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Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

EIN 94-2401308 · Watsonville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To recover and restore the native salmon and steelhead populations of the Monterey Bay region and to develop and implement educational K-12 curricula regarding watershed science and conservation.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
7
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$9,417, facilities manager

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 196% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 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, 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 (7)
  1. $1.2 million spent. Engaged in spawning adult Coho salmon broodstock to provide over 120,000 fertilized eggs to support regional recovery efforts for the species. Released over 80 adult Coho salmon to coastal watersheds of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties to engage in natural spawning in conjunction with in-stream habitat restoration projects. Released over 20,000 juvenile Coho salmon to the Scott Creek watershed as a component of the Southern Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. Objective: to prevent the extinction of Central Coast Coho salmon south of San Francisco Bay, and to promote and enhance regional efforts to recover the species.
  2. $372,995 spent. Continued provision of virtual field trips and additional digital curriculum content for local K-12 classrooms to continue watershed sciences programs in a virtual format. Worked with area nonprofits to re-engage in-person field activities for local students. Objective: to provide compelling and immersive hands-on curricula and field trips focused on watershed conservation and the lifecycle of salmon and steelhead.
  3. $186,497 spent. Assisted CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife with release of over 320,000 juvenile Chinook salmon directly to the waters of Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in support of local sport and commercial fisheries. Objective: to increase community engagement and advocacy for salmon by enhancing local sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries through coastal releases of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon.
  4. Engaged in steelhead sampling/monitoring at the City of Santa Cruzs Felton Diversion facility to monitor population trends and adult return numbers for the San Lorenzo River. Supported regional recovery goals by collecting and sharing biological data with agency partners and other nonprofits/ municipal entities. Engaged over 50 volunteers in citizen science/advocacy to support the conservation of locally-
  5. $93,249 spent. threatened populations of steelhead. This included steelhead stranding rescues during summer months, and operation of antenna arrays in partnership with other local organizations/nonprofits.
  6. Engaged in steelhead sampling/monitoring at the City 0. 0. 0.
  7. threatened populations of steelhead. This included steelhead 93249. 0. 0.

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

  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 March 1987.

    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.