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Altasea at the Port of Los Angeles

EIN 46-3977904 · San Pedro, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ALTASEA AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES IS DEDICATED TO ACCELERATING SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION, ADVANCING AN EMERGING BLUE ECONOMY THROUGH BUSINESS INNOVATION AND JOB CREATION, AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION, ALL FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE, JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD.

Income
$18.3 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
45
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$370,721, president/ceo

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 19 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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.8 million spent. BUSINESS: ALTASEA NURTURES NEW AND EXISTING COMMERCIAL OCEAN-RELATED PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND JOBS THROUGH OUR BLUE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY ALLIANCE (BLUESEA). AMONG OUR MORE THAN 40 ACTIVE BUSINESS LEADERS ARE ECOWAVE POWER, PACIFIC6, RCAM, BLUE ROBOTICS, AND HOLDFAST AQUAFARMS.
  2. $108,000 spent. SCIENCE: WE BRING THE WORLD'S FINEST MARINE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS TOGETHER TO CONDUCT BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH AND DISCOVER SOLUTIONS TO FOOD AND ENERGY SUPPLY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND OCEAN EXPLORATION. TODAY MORE THAN 30 LEADING UNIVERSITIES ARE INVOLVED WITH ALTASEA INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES; UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO; CAL TECH'S JET PROPULSION LABORATORY; AND THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE INSTITUTE.
  3. $66,222 spent. EDUCATION: ALTASEA IS PIONEERING PROGRAMS THAT IMMERSE CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE OCEAN'S CRITICAL ROLE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET. IN ADDITION TO THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (INCLUDING INGLEWOOD AND LAWNDALE), 15+ COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WORK WITH ALTASEA INCLUDING: BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE LA HARBOR, SANTA MONICA COLLEGE, WILMINGTON'S STRENGTH BASED COMMUNITY CHANGE (SBCC), AND THE WATTS ENTREPRENEUR EDUCATION CENTER. ALTASEA OCEAN PATHWAYS PROGRAM (ASOP) IS THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN CALIFORNIA THAT AIMS TO EXPAND FORMAL AND INFORMAL OCEAN STEM LEARNING FROM A YOUNG AGE TO DEVELOP A SKILLED WORKFORCE FOR THIS EMERGING SECTOR IN THE GLOBAL OCEAN ECONOMY. ALTASEA WORKS CLOSELY WITH 14+ COLLEGES THROUGH THEIR BLUE ECONOMY CLIMATE ACTION PATHWAYS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUMS TO ENSURE THEIR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEW JOBS IN THESE SECTORS.
  4. $1.5 million spent. CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT AND OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: ALTASEA IS DEDICATED TO IGNITING ENGAGEMENT & EXCITEMENT IN PERSONS OF ALL AGES & BACKGROUNDS WITH PROGRAMS THAT COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE OCEAN AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR LIVES.

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 2024.

    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 May 2014.

    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.