Drive on the Ocean
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DRIVE ON THE OCEAN IS WORKING TO PREVENT THE SUFFERING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH UNTREATED OR UNDER-TREATED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS BY (1) CLOSING GAPS IN THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM, (2) PROVIDING MINDFULNESS-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND (3) INFORMING THE FIELD TO SCALE POSITIVE AND LASTING CHANGE.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $869,704
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 17.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 57%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 33
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
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.
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)
- $363,376 spent. TELEMEDICINE-WE OFFER MEDICAL PSYCHIATRY SERVICES ON SLIDING SCALE BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY SUCH SERVICES INVOLVE VIRTUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY THAT INTEGRATES ACT-BASED THERAPY WITH OTHER CREATIVE OUTLETS (MEDIATION, YOGA, POETRY, CREATIVE WRITING, AND MORE). OUR SHORT TERM GOALS ARE TO SEE MEASURABLE AND SIGNIFICANT INC IN THE COPING ABILITIES AND DEC IN STRESS AND RELATED SYMPTOMS. OUR LONG TERM GOALS ARE TO (1) SEE A REDUCTION IN NEW CASES (2) A MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT SYSTEMATICALLY DETECTS THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK AND (3) CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTIONS AND MINDFULNESS BASED TREATMENTS.
- $243,929 spent. MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR-THIS PROJECT OF DRIVE ON THE OCEAN INVOLVES THE USE OF AN EVIDENCE BASED DIGITAL WELLNESS SOLUTION. THIS SOLUTION IS AN E-LEARNING PLATFORM - EDTECH TOOL THAT OFFERS CUSTOM CONTENT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE NEW SKILLS., WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN TWO BOOKS PUBLISHED BY DRIVE ON THE OCEAN IN 2023. THE PLATFORM HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES MAXIMIZE ENERGY AND IMPROVE THEIR WELLBEING BY FUELING HIGHER PERFORMANCE AND INSPIRING PURPOSEFUL LIVING, THESE ELEARNING CLASSES COMBINE LIVE SESSIONS WITH A PROPRIETARY CREATIVE MINDFUL NESS MODEL AND THE POWER OF A PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY. AN ON DEMAND WELLBEING SOLUTION, SERVICES PROVIDE SYMPTOM RELIEF AND IMPROVEMENT ACCESSIBLE FROM ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ON AN DEVICE.
- $186,383 spent. DIGITAL SCHOLAR PROGRAM DRIVE ON THE OCEAN IS WORKING TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL COLLEGES TO ASSESS STUDENTS' ABILITIES TO COPE WITH STRESS. OUR DIGITAL SCHOLAR INITIATIVE (DSI) SURVEYS STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR STRESSORS AND PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES AND HOW SUCH STRESS IMPACTS LEARNING AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
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 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 August 2019.
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.