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Marine Mammal Center

EIN 51-0144434 · Sausalito, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER ADVANCES GLOBAL OCEAN CONSERVATION THROUGH MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION. THE CENTER'S WORK IS GUIDED AND INSPIRED BY A SHARED VISION OF A HEALTHY OCEAN FOR MARINE MAMMALS AND HUMANS ALIKE.

Income
$18.6 million
Spending
$23.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
156
Volunteers
1,200
Highest pay
$309,773, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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. $14.5 million spent. PROGRAM #1: RESCUE AND REHABILITATION: THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER RESCUES AND REHABILITATES SICK AND INJURED MARINE MAMMALS AT ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY FACILITIES BY ENGAGING A DEDICATED WORKFORCE AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. SINCE 1975, THE CENTER HAS RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 27,000 MARINE MAMMALS, INCLUDING SEA LIONS, ELEPHANT SEALS, HARBOR SEALS, FUR SEALS, SEA OTTERS, AND MORE. IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS FROM EXTINCTION, THE CENTER OPENED THE FIRST-EVER REHABILITATION FACILITY DEVOTED TO THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES IN 2014, AND SINCE THEN HAS REHABILITATED NEARLY 30 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 1,600 INDIVIDUALS. THE CENTER ADMITTED OVER 1,100 MARINE MAMMALS WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO RECORDED MORE THAN 133,000 (CONTINUED IN SCHED O) VOLUNTEER HOURS SERVED, AN ESTIMATED WORKFORCE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $5.3 MILLION AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
  2. $4.0 million spent. PROGRAM #2: EDUCATION: THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER LEADS AS A TEACHING HOSPITAL BY TRAINING VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND INSPIRING FUTURE OCEAN STEWARDS THROUGH INNOVATIVE SCHOOL AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IN 2025, THE CENTER ENGAGED MORE THAN 44,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING WITH HANDS-ON TRAININGS, SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGAGED CITIZENS.
  3. PROGRAM #3: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER LEARNS FROM THE PATIENTS IN ITS CARE AND CONTRIBUTES TO SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHANGING HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN, TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS OCEAN THREATS AND SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 1995.

    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.