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Oyster River Ecology Inc

EIN 88-4362329 · Wimauma, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SERVING MANATEE, SARASOTA, HILLSBOROUGH, & PINELLAS COUNTIES ON FLORIDA'S GULF COAST, OYSTER RIVER ECOLOGY'S MISSION IS TO RESTORE ECOSYSTEMS AND PRESERVE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS WHILE INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL SYSTEMS ON WHICH WE ALL RELY. ORE IS A RESULTS-FOCUSED 501 (C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF ECOLOGISTS, RESTORATION PRACTITIONERS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE HABITAT RESTORATION, STEWARDSHIP, BEAUTIFICATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO BENEFIT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HUMANS AND WILDLIFE ALIKE, BOTH NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Income
$502,724
Spending
$335,063
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 40%
Employees
5
Volunteers
1,149
Highest pay
$120,900, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 January 31, 2026, 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 (3)
  1. $201,792 spent. ORE'S OYSTER HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM IS MAKING LARGE-SCALE OYSTER HABITAT RESTORATION A REALITY IN OUR AREA. IN JANUARY 2024, ORE RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY PERMITS TO BEGIN OYSTER REEF RESTORATION ON OUR FIRST TEN-ACRE AREA IN THE MANATEE RIVER THAT WILL SUPPORT LARGE, HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE OYSTERS. OUR 10-ACRE RESTORATION SITE IS BY FAR THE LARGEST OYSTER RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE SUNCOAST. HAVING ACHIEVED THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ACQUIRING PERMITS, WE HAVE STARTED OYSTER RESTORATION AND ARE SEEKING FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE INITIAL 10 ACRES WHICH WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY RE-INTRODUCING HARD SUBSTRATES (AKA CULTCH) TO THE SEAFLOOR/RIVER BOTTOM ALLOWING LARVAL OYSTERS TO ATTACH AND GROW INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONING OYSTER REEF.
  2. $31,624 spent. ORE'S WATERSHED HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF ALL OTHER HABITATS OUTSIDE OF OUR OYSTER RESTORATION PROGRAM. WITH A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TECHNIQUES AND A PROJECT PORTFOLIO FULL OF REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION PROJECTS INCLUDING ROBINSON PRESERVE, PERICO PRESERVE, TOM BENNET PARK, UNGARELLI PRESERVE AND MORE, ORE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AND SEVERAL OF ORE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS) HAS THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SUCCESSFUL RESTORATION PROJECTS THROUGH THE WATERSHED. ORE'S PROJECTS UNDER THIS PROGRAM TO DATE HAVE FOCUSED ON AS THIS PROGRAM MATURES, WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT LARGE-SCALE UPLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE FULL SCALE GROUNDCOVER RESTORATION OF HIGHLY DIVERSE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS LIKE PINE FLATWOODS AND SCRUB. WE ARE ALSO DEEPLY EXPERIENCED DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING FRESHWATER WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS WHICH WILL BECOME A LARGER PART OF OUR PROJECT PORTFOLIO AS WE GROW.
  3. $22,231 spent. ORE'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS INTERTWINED WITH ALL OUR WORK. WE OPERATE UNDER THE PREMISE THAT THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE BROAD AND LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS IS TO ENGAGE WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE DURING ALL PHASES OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND TARGETED EDUCATION TOWARDS THOSE WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. THIS IS WHY ALL THE WORK WE DO INCLUDES AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TO MAKE THEM DIRECT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND PROVE FIRSTHAND THAT THEY CAN BE A POSITIVE FORCE IN RESTORING THE NATURAL WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2026, 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 January 2026.

    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 January 2023.

    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.