Heal the Bay
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HEAL THE BAY IS DEDICATED TO MAKING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS AND WATERSHEDS, INCLUDING SANTA MONICA BAY, SAFE, HEALTHY AND CLEAN. THE ORGANIZATION USES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ACTION AND ADVOCACY TO PURSUE ITS MISSION.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 82
- Volunteers
- 2,000
- Highest pay
- $233,295, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 28 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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)
- $1.8 million spent. MEMBERSHIP AND EDUCATIONHEAL THE BAY IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT MAKING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS AND WATERSHEDS, INCLUDING SANTA MONICA BAY, SAFE, HEALTHY AND CLEAN.
- $1.5 million spent. SANTA MONICA PIER AQUARIUMHEAL THE BAY OPERATES THE SANTA MONICA PIER AQUARIUM, WHICH IS LOCATED BEACH LEVEL AT THE EAST END OF THE SANTA MONICA PIER. THE SANTA MONICA PIER AQUARIUM PROVIDES A UNIQUE, HANDS-ON WAY TO INTERACT WITH LOCAL MARINE LIFE IN A SAFE AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THE AQUARIUM FEATURES LIVE EXHIBITS, INCLUDING A SHARK TANK, EELS AND TIDE-POOL TOUCH TANKS, WHILE PROMOTING THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF CALIFORNIA COASTAL HABITATS. THE HEAL THE BAY AQUARIUM ATTRACTS OVER 20,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 60,000 PUBLIC VISITORS EACH YEAR.
- $839,510 spent. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACYHEAL THE BAY'S UNIQUE APPROACH OF EXPERT RESEARCH COMBINED WITH VOLUNTEER ACTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL IN WORKING WITH LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC TO CLEAN UP SANTA MONICA BAY AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS. THERE IS A CLEAR TRACK RECORD OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE BAY HAS IMPROVED DUE TO HEAL THE BAY'S ACTIONS.
- $178,894 spent. ADVOCACY AND LOBBYINGHEAL THE BAY CAMPAIGNS FOR TOUGH LEGISLATION THAT KEEPS HARMFUL PLASTIC OUT OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT, ADVOCATES FOR THE END OF FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION OFFSHORE AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE, GLOBAL WARMING, COASTAL EROSION, AND OTHER LOCAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRESSES LOCAL AND STATE REGULATORS TO TAKE ACTION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 September 2025.
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 July 1987.
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.