Pacific Mammal Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We are a scientific research organization whose primary exempt purpose is to collect, analyze and share data on wild harbor porpoise and harbor seal populations to improve their conservation. Our mission is to understand and protect harbor porpoises and harbor seals of the Salish Sea through innovative scientific research, engaging educational outreach, and hands-on learning opportunities. Our vision is to provide information that is crucial to creating biologically meaningful conservation measures for marine mammals of the Salish Sea, and build a community that is engaged in protecting the marine world they depend on. We have 3 main programs: 1. land based marine mammal research, 2. community science and internships, 3. boat based marine mammal research and eDNA studies.
- Income
- $81,405
- Spending
- $51,986
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Highest pay
- $30,415, assistant research director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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 (3)
- $43,571 spent. 1. Land based marine mammal research. The primary goal of Pacific Mammal Research is to conduct long-term monitoring of harbor porpoise and harbor seal populations through photo-identification and behavioral studies. The core of our work is collecting land-based data in the field and all of our outputs come from this data. In 2025 our 3 part-time staff conducted over 280 hours in the field and over 2,600 hours in the office analyzing data, writing papers, and giving presentations, along with administrative and program development work that is needed to run the organization. We published 1 peer reviewed scientific paper and submitted a chapter for publication. We gave many presentations and interviews to the media on our work. We also presented at 1 workshop (Ways of Whales) and 3 government working group meetings (PSEMP Marine Mammal Working Group). We collaborated and strengthened relations with 3 regional nonprofits (The Salish Sea School, Bay Cetology and Finwave.io) and developed 4 data procedures that enhanced our data collection and analyses.
- $6,918 spent. 2. Community science and internships. Through our field work and data analyses, we provide opportunities for involvement of our local community, and in particular provide internships to young scientists. We engaged with 150 community members, including volunteers helping us with field/office work, community scientists who conduct their own observations, and interns who help conduct field work and complete a data analysis project. This includes 600 field work hours for volunteers, interns and community scientists, and more than 1,400 hours of project work completed by interns. We also provide educational outreach through podcasts, YouTube channel videos, social media, festivals and educational presentations. We tabled at 6 festivals and gave 21 public talks (reaching more than 2200 people). Our social media reaches almost 5,000 people. This effort builds local capacity and supports scientific literacy in the community.
- $1,497 spent. 3. Boat based marine mammal research and eDNA studies. In addition to our land-based fieldwork, we have added a boat-based component. This allows us to collect photos and behavioral data from other locations, expanding the information we can collect about harbor porpoise and harbor seal movements, site fidelity and behavior. We are also collecting eDNA from water samples to look at harbor porpoise genetic population structure. We partnered with The Salish Sea school on eDNA trips, using their boat, which reduced our costs. We also collected and started the initial processing of another 17 eDNA samples.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 January 2026.
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 December 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 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.