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Rv Pilar Inc

EIN 86-1327444 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR OCEANS. AS A RESEARCH VESSEL, WE PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR OCEANOGRAPHERS AND RESEARCHERS TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS, FOSTERING INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY IN MARINE SCIENCE. WE RUN TAG-AND- RELEASE MISSIONS TO HELP RESEARCHERS BETTER TRACK THE POPULATIONS OF MARLIN & KEY PELAGIC SPECIES. ADVOCATING FOR RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES, SOURCING FISH THAT ARE CAUGHT SUSTAINABLY, AND PROMOTING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE AIM TO CREATE A MORE HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE OCEANS, PRESERVING THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Income
$200,862
Spending
$414,724
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$5,050, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 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 106% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $408,897 spent. WE PARTNERED WITH THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION TO ADVANCE THE "LIGHTER THAN AIR" MYLAR AND LATEX BALLOON BAN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND LAUNCHED A DATA COLLECTION INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE TO TRACK MYLAR AND LATEX BALLOON WASTE. WE HAVE ALSO ACTIVELY BEEN EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS ONGOING ISSUE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA WITH MUCH SUPPORT. WE PROMOTED SUSTAINABLE FISHING BY SUPPORTING CCA'S WHITE SEABASS TOURNAMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO HUBBS-SEAWORLD'S RESEARCH EFFORTS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH PROPER FISHERIES MANAGEMENT. WE ALSO TAGGED AND RELEASED OVER 30 STRIPED MARLIN FOR NOAA AND THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT STUDIES ON MIGRATION AND SPAWNING PATTERNS. THE R/V PILAR TEAM PLACED 3RD IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BISBEE'S BLACK & BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT, LANDING A 493-POUND BLUE MARLIN. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT GAINED US MUCH RESPECT AMONG OUR PEERS IN THE SPORTFISHING COMMUNITY, BRINGING GREATER AWARENESS TO OUR MISSION OF MARINE CONSERVATION AND RESPONSIBLE FISHING. TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, WE DONATED OUR CATCH TO A LOCAL FAMILY, ENSURING NO FISH WENT TO WASTE." WE PARTNERED WITH THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION TO ADVANCE THE "LIGHTER THAN AIR" MYLAR AND LATEX BALLOON BAN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND LAUNCHED A DATA COLLECTION INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE TO TRACK MYLAR AND LATEX BALLOON WASTE. WE HAVE ALSO ACTIVELY BEEN EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS ONGOING ISSUE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA WITH MUCH SUPPORT. WE PROMOTED SUSTAINABLE FISHING BY SUPPORTING CCA'S WHITE SEABASS TOURNAMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO HUBBS-SEAWORLD'S RESEARCH EFFORTS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH PROPER FISHERIES MANAGEMENT. WE ALSO TAGGED AND RELEASED OVER 30 STRIPED MARLIN FOR NOAA AND THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT STUDIES ON MIGRATION AND SPAWNING PATTERNS. THE R/V PILAR TEAM PLACED 3RD IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BISBEE'S BLACK & BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT, LANDING A 493-POUND BLUE MARLIN. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT GAINED US MUCH RESPECT AMONG OUR PEERS IN THE SPORTFISHING COMMUNITY, BRINGING GREATER AWARENESS TO OUR MISSION OF MARINE CONSERVATION AND RESPONSIBLE FISHING. TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, WE DONATED OUR CATCH TO A LOCAL FAMILY, ENSURING NO FISH WENT TO WASTE."

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 June 2021.

    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 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.