Orca Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ORCA CONSERVANCY IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF ORCINUS ORCA, THE KILLER WHALE, AND PROTECTING THE WILD PLACES ON WHICH IT DEPENDS.
- Income
- $357,694
- Spending
- $307,958
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 83%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $77,450, chief scientist
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 91% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
0 of 250 of 0 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 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)
- $307,958 spent. ORCA CONSERVANCY IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF ORCINUS ORCA, THE KILLER WHALE, AND PROTECTING THE WILD PLACES ON WHICH IT DEPENDS. ORCA CONSERVANCY COLLABORATES WITH SOME OF THE WORLDS TOP RESERACH INSTITUTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES NOW FACING WILD ORCAS. ORCA CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE WELFARE OF ORCINUS ORCA, THE KILLER WHALE, AND PROTECTING THE WILD PLACES ON WHICH IT DEPENDS. OUR PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED TO FACE THE THREE BIGGEST THREATS FACING THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE POPULATION - LACK OF PREY, TOXINS, AND NOISE. ONGOING INITIATIVES: A. SALMON RESTORATION. BIG SOOS CREEK 1. SITE 1 (COVINGTON, WA) 2. SITE 2 (KENT, WA) ORCA CONSERVANCYS GOAL WILL BE TO CONTINUE WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARDS RESTORING CRITICAL SALMON HABITAT WITHIN THE GREEN-DUWAMISH WATERSHED AND TO COLLECTIVELY RECREATE HABITATS ADULT SALMON ARE SEARCHING FOR AS THEY TRAVEL UP LOCAL RIVERS TO SPAWN AND POTENTIALLY BECOME ORCA FOOD FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE POPULATION. B. HYDROPHONE (AI TECHNOLOGY) 1. VESSEL NOISE AND DISTURBANCE IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE MAJOR ISSUES CURRENTLY IMPACTING THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE POPULATIONS RECOVERY BY IMPAIRING THEIR ABILITY TO ECHOLOCATE TO HUNT AND FIND FOOD, AND COMMUNICATE. THE SALISH SEA PLAYS HOST TO HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF VESSELS A DAY RANGING FROM FERRIES, OIL TANKERS, CRUISE SHIPS, PRIVATE BOATS, AND MORE, ALL OF WHICH FLOOD THE WATER WITH NOISE. 2. THE HYDROPHONES WILL BE CONNECTED TO AI TECHNOLOGY WHICH USES MACHINE LEARNING TO DETECT AND IDENTIFY WHALE CALLS AND NOTIFY A USER WHO WILL THEN CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT THE AUDIO IS A WHALE OR ANOTHER SOUND. ONCE CALLS HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND CONFIRMED AN ALERT WILL BE SENT OUT IMMEDIATELY TO SELECTED PARTIES SUCH AS THE U.S. MILITARY, LOCAL FERRIES, GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT AND RESEARCH AGENCIES, AND SHIPPING COMPANIES TO NOTIFY PARTIES OF THE PRESENCE OF WHALES TO ALLOW VESSELS TO CEASE DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES (SUCH AS MILITARY TESTING) AND SLOW DOWN OR RE-ROUTE SO TO KEEP WATERS QUIET TO ALLOW SRKWS TO HUNT AND REDUCE ANY RISK OF HARM. 3. CURRENTLY, ORCA CONSERVANCY HAS A SINGLE HYDROPHONE DEPLOYED AT SUNSET BAY BEACH CAMP IN EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS TO INSTALL TWO NEW HYDROPHONES IN SEATTLE AND IN ROSARIO STRAIT (PENDING LOCATION APPROVAL AND PERMITTING). B. WATER TEMPERATURE AND CHEMISTRY TESTING 1. NUMEROUS PUGET SOUND BASIN WATERWAYS ARE ON THE CLEAN WATER ACT 303(D) LIST OF WATERS IMPAIRED FOR WATER TEMPERATURE. 2. THESE WATERS REQUIRE DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLANS TO REDUCE WATER TEMPERATURES WHILE PROVIDING DATA ON AREAS WHICH NEED RESTORATION AND/OR VIABLE RIPARIAN ZONES. THEREFORE, AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT FOR DEVELOPING SAID PLANS IS UNDERSTANDING WHERE WATERS WARM AND WHERE WATERS COOL. 3. IN ADDITION, HABITAT FEATURES SUCH AS RIPARIAN VEGETATION, SHADE, GROUND COMPOSITION, GREY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER FACTORS MAY INFLUENCE TEMPERATURE CHANGES, AND CAN BE TESTED FOR CORRELATIONS. C. EMERGENCY RESPONSE 1. MITIGATED THREATS: OIL/CHEMICAL SPILLS, STRANDING, AND ENTRAPMENTS. 2. TO BOLSTER PREPAREDNESS IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION, ORCA CONSERVANCY IS WORKING WITH THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AND FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES SUCH AS WDFW AND NOAA TO TRAIN RESPONDERS ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND HAZING DURING OIL SPILLS. WITH MULTIPLE RESPONDERS AND AGENCIES BEING TRAINED, THIS WILL ALLOW FOR A LARGER COVERAGE OF A WILDLIFE RESPONSE IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOLS WITHIN A SPILL EVENT AND WILL AID IN MITIGATING THE RISK OF WILDLIFE BEING EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS CHEMICALS. 3. ORCA CONSERVANCY HAS PARTICIPATED AND TRAINED EMPLOYEES AND SCIENTISTS IN RESPONDING TO STRANDING AND ENTRAPMENTS, AND ASSISTS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS NEEDED. 4. READ ABOUT THE BARNES LAKE RESPONSE: HTTPS://WWW.ORCACONSERVANCY.ORG/BLOG/ORCAS D. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 1. CHLOE KOTIK, PHD STUDENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BAY CETOLOGY AND DFO TO CONDUCT PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION SURVEYS ON AT-RISK CETACEANS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 2. PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND ID EFFORTS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO ONGOING STUDIES ON THE HEALTH AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MARINE MAMMALS, WHICH IN TURN HELP TO INFORM MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION. E. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS 1. A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS A VOLUNTARY, LEGAL AGREEMENT THAT PERMANENTLY LIMITS USES OF THE LAND IN ORDER TO PROTECT CONSERVATION VALUES. ALSO KNOWN AS A CONSERVATION RESTRICTION OR AGREEMENT, IT IS AN OPTION TO PROTECT A PROPERTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN EARLY 2024, ORCA CONSERVANCY COMPLETED THE TRANSFER OF A 5 ACRE PARCEL WITHIN BOTHELL, WA AND HAS SECURED USE OF SAID LAND IN UNITY WITH THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE TOWARD PROTECTING THE CONSERVATION VALUE IN PERPETUITY. F. BOATER EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT 1. MITIGATED THREATS: VESSEL DISTURBANCE 2. VOLUNTEERS ARE STATIONED AT VARIOUS MARINAS AND/OR BOAT RAMPS WITHIN CENTRAL/SOUTH PUGET SOUND BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER TO EDUCATE BOATERS ON THE NEWLY REVISED BE WHALE WISE GUIDELINES.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on February 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2011.
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 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 January 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.