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Livingston Way Foundation

EIN 86-1180728 · Palm Beach, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NONE

Income
$329,087
Spending
$424,259
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
86.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 November 30, 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. $131,603 spent. THE FUTURE WAVEMAKERS STEM CHALLENGE AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 11/30/2024, LIVINGSTON'S WAY LAUNCHED ITS INAUGURAL FUTURE WAVEMAKERS STEM CHALLENGE. THE FUTURE WAVEMAKERS STEM CHALLENGE AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A PREMIER STEM CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR FLORIDA STUDENTS AGES 4-18, DESIGNED TO SPARK CREATIVITY, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE CHALLENGE INVITED STUDENT-PRODUCED VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING INNOVATIVE WILDLIFE AND OCEAN CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND INNOVATIONS CONCEPTUALIZED BY THEIR STUDENTS. STUDENTS RESEARCHED KEY TOPICS RANGING FROM WATER QUALITY, ENDANGERED SPECIES, PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MORE. THEY INTERVIEWED EXPERT SCIENTISTS, MARINE BIOLOGISTS, TEACHERS, AND MORE TO LEARN ABOUT THESE TOPICS. THE STUDENTS THEN CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND INVENTIONS FOR THESE ISSUES. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE: FUTUREWAVEMAKERS.ORG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS UPLOADED THEIR VIDEOS. IN 2023 AND 2024, FUTURE WAVEMAKERS STEM CHALLENGE ENGAGED 98 SCHOOLS ACROSS FLORIDA SPANNING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO ORLANDO TO TAMPA TO MIAMI TO THE FLORIDA KEYS AND PALM BEACH COUNTY, DRAWING HUNDREDS OF VIDEO SUBMISSIONS FROM STUDENTS PASSIONATE ABOUT OCEAN, WILDLIFE, AND STEM. THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 250,000 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, ONLINE PLATFORMS, AND MEDIA COVERAGE, AMPLIFYING AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND YOUTH-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS. MORE THAN 2,075 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE DONATED TO THIS PROGRAM FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE TOP 100 STUDENTS WERE INVITED TO LEARN FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S EXPLORER-AT-LARGE, DR. SYLVIA EARLE, SCIENTIST, CARLEE JACKSON, AND AUTHOR, DR. WALLACE J. NICHOLS AT THE COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM THROUGH OUR KIDS PROGRAMMING. THESE TOP STUDENTS WERE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM FOR THEM AND A PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR FREE. THE CHALLENGE ALSO CULMINATED IN A LIVE PITCH PROGRAM WITH THE TOP (16) SIXTEEN STUDENTS WHO WERE SELECTED BY A JUDGING PANEL TO PRESENT THEIR CONSERVATION IDEAS BEFORE AN ESTEEMED PANEL OF JUDGES. THESE JUDGES INCLUDED DR. SYLVIA EARLE, A GLOBAL OCEAN ICON; CARLEE JACKSON, A RENOWNED SHARK SCIENTIST AND AUTHOR; DR. WALLACE J. NICHOLS, THE LATE MARINE BIOLOGIST AND AUTHOR OF BLUE MIND; JACK LIGHTON, CEO OF 4OCEAN AND A LEADING EXPERT IN SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION; AND GABRIELLE RAYMOND MCGEE, THE AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF THE FUTURE WAVEMAKERS. THEIR PARTICIPATION UNDERSCORED THE COMPETITION'S SIGNIFICANCE, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK TO SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED LEADERS IN CONSERVATION. FINALIST'S PROPOSALS SHOWCASED BOTH INGENUITY AND REAL WORLD IMPACT. EOGHAN M. (A SENIOR AT FAU HIGH SCHOOL) PRESENTED HIS IDEA FOR AN UNDERWATER ADAPTABLE ROV TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE OCEAN FLOOR; JOANNA D (ELEVENTH GRADER FROM DREYFOOS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) PRESENTED A VACUUM TO CLEAN UP ALGAE BLOOM ISSUES; SAXON S (A SENIOR AT PLANTATION HIGH SCHOOL) CREATED A SUSTAINABLE RETAIL BUSINESS; ISAAC N. (9 YEARS OLD, HOME-SCHOOLED FROM JUPITER) PRESENTED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES. HIS COMMUNICATIONS WERE SO STRONG HE HAS GONE ON TO SECURE HIS OWN TV SHOW ABOUT INSPIRING KIDS TO PROTECT NATURE. NICOLE H. (SIXTH GRADER AT SWITZERLAND POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM JACKSONVILLE, FL) HAS GONE ON TO MENTOR KIDS AROUND THE WORLD WITH DISABILITIES ABOUT STEM EDUCATION. NICOLE HAS SINCE EARNED INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR HER STEM LEADERSHIP. ONE STUDENT IN PARTICULAR, AVAILA J. (A SECOND GRADER AT DIAMOND VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GREENACRES, FL) ORGANIZED A SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW WITH NEARLY 800 OF HER PEERS AT HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HER LEADERSHIP HAS CREATED A TRANSFORMATION AT HER SCHOOL. EMILIANA F. (THIRD GRADER AT NEW HORIZONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WELLINGTON) HAS GONE ON TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT PROTECTING SEA TURTLES AND SHE HAS CREATED HER OWN SCHOOL ROAD SHOW TO TEACH OTHER KIDS. EACH OF THE TOP (16) SIXTEEN FINALISTS IN THE FUTURE WAVEMAKERS CHALLENGE WAS AWARDED AN EDUCATIONAL GRANT RANGING FROM $1,000 TO $5,000, PROVIDING THEM WITH RESOURCES TO FURTHER THEIR STEM EDUCATION. SCHOOL STEM GRANT PROGRAM: ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE OUTCOMES OF THE 2023-2024 COMPETITION UNFOLDED AT DIAMOND VIEW ELEMENTARY, A TITLE I SCHOOL IN GREENACRES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED JUST $250 FOR STEM INSTRUCTION ACROSS 800 STUDENTS. AFTER EARNING OUR $10,000 SCHOOL OF THE YEAR STEM EDUCATION GRANT, DIAMOND VIEW LAUNCHED CO-ED ROBOTICS TEAMS THAT ADVANCED TO REGIONAL COMPETITIONS, HOSTED IMMERSIVE BIOLUMINESCENCE STEM NIGHTS DRAWING OVER 200 FAMILIES, AND TRANSFORMED ITS CLASSROOMS WITH NEW IPADS, LAPTOPS AND CODING SOFTWARE. THE SCHOOL THEN CELEBRATED A CAMPUS WIDE "FUTURE WAVEMAKERS DAY," IN WHICH ALL 800 STUDENTS DONNED OCEAN HERO COSTUMES AND GATHERED FOR A STEM ASSEMBLY LED BY OUR FOUNDER, GABRIELLE RAYMOND MCGEE, DEEPENING THEIR CONNECTION TO FLORIDA'S NATURE AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF MARINE LIFE AND HUMANS. THIS INFUSION OF RESOURCES AND INSPIRATION NOT ONLY EXPANDED HANDS ON LEARNING BUT ALSO IGNITED A LASTING CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.THE CHALLENGE AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUCCESS WAS DRIVEN BY DEEP PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING NONPROFIT AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION LED STATEWIDE OUTREACH ENSURING EVERY EVERGLADES CHAMPION SCHOOL LEARNED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND FEATURED IT ACROSS THEIR SOCIAL CHANNELS AND EDUCATOR NEWSLETTER. COX SCIENCE CENTER & AQUARIUM GENEROUSLY WAIVED VENUE FEES, HOSTED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FOR OUR LIVE FINALS AND WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM TO DELIVER A SEAMLESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. FP&L'S MANATEE LAGOON AMPLIFIED OUR MESSAGE THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATIONS, AND FROST SCIENCE CENTER SHARED OUR PROGRAM WITH THEIR STEM GROUPS. TOGETHER, THESE COLLABORATIONS EXPANDED OUR FOOTPRINT, CONNECTED STUDENTS WITH WORLD CLASS STEM MENTORS, AND INSPIRED THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS.
