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Dolphin Research Center Inc

EIN 59-2072869 · Grassy Key, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDING SANCTUARY AND A FOREVER HOME SINCE 1984.THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND RESCUE, DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER PROMOTES PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MARINE MAMMALS, HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT WE SHARE WITH THE WELL BEING OF DRC'S ANIMALS TAKING PRECEDENCE.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
120
Volunteers
92
Highest pay
$253,811, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.3 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS RANGING IN LENGTH FROM 1 HOUR TO 1 WEEK AND VARIED IN SPECIFIC FOCUS/DEPTH OF MATERIAL AND FORMATION OF DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER TRAINING INSTITUTE. ALL SERVE TO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS FOR DOLPHIN HISTORY, CONSERVATION ISSUES AND INTERACTIONS WITH HUMANS.DRC WELCOMED APPROX 50,000 GUESTS TO DRC TO MEET ITS FAMILY OF DOLPHINS AND SEA LIONS. GUESTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT DRC'S MISSION STATEMENT, FROM ADMISSIONS TO INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS TO PRIVATE CUSTOM PROGRAMS. DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER PARTNERS WITH WOUNDED WARRIORS AND HOSTS THE ANNUAL SOLDIER RIDE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS THROUGH ENDOWMENTS FROM THE CHARLES EVANS FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS PROJECT ODYSSEY AND CUSTOM PROGRAMS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. ADDITIONALLY, DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTERSTRIVES TO EDUCATE THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY* BY SPONSORING ALL LOCAL MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITS, TOM'S HARBOR BRIDGE CLEANUP, 7-MILE BRIDGE RUN, LOCAL CHAMBER EVENTS, AND OCEAN DAY CELEBRATION. DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER ALSO PARTNERS WITH FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE AS THE PRIMARY MANATEE RESCUE AGENT IN MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA.
  2. $426,198 spent. RESEARCH: INVESTIGATIONS INTO DOLPHIN PHYSIOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR. ASSISTANCE TO INJURED/ILL MANATEES, COLLECTING PHYSICAL DATA. PROVIDING VARIOUS RECREATIONAL MOTIVATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. FIELD RESEARCH PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2014 AND CONTINUES TO OBSERVE AND IDENTIFY POPULATIONS OF WILD DOLPHINS IN THE MIDDLE KEYS IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS WELL AS COLLABORATE WITH OTHER WILD DOLPHIN POPULATION STUDIES IN THE REGION.
  3. $173,180 spent. MEMBERSHIP: PROVIDING REGULAR PUBLICATIONS CONTAINING A BROAD RANGE OF DOLPHIN AND CONVERSATION INFORMATION, FOSTERING CONCERN FOR DOLPHINS IN GENERAL AND ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.