Marine Resources Development Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 19% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 211 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WE INSPIRE TODAY'S STUDENTS TO BECOME TOMORROW'S OCEAN PROTECTORS THROUGH ENGAGING, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, GUIDED FIELD TRIPS, VIRTUAL CLASSES, FREE LEARNING RESOURCES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. OUR MARINELAB UNDERSEA LABORATORY MUSEUM INVITES THE PUBLIC TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK IN AN UNDERSEA RESEARCH STATION.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $11.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 19%
- Reserves
- 14.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $84,761, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1519% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 211 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $2.2 million spent. OUR PROGRAMS INTRODUCED 7,000 PEOPLE TO MARINE SCIENCE CONCEPTS THROUGH HANDS-ON LABS, DISCUSSION ACTIVITIES, CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS, AND SNORKELING EXPLORATIONS BY BOAT. FOR MANY PARTICIPANTS, THIS IS THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE OCEAN. OVER 100 TEACHERS, INCLUDING SEVERAL FROM CARIBBEAN NATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. OUR CURRICULUM IS BASED ON PEER-REVIEWED SCIENCE. FIELD EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO INCREASE RETENTION OF KNOWLEDGE, PLUS THE STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING NATURE UNPLUGGED IN AN INCREASINGLY PLUGGED-IN WORLD. VIRTUAL EMARINELAB PROGRAMS INCLUDE INTERACTING WITH A LIVE MARINE SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR AND REACHED 1800 PARTICIPANTS IN 2023. FREE LEARNING RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES.
- THE MARINELAB UNDERSEA LABORATORY HOSTED RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHILE IT WAS SUBMERGED IN OUR LAGOON FROM 1985 - 2018. AFTER IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE WATER IN 2018, IT WAS RENOVATED AND TURNED INTO AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN EXPERIENCE THAT MIMICS THE FEELING OF BEING IN A WORKING UNDERSEA RESEARCH STATION.
- MARINELAB CONDUCTS OUTREACH PROGRAMS THROUGH HOSTING EVENTS ON SITE, SUCH AS OUR MONTHLY FREE FAMILY DAYS, AND HAVING A PRESENCE AT LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING NEW ABOUT THE OCEAN THIS YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 2024.
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 September 1985.
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.