 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (1)
- $487,330 spent. In 2024, the MERITO Foundation staff and board immersed 4,950 4th-12th grade students in transformative place-based and project-based learning experiences and engaged over 15,000 adults through outreach and community events. Students participated in hands-on experiences in environmental monitoring, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation and STEAM challenges that helped them develop critical thinking skills and introduced them to environmental advocacy and green entrepreneurship. Outreach and community events included hosting the Earth Day Festival in Ventura, and involving the Spanish speaking communities of West Ventura in the co-design of the Parkway Preserve adjacent to the Ventura River. Each of these experiences was offered at no cost to the youth and communities we serve. Our work helped improve the health of our coast, our ocean, and the regions youth. The 4,950 students participated in Merito's 9-month ocean, climate & environmental education programs, including: Ventura River Action Network (V-RAN) in partnership with VUSD; From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) in partnership with De Anza MS; Vamos a la Playa! (VLP) thanks to a Whale Tail Grant, the Port of Hueneme, and the Education & Engagement component of the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP) for the City of Oxnard. We also expanded our outreach by providing watershed education in Bakersfield. Outdoor activities were supported by in-class instruction about the scientific concepts that were applied during the immersive outdoor experiences.Over 1,600 students participated in the collection of environmental data during the field experiences of our programs, following protocols set by research organizations. Monitoring ranged from water quality, macro-invertebrates, micro-plastics, marine debris, sandy beaches and rocky inter-tidal habitats, and aquatic bird populations. Stewardship activities included dune restoration assisting CA State Parks under the CA Department of Parks & Recreation. The data collected by the students is available to the public in the new V-RAN Story Map. Also, nearly 100 adults participated in monthly Sea Ramble events in Ventura, with Patagonia combining scenic bike rides with beach clean-ups, and piloting data collection for Southern CA Plankton Watch.1,130 students at De Anza Middle School enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures this year through our From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) program Funded by the Outdoor Equity Grant, created through AB 209 and administered by the CA Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services. The ATCI program combines environmental and ocean science education with activities like biking to the Ventura River Estuary, exploring tide pools, restoring dunes, outrigger canoing, sailing, camping, hiking, star gazing, and snorkeling at Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. For many students, these trips were filled with unforgettable first time experiences.Merito engaged 1,937 students and 21 teachers from 14 schools in Oxnard, Hueneme, and El Rio through the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP), an initiative of the City of Oxnard. Students learned the science to understand the impacts of trash and the urban heat island effect. After participating in hands-on field experiences at their local beaches, wetlands, and rivers, the students created outreach campaigns using their own art and digital media to educate their communities not to litter and to care for their local parks during the Beautiful Oxnard Challenge. The top student-authored projects were recognized by Mayor John C. Zaragoza and awarded stipends. Merito increased educator capacity to integrate ocean and climate science through Professional Development (PD) sessions. We provided tools and hands-on training to 69 educators to help them bring ocean, climate, energy, and environmental science to their classrooms through in-person, online, and field sessions. From exploring Santa Cruz Islands kelp forests to hands-on training in plankton collection and identification at Hueneme Pier, lectures from expert guests on plastic pollution, and webinars on how to guide their students to develop proposals that can reduce the carbon footprint of their schools; all our PD sessions blend the most up to date science, education, and real-world experiences and skills.850 students from the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) participating in our V-RAN and ATCI programs learned how to conduct waste, water, and energy audits of their schools, or to assess community awareness of the Matilija Dam on the Ventura River. Out of 58 proposals competing in Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Matilija Dam outreach that we received from their teachers, 16 teams made it to the 9th annual EECCOA Challenge Awards event on May 20, 2024, where 55 students showcased their projects. The top teams earned $6,100 in stipends for their innovative ideas, thanks to sponsors and volunteer judges.Merito directly engaged over 15,000 community members of Ventura and other Southern and Central California counties through community festivals, outreach events, public forums, lectures, presentations, and conferences. Highlights include: bringing the Earth Day Festival back to Plaza Park in Ventura; two community forums involving the Spanish-speaking community of West Ventura in the co-design Ojai Valley Land Conservancys Parkway Preserve; taking part in a speakers panel during the Southern California Coastal and Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) Conference in San Diego; and the fun 20th annual Aloha Beach Festival, which gathered thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate coastal culture at Ventura.Through numerous weekday and weekend events in 2024, Merito involved over 500 students and 100 adults in stewardship activities including beach clean-ups and habitat restoration events. During the beach clean ups, the participants collected and categorized trash to inform research. In partnership with the
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
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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 June 2014.
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 October 21, 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.