Organization of Biological Field Stations Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To assist members in providing infrastructure for exemplary scientific research, innovative & effective learning & informed natural resource stewardship. To enhance the capacity of field stations through training & information sharing. To educate the public and decision makers about the critical role of field stations in scientific research and education. To enhance public support for funding field stations and the activities supported at field stations.
- Income
- $129,658
- Spending
- $137,486
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 81.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $1,000, network coordinator
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 81.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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.
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, 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 (4)
- $65,418 spent. One of the most important functions of the OBFS is providing networking capacity among about 130 field stations and 40 individual members throughout the world. The professional field station network is maintained with a website that contains a variety of information, such as a map with the locations of member field stations, examples of field station policies, and information on special events, funding opportunities, and jobs postings. A complete revision of the website was finished in 2024 and the OBFS hired a website administrator contractor ($10,495) to maintain the website and spent $3,572 on website maintenance. Annual meetings are a second way that OBFS maintains a professional network. In 2024 the OBFS annual meeting was held in November (to miss peak hurricane season) at The Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, Georgetown, South Carolina. Final expenses of the 2024 meeting were paid in early 2025 ($32,035). The 2025 annual meeting was held at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, Colorado ($8,312). Participants attended workshops on timely topics and heard a variety of speakers and met many other field station managers. Several member stations were recognized for their efforts to increase the involvement, engagement and sustainability of underrepresented groups in field science ($1,504). Travel assistance was given to a small number of Board members without institutional support ($2,875). Early and middle career travel awards were also given to two members to attend the annual meeting ($6,927). The OBFS continues to build connections with the communities where annual meetings are held by holding a local fundraising event in an effort to showcase the work of field stations to the general public ($2,677).
- $36,159 spent. As part of its strategic plan, OBFS worked to increase its international presence. OBFS made a concerted effort to increase international membership by establishing an International Matching Program (Resources spent in 2025 = $16,578). This program brings two or more stations together to deepen networking opportunities throughout our international community or jump start multi-year research projects or collaborations across diverse lands and expertise. Findings from visits are presented at "Virtual Cafe" talks four times annually. These talks are simultaneously translated into English or Spanish ($450). A second related program, the Station Exchange program, provides travel awards for field station staff to visit other field stations in the OBFS network for shadowing, cross-training, and mentoring opportunities as a way to connect with peers (Resources spent in 2025 = $7,831). Finally, OBFS established a mini-grants program to support small research or infrastructure projects that support strategic planning goals (Resources spent in 2025 = $11,300). OBFS is an all volunteer organization and spent $3,422 in office administrative expenses.
- $13,563 spent. The education of the public and decision makers about the critical role of field stations for experiential learning, the blending of art and natural history, and the support of scientific research is a major program service accomplishment of OBFS. The OBFS continues to be a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) ($6,250), a confederation of smaller scientific organizations that provides educational, professional, and public policy opportunities on behalf of the group. This year OBFS contributed to Congressional Visits Day, a program sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. This program allows members to meet with their Congressional state delegation to inform them of the role of field stations in scientific research, conservation, and the education of a new generation of scientists. OBFS also paid the registration fees for 3 members to attend these programs ($5,921). The OBFS continued to support the Virtual Field, an effort to create and distribute virtual learning resources that focused on teaching observational skills through virtual experiences from field stations and marine laboratories to support faculty, students, and others ($1,393).
- $15,000 spent. The OBFS received a generous grant from the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, San Francisco, CA ($15,0000). In 2024 this grant supported the research of three graduate students at field stations. The success of this program led the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation to grant an additional $50,000 to support graduate student field research and early career earth sciences research at member field stations in 2026. The OBFS will solicit grant applications from member stations in February 2026 to award grant money for the 2026 field season.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 May 2008.
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.