Seacology
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Seacology protects the threatened species and habitats of the worlds islands by working directly with local people to both conserve their natural resources and improve their quality of life.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 32 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $317,780, executive dir.
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
Good: 80 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
- $2.8 million spent. IN 2025, SEACOLOGY STARTED 33 NEW PROJECTS ON ISLANDS AROUND THE WORLD. SEACOLOGY GRANTS GO TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WORKING TO PROTECT THEIR MARINE OR TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS AND NEED SOME KIND OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT, SUCH AS A SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY CENTER. SEACOLOGY'S 2025 PROJECTS FUNDED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN RETURN FOR VARIOUS PROTECTIONS, AS DESCRIBED ON SCHEDULE O. SEACOLOGY'S 2025 PROJECTS FUNDED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN RETURN FOR VARIOUS PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING: 1. PATROLLING OF NO-TAKE FRESHWATER DOLPHIN SANCTUARY FOR 10 YEARS; AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON DOLPHINS, MANGROVES, AND DESTRUCTIVE FISHING METHODS IN BANGLADESH NEAR EAST KHEJUIRIA VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION; ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD HELP; SOLAR LAMPS; COOKS.2. MONITORING AND CLEAN-UP OF 17 ACRES OF MANGROVES IN AND AROUND THE RO SOCO WILDLIFE REFUGE, SUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES, COASTAL REFORESTATION, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR 10 YEARS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN EXCHANGE FOR SCHOOL GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS, TWO SMALL EDUCATIONAL NURSERIES WITH RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS, SUPPORT FOR MANGROVE AND WETLAND CLEANUPS, COMMUNITY PLANTERS, AND MURALS DEPICTING LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA.3. CONSERVATION OF HURRICANE-DAMAGED 41-ACRE MANGROVE AREA, INCLUDING REPLANTING, AND MARINE TURTLE AND BIRD MONITORING AND PROTECTION FOR 10 YEARS IN GRENADA NEAR LAURISTON POINT.4. PROTECTION OF 32 ACRES OF MANGROVES, INCLUDING REFORESTATION OF FIVE ACRES; WASTE CLEANUP; ALL FOR 20 YEARS IN HONDURAS ON GIPO AND TOMASON ISLAND IN EXCHANGE FOR KINDERGARTEN.5. PROTECTING A 100-ACRE FOREST FOR 20 YEARS, INCLUDING REPLANTING 7.5 ACRES IN INDONESIA NEAR GODOG VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR HOUSEHOLD WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM; AGRICULTURAL TRAINING; SMALL CONSERVATION CENTER.6. CONSERVATION OF 618-ACRE FOREST, WITH ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR DOWNSTREAM ESTUARY AND SEA, FOR 20 YEARS IN INDONESIA NEAR PANTON RAYA VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY CENTER; WORKSPACE FOR CRAFTSWOMEN; YOUTH LEARNING CENTER; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.7. RENEWED PROTECTION OF 741 ACRES OF MARINE HABITAT IN PERPETUITY IN KENYA NEAR MKWIRO VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR TOURIST BANDAS (SHELTERS FOR A RESTAURANT AND ACCOMMODATIONS), MEETING HALL.8. PROTECTING 3,511 ACRES OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED LEMUR HABITAT WITH FIREBREAKS, REPLANTING, AND PATROLS FOR 20 YEARS IN MADAGASCAR NEAR ANTANAMARINA VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO-ROOM PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH BATHROOMS AND SOLAR PANELS.9. PRESERVATION OF 124-ACRE RAINFOREST WATERSHED AND DOUBLED FISHING RESTRICTIONS IN MALAYSIA NEAR POKOLON PAUS VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR RENEWABLE, RELIABLE ELECTRICITY FROM HYBRID SOLAR AND MICRO-HYDRO SYSTEM.10. RESTORATION OF IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT, INCLUDING FOREST, STREAM, SEAGRASS, SALTMARSH, REEF, AND MANGROVES, DAMAGED BY DEFORESTATION AND POLLUTION IN NEW ZEALAND ON PAPAKURA STREAM IN EXCHANGE FOR SOLAR POWER, COMPOSTABLE TOILETS, AND EQUIPMENT FOR NATIVE PLANT NURSERY.11. PROTECTION OF 25-ACRE CORAL REEF OF 15 YEARS IN PHILIPPINES NEAR SAN JUAN VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR WATER TANKS.12. PRESERVATION OF ABOUT 27.5 ACRES OF NESTING GROUND OF RARE RED-NECKED PHALAROPE IN SCOTLAND ON FETLAR ISLAND IN EXCHANGE FOR SUPPORT OF WILDLIFE-BASED TOURISM, SUPPORT FOR COOPERATING CROFTERS.13. