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Ocean Agency

EIN 84-3398911 · Newport, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OCEAN AGENCY CREATES DEMAND AND SUPPORT FOR OCEAN SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION - IDENTIFYING THE MOST URGENT ISSUES AND THEN DEVELOPING THE CREATIVE IDEAS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COLLABORATIONS NEEDED TO HELP SOLVE THEM.

Income
$122,473
Spending
$83,009
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Highest pay
$36,328, senior program manager and treasurer

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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)
  1. $36,798 spent. ROOM 71 - THE OCEAN AGENCY ASSISTS IN DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING ROOM 71, AN INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION (WHOI), TO REIMAGINE OCEAN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSFORM THE IMAGE OF OCEAN SCIENCE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, AND ENGINEERS WITH TRAINING, TOOLS, AND SUPPORT TO ENGAGE KEY AUDIENCES AND INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK. THE INITIATIVE ALSO FACILITATES COLLABORATIONS WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO EXPAND REACH AND SUPPORT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES.
  2. $13,581 spent. GENERAL PROGRAM: THE OCEAN AGENCY ADVANCES ITS MISSION TO ACCELERATE OCEAN SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE 50 REEFS, WHICH IDENTIFIED CORAL REEF REGIONS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO SURVIVE CLIMATE CHANGE. THE OCEAN AGENCY ALSO CREATES AND OFFERS FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, VISUAL MEDIA, AND CURRICULUM-BASED RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PUBLIC. ADDITIONALLY, IT CONDUCTS PUBLIC INITIATIVES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE OCEAN'S IMPORTANCE AND TO INSPIRE SUPPORT FOR OCEAN SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION
  3. $6,784 spent. UN OCEAN DECADE: THE OCEAN AGENCY SUPPORTS THE UN DECADE OF OCEAN SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (2021-2030), IN COLLABORATION WITH UNESCO, BY RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE OCEAN'S IMPORTANCE AND OCEAN SCIENCE. THIS INCLUDES PROGRAMS LIKE THE OCEAN IMAGE BANK (THE LEADING LIBRARY OF FREE OCEAN IMAGERY), THE OCEAN DECADE EXHIBITION, AND CREATIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLKITS, WHICH OFFER FREE RESOURCES TO HELP THE GLOBAL OCEAN COMMUNITY COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 April 2020.

    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.