Passes our checks

Dolphin Biology Research Institute Inc

EIN 59-2288387 · Sarasota, FL

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

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

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
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$793,409 spent. CONDUCTING BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH THROUGH FIELD STUDIES OF THE BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS INCLUDING:(1) COLLECTING BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND HEALTH DATA OF IMPORTANCE TO THE CONSERVATION OF SMALL CETACEANS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS,(2) PROVIDING REQUISITE INFORMATION FOR BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN CONSERVATION TO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES,(3) DISSEMINATING THE INFORMATION GENERATED BY OUR PROGRAM TO SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL AUDIENCES IN ORDER TO AID DOLPHIN CONSERVATION EFFORTS,(4) USING OUR MODEL PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND REFINE HYPOTHESES REGARDING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE SPECIES' RANGE AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIES OF SMALL CETACEANS,(5) USING THE ESTABLISHED NATURAL LABORATORY TO DEVELOP AND TEST NEW RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES OF POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS,(6) TRAINING CETACEAN CONSERVATION WORKERS AND STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN THE USE OF THESE TECHNIQUES,(7) APPLYING OUR UNIQUE PROGRAM EXPERTISE TO DOLPHIN RESCUE OPERATIONS AND POST-RELEASE FOLLOW-UP MONITORING, AND (8) APPLYING THE INFORMATION WE GATHER FROM FREE-RANGING DOLPHINS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR DOLPHINS IN ZOOLOGICAL PARK SETTINGS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 6, 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 December 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 January 1984.
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 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.