National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Silver Spring MD | IRS ruling year: 2001 | EIN: 94-3370994
Organization Mission
SEE PART III, LINE 1.
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Silver Spring MD | IRS ruling year: 2001 | EIN: 94-3370994
Organization Mission
SEE PART III, LINE 1.
Great
This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Results. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
This organization appears on the most recent listing of nonprofits that are delinquent with California state registrations
For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
$2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support | Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee |
$1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
$500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Kristen Sarri, President & Ceo
$276,174
Veronica Ali, Vice President Of Finance
$152,115
Allison Alexander, Vice President Of Program Operations
$125,547
Ginaia Kelly, Mb Chapter Director
$116,215
Carol King, Chief Of Staff
$113,396
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2022
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (National Marine Sanctuary Foundation) or EIN (943370994) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 83 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 6 Equity Practices.
This assessment demonstrates the importance of implementing practices that contribute positively to an organization's overall culture, both internally and with respect to community engagement. Furthermore, equity centered frameworks and similar approaches have drawn much attention from donors, experts, and sector leaders who underscore its value to the nonprofit's overall health and capacity for mission success. Currently, the Equity Strategies Checklist assessment consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in their operations and programs (per the Equity Strategies checklist administered by Candid). As we refine our DEI assessment, Charity Navigator partners with DEI consultants and field experts to broaden and deepen this work.
Equity Practices (1/7) | |
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Equity Policies and Procedures (5/7) | |
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
SEE PART III, LINE 1.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
National marine sanctuaries and monuments — our wondrous protected waters — teeming with life and in
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Increase the size of the National Marine Sanctuary System to enhance biodiversity conservation and maritime heritage and cultural preservation.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Two: Restore habitats to provide ecosystem services, enhance climate resilience of marine ecosystems, and support coastal communities.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Inspire the next generation to pursue education in ocean science and conservation, and create a culture of stewardship for marine protected areas.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
The Foundation is committed to leadership and professional development at all levels of the organization. Recently, team members have engaged and served as leaders in JEDI focused cohorts including Race + the Ocean and the Resilience Initiative; professional associations including NationSwell and the Women's Aquatic Network; and have a variety of opportunities to participate in professional conferences and events. All team members participate in annual reviews and quarterly check-ins that include a plan with specific actions toward professional and leadership development that the Foundation can help support. Staff started a book club for women at the beginning of their careers focused on leadership and confidence building.
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
Foundation leadership engages externally to mobilize support for our mission both at an organizational and individual level. The Foundation is chairing the Fundraising Working Group for Mission: Iconic Reefs, a program that includes a multi-year commitment, dozens of nonprofit, public, and corporate partners with a goal of raising $100 million to support coral reef restoration. The Foundation participates in the Blue Funders Group to share resources and ideas for increasing funding for ocean issues. The Foundation hosts Capitol Hill Ocean Week every June, the largest policy conference of its kind in the United States - attendees include students, scientists, Members of Congress and the Administration, leaders from the corporate and nonprofit sectors, and more. With the help of sponsors, we are able to maintain a conference that is fee-free and open to the public. The Foundation hosts "fly-ins" on Capitol Hill to help community leaders and constituents advocate for our shared mission.
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Like most organizations, the global pandemic and resulting shutdowns caused our team to rethink current and future planning - from fieldwork to events to fundraising to educational opportunities for students. Wherever possible, the Foundation team found ways to pivot with our programming. Some of the major changes, especially engaging a global audience for Capitol Hill Ocean Week with a robust virtual platform and agenda, expanded our reach and has given us new ways to communicate with new audiences. We are also open to more job positions being fully remote, opening access to an entire new pool of applicants from a variety of backgrounds. The 2020 killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others led to an overdue reckoning with personal and systemic racism, police violence and inequality in America. At the Foundation, we recognized that we had a lot of work to do both internally and with the greater environmental movement. While the internal work is ongoing, we used Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2021 as a convening point for the grassroots groups and environmental justice leaders who have long done work that has gone overlooked to have an amplified platform for discussion. For the first time in 20 years, the Foundation brought together an Advisory Council to plan and vet the program, sessions, and speakers; we realize that we are not a leader in this space and need to clear a path forward for those groups instead. It was a powerful conference that continues to influence ocean policy initiatives and JEDI efforts.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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