Oceanographic Research & Exploration Foundation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THROUGH A SERIES OF INTEGRATED PROGRAMS, OREF 1) SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION OF THE EARTH'S OCEANS WITH A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION SHIP AND PACKAGE OF EQUIPMENT, ENABLING SUCH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION AND 2) CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES MEDIA AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION HIGHLIGHTING THAT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS, ENGAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE OCEANS AND THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THEY SUPPORT. OREF MAY CARRY OUT ITS SOCIAL WELFARE PURPOSES DIRECTLY OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, ENTITIES OR PARTNERS.
- Income
- $33.5 million
- Spending
- $44.3 million
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (2)
- $34.0 million spent. CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY OF THE EARTH'S OCEANS AND FOSTER AND PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS, ADVOCACY, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, AND ENGAGEMENT TO FOSTER GREATER STEWARDSHIP AND PROTECTION OF THE OCEANS. COLLABORATE WITH LEADING SCIENTIFIC, MEDIA AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY OF THE OCEANS AND THEIR PROTECTION. THROUGH THESE COLLABORATIONS, OREF HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SCIENTIFICALLY EXPLORE THE OCEANS AND SUPPORT THE DOCUMENTATION OF THOSE SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATIONS AND DISCOVERIES. REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- $9.3 million spent. ENGAGE IN AND SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS RAISING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF OCEAN SCIENCE, PROTECTION, EXPLORATION AND STEWARDSHIP. ENGAGING AND EDUCATING AUDIENCES GLOBALLY BY CREATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND CAPTIVATING MEDIA IN MULTIPLE FORMATS AND ACROSS MULTIPLE CHANNELS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OCEANS AND THEIR PROTECTION, FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE GLOBALLY INCLUDING COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THE OCEAN FOR THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare 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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2019.
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.
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.