Via Senti California Nonprofit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 46% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
HEIRS TO OUR OCEAN IS AN OFFICIAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME OF VIA SENTI A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BENEFIT NONPROFIT CORPORATION, BEING ITS ONLY PROGRAM. WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION OF EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS BY CONNECTING THEM IN PURPOSE, EDUCATING THEM ON THE INTERSECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMANITARIAN CRISES THEY ARE INHERITING, AND CULTIVATING ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND REAL-WORLD CHANGE.
- Income
- $275,438
- Spending
- $297,265
- Spent on programs
- 46%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 6
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1546% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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.
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, 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)
- $137,871 spent. 2025 PROGRAM IMPACT: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL IOC/UNESCO'S OCEAN DECADE ENGAGEMENTS IN 2025 VIA SENTI, FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME HEIRS TO OUR OCEAN (H2OO), CONTINUED TO BUILD MOMENTUM AS A DECADE IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER OF IOC/UNESCO, AS IT HAS SINCE 2021, ENSURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IS INCLUDED MEANINGFULLY IN OCEAN AND CLIMATE DECISION-MAKING AND GOVERNANCE. UN OCEAN DECADE PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (FORMERLY U.S. YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL FOR THE UN OCEAN DECADE) CONVENED TWO COHORTS IN 2025: 46 PARTICIPANTS IN THE 5TH COHORT (SEPTEMBER 2024MAY 2025) AND 39 PARTICIPANTS IN THE 6TH COHORT (SEPTEMBER 2025MAY 2026). ACROSS BOTH COHORTS, PARTICIPANTS BUILT REAL- WORLD LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH 9 SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, 346 MENTORSHIP HOURS, AND HANDS-ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS INCLUDING 20+ OCEAN AND CLIMATE EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND 32 PLASTIC POLLUTION BRAND AUDITS DOCUMENTING TOP CORPORATE PLASTIC POLLUTERS. THE 5TH COHORT COMPLETED POLICY ADVOCACY TRAINING CULMINATING IN 74 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH U.S. FEDERAL LAWMAKERS DURING THEIR CAPITOL HILL DAYS, WITH 82% OF IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING ON NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS. ENGAGED 9 YOUTH INTERNS IN ADVANCED LEADERSHIP ROLES: 6 SERVED AS PEER MENTORS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE 5TH AND 6TH COHORTS OF THE U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND 3 CONTRIBUTED THEIR TALENTS AS EDITORS AND ILLUSTRATORS TO AN ORIGINAL OCEAN LITERACY CHILDREN'S BOOK A MULTI-YEAR, YOUTH-DRIVEN CREATIVE PROJECT SPANNING 2 COHORTS OF THE U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL PROGRAM. INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (FORMERLY THE YOUTH INCLUSION EXPERT WORKING GROUP DEVELOPED FOR IOC/UNESCO): 18 PARTICIPANTS FROM 11 COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN THIS PROGRAMS FIRST COHORT (JANUARY 2025 - DECEMBER 2025) ENGAGING IN STRATEGIC PLANNING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND MOVEMENT BUILDING. THROUGH THE FIRST COHORT, WE FACILITATED INTERGENERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST-EVER YOUTH INCLUSION STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN FOR THE IOC/UNESCO OCEAN DECADE. PANEL AND PRESENTATION ENGAGEMENT AT IOCS DECADE EVENTS AT THE UN OCEAN CONFERENCE IN NICE, FRANCE. H2OO FUNDED 10 YOUTH LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO ATTEND AND PRESENT THE YOUTH INCLUSION STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN TO 350+ CROSS-SECTOR PROFESSIONALS. CONCURRENTLY, A COLLABORATIVE WORLD OCEAN WEEK CAMPAIGN REACHED 8,100+ PEOPLE GLOBALLY DURING THIS CONFERENCE. SUPPORTED H2OO INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER JULIA, A YOUNG WOMAN FROM INDONESIA, IN DELIVERING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE UN OCEAN CONFERENCE VIRTUAL SIDE EVENT 'GENERATION BLUE: EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING YOUTH FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION,' HOSTED