Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To conduct pure and applied research, provide both structured education programs and information in non-instructional formats for individuals, organizations, and governance interested in and dependent upon the coastal and marine environment.
- Income
- $39.5 million
- Spending
- $36.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 197
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $252,274, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 54% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 September 30, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. University Programs-support both graduate and undergraduate degrees of the 22 member institutions. Students utilize resources at MESC as an integral part of their education (300 students per year)
- $1.7 million spent. Discovery Hall Program-Intended to increase understanding and appreciation for science and the marine environment by directly involving participants in the environment with dynamic, hands on activities, k-12 students, teacher training and enhancement programs (10,000 students per year).
- $7.0 million spent. Research-faculty conduct research in disciplines ranging from biochemistry to paleobiology. Mobile Bay is the overwhelmingly dominant natural feature of the Alabama coast and MESC has concentrated its efforts on the Bay - although research is carried out as far as Antarctica (100 projects)
- $1.5 million spent. Education, General/Other, The Alabama Aquarium-Exciting visual displays and engaging interactive exhibits present an unforgettable educational experience. Focuses on the four main ecosystems of Mobile Bay, includes and exhibit hall, weather station and living marsh boardwalk. (100,000 visitors per year)
- $21.5 million spent. Natural Resources Conservation & Protection. Mobile Bay National Estuary Program - to provide and maintain stewardship of the water quality characteristics and wise stewardship of the living resources of the Mobile Bay Estuary System (565,000 people)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.