  2. $89,746 spent. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 11/30/2024, LIVINGSTON'S WAY PARTNERED WITH THE BEACH BUCKET FOUNDATION TO TURN ROUTINE SHORELINE CLEANUPS INTO IMMERSIVE CONSERVATION CLASSROOMS. MORE THAN 250 CHILDREN, PARENTS AND TEACHERS DONNED GLOVES AND GRABBED BUCKETS PROVIDED BY BEACH BUCKET TO REMOVE OVER 80 POUNDS OF DEBRIS FROM FLORIDA'S BEACHES. TURTLE SCIENTIST ANDREA WHITTAKER JOINED EACH CLEANUP, CONNECTING VOLUNTEERS' EFFORTS TO THE REAL WORLD IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLES AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS. BY TRANSFORMING TRASH COLLECTION INTO HANDS ON LESSONS IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION, THESE EVENTS INSTILLED A LASTING SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP AND EMPOWERED THE NEXT GENERATION TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ACTIVE OCEAN GUARDIANS.BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THESE CLEANUPS INSTILLED A LASTING SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND STEWARDSHIP IN THE NEXT GENERATION. BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN CONSERVATION WORK, THE PROGRAM EMPOWERED THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN PROTECTING THE OCEAN. THE EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CONSERVATION ISSUES, BUT ALSO FOSTERED A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.IN FALL 2024, HURRICANE HELENE'S TORRENTIAL RAINS AND RECORD STORM SURGE UNLEASHED MORE THAN FOUR FEET OF SALTWATER INTO CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM DISABLING LIFE SUPPORT PUMPS, FLOODING CRITICAL ANIMAL CARE AREAS AND ENDANGERING RESCUED DOLPHINS, SEA TURTLES AND MANATEES. IN RESPONSE, LIVINGSTON'S WAY AWARDED AN EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT THAT FUNDED THE RAPID REINSTATEMENT OF CMA'S CRITICAL ANIMAL CARE UNIT AND RE-INSTATED THE STUDENT AND FAMILY FOCUSED OUTREACH PROGRAMS. TODAY, CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM AMPLIFIES OUR PARTNERSHIP BY SHOWCASING THE FUTURE WAVEMAKERS COMPETITION AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND KIDS SUMMIT ACROSS ITS DIGITAL CHANNELS AND COLLABORATING ON A DEDICATED FUTURE WAVEMAKERS EVENT SERIES EXTENDING OUR SHARED MISSION OF MARINE CONSERVATION EDUCATION TO EVEN MORE YOUNG FLORIDIANS.
  3. $55,395 spent. FUTURE WAVEMAKERS EDUCATIONAL KIDS PROGRAMS: FUTURE WAVEMAKERS KIDS SUMMIT SERIES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM IN WEST PALM BEACH: DURING FISCAL YEAR 20232024, FUTURE WAVEMAKERS LAUNCHED ITS INAUGURAL KIDS SUMMIT SERIES TO DEEPEN ITS STATEWIDE IMPACT WITH IMMERSIVE, EXPERT LED STEM OUTREACH. IN WEST PALM BEACH, OVER 300 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES GATHERED AT THE COX SCIENCE CENTER & AQUARIUM, WHERE DR. SYLVIA EARLE DELIVERED A DYNAMIC KEYNOTE INVITING EVERY CHILD TO JOIN IN PROTECTING NATURE. SHARK AND TURTLE SCIENTIST CARLEE JACKSON AND MARINE EDUCATOR MADISON TOONDER DEMONSTRATED HOW ANYONE AT ANY AGE CAN "DIVE IN" TO CONSERVATION THROUGH HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND REAL WORLD EXAMPLES.IN MIAMI AT THE PHILLIP AND PATRICIA FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS EXPLORED INTERACTIVE OCEANOGRAPHY EXHIBITS AND HEARD INSPIRING TALKS FROM FOUNDER GABRIELLE RAYMOND MCGEE AND DR. EARLE. FROST SCIENCE'S YOUR SHORES HIGH SCHOOL COHORT-AN INITIATIVE THAT REMOVES FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED STUDENTS THROUGH HANDS ON COASTAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS ALSO ATTENDED AND MET SYLVIA AND GABRIELLE IN AN INTIMATE MEET AND GREET. TOGETHER, THESE INAUGURAL COMMUNITY EVENTS DEMONSTRATED THE POWER OF EXPERT LED STEM OUTREACH AND INNOVATION TO UNITE STUDENTS IN A SHARED MISSION: PROTECTING OUR PLANET AND ITS WILDLIFE.