BY GLOBAL YOUTH PHILANTHROPY, AMPLIFYING YOUTH VOICES FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH IN HIGH-LEVEL OCEAN CONSERVATION CONVERSATIONS. SECURED AND SUPPORT YOUTH BOARD MEMBER LATIFAH NANSUBUGA AS THE ONLY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE ON THE IOC/UNESCO PROGRAMME COMMITTEE FOR THE 2027 OCEAN DECADE CONFERENCE. PARTNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL UPDATES IN DECEMBER 2025, HEIRS TO OUR OCEAN JOINED THE WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK, A GLOBAL PHILANTHROPIC NETWORK CONNECTING FUNDERS COMMITTED TO GENDER EQUITY AND WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP. THIS MEMBERSHIP EXPANDS THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCESS TO A BROADER NETWORK OF FUNDERS ALIGNED WITH H2OO'S MISSION OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SUPPORTING YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF H2OO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. H2OO ALSO SECURED GRANT FUNDING TO ADVANCE BOTH PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE. SUPPORT FROM THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR INCINERATOR ALTERNATIVES (GAIA) ENABLED THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF H2OOS YOUTH-LED PLASTIC POLLUTION BRAND AUDITS, EQUIPPING YOUNG LEADERS WITH TRAINING AND TOOLS TO LEAD BRAND AUDIT EVENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOLD CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WASTE TO REDUCE PRODUCTION. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDING FROM THE RESILIENCE INITIATIVE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DURING A CHALLENGING FUNDING LANDSCAPE FOR THE U.S.-BASED NONPROFITS. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING OUR YOUNG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 31-YEAR-OLD EMILY BERGLUND, TO NAVIGATE THIS ENVIRONMENT WE HIRED A FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT EMILY IN HER NEW ROLE DEVELOPING FUNDRAISING SKILLS. 2025 PROGRAM IMPACT: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL IOC/UNESCO'S OCEAN DECADE ENGAGEMENTS IN 2025 VIA SENTI, FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME HEIRS TO OUR OCEAN (H2OO), CONTINUED TO BUILD MOMENTUM AS A DECADE IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER OF IOC/UNESCO, AS IT HAS SINCE 2021, ENSURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IS INCLUDED MEANINGFULLY IN OCEAN AND CLIMATE DECISION-MAKING AND GOVERNANCE. UN OCEAN DECADE PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (FORMERLY U.S. YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL FOR THE UN OCEAN DECADE) CONVENED TWO COHORTS IN 2025: 46 PARTICIPANTS IN THE 5TH COHORT (SEPTEMBER 2024MAY 2025) AND 39 PARTICIPANTS IN THE 6TH COHORT (SEPTEMBER 2025MAY 2026). ACROSS BOTH COHORTS, PARTICIPANTS BUILT REAL- WORLD LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH 9 SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, 346 MENTORSHIP HOURS, AND HANDS-ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS INCLUDING 20+ OCEAN AND CLIMATE EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND 32 PLASTIC POLLUTION BRAND AUDITS DOCUMENTING TOP CORPORATE PLASTIC POLLUTERS. THE 5TH COHORT COMPLETED POLICY ADVOCACY TRAINING CULMINATING IN 74 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH U.S. FEDERAL LAWMAKERS DURING THEIR CAPITOL HILL DAYS, WITH 82% OF IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING ON NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS. ENGAGED 9 YOUTH INTERNS IN ADVANCED LEADERSHIP ROLES: 6 SERVED AS PEER MENTORS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE 5TH AND 6TH COHORTS OF THE U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND 3 CONTRIBUTED THEIR TALENTS AS EDITORS AND ILLUSTRATORS TO AN ORIGINAL OCEAN LITERACY CHILDREN'S BOOK A MULTI-YEAR, YOUTH-DRIVEN CREATIVE PROJECT SPANNING 2 COHORTS OF THE U.S. YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL PROGRAM. INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (FORMERLY THE YOUTH INCLUSION EXPERT WORKING GROUP DEVELOPED FOR IOC/UNESCO): 18 PARTICIPANTS FROM 11 COUNTRIES T
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 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 2025.
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 July 2016.
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.
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