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← SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$15,110,537
Total expenses
$11,893,506
Contributions and grants received
$14,995,001
Grants paid
$1,116,753
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$115,536
Total assets, end of year
$8,400,675
Total liabilities, end of year
$309,198
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$8,091,477
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,214,641
Management and general expenses
$907,953
Fundraising expenses
$770,912
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,214,641

Program services were 85.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $14,995,001

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $181,061

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $70 · excluded $70

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $212,250

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $130,830

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $81,420 · related or exempt $81,420

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $34,520 · excluded $34,520

  • 11b · Other revenue: LOSS ON CURRENCY EXCHANGE

    total -$474 · excluded -$474

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $34,046

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,071,753 · program services $1,071,753

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $45,000 · program services $45,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $735,937 · program services $405,422 · management and general $103,500 · fundraising $227,015

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $364,744 · program services $212,261 · management and general $31,512 · fundraising $120,971

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $617 · program services $347 · management and general $75 · fundraising $195

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $4,301 · program services $108 · management and general $4,043 · fundraising $150

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $111,832 · program services $55,972 · management and general $24,320 · fundraising $31,540

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $170,000 · program services $124,746 · management and general $33,655 · fundraising $11,599

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $255,465 · program services $242,012 · management and general $13,453

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $262,462 · management and general $262,462

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,392,472 · program services $1,021,792 · management and general $275,669 · fundraising $95,011

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $110,044 · program services $56,301 · fundraising $53,743

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $241,687 · program services $118,446 · management and general $24,880 · fundraising $98,361

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $98,374 · program services $19,580 · management and general $28,739 · fundraising $50,055

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $41,187 · program services $36,719 · management and general $4,468

  • 17 · Travel

    total $520,826 · program services $496,386 · management and general $8,468 · fundraising $15,972

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $108,663 · program services $30,796 · management and general $25,159 · fundraising $52,708

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $651,592 · program services $651,592

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $402,328 · program services $380,577 · management and general $21,751

  • 24a · Other expenses: SHIP EXPENSE

    total $5,084,233 · program services $5,057,279 · management and general $26,640 · fundraising $314

  • 24b · Other expenses: LICENSE & REGISTRATION

    total $156,449 · program services $156,449

  • 24c · Other expenses: OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE

    total $48,197 · program services $19,479 · management and general $15,440 · fundraising $13,278

  • 24d · Other expenses: CREDIT CARD PROCESSING

    total $10,308 · program services $10,308

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $5,035 · program services $1,316 · management and general $3,719

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $978,378 · end of year $3,007,835

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $2,755

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $107,434 · end of year $113,301

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $9,451 · end of year $11,100

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $181,134 · end of year $133,441

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $7,775,791

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,695,368

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,864,895 · end of year $5,080,423

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $35,723 · end of year $42,125

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $9,695 · end of year $9,695

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $317,822 · end of year $309,198

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,868,888 · end of year $8,049,277

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $42,200

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

MARINE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TO END THE DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT AND SLAUGHTER OF WILDLIFE IN THE WORLD'S OCEANS IN ORDER TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES.

  • CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS:DURING 2024, 4 SHIPS (SEAHORSE, MARTIN SHEEN, BOB BARKER AND MARTIN SHEEN) WERE IN OPERATION TO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS.OPERATION MILAGRO: IT WAS OUR 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES TO PROTECT THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED MARINE MAMMAL, THE VAQUITA PORPOISE, ALONG WITH THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER TOTOABA. THE TOTOABA IS VALUABLE AND IN HIGH DEMAND BY CARTELS FROM MEXICO AND ASIA. WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MEXICAN NAVY, SSCS VESSELS WERE ON THE FRONT LINES, TO STAND AGAINST THE CARTELS AND PREVENT THIS SPECIES FROM TOTAL EXTINCTION.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OPERATION ANTARCTICA: SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY HAS PARTNERED WITH SEA SHEPHERD GLOBAL TO CHALLENGE THE KRILL INDUSTRY TRAWLERS AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOITATION OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.OPERATION FAROE: CAMPAIGN AIMS TO EXPOSE AND END THE TRADITIONAL GRINDADRPTHE MASS KILLING OF PILOT WHALES AND OTHER SMALL CETACEANS. SINCE 2014, THE CAMPAIGN HAS FOCUSED ON DOCUMENTING THE HUNTS, RAISING GLOBAL AWARENESS, AND CHALLENGING THEIR LEGALITY UNDER EU CONSERVATION LAWS. DESPITE RESISTANCE, SEA SHEPHERD'S EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO PRESSURE FOR CHANGE THROUGH NON-VIOLENT INTERVENTION AND ADVOCACY.BAJOS DEL NORTE CAMPAIGN: IS A COLLABORATIVE MARINE CONSERVATION EFFORT FOCUSED ON PROTECTING A CRITICAL REEF SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. PARTNERING WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AGENCIES, THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND ENFORCEMENT TO SAFEGUARD BIODIVERSITY IN THIS ECOLOGICALLY RICH AREA. THE MISSION AIMS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING, PRESERVE CORAL REEF HEALTH, AND SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF MARINE LIFE THROUGH DIRECT ACTION AND DATA-DRIVEN CONSERVATION.ULLOA CAMPAIGN: SEA SHEPHERD'S ULLOA CAMPAIGN WAS A PLANNED INITIATIVE AIMED AT PROTECTING MARINE BIODIVERSITY IN THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA, WITH A FOCUS ON THE ULLOA ARCHIPELAGO REGION. ALTHOUGH THE CAMPAIGN NEVER FORMALLY LAUNCHED, EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS WERE MADE TO SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, MONITOR ILLEGAL FISHING, AND CONDUCT ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THE GROUNDWORK LAID FOR ULLOA REFLECTS SEA SHEPHERD'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING MEXICO'S MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.OPERATION REVILLAGIGEDO: SEA SHEPHERD'S VESSEL MARTIN SHEEN HAS RETURNED TO THE LARGEST MARINE PROTECTED AREA IN NORTH AMERICA TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AROUND WHALES AND INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEM.PANAMA: SEA SHEPHERD HAS CONCLUDED ITS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE MARINE PROTECTION ALLIANCE (MPA). WHILE THE INITIATIVE DID NOT CONTINUE LONG-TERM, SOME EFFORTS IN PANAMAWERE REALIZED, INCLUDING EARLY OPERATIONS AND GROUNDWORK. THE CLOSURE REFLECTS A STRATEGIC DECISION TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON CORE CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS.

    Expenses $10,214,641 · Grants $1,116,753 · Revenue $81,421

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Pritam Singh

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • James Costa

    SECRETARY, INTERIM TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • George Neugent

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Glenn Platt

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Linda Pransky

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Diana Reiss

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Roger Fisk

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - UNTIL 9/2024

    Total calculated
    $222,584
    From this org
    $220,349
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,235
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,849
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $52,500
    Deferred
    $1,683
    Nontaxable benefits
    $552
    Filer's total
    $222,584

  • Mimi Chang

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $150,000
    From this org
    $150,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Julian Escutia

    MEXICO COUNTRY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $197,000
    From this org
    $185,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,000
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,000
    Filer's total
    $197,000

  • Octavio Carranza

    DIRECTOR OF SHIP OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $166,353
    From this org
    $166,243
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $110
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $116,910
    Bonus
    $12,000
    Other
    $37,333
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $110
    Filer's total
    $166,353

  • Amber Shumard

    SENIOR GIFTS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $140,000
    From this org
    $140,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Michaela Gondella

    DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $113,000
    From this org
    $113,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, ROGER FISK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2024, AND OCTAVIO CARRANZA, DIRECTOR OF SHIP OPERATIONS UNTIL DECEMBER, 2024, RECEIVED SEVERANCE PAYMENTS OF $52,500 AND $37,333, RESPECTIVELY.
PART I, LINE 7
OCTAVIO CARRANZA, DIRECTOR OF SHIP OPERATIONS, RECEIVED A BONUS PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,000 IN APRIL 2024 BASED ON HIS PERFORMANCE.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • SEA SHEPHERD LEGAL

    501(C)(3) · SUPPORT ACTIVITIES OF SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY · WA · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • GALAPAGOS DREAM LLC

    OWN, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN SSCS FLEET · CO · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • ALCHEMY VENTURES LTD

    C · HOLDING COMPANY FOR VESSEL · RM · 100% owned

    Directly controlled by SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
22 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202532979349301633

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