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Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

EIN 93-0792021 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARINE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TO END THE DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT AND SLAUGHTER OF WILDLIFE IN THE WORLD'S OCEANS IN ORDER TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES.

Income
$15.1 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
11
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$222,584, executive director - until 9/2024

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 (1)
  1. $10.2 million spent. CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS:DURING 2024, 4 SHIPS (SEAHORSE, MARTIN SHEEN, BOB BARKER AND MARTIN SHEEN) WERE IN OPERATION TO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS.OPERATION MILAGRO: IT WAS OUR 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES TO PROTECT THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED MARINE MAMMAL, THE VAQUITA PORPOISE, ALONG WITH THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER TOTOABA. THE TOTOABA IS VALUABLE AND IN HIGH DEMAND BY CARTELS FROM MEXICO AND ASIA. WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MEXICAN NAVY, SSCS VESSELS WERE ON THE FRONT LINES, TO STAND AGAINST THE CARTELS AND PREVENT THIS SPECIES FROM TOTAL EXTINCTION.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OPERATION ANTARCTICA: SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY HAS PARTNERED WITH SEA SHEPHERD GLOBAL TO CHALLENGE THE KRILL INDUSTRY TRAWLERS AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOITATION OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.OPERATION FAROE: CAMPAIGN AIMS TO EXPOSE AND END THE TRADITIONAL GRINDADRPTHE MASS KILLING OF PILOT WHALES AND OTHER SMALL CETACEANS. SINCE 2014, THE CAMPAIGN HAS FOCUSED ON DOCUMENTING THE HUNTS, RAISING GLOBAL AWARENESS, AND CHALLENGING THEIR LEGALITY UNDER EU CONSERVATION LAWS. DESPITE RESISTANCE, SEA SHEPHERD'S EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO PRESSURE FOR CHANGE THROUGH NON-VIOLENT INTERVENTION AND ADVOCACY.BAJOS DEL NORTE CAMPAIGN: IS A COLLABORATIVE MARINE CONSERVATION EFFORT FOCUSED ON PROTECTING A CRITICAL REEF SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. PARTNERING WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AGENCIES, THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND ENFORCEMENT TO SAFEGUARD BIODIVERSITY IN THIS ECOLOGICALLY RICH AREA. THE MISSION AIMS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING, PRESERVE CORAL REEF HEALTH, AND SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF MARINE LIFE THROUGH DIRECT ACTION AND DATA-DRIVEN CONSERVATION.ULLOA CAMPAIGN: SEA SHEPHERD'S ULLOA CAMPAIGN WAS A PLANNED INITIATIVE AIMED AT PROTECTING MARINE BIODIVERSITY IN THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA, WITH A FOCUS ON THE ULLOA ARCHIPELAGO REGION. ALTHOUGH THE CAMPAIGN NEVER FORMALLY LAUNCHED, EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS WERE MADE TO SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, MONITOR ILLEGAL FISHING, AND CONDUCT ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THE GROUNDWORK LAID FOR ULLOA REFLECTS SEA SHEPHERD'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING MEXICO'S MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.OPERATION REVILLAGIGEDO: SEA SHEPHERD'S VESSEL MARTIN SHEEN HAS RETURNED TO THE LARGEST MARINE PROTECTED AREA IN NORTH AMERICA TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AROUND WHALES AND INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEM.PANAMA: SEA SHEPHERD HAS CONCLUDED ITS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE MARINE PROTECTION ALLIANCE (MPA). WHILE THE INITIATIVE DID NOT CONTINUE LONG-TERM, SOME EFFORTS IN PANAMAWERE REALIZED, INCLUDING EARLY OPERATIONS AND GROUNDWORK. THE CLOSURE REFLECTS A STRATEGIC DECISION TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON CORE CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.