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OCEAN CONSERVANCY INC

EIN 23-7245152 WASHINGTON, DC

Revenue 2024
$48,811,949
Expenses 2024
$49,486,289

Program services were 74.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
C320
Classification
2100
Street
1300 19TH ST NW STE 800

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OCEAN CONSERVANCY UNITES SCIENCE, PEOPLE, AND POLICY TO PROTECT OUR OCEAN, TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

  • CROSS-CUTTING WORK: OCEAN CONSERVANCY HAS MULTIPLE CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE THREE KEY PILLARS - PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY, PREVENTING OCEAN PLASTICS, AND MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WORK ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH GOVERNMENTS AT ALL LEVELS TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT PROTECT THE OCEAN. OCEAN CONSERVANCY IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT ENSURES WE ARE PURSUING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BACKED BY SCIENCE. OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING WORK INSPIRES PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT AND TAKE ACTION FOR OUR OCEAN THROUGH THE MEDIA AS WELL AS DIGITAL AND SOCIAL CHANNELS. THIS INCLUDES OUR RECENTLY LAUNCHED SPORTS MARKETING INITIATIVE, PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY, WHICH MOBILIZES ATHLETES, EVENTS, VENUES, ARTISTS AND FANS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE OCEAN. THE INAUGURAL PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY TOUR PARTNERS WITH VENUES TO USE REUSABLE CUPS; IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE TOUR WILL PREVENT 1 MILLION SINGLE-USE CUPS FROM ENTERING THE WASTE SYSTEM.

    Expenses $15,415,069 · Grants $268,440

  • PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY: OUR OCEAN IS HOME TO AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF LIFE, FEEDING BILLIONS AND SUPPORTING CULTURES AND LIVELIHOODS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT THE OCEAN'S BOUNTY IS UNDER THREAT FROM UNSUSTAINABLE EXTRACTION, OVERFISHING, PLASTIC POLLUTION AND A WARMING OCEAN. OCEAN CONSERVANCY WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE OCEAN AND THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT CAN THRIVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE PROTECT BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ARCTIC, WORK TOWARD ZERO LOST OR DISCARDED FISHING GEAR IN THE OCEAN AND SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. IN THE ARCTIC, WE PREVIOUSLY SECURED A MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL FISHING IN THE CENTRAL ARCTIC OCEAN AND ARE NOW WORKING TO EXPAND THAT PAUSE TO COVER ALL INDUSTRY, INCLUDING SHIPPING AND DEEP-SEA MINING. WE LEAD THE GLOBAL GHOST GEAR INITIATIVE TO END "GHOST GEAR"- FISHING GEAR THAT'S BEEN LOST OR THROWN AWAY THAT CONTINUES TO FISH INDISCRIMINATELY. GHOST GEAR IS THE DEADLIEST FORM OF MARINE DEBRIS IN OUR OCEAN. FINALLY, WE ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHING GIVEN THE CENTRAL ROLE FISH PLAY IN OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS AND THE LIVES OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES, AND NOW WORK WITH FISHING COMMUNITIES TO ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES OF A WARMING OCEAN.

