The Oceanography Society

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The Oceanography Society (TOS) was founded in 1988 to advance oceanographic research, technology, and education, and to disseminate knowledge of oceanography and its application through research and education. TOS promotes the broad understanding of oceanography, facilitates consensus building across all the disciplines of the field, and informs the public about ocean research, innovative technology, and educational opportunities throughout the spectrum of

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 52-1563085) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
68¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers and 2 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $16K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
68%
of spending
68% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$144K
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
8.8 mo
of spending, in cash
8.8 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$28K
6% of total assets
Liabilities are 6% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
15 of 15 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$583K
-30% vs prior year
Spent
$553K
To programs
68%
Net assets
$440K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$583K
FY2025▼ -30%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$596K
FY2021$389K
FY2022$938K
FY2023$340K
FY2024$830K
FY2025$583K
Expenses
$553K
FY2025▼ -39%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$602K
FY2021$520K
FY2022$591K
FY2023$605K
FY2024$903K
FY2025$553K
Net assets
$440K
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$533K
FY2021$402K
FY2022$749K
FY2023$483K
FY2024$410K
FY2025$440K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1989.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

68 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 68% · $374K Management & general 32% · $176K Fundraising 1% · $3K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $144K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$143,824Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President-Elect
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Council
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jennifer Ramarui$143,824$140,866$140,866$130,223$129,223$125,759

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Oceanography Society executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Promotes ocean research, technology, and education, sharing knowledge and opportunities.

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3 programs · $374K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Publication of Oceanography magazine which contains peer-reviewed articles that chronicle all aspects of ocean science and its applications. It is published in March, June, September, and December in online and paper format. Additionally, extra copies of any article will be produced upon request.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 52-1563085) · Dispute this line
$211Kprogram expense
02

TOS sponsors meetings and conferences to disseminate knowledge and promote communication among oceanographers.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 52-1563085) · Dispute this line
$154Kprogram expense
03

TOS manages seven award programs. The Jerlov Award is given in recognition of contributions made to the advancement of our knowledge of the nature and consequences of light in the ocean. The Walter Munk Medal is awarded biennially by The Oceanography Society to an individual ocean scientist for extraordinary accomplishments and novel…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 52-1563085) · Dispute this line
$8Kprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$583K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$314K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$265K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Money outPt IX
$553K
Ln 25
Programscol B$374K
Managementcol C$176K
Fundraisingcol D$3K
Owns and owesPt X
$440K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$404K
Total assetsLn 16$468K
LiabilitiesLn 26$28K
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$265K
Government grantsLn 1e$163K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$314K
Investment incomeLn 3$20
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$583K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$250K
SavingsLn 2$154K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$404K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$58K
Accounts receivableLn 4$7K
Total assetsLn 16$468K
LiabilitiesLn 26$28K
Net assetsLn 32$440K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$497K$404K
Total assetsLn 16$681K$468K
LiabilitiesLn 26$271K$28K
Net assetsLn 32$410K$440K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$147K$59K$86K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$30K$8K$22K$284
Payroll taxesLn 10$16K$3K$12K$157
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$2K$3K$41
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$3K$10K$131
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$144K$143K$479$6
Office expensesLn 13$6K$5K$682$9
Information technologyLn 14$9K$2K$7K$87
OccupancyLn 16$9K$6K$3K$36
TravelLn 17$43K$42K$1K$13
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$16K$15K$268$3
InsuranceLn 23$6K$1K$5K$65
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$107K$82K$25K$222
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$1K$634$8
Total functional expensesLn 25$553K$374K$176K$3K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 2, 2026 $583K$553K$30K$440K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 17, 2025 $830K$903K−$73K$410K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 21, 2024 $340K$605K−$266K$483K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jun 1, 2023 $938K$591K$347K$749K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Aug 9, 2022 $389K$520K−$131K$402K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Apr 21, 2021 $596K$602K−$5K$533K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $582,517 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $472,219$264,691
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $353,895$314,164
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $12$20
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,169$3,642
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $830,295$582,517
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,000$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $186,992$192,620
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $715,441$360,137
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $903,433$552,757
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$73,138$29,760
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $582,517 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$162,611
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$102,080
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$264,691
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $10,315 · Excluded from tax $0$314,164
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $20$20
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,642 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,642
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $307,491 · Unrelated business $10,315 · Excluded from tax $20$582,517
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $552,757 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $59,341 · Management $86,136 · Fundraising $1,724$147,201
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,544 · Management $21,882 · Fundraising $284$29,710
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,456 · Management $12,096 · Fundraising $157$15,709
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2,471 · Management $3,165 · Fundraising $41$5,677
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $2,885 · Management $10,095 · Fundraising $131$13,111
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $143,373 · Management $479 · Fundraising $6$143,858
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,872 · Management $682 · Fundraising $9$5,563
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,911 · Management $6,688 · Fundraising $87$8,686
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $5,819 · Management $2,791 · Fundraising $36$8,646
IX-17 TravelPrograms $42,392 · Management $1,018 · Fundraising $13$43,423
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $15,271 · Management $268 · Fundraising $3$15,542
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,428 · Management $4,998 · Fundraising $65$6,491
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $81,803 · Management $25,464 · Fundraising $222$107,489
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,009 · Management $634 · Fundraising $8$1,651
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $373,575 · Management $176,396 · Fundraising $2,786$552,757
Part X · Balance sheet $468,184 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $249,979$249,979
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $246,990$153,764
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $167,349$57,896
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $13,965$6,545
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,026$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $681,309$468,184
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $55,907$15,380
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $215,152$12,794
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $271,059$28,174
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $367,028$357,813
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $43,222$82,197
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $410,250$440,010
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $681,309$468,184
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $440,010 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$582,517
XI-2 Total expenses$552,757
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$29,760
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$410,250
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$440,010

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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