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Reef Guardians Hawaii

EIN 47-3975420 · Princeville, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Reef Guardians' mission is reef preservation through research, restoration, and education.

Income
$200,868
Spending
$138,079
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
5
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$71,417, exec direct/sec

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $83,381 spent. EDUCATION - REEF GUARDIANS EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDS AWARENESS ABOUT CORAL REEF THREATS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE REEF, WETLANDS AND NEARSHORE ENVIRONMENTS. REEF CAMP, REEF GUARDIANS UNIQUE YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, OPERATES SCHOOL FIELD STUDY AND SCHOOL BREAK PROGRAMS. SERVING OVER 300 CHILDREN AGES 8-13 IN 2024, THE WEEKLY CAMPS PROVIDED INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE, ARTS, HAWAIIAN CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, AND DIRECT LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE OCEAN ENVIRONMENT. REEF GUARDIANS HAWAII DEVELOPED AND IS DISTRIBUTING THE "HAWAII SEALIFE" APP, A FREE IOS/ANDROID TOOL DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND PROMOTE RESPECTFUL, PROTECTIVE INTERACTIONS WITH HAWAIIS SHORELINES AND REEFS. THIS ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION APP OFFERS ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO HELP USERS TO APPRECIATE AND SAFEGUARD THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.REEF GUARDIANS LAUNCHED AN EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN 2024 CALLED THE "KE KULA KAI ONLINE SEA SCHOOL." THIS PROGRAM BUILDS ON OUR REEF CAMP CURRICULUM, COVERING 15 KEY TOPICS TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF OCEAN ECOLOGY AND THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. EACH TOPIC COMBINES OCEAN SCIENCE, CONSERVATION, AND HAWAIIAN CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE TO FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO PLACE, AS AN EXTENTION OF OUR REEF CAMP AND HAWAII SEALIFE APP.THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, REEF GUARDIANS PROVIDED AND INSTALLED EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE AT HARBORS AND BEACHES, PROTECTING SHARKS IN THEIR NATURAL NEAR-SHORE FEEDING AREAS. REEF GUARDIANS IS REPLACING AND INSTALLING NEW SIGNS WHERE NEEDED. REEF GUARDIANS HAWAII PUBLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON LAND-BASED POLLUTION IMPACTING KAUA'I'S ?ANINI (WANINI) LAGOON. THIS REPORT, ALONG WITH ACTION STEPS TAKEN, WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENT, AND NON-PROFIT AGENCIES THROUGH PUBLIC EVENTS AND FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE REEF GUARDIANS HAWAI'I WEBSITE. ADULT EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WERE HELD ACROSS KAUA'I AND IN SANTA BARBARA BY REEF GUARDIANS, WITH PARTICIPATION FROM CORAL AND SHARK EXPERTS, TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTIVE ACTIONS.
  2. $29,211 spent. RESEARCH AND MONITORING:- FOUR AREAS OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING CONDUCTED DURING THIS YEAR: STUDY OF LAND-BASED OCEAN POLLUTION ON KAUA?I FOCUSED ON WATER QUALITY IN ANINI LAGOON, WAILE?IA STREAM (PRINCEVILLE), AND MOLOA?A BAY. IN 2023, REEF GUARDIANS HAWAII PUBLISHED AN EXTENSIVE REPORT WITH RECOMMENDED ACTIONS. IN 2024, WE INITITED A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED WATER QUALITY TESTING PROGRAM TO CONTINUE RESEARCH AND INFORM REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION.OUR MONITORING OF JUVENILE WHITE SHARKS IN CALIFORNIA LED TO AN EXTENDED COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP PROTECTING SHARKS IN THEIR NATURAL NEAR-SHORE FEEDING AREAS. OUR DRONE MONITORING OF LEAKING OFF-SHORE OIL WELLS IN CALIFORNIA CONTRIBUTED TO A PARTNERSHIP PLANNING STUDY WITH A MULTI-AGENCY TEAM FUNDED TO ADDRESS THE LEAKING OIL WELL HEADS IN THE SANTA BARBARA AREA. OUR MONITORING OF KAUA?I'S OCEAN REEFS ASSISTED THE HAWAII STATE DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES IN REMOVING NON-NATIVE SPECIES IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIALLY NEWLY INTRODUCED INVASIVE SPECIES OF HIGH CONCERN.

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 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 August 2015.

    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 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.