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, MANGROVE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION (PLAY FOR THE MANGROVES) IN JAMAICA IN EXCHANGE FOR SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR YOUTH.14. SEAGRASS RESTORATION IN UNITED STATES IN PICNIC COVE IN EXCHANGE FOR SEAGRASS EDUCATION FOR LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH.15. REDUCTION IN INJURIES TO ENDANGERED MARINE TURTLES; HELP FOR INJURED TURTLES (CONTINUED FROM ORIGINAL PROJECT) IN GUATEMALA IN EXCHANGE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TURTLE HATCHERY AND REPAIRS TO AN UNUSED CLASSROOM TO BE USED AS AN AUDIOVISUAL SPACE, ALONG WITH NECESSARY FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT.16. CYCLADES PRESERVATION FUND (CPF) GREEK ISLANDS SEAGRASS ALLIANCE (GISA) INITIATIVE AIMS TO EXPAND GOOD PRACTICES NATIONWIDE, FOSTERING A UNITED AND INFORMED COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING POSIDONIA ECOSYSTEMS (UNDERWATER SEAGRASSMEADOWS AND BANQUETTES) ACROSS THE GREEK ISLANDS.17. DEBRIS CLEANUP (124 ACRES) AND EELGRASS RESTORATION IN AN IMPORTANT ESTUARY IN CANADA IN THE K'OMOKS ESTUARY.18. RECYCLING PLASTIC WASTE THAT IS DAMAGING ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN CHILE ON QUENAC ISLAND IN EXCHANGE FOR INCOME FOR WOMEN FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC ITEMS.19. INCREASED PROTECTION OF 106,225-ACRE NO-TAKE MARINE PROTECTED AREA IN COSTA RICA ON THE GUANACASTE CONSERVATION AREA.20. SEAGRASS CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH IN CROATIA ON LOSING ISLAND.21. CONSERVATION OF 400 ACRES OF COASTAL FOREST FOR 30 YEARS; NATIVE TREE PLANTING IN DOMINICA.22. RENEWED PROTECTION OF 400 ACRES OF FOREST FOR 20 MORE YEARS IN FIJI NEAR THE NASIGASIGA VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR NEW KINDERGARTEN BUILDING.23. PROTECTION OF 660-ACRE WATERSHED FOREST PRESERVE FOR 15 YEARS IN FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO NEW 10,000-GALLON WATER TANKS.24. PROTECTION OF THREE SPECIES OF SEA TURTLES, OTHER WILDLIFE, AND MANGROVES IN GUATEMALA NEAR MOYUTA VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL, CHICKEN FARMING, TURTLE-THEMED EVENTS.25. PROTECTION OF 2.4 ACRES OF WETLAND, INCLUDING MANGROVES, BEACH, AND CORAL REEF, FOR 10 YEARS; MANGROVE PLANTING; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN HONDURAS NEAR CRAWFISH ROCK IN EXCHANGE FOR MULTI-USE SPORTS COURT FOR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY.26. PROTECTION OF 99 ACRES OF FOREST FOR 15 YEARS, INCLUDING REFORESTATION OF 10 ACRES IN INDONESIA NEAR KAPUTIHAN AND PAPAYAN VILLAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY CENTER; WATER PIPES FROM SPRING TO VILLAGE. 27. CORAL RESTORATION AT TWO SITES TOTALING 6.25 ACRES IN MEXICO ON MARIETAS ISLANDS IN EXCHANGE FOR BETTER CONDITIONS FOR ECOTOURISM AND FISHING; TOURISM TRAINING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE. 28. PROTECTION OF 605-ACRE MARINE AREA, WITH MANGROVES AND SEAGRASS, FOR 10 YEARS IN PHILIPPINES NEAR BARANGAY QUEZON IN EXCHANGE FOR FLOATING GUARDHOUSE, MANGROVE BOARDWALK, AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM.29. ENHANCED
- $40,932 spent. THE ANNUAL SEACOLOGY PRIZE RECOGNIZES AN INDIGENOUS ISLANDER FOR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE OF HIS OR HER HOME COUNTRY. THE SEACOLOGY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHOSE CYNTHIA ONG AS THE 2025 PRIZE RECIPIENT. THIS DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HALT ECOLOGICAL DAMAGES ON BORNEO, AS WELL AS PROMOTING POSITIVE, SUSTAINABLE POLICIES AND ACTIONS TO HELP HER ISLAND AND ITS PEOPLE THRIVE.ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION ON SCHEDULE O. AMONG OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CYNTHIA HAS HELPED FOUND A RENEWABLE ENERGY COALITION THAT WILL BRING CLEAN POWER TO REMOTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. HER WORK ON CERTIFYING SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL HAS GONE FAR TO REDUCE THE DAMAGE THAT OIL PALM PLANTATIONS DO TO THE ISLANDS FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES. SHE WAS ALSO KEY IN DEVELOPING A WORKING GROUP THAT SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THE SUNDA PANGOLIN LISTED AS A TOTALLY PROTECTED SPECIES UNDER SABAH STATE LAW.IN ISOLATION, ANY OF THESE CAMPAIGNS WOULD BE MONUMENTAL. IN PARALLEL, THEY EXEMPLIFY A UNIQUE CONSERVATION APPROACH THAT BALANCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASPIRATIONS WITH ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY. CYNTHIAS HOPE IS THAT THROUGH THESE MULTI-PRONGED EFFORTS, SHE MAY POSITIVELY SHIFT THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF HER HOME STATE OF SABAHWHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE ISLAND ENVIRONMENTS IN THE WORLD.
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 November 6, 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 June 1992.
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.
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