  4. $50,367 spent. WAVEMAKERS COMMUNITY EVENTS & SYMPOSIUM: BRIDGING EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 11/30/2024, FUTURE WAVEMAKERS HOSTED ITS INAUGURAL "CHAMPIONS OF CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM" AT MANATEE LAGOON, BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 200 COLLEGE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION TO IGNITE CONSERVATION MINDED STEM LEADERSHIP. EVERGLADES FILMMAKER LUCA MARTINEZ OPENED WITH IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING; CORAL ECOLOGIST ALANNAH VELLACOTT AND CONSERVATION SCIENTIST MADISON TOONDER SHARED BREAKTHROUGHS IN REEF RESTORATION AND CITIZEN SCIENCE FIELDWORK; 4OCEAN FOUNDATION CEO JACK LIGHTON SPOTLIGHTED SEA TURTLE PROTECTION STRATEGIES; NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S FILM MAKER OF PATH OF THE PANTHER, TORI LINDER FRAMED YOUTH AS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES; AND FRIENDS OF THE MANATEES' ANNE MESSER HIGHLIGHTED HANDS ON RESCUE OPERATIONS. FAU'S AI RESEARCH TEAM CAPPED THE PROGRAM WITH A VIRTUAL REALITY TOUR OF FLORIDA'S COASTAL HABITATS, TRANSFORMING COMPLEX SCIENCE INTO AN INSPIRING, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT SPURRED ATTENDEES TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORATION. MANATEE LAGOON UNDERSCORED THE STRENGTH OF OUR COLLABORATION BY WAIVING VENUE FEES, PROMOTING THE SYMPOSIUM ACROSS ITS CHANNELS AND COORDINATING EVENT LOGISTICS. IN POST EVENT SURVEYS, 90% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED NEW CONFIDENCE IN LEADING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES, AND SEVERAL ACTION TEAMS HAVE SINCE LAUNCHED NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS. THIS SYMPOSIUM NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATED THE POWER OF EXPERT LED, TED STYLE STEM ENGAGEMENT BUT ALSO LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS AND FOLLOW UP WORKSHOPS FUELING OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO UNITE FLORIDA'S COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND MORE.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED 11/30/2024, FUTURE WAVEMAKERS HOSTED ITS CAPSTONE COMMUNITY EVENT - A CULMINATING GATHERING OF 160 PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING CONSERVATION ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER AT LARGE DR. SYLVIA EARLE OPENED WITH A STIRRING KEYNOTE ON THE PIVOTAL ROLE YOUTH PLAY IN SAFEGUARDING OUR PLANET, THEN JOINED DR. WALLACE J. NICHOLS FOR A CANDID DIALOGUE ON THE "BLUE MIND" SCIENCE AND THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS. THE WAVEMAKERS COMMUNITY TALKS ALSO FEATURED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PATH OF THE PANTHER CO-FOUNDER TORI LINDER AND WAS A SMALL GATHERING OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN DISCUSSION ON WAYS TO BRING CONSERVATION TO OUR CLASSROOMS AND CONNECT WITH NATURE. THIS COMMUNITY EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER A SELECT GROUP OF LOCAL EDUCATORS, PROFESSORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS FOR AN INTIMATE EVENT OF IDEA-SHARING ON SCALING STEM EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PATH OF THE PANTHER CO-FOUNDER TORI LINDER OPENED THE DISCUSSION WITH INSPIRING EXAMPLES OF YOUTH-DRIVEN ECOSYSTEM PROJECTS, THEN GUIDED PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP TO IDENTIFY ACTION STEPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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 November 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 April 2022.

    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.