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← OCEAN WISE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by OCEAN WISE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$10,870,264
Total expenses
$12,023,621
Contributions and grants received
$5,821,520
Grants paid
$622,282
Program service revenue
$734,283
Investment income
$1,896,355
Other revenue
$2,418,106
Total assets, end of year
$32,996,095
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,339,709
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$29,656,386
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$7,851,013
Management and general expenses
$3,019,152
Fundraising expenses
$1,153,456
Program service expenses (Part III)
$7,851,013

Program services were 65.3% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $1,954

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $3,304,875

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,514,691

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $31,758

  • 2a · Program service revenue: DATA ANALYSIS

    total $245,636 · related or exempt $245,636

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PROGRAMS

    total $12,192 · related or exempt $12,192

  • 2c · Program service revenue: EVENT HOSTING FEES

    total $170,466 · related or exempt $170,466

  • 2d · Program service revenue: EVENTS

    total $14,526 · related or exempt $14,526

  • 2e · Program service revenue: SEAFOOD PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP FEES

    total $254,709 · related or exempt $254,709

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $36,754 · related or exempt $36,754

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,020,308 · excluded $2,020,308

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities -$123,614

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $339

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$123,953

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$123,953 · excluded -$123,953

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: CANADIAN GST (GOOD & SERVICES TAX)

    total $11,013 · excluded $11,013

  • 11b · Other revenue: FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    total $67,290 · excluded $67,290

  • 11c · Other revenue: REVENUE SHARE FROM SALE OF VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

    total $2,274,987 · excluded $2,274,987

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $64,816 · excluded $64,816

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $2,418,106

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $389,781 · program services $389,781

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $232,501 · program services $232,501

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,348,178 · program services $549,900 · management and general $798,278

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,818,788 · program services $3,201,232 · management and general $1,068,794 · fundraising $548,762

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $148,639 · program services $108,092 · management and general $30,591 · fundraising $9,956

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $455,573 · program services $278,314 · management and general $123,059 · fundraising $54,200

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $366,791 · program services $243,928 · management and general $88,597 · fundraising $34,266

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $71,101 · program services $27,977 · management and general $43,124

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $81,057 · management and general $81,057

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $93,450 · management and general $93,450

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,243,516 · program services $1,023,537 · management and general $75,960 · fundraising $144,019

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $115,013 · program services $108,637 · management and general $6,341 · fundraising $35

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $217,768 · program services $73,513 · management and general $120,027 · fundraising $24,228

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,123,575 · program services $642,367 · management and general $282,074 · fundraising $199,134

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $293,617 · program services $206,230 · management and general $66,614 · fundraising $20,773

  • 17 · Travel

    total $589,508 · program services $530,821 · management and general $40,495 · fundraising $18,192

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $3,689 · program services $1,483 · management and general $1,852 · fundraising $354

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $68,988 · program services $32,460 · management and general $36,528

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $92,551 · program services $59,310 · management and general $25,468 · fundraising $7,773

  • 24a · Other expenses: EDUCATION & CONSERVATION

    total $127,868 · program services $127,868

  • 24b · Other expenses: FUNDRAISING

    total $89,652 · fundraising $89,652

  • 24c · Other expenses: ALL OTHER EXPENSES

    total $52,017 · program services $13,062 · management and general $36,843 · fundraising $2,112

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $33,983,752 · end of year $30,968,671

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,031,232 · end of year $669,362

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $617,745 · end of year $367,647

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

    $558,688

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

    $383,717

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $261,783 · end of year $174,971

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $887,116 · end of year $815,444

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,042,782 · end of year $1,632,642

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,634,819 · end of year $1,707,067

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 29 · Capital stock, trust principal or current funds

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 30 · Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building or equipment fund

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 31 · Retained earnings, endowment or other funds

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

OWCA is a self supporting, non-profit organization whose mission is to empower communities & individuals to take action to protect & restore our world's oceans.

  • 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.

    Expenses $4,272,572 · Grants $389,781 · Revenue $717,384

  • 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.

    Expenses $3,578,441 · Grants $232,501 · Revenue $16,899

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Mr Lars Gustafsson

    President & CEO

    Total calculated
    $308,245
    From this org
    $308,245
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $308,245
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $308,245

  • Ms Jennie Moushos

    COO

    Total calculated
    $251,051
    From this org
    $251,051
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,051
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $251,051

  • Dr Carlos Drews

    EVP, Conservation

    Total calculated
    $219,287
    From this org
    $219,287
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $219,287
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $219,287

  • Ms Nicole Straughan

    VP, Youth & Education

    Total calculated
    $129,286
    From this org
    $129,286
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Mr Terence Burmas

    Director, Finance

    Total calculated
    $115,290
    From this org
    $115,290
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Mr Nicholas Schulz

    Director, Communications

    Total calculated
    $113,154
    From this org
    $113,154
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Mr Guy Dean

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Rich Simons

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Keith Spencer

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Ian Warner

    Director, Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Ms Lisa Stewart

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Rod Campbell

    Director, V Chair, & Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Mr Martin Thibodeau

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Alexandra Cousteau

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Nina Jensen

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Richard Sparrow

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Brian Sullivan

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Sarah MacDonald

    Director & Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Mr Michael Gerbis

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Meghan Jeans

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Isabella Lovin

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Pascal Mittermaier

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Charles Rickards Jr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jasveen Brar

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Howard Chang

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Debra Joanne Finlay

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Kari-Lee Catherine Grist

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Moronke Kesewa Harris

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

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

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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

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.

  • Ocean Wise Nevada LLC

    Inactive · NV

Related corporations and trusts

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

  • Ocean Wise Management Ltd

    C · Inactive · CA · 100% owned · controlled entity

  • Ocean Wise Research Ltd

    C · Inactive · CA · 100% owned · controlled entity

  • Ocean Wise Consulting Servs Ltd

    C · Consulting · CA · 100% owned · controlled entity

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
1 January 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202523189349312152

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