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Greater Farallones Association

EIN 94-3227237 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GFA WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AND ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER FARALLONES AND CORDELL BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES TO PRESERVE, MONITOR, RESEARCH, EDUCATE ABOUT AND ENHANCE THESE INVALUABLE MARINE RESOURCES.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
39
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$151,810, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 March 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 (4)
  1. $2.0 million spent. KELP RESTORATION - RESPONDING TO A DRASTIC DECLINE IN VITAL BULL KELP HABITAT ALONG THE NORTH-CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST, THE GREATER FARALLONES KELP RESTORATION PROGRAM IS A LARGE-SCALE PROJECT ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF KELP FOREST OASES ALONG CALIFORNIA'S NORTH COAST THAT CAN PROVIDE HABITAT FOR INVERTEBRATES AND FISHES AND SUPPLY SPORES FOR SURROUNDING AREAS, FACILITATING BROAD-SCALE RECOVERY OF KELP FORESTS IN THE GREATER FARALLONES NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. WE USE COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE-INFORMED METHODS INCLUDING REDUCED GRAZING PRESSURE, KELP CULTURING AND OUTPLANTING, AND ECOLOGICAL MONITORING.
  2. $806,121 spent. CONSERVATION - THE GREATER FARALLONES ASSOCIATION'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM CONSERVES AND PROTECTS VULNERABLE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS. PROMOTING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, WE INCREASE THE RESILIENCE OF ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT COASTAL HABITATS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF MIGRATING SHOREBIRDS AND COMPLEX WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS. OUR COASTAL RESILIENCE TEAM LEADS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO BETTER MANAGE SEDIMENT ON CALIFORNIA BEACHES TO PROTECT HUMANS AND WILDLIFE. WE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE BOAT AND AIRCRAFT DISTURBANCES TO ENDANGERED WHALES AND KEY SEABIRD COLONIES. GREATER FARALLONES ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AGENCY BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO PROTECT THE SANCTUARIES NATURAL RESOURCES.
  3. $419,846 spent. SCIENCE - THE GREATER FARALLONES ASSOCIATION RESEARCHES AND MONITORS COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES. THE BEACH WATCH PROGRAM TRAINS VOLUNTEERS TO CONDUCT MONTHLY SURVEYS ALONG 200+ MILES OF SHORELINE. WE ALSO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN INTERTIDAL FIELDWORK THROUGH THE LIMPETS PROGRAM AND ASSISTS THE SANCTUARIES IN MONITORING MARINE WILDLIFE, ZOOPLANKTON, AND OCEAN CONDITIONS. DATA COLLECTED BY OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORTS SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO PROTECT THESE VITAL HABITATS.
  4. $483,507 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - EDUCATION AND SANCTUARY SUPPORT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 January 1996.

    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.