Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation Inc

EIN 45-3573540 · Hollywood, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF MARINE ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY THE HEAVILY IMPACTED SHARKS AND RAYS; TO EDUCATE FUTURE SCIENTISTS AT THE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVELS; TO DISSEMINATE OUR RESEARCH RESULTS TO ADVANCE THE FIELD OF MARINE SCIENCE; AND TO PROMOTE MARINE CONSERVATION THROUGH IMPROVED PUBLIC AWARENESS.

Income
$686,535
Spending
$869,196
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
4
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$103,375, president, ceo, director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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, 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. $744,664 spent. THIS YEAR THE ORGANIZATION WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THE CORE MISSIONS OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND CONSERVATION FOR MARINE SPECIES. THE FIELD STATION HOSTED APPROXIMATELY 120 STUDENTS FROM 10 INSTITUTIONS FOR WEEKLONG MARINE SCIENCE FIELD COURSES. ADDITIONAL WEEKLONG PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE EARLY CAREER WORKSHOP WHICH SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 13 MARINE SCIENTISTS, AND EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS WHICH SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 28 TEACHERS. THE RESEARCH EFFORTS PRODUCED VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC OUTPUTS. THIS PAST YEAR OUR TEAM CONTRIBUTED TO 6 SCIENTIFIC MANUSCRIPTS THAT ARE IN STAGES OF REVIEW OR PUBLICATION, AND 5 SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS. OUR DATA ARE SUPPORTING 10 STUDENT LED RESEARCH PROJECTS AND SEVERAL OTHER LARGE-SCALE COLLABORATIONS. OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC TO IMPROVE OVERALL EDUCATION REGARDING MARINE CONSERVATION. WE INTERACTED WITH MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE AT PUBLIC EVENTS, HAD 700 GUESTS AT THE FIELD STATION, AND PRESENTED TO 2,900 PEOPLE THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

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 October 13, 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 May 2012.

    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 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.