Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Oceana Inc

EIN 51-0401308 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$34.7 million
Spending
$45.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
175
Volunteers
35,149
Highest pay
$554,390, counsel thru 7/24; ceo as of 7/24

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 27 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

    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 (5)
  1. $16.2 million spent. INTERNATIONALIN THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE OCEANA OPERATES, OUR TEAMS WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO WIN POLICIES THAT PROTECT FISHERIES AND LIVELIHOODS THAT DEPEND ON A HEALTHY OCEAN. OUR CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS THAT SERVE AS SANCTUARIES FOR COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISH TO BREED AND GROW, REFORMING OUTDATED FISHERY LAWS TO REQUIRE SCIENCE-BASED CATCH LIMITS, TRACKING OF FISHING VESSELS, AND PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT PLANS, BANNING THE USE OF DAMAGING BOTTOM TRAWLS, PROTECTING MARINE RESOURCES FOR SMALL-SCALE FISHERS, REBUILDING THE POPULATIONS OF FORAGE FISH TO STRENGTHEN THE MARINE FOOD CHAIN, PROTECT "BLUE-CARBON" ECOSYSTEMS SUCH AS KELP FORESTS AND MANGROVES FROM POLLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, BAN NEW OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING, AND LIMIT THE USE OF THROWAWAY PLASTIC THAT ENDS UP IN THE OCEAN.CORPORATE PLASTICS CAMPAIGNOCEANA HAS SUCCESSFULLY PRESSURED AMAZON, THE WORLD'S LARGEST ONLINE RETAILER, TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC THEY USE IN THEIR PACKAGING. WE ARE ALSO CAMPAIGNING FOR MAJOR BEVERAGE COMPANIES TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF REFILLABLE AND REUSABLE BOTTLES OFFERED TO CONSUMERS. WE ARE WORKING WITH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND VENUES TO SWAP THROWAWAY PLASTIC CUPS FOR REUSABLE CONTAINER, POTENTIALLY KEEPING MILLIONS OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS OUT OF WATERWAYS THAT LEAD TO THE OCEAN.SAILORS FOR THE SEA POWERED BY OCEANAOCEANA IS BUILDING A BASE OF ENGAGED OCEAN CONSERVATIONISTS WITHIN THE GLOBAL SAILING AND BOATING COMMUNITY. OUR GREEN BOATERS TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF OCEANA'S CAMPAIGNS AND RAISE FUND WITH IN LOW-DOLLAR DONATIONS. OCEANA'S CLEAN REGATTAS PROGRAM IS THE WORLD'S LEADING SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION FOR WATER-BASED SPORTING EVENTS. OUR KIDS ENVIRONMENTAL LESSON PLANS (KELP) PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO EDUCATES AND INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAILORS TO BECOME OCEAN ADVOCATES.
  2. $10.6 million spent. UNITED STATESIN THE UNITED STATES, OCEANA IS WORKING ON SCIENCE-BASED POLICY CAMPAIGNS TO STOP NEW OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT, REDUCE ILLEGAL FISHING, PROTECT MARINE HABITAT, SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES, REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, AND DEFEND THE NATION'S CONSERVATION LAWS.IN 2024, OUR CAMPAIGN GOALS INCLUDED BANNING NEW OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING IN 625 MILLION ACRES OF FEDERAL WATERS, REBUILDING THE POPULATIONS OF PACIFIC SARDINES, THE BASIS OF THE FOOD CHAIN IN THE WATERS OFF THE US WEST COAST, SAVING ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM THE THREATS OF SHIP COLLISIONS AND ENTANGLEMENT IN FISHING GEAR, PROTECTING FRAGILE SEAFLOOR HABITAT IN ALASKA FROM DESTRUCTIVE BOTTOM TRAWLING, SUPPORTING THE USE OF TRAPS AND NETS THAT DO NOT INDISCRIMINATELY KILL THOUSANDS OF UN-TARGETED MARINE ANIMALS, ENACTING POLICIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT BAN UNNECESSARY SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, AND DEFENDING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT, THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT, AND THE MAGNUSON STEVENS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT FROM ATTEMPTS TO WEAKEN LEGISLATION OR DEFUND AGENCIES THAT ENFORCE THESE LAWS.
  3. $2.9 million spent. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONSKEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF OCEANA'S MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IN 2024 ARE HIGHLIGHTED BELOW:- OCEANA'S GRASSROOTS BASE CONSISTED OF 6.3 MILLION ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORTERS. - OCEANA HAS 9 MILLION SUPPORTERS WORLDWIDE.
  4. $2.8 million spent. MARINE SCIENCE
  5. $690,183 spent. LAW

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 January 2000.

    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.