California Ocean Science Tr
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CALIFORNIA OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST (OST) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ACCELERATING PROGRESS TOWARDS A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE OCEAN FUTURE FOR CALIFORNIA. CREATED BY STATE LEGISLATION, OST BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND SOUND OCEAN MANAGEMENT. OST DELIVERS ON THIS MANDATE BY DRAWING RESOURCES TO SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED SCIENCE, SUPPORTING GRADUATE EDUCATION TO FOSTER THE SCIENCE-POLICY WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW, AND DELIVERING PRAGMATIC, SALIENT SCIENCE ADVISE TO CALIFORNIA POLICYMAKERS, REGULATORS, AND MANAGERS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 72 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $194,314, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 72.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 September 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)
- $1.6 million spent. Program accomplishments this year included serving as science advisor to California, developing and creating an ocean health status, which will be published in the coming months; convening stakeholders, including state and federal government staff, on federal fisheries disasters and insurance; advancing state of the science flood risk assessment, modeling, and communications materials in collaboration with Cal Dept of Insurance; convening briefings for lawmakers on wildfires and their impacts on the ocean and coast, Harmful Algal Blooms, and eDNA; launching our SeaChange Scholars Fund pilot, which pairs graduate level students with state research priorities in partnership with CDFW and university partners; and working with the Oregon Ocean Science Trust and counterparts in Washington state to convene a series of stakeholder meetings within coastal communities with the goal of collaboratively developing a West Coast Ocean Science Action Agenda.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 December 2005.
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.