Ocean Blue Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Ocean Blue Project is a grassroots environmental charitable organization with a Mission to protect the health of humans, our One World Ocean, beaches, and rivers through collaborative community driven plastic pollution relief, service learning projects, scientific research, and youth education
- Income
- $536,454
- Spending
- $262,763
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $15,000, executive dir.
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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 109% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 (1)
- $183,435 spent. Create a CleanUp Program Report Our incredible team of 23 CleanUp Crew Leaders has brought communities together nationwide, organizing a total of 377 dedicated volunteers across eight of our 15 active states (CA, FL, SC, OR, WA, CO, MA, and ME) for local cleanup efforts. Through their enthusiasm and steadfast commitment, these teams collectively removed an impressive 189,240 pounds of plastic and debris from beaches, rivers, and waterways. Blue Schools Program Report Ocean Blue has cleaned up over 1.6 million pounds of plastic and debris to date Plastic Disaster Relief Program Report Throughout 2024, the Plastic Disaster Relief Program yielded significant results, including the removal of 792,700 pounds of debris from the Chesapeake Bay area. This region accounted for an important share of the total pounds removed in 2024, contributing substantially to our long-term goals of plastic and debris mitigation. While our Create a Cleanup program continues to mobilize volunteers across the U.S., much of the Chesapeake Bay area's success came through the relentless efforts of our Ocean Blue team. These efforts require specialized resources, including equipment and dedicated personnel to manage on-ground and in-water cleanup operations.
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 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 2024.
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 April 2004.
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.