Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$21,628,080

Total expenses

$22,721,562

Contributions and grants received

$21,592,928

Grants paid

$7,269,711

Program service revenue

$160,203

Investment income

$39,907

Other revenue

-$164,958

Total assets, end of year

$9,575,940

Total liabilities, end of year

$4,189,707

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$5,386,233

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$19,253,750

Management and general expenses

$2,939,988

Fundraising expenses

$527,824

Program service expenses (Part III)

$19,253,750

Program services were 84.7% 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.

Mission and programs · 2023

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

  Expenses $7,013,743 · Grants $4,900,318

• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:SCIENCE UNDERPINS THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION. OUR CONSERVATION, RESTORATION, AND EDUCATION WORK ALL RELY ON SUPPORTING CRITICAL RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF SANCTUARIES. THIS INCLUDES SOCIOECONOMIC RESEARCH THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW MANY PEOPLE USE AND HOW THEY USE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES. THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT BENEFITS LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HAVE AN INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES TO THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES AS WELL AS HAVE ACCESS TO CRITICAL SOCIOECONOMIC DATA THAT CAN FURTHER INFORM LOCAL COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARDS TO RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND REGULATORY PROCESSES AND DECISIONS. OUR WORK IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES SUPPORTING ACADEMIC PARTNERS' ACCESS TO NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES TO CONDUCT HABITAT AND SPECIES RESEARCH AND MONITORING. WE SUPPORT EXPERTS PROVIDING INPUT TO FISHERIES ECOLOGY, WHALE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY, WHALE AND BIRD TAGGING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE KEYSTONE SPECIES FOUND IN SANCTUARIES GO AND WHY, WE SUPPORT WATER QUALITY MONITORING, HABITAT MONITORING THAT PROVIDES IMPORTANT BASELINES ON THE HEALTH OF CORAL REEFS THAT HELP IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE ISSUES MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY, WE SUPPORT ACOUSTIC MONITORING PROJECTS WHERE STANDARDIZED MEASUREMENTS WERE USED TO IDENTIFY SOUNDS PRODUCED BY MARINE ANIMALS, PHYSICAL PROCESSES, AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES, AND COMPARISONS WERE MADE ACROSS 30 NATIONALLY-DISTRIBUTED LOCATIONS, AND ALSO ANOTHER COLLABORATIVE PROJECT USING PASSIVE ACOUSTIC DRIFTING RECORDERS TO STUDY THE MARINE SOUNDSCAPE IN THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT, INCLUDING THE WEST COAST SANCTUARIES. THE ACOUSTICS PROJECT WAS EXPANDED TO HAWAII IN 2023.THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE INTEGRATION OF SCIENCE ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM TO ENHANCE AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH REGARDS TO ONGOING RESEARCH, MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE ACQUISITION OF OCEANOGRAPHIC AND HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY DATA, AS WELL AS SOUNDSCAPE MOORING DATA; MAINTAINS OCEANOGRAPHIC AND HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, AND CONDUCTS TECHNICAL DATA PROCESSING OPERATIONS THIS DATA IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND PARTNERS FOR QUERIES AND ANALYSIS. THE FOUNDATION BEGAN IDENTIFYING LOCAL MASSACHUSETTS FISHING CHARTERS, PROJECT MANAGERS, AND SIDE SCAN SONAR EQUIPMENT TO USE IN A UNIQUE PROJECT INTENDED TO MAP STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOR DETERMINING POTENTIAL LOCATIONS OF HISTORIC SHIPWRECKS TO AVOID IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SITE DETERMINATION.BUT WE DON'T JUST LEAVE SCIENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH PHDS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROGRAMS LIKE OCEAN COUNT, WHERE VOLUNTEERS SPEND THREE SATURDAYS A YEAR SPOTTING AND IDENTIFYING WHALES IN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, VOLUNTEERS TALLY HUMPBACK WHALE SIGHTINGS AND DOCUMENT THE ANIMALS' SURFACE BEHAVIOR DURING THE SURVEY. IN 2023, OVER THE THREE OCEAN COUNT AND PARTNER EVENTS, NEARLY 1,000 VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS COUNTED 2,705 WHALES ACROSS THE STATE OF HAWAII. DATA COLLECTED COMBINED WITH OTHER RESEARCH EFFORTS CAN HELP REVEAL TRENDS IN HUMPBACK WHALE OCCURRENCE WITHIN AND AMONGST WHALE SEASONS.

