Disable all preview features

Environment : Environmental Protection and Conservation

Oceana

Protecting the world's oceans

four stars

93.10

1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
tel: (877) 762-3262   Web Site
EIN: 51-0401308

Board Leadership
Simon Sidamon-Eristoff
Chair

CEO
Andrew Sharpless
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  Score
(out of 100)		 Rating
Overall Score & Rating 93.10 four stars
  Financial 91.11 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 09/01/2017 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

91.11

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 09/01/2017 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 71.4%
  Administrative Expenses 17.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 11.2%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.08
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.70
  Program Expenses Growth 13.1%
  Liabilities to Assets 5.3%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Oceana on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Oceana on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Oceana (DC) 93.10 four stars
Surfrider Foundation (CA) 86.45 three stars
Gulf of Maine Research Institute (ME) 86.98 three stars
Gulf Restoration Network (LA) 90.31 four stars
Coral Reef Alliance (CA) 94.05 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

Founded in 2001, Oceana is the largest international group focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in North America, South America and Europe, work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists lead our team of economists, lawyers, and advocates focused on achieving tangible results for the oceans. Saving the oceans may take decades, but in each of our campaigns we aim to accomplish an important milestone in that effort within two to five years.

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $16,546,534
   Federated Campaigns $32,706
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $2,108,297
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $114,651
Total Contributions $18,802,188
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $18,802,188
   Other Revenue $-433,421
TOTAL REVENUE $18,368,767
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $18,591,087
   Administrative Expenses $4,517,737
   Fundraising Expenses $2,732,122
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $25,840,946
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-7,472,179
   
Net Assets $37,230,430

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
International Activities $10,903,343 58.6%
North American Oceans $4,580,268 24.6%
Communications $2,085,313 11.2%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2015-12 09/01/2017 93.10 four stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 87.12 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 04/01/2016 81.86 three stars
2013-12 03/01/2015 89.27 three stars
2012-12 07/01/2014 87.18 three stars
2012-12 02/01/2014 87.01 three stars
2011-12 10/01/2013 94.88 four stars
2011-12 03/01/2013 94.46 four stars
2010-12 03/01/2012 94.06 four stars
2009-12 11/01/2011 93.77 four stars
2009-12 10/01/2011 92.33 four stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 90.81 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 05/01/2011 90.44 four stars
2008-12 06/01/2010 94.33 four stars
2007-12 05/01/2009 97.93 four stars
2006-12 04/01/2008 89.69 three stars
2005-12 05/01/2007 92.11 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 51-0401308
Name in IRS Master File OCEANA INC
NTEE Code C01
NTEE Classification Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
NTEE Type Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
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).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date January, 2000
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
  • December, 2012
  • December, 2011

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

We invite you to share your opinions, thoughts, experiences, and stories about this charity here to help inform the decisions of other donors.  
Need more help getting started? Check out our FAQs.
 
This tool is not for questions about Charity Navigator, such as how we derived this charity’s rating. We will happily answer those questions if you contact us directly. Likewise, if you have questions for this charity, then we encourage you to contact the charity directly (we include the charity’s contact information in the upper left-hand corner of this page) since few charities regularly monitor this commenting tool.

Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$318,184 1.23% Andrew F. Sharpless Chief Executive Officer

Founded in 2001, Oceana is the largest international group focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in North America, South America and Europe, work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists lead our team of economists, lawyers, and advocates focused on achieving tangible results for the oceans. Saving the oceans may take decades, but in each of our campaigns we aim to accomplish an important milestone in that effort within two to five years.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Oceana (DC) 93.10 four stars
Coral Reef Alliance (CA) 94.05 four stars
Orange County Coastkeeper (CA) 87.14 three stars
The Ocean Foundation (DC) 94.69 four stars
Center for Coastal Studies (MA) 96.06 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Oceana
1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
tel: (877) 762-3262
fax: (202) 833-2070
EIN: 51-0401308

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Simon Sidamon-Eristoff
Chair

CEO

Andrew Sharpless
Chief Executive Officer

please wait...

    • I want to donate to Oceana

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching
[ X ]

Did You Know We Are a Charity, Too?

If even a third of the 7 million people who visited our site last year had donated a dollar to Charity Navigator, we would comfortably meet our annual budget and be able to do what so many of you ask us to do every day--rate more charities!

With the support of users like you, we are currently investing in staff and technology. This will allow us to improve the search and organizational features of our site, making it easier to find the information that matters most to you. We will also continue to enhance our evaluation system and metrics.

So, whether you're a first time visitor or a long time user, we ask for your help in achieving our goal. Your gift of any size is most deeply appreciated! Thank You!

With the support of users like you, we are making it easier to find the info that matters most. Thank you!

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on
Help Center