Ocean Wise Conservation Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Ocean Wise Conservation Association endeavours to effect the conservation of aquatic life and habitats in British Columbia, around the Pacific Rim, and worldwide by exposing the maximum number of people possible to information about the aquatic world, by playing a major role in public education, by conducting scientific research, by developing and operating conservation programs.
- Income
- $10.9 million
- Spending
- $12.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 29.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 30%
- Employees
- 96
- Volunteers
- 26,026
- Highest pay
- $308,245, president & ceo
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: 79 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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
Good: 82 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 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 (2)
- $4.3 million spent. Conservation & Research - Ocean Wise Seafood continues to drive responsible consumer choices in North America. The program, established to help businesses and customers identify and purchase sustainable seafood, has over 700 partner organizations around the world. Other activities include our shoreline cleanup program where over 17,000 kg of litter was picked up, led by over 25,000 participants performing 1,068 cleanups across Canada and the USA. Ocean Wise has a number of ongoing research programs with both onsite & field components. This involves research on cetaceans (including killer whales and humpback whales), ocean pollution and microplastics. Our citizen science research collects and analyzes valuable data on plastic pollution as well as cetacean sightings and we are advancing to restore kelp forests at scale in partnership with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia and in Chile.
- $3.6 million spent. Education - Ocean Wise's education programs engage educators, students and parents by delivering curriculum-based video courses, take-home education kits, activities and virtual visits with ocean experts. Our youth service initiative, funded by the government of Canada's Canada Service Corps Program expanded to new geographies across the country including a direct action program, providing full-time, three-month placements for young professionals across Canada. As well, our Ocean Bridge and YouthtoSea programs provide part-time, six-month networking and service activities for young Canadians.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.