  Expenses $1,061,128 · Grants $173,700

• EDUCATION & OUTREACH:THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION CONNECTS PEOPLE TO THEIR SANCTUARIES AND IMPLEMENTS PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUTREACH, CONSERVATION, AND MARITIME HERITAGE PROJECTS THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BECOME ENGAGED STEWARDS OF U.S. OCEAN, COASTS, AND GREAT LAKES WATERS. WE ENCOURAGE LOCAL STEWARDSHIP AND NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT THAT LEADS TO BIG DIFFERENCES FOR OUR OCEAN AND GREAT LAKES, INCLUDING PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE RECREATION AND TOURISM IN NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES; ESTABLISHING LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES AND MONUMENTS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS; DEMONSTRATING HOW THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM SERVES AS A GLOBAL MODEL FOR MARINE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT; AND ENGAGING PARTNERS AND THE PUBLIC IN CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS.THE FOUNDATION LED EFFORTS TO CREATE THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY DAY, A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION OF OUR PROTECTED WATERS IN THE OCEAN AND GREAT LAKES THAT HOLD AMERICA'S SHARED MARITIME AND ECOLOGICAL HERITAGE THAT IS HELD ANNUALLY ON OCTOBER 23. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDED NATIONAL MEDIA OP-EDS, TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TAKE-ACTION ALERTS, AND COMMUNITY VOICES UPLIFTING OUR NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY STORIES CENTERED ON THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM SPECTACULAR.THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION PARTICIPATED IN THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION'S INITIATIVE TO CREATE A NATIONAL OCEAN JUSTICE STRATEGY, LED BY THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. AS A DELEGATE AND LEADING VOICE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS AND SANCTUARIES, OUR COMMENTS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL STRATEGY ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER 2023 AT COP28. THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION INVESTS IN PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR OCEAN AND GREAT LAKES. PROGRAMS REACH MORE THAN 1,000 K-12 EDUCATORS ANNUALLY; AND CONNECT SITES IN THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM TO SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES/SEAFOOD AND ENDANGERED/PROTECTED SPECIES. WE AIM TO CREATE AHA! MOMENTS THAT LEAD TO A LIFELONG PASSION FOR THE OCEAN AND GREAT LAKES BY PROVIDING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER CONNECTIONS TO THE NATURAL WORLD, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE. OUR EDUCATION WORK INCLUDES IN- AND OUT-OF-CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCES, TEACHER TRAININGS, AND EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AT SANCTUARY VISITOR CENTERS, ZOOS, AND AQUARIUMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS PART OF REINVIGORATING SUSTAINABLE RECREATION INITIATIVES IN THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM, THE FOUNDATION INITIATED A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT FAMILY FISHING CLINICS, PILOTED IN THREE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES IN 2023, WITH 100 PARTICIPANTS, THE MAJORITY (68%) WHO HAD NEVER VISITED THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, BUT NEARLY ALL (98%) STATING THEY PLAN TO RETURN.THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS STAFF, OPERATIONS, EXHIBITS, AND/OR PROGRAMS AT NINE VISITOR CENTER SITES IN EACH OF THE THREE REGIONS OF THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM. THE FOUNDATION WORKS CONTINUOUSLY WITH