Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The purpose of Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, is to educate the public about marine turtle conservation efforts and the benefits of restoring the population of this endangered species. This includes compiling data about nest locations mapping the locations and documenting disorientation events and educating the public at large.
- Income
- $48,023
- Spending
- $50,036
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 13.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $908, vice president
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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $31,060 spent. a.Our current Programs consist of sea turtle hatchling rescue and disorientation documentation March 1 to October 31. In Fort Lauderdale, FL, sea turtle nesting season runs from March 1 to October 31. During this time, our volunteers are involved in permit-related conservation, preservation, and documentation activities. This includes compiling data about nest locations, mapping locations, documenting disorientation events, and educating the public about sea turtle conservation. Our field volunteers use this data for their rescue and recovery efforts. Our administrative volunteers and local, state, and federal governmental agencies use this data as a tool for enforcing better protection thresholds to reduce sea turtle hatchling mortality due to artificial light pollution. For our field volunteers, this information enables them to be there when hatchlings emerge from the nest. During the off season, volunteers attend educational events and conduct other activities to educate the public about sea turtle conservation issues.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 March 2014.
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 October 21, 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.