Opes Oceani Foundation Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION AND RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF OCEAN RESOURCES, INCLUDING INFORMING AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND THOSE ENGAGED IN THE UTILIZATION OF OCEAN RESOURCES ON BEST PRACTICES WITH REGARD TO RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE UTILIZATION, CONSERVATION, BIODIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROMOTION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE OF THE WORLD'S OCEANS.
- Income
- $125,000
- Spending
- $158,402
Source: Form 990EZ 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 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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, 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 (3)
- $51,930 spent. AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO PROMOTE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF THE OCEANS, WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED OBSERVER STATUS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY (ISA), THE UNITED NATIONS BODY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE UNDER THE UN CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS) FOR OVERSEEING MINING ON THE SEABED UNDER THE HIGH SEAS. AS AN ACCREDITED OBSERVER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION PARTICIPATED IN ISA ASSEMBLY MEETING 29 IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA (29 JULY - 2 AUGUST 2024). WE MADE AN INTERVENTION AFFIRMING PLANS TO RETAIN PERMANENT REPRESENTATION IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA, WHERE THE ISA IS LOCATED. DURING THE MEETING, OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION DISCUSSED WITH MANY DELEGATIONS THE ISA'S WORK TOWARDS AGREEING A MINING CODE AND THE AREAS WHERE TEXT AND DRAFTING DISAGREEMENTS EXIST.
- $40,521 spent. AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO PROMOTE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF THE OCEANS, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE 69TH PLENARY MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC 69) IN LIMA, PERU (23-27 SEPTEMBER 2024). OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION PRESSED THE IWC TO IMPROVE ITS GOVERNANCE IN SEVERAL WAYS. IN A FLOOR INTERVENTION, WE SAID THAT ABORIGINAL WHALING SHOULD BE A RIGHT RATHER THAN A PRIVILEGE THAT IS GRANTED PERIODICALLY AT THE IWC'S DISCRETION. WE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE IWC'S QUOTA PROCESS AND VOTE CREATED UNNECESSARY UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE OUTCOME AND THAT THIS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE ANXIETY AMONG TRADITIONAL WHALING COMMUNITIES. SEPARATELY, WE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE VOICES OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WERE DELETED FROM A COMMISSIONED REPORT ON SUBSISTENCE WHALING IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. WE REQUESTED THAT THE ORIGINAL TEXT BE REINSERTED. OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THE ISSUE OF APPLYING A QUORUM AT THE IWC SHOULD BE CONSTITUTED DURING MEETINGS AND VOTING.
- $30,714 spent. AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO SUPPORT GREATER INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS IN CONSERVING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE OUR OCEAN 2024 MEETING IN ATHENS (15-17 APRIL 2024). OUR OCEAN MEETINGS WERE INITIATED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN 2014 AND FOCUS ON A NUMBER OF AREAS OF ACTION, SUCH AS PROMOTING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS, FOSTERING A SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY, TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, SUPPORTING MARITIME SECURITY, ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES, AND COMBATING MARINE POLLUTION SUCH AS PLASTICS. OPES OCEANI FOUNDATION MADE A COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP SYNERGIES BETWEEN MARINE CONSERVATION AND ARTISANAL FISHERIES IN PANAMA OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. OVERALL, MORE THAN 450 COMMITMENTS WERE MADE AT THE CONFERENCE TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE THE OCEANS, VALUED AT $11 BILLION.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 November 6, 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 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 2022.
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.