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Altaseads Conservancy

EIN 88-2044353 · San Pedro, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE DEVELOPING, MAINTANING AND CURATING SEED BANKS TO PRESERVE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF KELPS, SUPPORT SELECTION THAT WOULD SUSTAIN RAISING OCEAN TEMPERATURE AND OCIDIFICATION PROMOTE RESTORATION OF KELP BEDS.

Income
$398,003
Spending
$571,407
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
6
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$41,667, president

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 9 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $369,004 spent. SEEDBANKING:ALTASEADS CONSERVANCY AND COLLABORATORS AT PRESENT HOST OVER 2,500 KELP ACCESSIONS, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST AMONG WORLD'S PUBLIC SEEDBANKS (LEAD MICHAEL MARTY-RIVERA). ALTASEADS CONSERVANCY HAS ENGAGED INTO COLLABORATIONS WITH THE CAL STATE UNIVERSITY DOMINGUEZ HILLS, TO CULTURE KELP-ASSOCIATED MICROBES (LEAD EMILY AGUIRRE). OVER 70 KELP CULTURES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, WHILE ALTASEADS CONSERVANCY ALSO TRAINED 2 INTERNS FROM DISADVANTAGED CATEGORIES. THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON SAMPLING BIODIVERSITY OF PACIFIC PALISADES AND MALIBU KELPS AFFECTED BY FIRES. THE LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FOR FOUR SPECIES, LAMINARIA FARLOWII, EGREGIA MENZEESII, EISENIA ARBOREA, AND MICROCYSTIS PYRIFERA. 12, 32, 28, AND 1 SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED OVER THE FIRST 3 SAMPLINGS, WITH MORE COLLECTIONS ONGOING. THE PRESS RELEASE IS ATTACHED. LA TIMES ARTICLE IS COMING. 51 VARIETIES OF KELP-ASSOCIATED FUNGUSES ARE CULTURED. 41 VARIETIES OF MICROBES ARE CULTURED FROM THE KELP SEED BANK, AND 29 FROM FRESHLY COLLECTED BLADES.
  2. $64,247 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION:KELP ARK STAFF IS DEDICATED TO LEADING TOURS FOR MULTIPLE GROUPS OF VISITORS, EITHER IN COLLABORATION WITH ALTASEA AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES, OR INDEPENDENTLY. WE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL MENTORING SUMMER PROGRAM: SLIDES, REFERENCE MATERIALS, SELECTING BOOKS FOR CLASS AND HOME READING.THE KELP ARK DISPLAY CONTAINER AND ART HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TERASAKI STUDIOS. THE EXHIBIT HAS BEEN VISITED BY OVER HALF A THOUSAND, AND VERY POPULAR WITH BOTH PUBLIC AND SCHOOL GROUPS.THE STRATEGY OF JOINT EDUCATION ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WITH ALTASEA, IMPLYING PROGRAMMING BY ALTASEA, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES BY THE KELP ARK.THREE GIANT KELP CLUSTER EVENTS HAVE BEEN RUN.RELATIONS OF KELP ARK AND NUMEROUS OCEAN-FACING BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, INCLUDING: NORA EDDY-TNC, CAWTHRON INSTITUTE, CALIFORNIA SEAWEED FESTIVAL, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN OF SANTA BARBARA, LEWIS PUGH FOUNDATION- KELP GUARDIANS, FED DEGOBBI, ELEVEN ELEVEN FOUNDATION, PORT OF OVER ONE THOUSAND VISITORS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES RECEIVED A TOUR OF OUR GROUNDS.

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? 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 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 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.