ITS PARTNERS AT NOAA AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR INNOVATIVE EXHIBITS, FACILITIES, AND PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW SANCTUARY VISITOR CENTERS TO BECOME VIBRANT HUBS CENTERING THE ROLE AND VALUE OF SANCTUARIES TO THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, INCLUDING RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHERS, SEAFOOD SUPPLY CHAIN AND CONSUMERS, INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND ENCOURAGING THOROUGH, INFORMED, SCIENCE-BASED DIALOGUE ON THE VALUE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS LIKE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND USE OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, ENCOURAGE BETTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF NATIVE PEOPLE IN OUR HISTORY WITH OUR WATERS, AND CELEBRATE THE CULTURES OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. THESE PROGRAMS SPAN THE ENTIRE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SYSTEM, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, OLYMPIC COAST, AND THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATORS IS A LARGE PART OF OUR EDUCATION PORTFOLIO, SINCE THE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER APPROACH ALLOWS EXPONENTIAL IMPACT, SINCE ONE EDUCATOR MIGHT BRING OCEAN SCIENCE LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES TO DOZENS OF STUDENTS. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS THROUGH ITS OCEAN ODYSSEY GRANTS THAT SERVE TITLE I SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM FIELDS, TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF OCEAN EXPLORATION, OCEAN LITERACY, AND GREAT LAKES EDUCATION, INCREASING STEWARDSHIP BUT ALSO INSPIRING THE FUTURE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS NETWORKS OF EDUCATORS TO SHARE IDEAS, BEST PRACTICES, AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, THE FOUNDATION LOOKS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AS WELL TO IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, IN SANCTUARIES AND THEIR WATERSHEDS.THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS OCEAN GUARDIAN SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. IN 14 STATES AND 3 TERRITORIES SINCE INCEPTION, THAT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE SCHOOL'S LOCAL WATERSHEDS, THE WORLD'S OCEAN, AND SPECIAL OCEAN AREAS LIKE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES, BY PROPOSING AND IMPLEMENTING A SCHOOL- OR COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION PROJECT ALONG FIVE DISTINCT PROJECT PATHWAYS WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES THAT EXCEED 180 THOUSAND POUNDS OF TRASH COLLECTED, 44,000 REUSABLE BAGS AND BOTTLES DISTRIBUTED, AND MORE THAN A MILLION SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BOTTLES NOT USED, SINCE ITS INCEPTION. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE ADVOCATES AND AMBASSADORS, WITH PARENTS OBSERVING A 66% INCREASE IN THEIR CHILDREN SPEAKING UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. NEARLY 90,000 STUDENTS, MORE THAN HALF FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS, HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM, ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY 3,600 EDUCATORS.THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONDUCTS CAPITOL HILL OCEAN WEEK (CHOW) THE PREMIER OCEAN-FOCUSED CONFERENCE IN THE U.S., OFFERED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL IN 2023, CONVENING NEARLY 1,000 STAKEHOLDERS IN OCEAN AND GREAT LAKES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION TO ADVANCE OCEAN POLICY INITIATIVES AND INCREASE INCLUSION FOR THE OCEAN CONSERVATION MOVEMENT AND MARINE SCIENCES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS ITS ANNUAL BLUE BEACON SERIES WITH LOCALLY DRIVEN EVENTS TO SHED LIGHT ON PRESSING OCEAN ISSUES.

