The Center for Aquatic Sciences Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION AND PROTECTION OF AQUATIC LIFE AND HABITATS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, CONSERVATION VENTURES BOTH GLOBALLY AND LOCALLY AND ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 17.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 43%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 146
- Highest pay
- $113,502, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (1)
- $923,308 spent. THE CAUSE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF UNDER REPRESENTED MINORITIES IN THE SCIENCE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE AND TO PROVIDE QUALITY SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH K-12. BRIEFLY DESCRIBED, THE CAUSE PROGRAM TRAINS HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH IN MARINE SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY TO PREPARE THEM FOR PAID EMPLOYMENT AS "CAUSE INTERNS," IN JOBS AS SUMMER SCIENCE CAMP EDUCATION AND AS EDUCATORS AND MENTORS FOR YOUNGSTERS K-8 IN THE AFTERSCHOOL SCIENCE CLUBS. TEEN INTERNS IN THE CAUSE PROGRAM HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCCESSES IN EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING THAT GREATLY ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM, WIDEN HORIZONS, AND INDELIBLY SHAPE AMBITIONS FOR FUTURE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, THE TEENS ARE THE EXPERT THE PERSON TO WHOM PEOPLE WILL LISTEN AND LEARN. EQUALLY POWERFUL BENEFITS RESULT FOR THE K-8 YOUNGSTERS WHO HAVE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEENAGERS FROM THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, WHO ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ROLE MODELS AND COMMITTED TEACHERS. 100% OF CAUSE SENIORS HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL (150 SINCE 1993). THIS FACT IS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE GIVEN THE DROPOUT RATE OF CAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT EXCEEDS 50% AND THE FACT THAT TEENS ARE RECRUITED INTO THE PROGRAM WITHOUT REGARD TO SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 October 1993.
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 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.