Fish Welfare Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To improve and advance the welfare interests of fish and other aquatic life used by humans.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $702,529
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 13.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 1
- Highest pay
- $35,100, executive 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 82% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
- $321,559 spent. Our Research & Development Department conducted studies to improve fish welfare in India, including satellite monitoring of water quality, potential welfare improvements for fish at the nursery farming stage, and improved slaughter. We also developed a welfare assessment protocol for Indian major carps to enhance monitoring tools. Results from these studies are available on our blog and research pages at www.fwi.fish/blog and www.fwi.fish/research.
- $149,713 spent. We collaborated with local partners in China to host an Aquatic Animal Welfare Forum and 2 webinars discussing fish welfare. We also conducted in-country field visits and identified key welfare improvements for farmed fish in China. We continued building relationships with key Chinese stakeholders that will be significant for advancing the field and idea of fish welfare in China in the next years to come.
- $142,583 spent. Through our on-ground staff in India, we supported 179 active farms in adopting higher welfare practices. These practices included lowering stocking densities to sustainable levels and improving water quality management. In 2025, we estimate that this program improved the lives of over 1.9 million fish.
- $21,782 spent. Description: Advancing FWI's mission for aquatic life and animal welfare in India and China. These expenses directly support program delivery in India and China, including supplies for field offices where programmatic work is conducted and meals for staff during field visits.
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 October 13, 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 January 2021.
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 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.