  Expenses $8,551,695 · Grants $2,142,097 · Revenue $214,486

• MISSION SUPPORT:THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION FOSTERS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR THE MISSION: ICONIC REEFS INITIATIVE. MISSION: ICONIC REEFS BUILDS OFF OF DECADES OF PIONEERING RESTORATION EFFORTS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE FLORIDA KEYS INVOLVING GROWING AND TRANSPLANTING CORALS, SETTING THE STAGE FOR THIS LARGE-SCALE, MULTI-PHASED RESTORATION EFFORT AT SEVEN REEFS. THE FIRST PHASE FOCUSES ON RESTORING ELKHORN AND STAGHORN CORALS, FAST-GROWING SPECIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT OUTBREAK OF STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE. THE SECOND PHASE WILL FOCUS ON INCORPORATING RESILIENT CORALS OF OTHER SLOWER GROWING SPECIES AND INTRODUCING GRAZER SPECIES THAT CONTROL INVASIVE ALGAE THAT SMOTHER AND OUTCOMPETE CORAL. THE GOAL IS TO RESTORE DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION TO THE REEFS BY RETURNING CORAL COVER AT TARGET REEF SITES TO A SELF-SUSTAINING LEVEL. MODIFYING FISHING GEAR, IDENTIFYING AREAS OF HIGH RISK OF ENTANGLEMENT, AND REMOVING DERELICT GEAR FROM THE WATER CAN DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF LARGE WHALE ENTANGLEMENT. INNOVATIONS LIKE POP-UP OR ROPELESS GEAR WOULD REDUCE OR ELIMINATE VERTICAL FISHING LINES IN THE WATER COLUMN. IN-WATER TESTING OF THESE INNOVATIONS CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION, DATA, AND DESIGN FEEDBACK NEEDED TO GAUGE THE TECHNOLOGY'S EFFICACY AND EASE OF USE BY FISHERMEN. THE FOUNDATION WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH FISHERMEN TO TEST DIFFERENT GEAR INNOVATIONS IN SANCTUARY AREAS AND AREAS OF CONCERN. THE GOAL IS TO FOSTER COOPERATIVE AND SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND RESEARCH TO SIMULATE REAL WORLD SCENARIOS THAT ADVANCE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO EXPANDED ITS UNDERWATER MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM BY CONTINUING GOAL: CLEAN SEAS CHANNEL ISLANDS, MODELED AFTER GOAL: CLEAN SEAS FLORIDA KEYS. IN GOAL: CLEAN SEAS CHANNEL ISLANDS, THE FOUNDATION WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO REMOVE 8,630 POUNDS OF MARINE DEBRIS AND 134 LOBSTER TRAPS FROM 2.5 MILES OF REMOTE COASTLINES IN CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF COAST MANAGEMENT, THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RESTORATION OF THE HE'EIA NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE (NERR) IN HAWAII. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ERADICATE INVASIVE MANGROVE SPECIES FROM THIS MARINE PROTECTED AREA BY 2022, THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR INTRODUCTION TO THE STATE, AND REPLACE THE INVASIVES WITH NATIVE PLANTS, WHICH IN TURN HELPS BRING BACK NATIVE WILDLIFE TO THE RESERVE AS WELL. THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH THE KEY HAWAIIAN PARTNERS WHO MANAGE THE HE'EIA NERR ON THIS PROJECT.

  Expenses $2,627,184 · Grants $53,596

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

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

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

• MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

  $949,202

  RESTORATION AND MONITORING OF EDR

• CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION

  $626,959

  RESTORATION AND MONITORING OF EDR AND CORAL BLEACHING EMERGENCY RESPONSE

• REEF RENEWAL USA INC

  $334,486

  MISSION ICONIC REEFS CORAL RESTORATION CAPACITY BUILDING - CORAL BLEACHING EMERGENCY RESPONSE

• TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

  $309,560

  MDBC DEEP SEA COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZATION AND MDBC CORAL PROPAGATION: 3D PRINTING CORAL STRUCTURES

• GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

  $286,916

  MARINE RESOURCES EDUCATION PROGRAM

• AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUTE

  $275,000

  MESOPHOTIC CORAL EXHIBIT INSTALLATION AND INTERPRETATION

• MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM

  $273,500

  DEEP WATER OCTOCORALS

• LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

  $245,661

  CONNECTIVITY OF MESOPHOTIC AND DEEP-SEA CORAL POPULATIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

• JOHNSTON APPLIED MARINE SCIENCE

  $237,996

  CORAL REEF RESTORATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO ENHANCE ECOSYSTEM AND COMMUNITY RESILENCE

• WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

  $228,441

  SOCIOECONOMIC MONITORING FOR ICONIC REEFS IN FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

5 September 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.1

Source object

202422499349300807

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.