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Save Barnegat Bay Inc

EIN 47-4130132 · Toms River, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT BARNEGAT BAY AND ITS ECOSYSTEM. WE ADVANCE OUR MISSION BY BEING A STRONG AND INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE BAY THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED, INCLUDING ALL OF OCEAN AND PART OF MONMOUTH COUNTIES. WE DO THIS THROUGH EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TARGETED ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS THAT ENGAGE OUR SUPPORTERS WHO CHERISH THE BAY AS A NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, AND ECONOMICAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF NEW JERSEY. OUR SUPPORTERS GENEROUSLY BACK THE WORK OF SAVE BARNEGAT BAY, GIVING US FLEXIBILITY AND A STRONG FOUNDATION FROM WHICH TO GROW.

Income
$880,315
Spending
$999,832
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $527,265 spent. ADVOCACY AND POLICY ACTIONIN 2024, SAVE BARNEGAT BAY ADVANCED WATERSHED PROTECTIONS THROUGH LEGAL, POLICY, AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS APPEAL OF THE NJDEP-BASF NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES SETTLEMENT FOR THE CIBA-GEIGY SUPERFUND SITE, ENSURING SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RESTORATION DECISIONS. SBB ASSISTED MULTIPLE TOWNS-INCLUDING BRICK, LACEY, AND STAFFORD-IN EVALUATING OVER-DEVELOPMENT, SHORELINE EROSION, AND CAFRA/STORMWATER APPLICATIONS, AND CONDUCTED TECHNICAL REVIEWS WITH PRINCETON HYDRO AND PARTNER EXPERTS.THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY CAPTAINS PROGRAM, SBB HOSTED SEVEN MEETINGS WITH 54 PARTICIPANTS, EMPOWERING LOCAL LEADERS TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY IN PERMITTING AND PLANNING. SBB ALSO COLLABORATED ON STATEWIDE PLASTICS AND STORMWATER LEGISLATION AND REPRESENTED THE BAY IN MORE THAN 30 REGULATORY AND PUBLIC-POLICY FORUMS.
  2. $203,371 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACHFOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLE THAT AWARENESS LEADS TO EDUCATION, AND EDUCATION EMPOWERS ACTION, SAVE BARNEGAT BAY DELIVERED OVER 100 PROGRAMS REACHING MORE THAN 5,000 PARTICIPANTS AND GENERATING ? 16,000 IMPRESSIONS ACROSS 25+ MUNICIPALITIES.HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE THIS WAY TO BARNEGAT BAY SCHOOL INITIATIVE, THE SUMMER STEAM SERIES, AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TOTALING 840 HOURS. THROUGH THE SMART YARD HEALTHY BAY CAMPAIGN, SBB BUILT OR DISTRIBUTED 258 RAIN BARRELS ACROSS EIGHT TOWNS, HELPING RESIDENTS REDUCE STORMWATER RUNOFF. THE STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTED 17 STUDENTS ON 7 PROJECTS PRESENTED PUBLICLY DURING THE SUMMER. SBB ALSO HOSTED THREE SCREENINGS OF THE DOCUMENTARY DRIFT, REACHING 140 ATTENDEES.GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVES INCLUDED STOP THE STING (JELLYFISH POLYP ABATEMENT), THE TOMS RIVER PATHOGEN TRACK-DOWN PROJECT, AND THE MUNICIPAL STORMWATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
  3. $114,715 spent. PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSSBB MAINTAINED FIVE NATIVE-PLANT DEMONSTRATION GARDENS AND EXPANDED THE EMILY DECAMP HERBARIUM COLLECTION AT ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY, AND THE ECOCENTER. THE ECOCENTER SERVED AS A COMMUNITY HUB FOR SCOUT TROOPS, GREEN TEAMS, AND PARTNER NONPROFITS. SBB LED EIGHT CLEANUPS THAT MOBILIZED 90 VOLUNTEERS FOR 195 HOURS, REMOVING 49 BAGS (? 150 LBS) OF LITTER FROM SITES IN WARETOWN, TOMS RIVER, JACKSON, POINT PLEASANT, BERKELEY, AND SEASIDE HEIGHTS. STAFF ALSO REPRESENTED SBB AT MAJOR REGIONAL EVENTS SUCH AS ACUA EARTH DAY (? 10,000 VISITORS) AND LBIF BAY DAY, EXPANDING OUTREACH AND MERCHANDISE FUNDRAISING.

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 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 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 February 2016.

    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.