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Port Townsend Marine Science Center

EIN 91-1193699 · Port Townsend, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PORT TOWNSEND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER INSPIRES CONSERVATION OF THE SALISH SEA.

Income
$909,740
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-16.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
21
Volunteers
121
Highest pay
$81,175, executive director

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 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. $681,156 spent. THE PORT TOWNSEND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER (PTMSC) ACHIEVES ITS MISSION BY ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE AQUARIUM, MUSEUM, GALLERY, THE GRAY WHALE SKELETON ON UNION WHARF, AND TRAVELING EXHIBITS IT CURATES; PARTICIPATING IN COLLABORATIVE CITIZEN SCIENCE AND RESTORATION PROJECTS; COORDINATING COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES; PROVIDING A SUITE OF K-12 EDUCATION EXPERIENCES AND RESOURCES; AND HOSTING AN ANNUAL CALENDAR OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ONLINE. OVERALL, PTMSC SERVED MORE THAN 38,500 PEOPLE IN 2024.AQUARIUM AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS IN FORT WORDEN STATE PARK WELCOMED 11,200 VISITORS IN 2024. OVER 14,800 PEOPLE VISITED THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION AT FLAGSHIP LANDING WHERE, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE GALLERY HOSTED SEVERAL ORIGINAL EXHIBITS INCLUDING THE WORKSPACE/EXHIBITS: FOSSIL LAB, REPAIR IT!, ORCA: SHARED WATERS, SHARED HOME, AND INSPIRED BY SEA & SCIENCE: THE FIBER ART OF CARLA STEHR. ADDITIONALLY, VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN UNIQUE PROGRAMMING SUCH AS MICROSCOPE FRIDAYS, SKETCHING FROM THE COLLECTIONS, AN ELEPHANT SEAL ARTICULATION EXPERIENCE, AND FOUND MARINE-THEMED BOOKS, CRAFTS, AND ARTWORK BY LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE STORE. SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR PREK TO COLLEGE STUDENTS GREW IN 2024. A TOTAL OF 1,650 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN INDOOR LABS AND CLASSES, AND OUTDOOR FIELD EXPERIENCES. STAFF AND EDUCATION PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS ALSO BROUGHT LIVE PROGRAMMING AND COLLECTIONS RESOURCES TO AREA SCHOOLS WHO WERE UNABLE TO ARRANGE FIELD TRIPS. CRITICAL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK, SOUND TOXINS, AND INTERTIDAL MONITORING ATTRACTED VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS. ADDITIONALLY, PTMSC WAS ONCE AGAIN CONTRACTED TO TRAIN JEFFERSON AND CLALLAM COUNTY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY AND REPORT INVASIVE GREEN CRABS ALONG LOCAL SHORELINES. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS REPAIR EVENTS AND BEACH CLEAN UPS, AS WELL AS WILDLIFE CRUISES, LOW TIDE WALKS AND SUMMER CAMPS FILLED TO CAPACITY. THE FUTURE OF OCEANS LECTURE SERIES HOSTED 5 IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS. THERE WERE MORE THAN 10,900 PARTICIPANTS IN THESE AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS. WHEN NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE AQUARIUM FACILITIES ALSO SUPPORTED ONGOING CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION EFFORTS SUCH AS THE LARVAL DUNGENESS CRAB RESEARCH PROJECT AND THE PINTO ABALONE RESTORATION PROJECT.

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 2025.

    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 February 1983.

    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.