    Expenses $10,405,413 · Grants $947,583

  • PREVENTING OCEAN PLASTICS: 11 MILLION METRIC TONS OF PLASTIC ENTER THE OCEAN ANNUALLY EQUIVALENT TO A GARBAGE TRUCK'S WORTH OF PLASTIC EVERY SINGLE MINUTE. PLASTIC POLLUTION CAN BE DEADLY TO MARINE ANIMALS THAT EAT OR BECOME TRAPPED IN IT. GROUNDED IN OUR CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, OCEAN CONSERVANCY FOCUSES ON TWO CRITICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE CRISIS: REDUCING PRODUCTION OF THE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS MOST DANGEROUS TO OCEAN LIFE, AND CLEANING UP 1 BILLION POUNDS OF OCEAN PLASTIC BY 2050. OCEAN CONSERVANCY ADVOCATES AT THE GLOBAL, NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS FOR POLICIES THAT REDUCE PRODUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE SECURED 13 POLICIES, ELIMINATING 900 MILLION SINGLE-USE PLASTICS EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO ORGANIZE THE INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP, ONE OF THE LARGEST SINGLE DAY VOLUNTEER EVENTS TO CLEAN UP OUR SHORELINES AND WATERWAYS. TO DATE, OCEAN CONSERVANCY HAS REMOVED OVER 400 MILLION POUNDS OF PLASTIC AND TRASH FROM OUR OCEAN, COAST AND WATERWAYS, ENGAGING MILLIONS OF VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF THE OCEAN IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES. THROUGH THIS EFFORT, WE ALSO BUILT THE WORLD'S LARGEST OCEAN PLASTICS DATABASE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH TO FILL GAPS IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLASTIC CRISIS AND TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, OCEAN CONSERVANCY SCIENTISTS SPEARHEADED THE FIRST-EVER QUANTIFICATION OF HOW MUCH PLASTIC IS ENTERING OUR OCEAN AND HOW LITTLE PLASTIC IT TAKES TO KILL A BIRD, TURTLE OR WHALE.

    Expenses $5,949,838 · Grants $316,384

  • MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE: CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE GREATEST THREAT OUR OCEAN HAS EVER FACED. A WARMING OCEAN LEADS TO BLEACHED CORAL REEFS, MASS DEATHS OF MARINE ANIMALS, AND MORE FREQUENT AND SEVERE HURRICANES AND STORMS. BUT THE OCEAN IS ALSO A CRUCIAL ALLY FOR OUR CLIMATE: IT PRODUCES HALF THE WORLD'S OXYGEN AND ABSORBS MORE THAN 90% OF THE EXCESS HEAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGEAND IT HAS VAST UNTAPPED POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY THAT REDUCES CLIMATE IMPACTS. OCEAN CONSERVANCY WORKS WITH PARTNERS AND DECISION-MAKERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL TO DEVELOP, INFORM AND ADVOCATE FOR OCEAN-BASED SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR CLIMATE. THESE INCLUDE DEPLOYING CLEAN OCEAN ENERGY FROM WIND, WAVES AND TIDES AND PHASING OUT OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS WHICH HARMS OUR OCEAN. OCEAN CONSERVANCY ALSO LEADS INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE THE GLOBAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY'S EMISSIONS ROUGHLY ONE BILLION TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE EVERY YEAR.

    Expenses $4,884,123 · Grants $86,010

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • JANIS SEARLES JONES

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $750,028
    From this org
    $687,729
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $62,299
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $466,461
    Bonus
    $210,000
    Other
    $11,268
    Deferred
    $19,984
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,315
    Filer's total
    $750,028

  • JOHN SARGENT

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SANJAY A PINGLE

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DENISE GODREAU

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • W BOWMAN CUTTER

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CLAIRE BERNARD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ERIN BROWNE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BONNIE M CRABTREE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • COLIN LE DUC

    DIRECTOR (UNTIL 03/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LAURA FRANCIS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • IAN MCABEER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JEFF ROSENTHAL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • PAUL SHANG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • TY STIKLORIUS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • TROY TEMPLETON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DENISE SHIFFMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KENNETH DONALDSON

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $291,185
    From this org
    $259,558
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,627
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $257,788
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,770
    Deferred
    $15,745
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,882
    Filer's total
    $291,185

  • JENNA DIPAOLO COLLEY

    CHIEF BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $290,586
    From this org
    $250,940
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,646
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $249,601
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,339
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,646
    Filer's total
    $290,586

  • KATHERINE ANDREWS

    CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $328,747
    From this org
    $298,884
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,863
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $285,164
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $13,720
    Deferred
    $17,320
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,543
    Filer's total
    $328,747

  • ADRIENNE THOMAS-LOFTIN

    CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $223,539
    From this org
    $204,639
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,900
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $162,169
    Bonus
    $40,000
    Other
    $2,470
    Deferred
    $9,934
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,966
    Filer's total
    $223,539

