Noyo Center for Marine Science
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Conservation and restoration of marine and coastal natural resources. This incudes the provision and promotion of scientific research and public education in the sciences relating to marine and coastal resources.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $102,243, executive 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 58% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $950,330 spent. Noyo Center celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary, marking the following decadal accomplishments: Established three facilities: Crows Nest Interpretive Center, Discovery Center, and Marine Field Station. Welcomed over 175,000 visitors across all facilities. Supported extensive community science programs, including urchin dockside sampling, intertidal sea star search, phytoplankton sampling, beach surveys for marine mammals, etc. Educated more than 20,000 youth. Hosted over 75 science talks. Removed more than 5,000 pounds of trash from beaches. Advanced regenerative aquaculture initiatives. Contributed to marine mammal research responding to over 700 animals and creating an extensive specimen collection. Kelp Recovery: Noyo Center launched a land-based regenerative aquaculture pilot project at its Field Station in Noyo Harbor to cultivate seaweeds and marine animals in ways that actively restore and improve ocean ecosystems and support the local economy. We have built a recirculating water system in a shipping container, pulling water from Noyo River on high tides. Purple urchin were the first animals in the system, testing the water quality while we explored ways to reduce grazing pressure on kelp and create a restorative seafood product. Community engagement was conducted throughout the process to keep students and the public informed and engaged. The following is being planned for aquaculture in partnership with Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Bodega Marine Lab, CA Sea Grant, Moss Landing Marine Lab and others: Urchin ranching: creating kelp oasis zone off Kashias tribal lands by removing empty, unmarketable purple urchin and turning them into a valuable restorative seafood product. This work contributed to kelp forest restoration and sustainable seafood markets. Abalone Captive Breeding Program: Once permitted, adult wild abalone will be added to the system and fed until the become reproductive again. Abalone will be taken from the Mendocino coast in hopes of restocking the restoration zones in the future. Seaweed Tumble Culture: Dulse seaweed donated to Noyo Center from Monterey Seaweeds is now growing in tumble tanks to feed the abalone and the urchin. Marine Ecosystem Resiliency Project: Noyo Center launched its Resiliency Project at the Field Station in Noyo Harbor, with the following objectives: Advanced sea-level rise adaptation planning for the Field Station to serve as an example to other property owners in the harbor. This work is complimenting work done by the City of Fort Bragg and the County of Mendocino on SLR vulnerability. Continue collaboration on kelp forest restoration, primarily in Sonoma coast. Marine Mammal Stranding & Research Led marine mammal stranding response along the Mendocino Coast in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences, The Marine Mammal Center, Cal Poly Humboldt, and NOAA as part of West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Led data collection efforts, specimen preparation and participated in cetacean necropsies. Expanded educational opportunities for interns and volunteers. Ocean Science Center Planning: Noyo advanced schematic design-phase work for the future Ocean Science Center. Planned features include research labs, a triage center, exhibit hall with 73-foot blue whale skeleton, aquarium, classrooms, and net-zero energy design. Education & Community Engagement Welcomed more than 29,000 visitors to the Discovery Center Science Museum and Crows Nest Interpretive Center. Provided hands-on learning to more than 500 students through school partnerships, after school programs, camps, and field trips. Offered more than 30 public programs including Science Talks, Whale Festival, and KelpFest! Engaged 104 volunteers who contributed more than 6,000 hours.
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 March 2015.
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.