Friends of the Osa
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE LAND STEWARDSHIP, TO ENHANCE THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS AND APPLY LEARNING TO CONSERVATION, TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIVING ON THE OSA.
- Income
- $13.4 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 26.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $71,084, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 73% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 250% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 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 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)
- $1.6 million spent. CONSERVATION SCIENCE - CONSERVATION SCIENCE IS MADE UP OF SIX DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SCIENCE AND RESEARCH OF TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS AND LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF THE OSA. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXTENSIVE MONITORING OF SEA TURTLES, ENDEMIC BIRDS, MONKEYS, REPTILES AND MAMMALS, AND PROVIDE A RESEARCH FACILITY FOR SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS TO STUDY THE OSA'S ECOSYSTEMS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH. RIDGE TO REEF RESTORATION & REGENERATIVE FARMING - THIS PROGRAM RESTORES LANDSCAPES ACROSS THE REGION, ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF LOCAL LANDOWNERS THROUGH EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TREE PLANTING INITIATIVES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON RARE, THREATENED AND NATIVE SPECIES, AND BUILDS CAPACITY THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES VIA EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT WITH A GOAL OF BUILDING MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE.MANGROVE RESTORATION - THIS PROGRAM WORKS DIRECTLY WITH MULTIPLE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO RESTORE THE TERRABA SIERPE NATIONAL WETLAND, COSTA RICA'S LARGEST PROTECTED MANGROVE SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM INCORPORATES WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING, SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND DIRECT RESTORATION.WILDLIFE MONITORING - THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT WILDLIFE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO MONITOR WILDLIFE INCLUDING ARBOREAL SPECIES, BIRDS, BATS, DUNG BEETLES, CATS, AND MORE.MOVEMENT ECOLOGY - THIS PROGRAM PUSHES THE SCIENTIFIC FRONTIER OF ANIMAL MOVEMENT ECOLOGY WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING MOVEMENT PATTERNS FOR KEY SPECIES, INCLUDING NUMEROUS VULTURE SPECIES, JAGUARS, OCELOTS, AND THE BAIRD'S TAPIR. THE PROGRAM IS SCIENTIFICALLY DRIVEN WITH A CONSERVATION IMPACT.SEA TURTLE PROTECTION - THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE CONSERVATION OF THE REGION'S NESTING SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS. WORKING PRIMARILY ON LAND, THE PROGRAM BOLSTERS ITS HATCHING SUCCESS RATE WHILE EDUCATING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON HOW TO COEXIST WITH WILDLIFE ON SEA TURTLE NESTING BEACHES.MARINE CONSERVATION - THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT THE BIOLOGICALLY CRITICAL SEASCAPE OF THE GOLFO DULCE AND SURROUNDING COASTAL WATERS. THROUGH RESEARCH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE OCEAN SO MARINE WILDLIFE CAN THRIVE.
- $1.2 million spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES IN THE PURCHASE OF INTACT RAINFOREST LAND THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD DESTROY THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES AN EXTENSIVE REFORESTATION EFFORT THAT WILL RESTORE THE LAND WITH NATIVE TREES, IDENTIFICATION AND CULTIVATION OF NATIVE TREE SPECIES, AND THE CREATION OF AN INTERACTIVE TRAIL SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM ALSO STRIVES TO PROTECT THE AREA FROM CONTINUED AND GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS.
- $533,144 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CITIZEN SCIENCE - THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORT TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND ENGAGE THE OSA COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVING THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS; AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRAINING AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEMS.RIDGE TO REEF YOUTH CLUB - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF THE NATION'S MOST RURAL AND IMPOVERISHED YOUTH WITH THE GOAL OF IMMERSING THEM IN NATURE. THROUGH HANDS-ON FIELD TRIPS IN A PLETHORA OF ECOSYSTEMS, STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED AND EMPOWERED TO PROTECT THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES.
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 November 2003.
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.