  • SARAH BEIDERMAN

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $218,074
    From this org
    $193,227
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,847
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,356
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $1,371
    Deferred
    $11,584
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,263
    Filer's total
    $218,074

  • CHRIS DORSETT

    VP, CONSERVATION

    Total calculated
    $299,240
    From this org
    $242,866
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $56,374
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $241,076
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,790
    Deferred
    $15,059
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,315
    Filer's total
    $299,240

  • SCOTT HIGHLEYMAN

    SENIOR ADVISOR

    Total calculated
    $248,780
    From this org
    $203,283
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,497
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $200,223
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,060
    Deferred
    $12,593
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,904
    Filer's total
    $248,780

  • JEFFREY WATTERS

    VP, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $239,588
    From this org
    $203,218
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,370
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $201,838
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,380
    Deferred
    $12,346
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,024
    Filer's total
    $239,588

  • GEORGE LEONARD

    CHIEF SCIENTIST

    Total calculated
    $246,885
    From this org
    $208,153
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,732
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $204,853
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,300
    Deferred
    $12,548
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,184
    Filer's total
    $246,885

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $48,811,949
    Expenses
    $49,486,289
    Contributions
    $45,956,622
    Grants paid
    $1,618,417
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $48,811,949
    Expenses
    $49,486,289
    Contributions
    $45,956,622
    Grants paid
    $1,618,417
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $49,196,694
    Expenses
    $51,835,370
    Contributions
    $46,638,219
    Grants paid
    $4,596,034
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $48,602,165
    Expenses
    $51,861,192
    Contributions
    $47,087,114
    Grants paid
    $3,694,313

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $49,652,396
    Expenses
    $40,853,139
    Assets (EOY)
    $95,022,230

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $55,287,830
    Expenses
    $31,550,814
    Assets (EOY)
    $84,154,444

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $33,767,304
    Expenses
    $32,093,986
    Assets (EOY)
    $52,649,926

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $30,868,502
    Expenses
    $30,099,043
    Assets (EOY)
    $49,190,567

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $37,416,221
    Expenses
    $26,024,395
    Assets (EOY)
    $48,359,161

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $24,729,820
    Expenses
    $23,984,534
    Assets (EOY)
    $36,119,574

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $18,861,776
    Expenses
    $22,069,932
    Assets (EOY)
    $33,681,277

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

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

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

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

California fundraising campaigns

Campaigns run by paid fundraisers, commercial coventurers and thrift stores naming this organization, as California published them. Both figures are as filed, and what the first one counts depends on the campaign type — a coventurer or a thrift store files its own sales rather than money collected for the charity. The 990 reports this only as a yearly total, never per campaign.

  • SD&A TELESERVICES INC.

    $15,379 raised

    2023 Commercial Fundraiser

    $2,458 to charity

  • SD&A TELESERVICES INC.

    $0 raised

    2022 Commercial Fundraiser

    $0 to charity

  • SD&A TELESERVICES INC.

    $6,552 raised

    2021 Commercial Fundraiser

    -$8,128 to charity

  • SD&A TELESERVICES INC.

    $1,775 raised

    2020 Commercial Fundraiser

    -$3,800 to charity

  • GORDON & SCHWENKMEYER INC.

    $0 raised

    2020 Commercial Fundraiser

    $0 to charity

  • PUBLIC INTEREST COMMUNICATIONS INC.

    $0 raised

    2020 Commercial Fundraiser

    $0 to charity

  • PUBLIC INTEREST COMMUNICATIONS INC.

    $7,498 raised

    2019 Commercial Fundraiser

    -$8,775 to charity

  • GORDON & SCHWENKMEYER INC.

    $6,131 raised

    2019 Commercial Fundraiser

    -$6,854 to charity

Amounts are as filed and do not add up: a commercial coventurer reports one promotion's whole gross once for each charity that shared in it. A campaign may also name more than one registered charity, in which case it appears on each.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.