Upwell Turtles

Tax-deductible

Monterey, CA501(c)(3)AnimalsEIN 82-1309235Revenue $2.0M in FY2025

On file with the IRSupwell.org99 Pacific St Suite 375-E, 93940-2496 · Monterey, CATax-exempt since Aug 2017Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To protect and recover endangered populations of turtles by reducing threats at sea.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 4 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
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $160K a year · 12% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$333K
to officers and key staff · 23% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 95% of similar orgs
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 23% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $23K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$78K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
+65% vs prior year
Spent
$1.5M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2025▲ +65%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$855K
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$2.0M
Expenses
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$755K
FY2021$995K
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.5M
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2025▲ +47%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$701K
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$962K
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2017.

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

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $1.3M Management & general 6% · $88K Fundraising 7% · $96K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $333K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$220,560Pt VII · Sec A
$112,486Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

George Shillinger Pres’s $221K as Executive Dir. is at the 95th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1137 $1–10M animals nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
George Shillinger Pres$220,560$212,040$202,464$180,768$164,870$156,600
Kristin Reed Operations$112,486$99,128$94,644$80,668$78,150$81,200

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.

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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

Protecting and recovering endangered sea turtles by reducing threats at sea.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Launched the first-ever dedicated aerial surveys for critically endangered West Pacific leatherback sea turtles in New Zealand watersa region where leatherback bycatch risk is high and information has been historically limited.

$1.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$23K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$25K
Money outPt IX
$1.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$88K
Fundraisingcol D$96K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$794K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$78K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$537K
Other incomeLn 4–11$25K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$218K
SavingsLn 2$576K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$794K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$125
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$78K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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$530K$794K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$125
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M$1.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$132K$78K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$339K$307K$24K$8K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$263K$188K$12K$63K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$4K$318$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$50K$33K$5K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$44K$36K$3K$6K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$207K$194K$13K$289
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$12K$5K$4K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$781$2K$2K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$17K$12K$4K$736
TravelLn 17$83K$83K$299
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$64K$64K$59
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$5K$3K$160
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$358K$353K$5K$734
All other expensesLn 24e$200$200
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.5M$1.3M$88K$96K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.0M$1.5M$501K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.2M$1.3M−$69K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.4M$1.3M$167K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$1.3M−$76K$962K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.3M$995K$337K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $855K$755K$100K$701K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,980,565 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,154,013$1,955,072
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $46,871$25,493
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,200,884$1,980,565
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $42,904$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $635,804$702,173
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $590,796$777,231
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,269,504$1,479,404
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$68,620$501,161
Part VI · Governance 3 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $1,980,565 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$536,502
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,418,570
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,955,072
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $25,493$25,493
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $25,493$1,980,565
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,479,404 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $306,658 · Management $24,132 · Fundraising $7,939$338,729
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $188,329 · Management $12,020 · Fundraising $62,943$263,292
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,875 · Management $318 · Fundraising $1,254$5,447
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $33,078 · Management $4,571 · Fundraising $12,635$50,284
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $36,098 · Management $2,813 · Fundraising $5,510$44,421
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,822$12,822
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $193,579 · Management $12,920 · Fundraising $289$206,788
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,461 · Management $4,430 · Fundraising $1,786$11,677
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $781 · Management $1,987 · Fundraising $2,026$4,794
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $12,374 · Management $4,049 · Fundraising $736$17,159
IX-17 TravelPrograms $82,813 · Fundraising $299$83,112
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $64,280 · Fundraising $59$64,339
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $10,463$10,463
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $4,675 · Management $2,602 · Fundraising $160$7,437
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $352,822 · Management $4,884 · Fundraising $734$358,440
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $200$200
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,295,286 · Management $87,748 · Fundraising $96,370$1,479,404
Part X · Balance sheet $1,638,503 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $323,380$218,178
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $206,263$575,786
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $359,118$555,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $22,502$7,283
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $219,599$204,232
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $50,063$77,899
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,588$125
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,191,513$1,638,503
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $57,956$77,624
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $131,795$77,624
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $647,936$794,923
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $411,782$765,956
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,059,718$1,560,879
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,191,513$1,638,503
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,560,879 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,980,565
XI-2 Total expenses$1,479,404
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$501,161
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,059,718
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,560,879

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

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