Captain Paul Watson Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEFENDING SEA LIFE AND PREVENTING ILLEGAL OPERATIONS ACROSS THE OCEAN.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% 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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $1.3 million spent. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the organization FOCUSED ON FUNDING other organizations that ran the following programs.OPERATION ICE STORM is focused on saving 169 endangered Fin Whales from being slaughtered by HVALUR HF, an Icelandic whaling company operated by by Kristj N Loftsson. Despite the global moratorium on commercial whaling established by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Iceland continues to permite this. Operation Paiakan has been established in response. Through the use of aggressive non-violence and direct intervention, The Captain Paul Watson Foundation intends to uphold international conservation law to save the lives of 169 Fin Whales.OPERATION KANJI MARU - Our mission is to stop the Japanese whaling ship Kangei Maru, the worlds largest industrial whale killing machine. Our destination is the North Pacific and to get there we need to transit the Northwest passage on our ship the M/Y John Paul DeJoria.OPERATION OCEAN KILLERS - Unleashing havoc on our oceans, super trawlers are rapidly depleting marine resources and disrupting thriving ecosystems. These colossal factory ships leave a trail of destruction in their path, producing high rates of bycatch and throwing trophic levels into chaos, disrupting vital food chains and endangering marine life all urgent issues that demand our attention.Were taking a stand against this environmental threat, calling for immediate protection for delicate marine ecosystems like the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. This campaign is a collaboration with Sea Shepherd France, and aims to challenge the actions of these killing machines.OPERATION BLOODY FJORDS - Operation Bloody Fjords is a collaborative effort with CPWF UK and represents a resolute mission dedicated to safeguarding the cherished and remarkable lives of dolphins against a profoundly cruel mindset prevailing among certain communities deeply ingrained in the abhorrent practice of exterminating entire family pods of innocent and vulnerable, highly intelligent, and self-aware sentient beings.
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
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 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 April 2023.
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.