Shark Team One Corp
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To protect sharks, worldwide endangered species and ocean ecosystems through outreach, scientific research and education. Shark Team One works to promote environmental conservation through its core programs, public awareness campaigns and marine protected area projects. Shark Team One ecology, research and citizen science expeditions focusing on endangered species also help educate students, familes and the public while helping to protect community livelihoods.
- Income
- $225,140
- Spending
- $202,781
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 23.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $28,460, director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
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 (3)
- $171,342 spent. Research Expeditions - our research expeditions provide scientific study leading to increased worldwide protection of endangered species and ocean ecosystems. We also provide citizen science expeditions that educate students and adults about ocean issues, build advocacy and benefit local livelihoods. Annually our reach is 300 citizen scientists trained with 12,500 volunteer hours logged. Our program goals are to promote marine protected areas as valuable tools for ecosystem and species protection and stop further loss of endangered marine species by building advocacy in the hearts and minds of our citizen scientists and volunteers. Our training ensures each participant assists with our goals and in so doing they become lifelong advocates for endangered species survival and ocean conservation. This program also empowers sustainability initiatives, focuses on climate change resilience planning and promotes using technology for wildlife conservation with projects such as our AI for Earth partnership for our "Building Marine Wildlife Corridors for Sharks Using Artificial Intelligence" which categorizes, analyzes and catalogs our shark field survey data. We have successfully protected 28,695 hectares of ocean within this program, working with multiple government agencies, public stakeholders, educational and other NGO partners.
- $4,098 spent. Endangered Whale Shark Conservation - specific threats we are addressing are ship strikes, injury from marine plastic pollution, fishing gear entanglement, inadequate marine reserves and overfishing. 1,603,570 people reached by conservation messaging, increased number of people taking action by 15,550. In this program we inspire families and children to become citizen scientists to help protect endangered species and create the future of conservation. We are also providing scientific study that has created increased protection for endangered whale sharks. Number of people engaged by community outreach programming is 385,000. Our "Heads Up Fins Up" Initiative seeks to curb impacts to whale sharks that are becoming severely injured or killed by ship strikes. This initiative is bridging the gap for enforcement in marine protected areas and asks corporate shipping and consumer goods companies to create less impact and follow established governmental and our conservation guidelines for reporting whale shark sightings, following zoning regulations and reducing speed through mapped whale shark aggregation areas. Our ichthyoplankton studies are first of their kind to involve local ecotourism operators and artisanal fishers in Mexico. Through our research, multiple government agencies have agreed to create marine protective corridors to protect the endangered sharks.
- $19,983 spent. Ocean Ecosystem Protection - Promote marine protected areas as valuable tools for ecosystem protection. Conserve ocean areas for future generations by providing education, forums and research. Work with hundreds of stakeholders to create marine reserves. 20 endangered and 5 critically endangered species protected. Our "Underwater Florida - Windows to Hope" multimedia campaign works with community to identify linkages to reef health created by fish abundance, promotes conservation of critically endangered smalltooth sawfish, spawning fish aggregations and highlights the importance of diverse habitats such as mangrove nurseries, coral reef fish assemblages, seagrass meadows and "blue water" pelagic regions. Stakeholders follow our current research and live field expeditions to learn and get firsthand knowledge which is being used for community local action strategy planning. This project has led to discoveries such as shark and goliath grouper nursery areas and discovery of resilient coral colonies on nearshore patch reefs which can be studied to find out why they have not been impacted by the issues and diseases that other Florida reef tract areas have suffered. Partnerships for this program include Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
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 November 6, 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 July 2016.
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 November 4, 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.