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Sustainable Ocean Alliance Inc

EIN 82-4972091 · San Francisco, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUSTAINABLE OCEAN ALLIANCE EMPOWERS THE NEXT GENERATION TO BECOME LEADERS IN PRESERVING THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR OCEAN.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
24
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$394,523, president / ceo

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. THE OCEAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS OCEAN LEADERS WHO ARE ACTIVELY RAISING AWARENESS OF OCEAN CHALLENGES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, CREATING OCEAN SOLUTIONS, AND INFLUENCING OTHERS TO TAKE OCEAN ACTION. YOUNG OCEAN LEADERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE SOA COMMUNITY WHO ARE UNDER 35 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED A CONCRETE COMMITMENT TO UN SDG14: LIFE BELOW WATER. OVERALL, SOA'S GLOBAL NETWORK OF YOUNG OCEAN LEADERS ARE SPEARHEADING PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF OCEAN HARM SUCH AS UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING, MARINE POLLUTION, AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE.
  2. $1.8 million spent. THE OCEAN SOLUTIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND MENTORSHIP TO PROJECT LEADERS WHO ARE UNDER 36 AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL OCEAN ISSUES WITH GRASSROOTS, COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES. THE OCEAN SOLUTION PROGRAM ALSO INVESTS IN EARLY STAGE STARTUP COMPANIES DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SUSTAIN AND RESTORE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN.
  3. $845,046 spent. PROGRAM MARKETING: STRATEGIC PROMOTION AND COMMUNICATION AIMED SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO SAVE OUR OCEAN. THIS INCLUDES EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PROGRAM LAUNCHES, AND TARGETED MARKETING TO DRIVE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT.
  4. $499,776 spent. ECOPRENEUR NETWORK : A PROGRAM OF LIFETIME SUPPORT THAT ASSEMBLES THE WORLD'S MOST AMBITIOUS OCEAN VENTURES, AND AMPLIFIES THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE TRANSFORMATIVE PLANETARY IMPACT.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.