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Cascadia Research Collective

EIN 91-1113375 · Olympia, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to conduct scientific research and education in the fields of mammal biology, animal behavior and pollution ecology to promote environmental protection by providing our findings to the public, managers and other scientists. Accomplishments are demonstrated through publications in scientific journals and in public and scientific presentations.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
29
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$167,485, biologist

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: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (7)
  1. $537,906 spent. Code 541700 Hawaii Odontocete Research (HI-OD): Conducted scientific studies on odontocetes in Hawaiian waters to examine behavior, movement patterns, including false killer whales and beaked whales using dive and satellite tags, photo-identification techniques and visual and acoustic studies. Supported by NOAA, State of Hawaii, Office of Naval Research, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Hawaii Ocean Foundation, and Dolphin Quest.
  2. $356,728 spent. Code 541700 Photo-identification of Large Whales in the Eastern North Pacific (WC-ID): Scientific research on migratory movements, distribution, stock structure, reproductive rates, abundance and behavior of large whales using photo-identification and impacts of tagging research off the eastern Pacific Ocean. Supported by NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Ocean Protection Council.
  3. $130,745 spent. Code 541700 Marine Mammal Stranding Response (STRAND): Scientific research on marine mammals stranded live or dead primarily in Washington State including large whale stranding and disentanglement response along the US West Coast. Supported by NOAA and SeaDoc.
  4. $223,429 spent. Code 541700 Noise Impact Research (BRS): Study of whale and dolphin behavioral response to anthropogenic noise particularly Navy mid-frequency sonar. Studies involve monitoring whale and dolphin behavior and tracking the response of animals to controlled exposure playback with scaled sounded sources and Navy sources. Information from this study is critical to understanding the impact of Navy activities and also potential strategies for reducing these impacts. Supported by the US Navy.
  5. $123,930 spent. Code 541700 Gray Whale Photographic Identification (ER): Scientific research to photograph, match and analyze photo-identification and biopsy data of gray whales to estimate abundances, regional fidelity and movements off Washington. Supported by NOAA.
  6. $74,395 spent. Code 541700 West Coast tagging efforts (WC-TAG) of large whales to examine underwater behavior including ship strike and entanglement risk. Funded by Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Stanford Univ.
  7. $14,489 spent. Code 541700 Education and other: Education activities and other consulting

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 October 13, 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 September 1980.

    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 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.