Pacific Whale foundation's mission is to protect the ocean through science and advocacy, and to inspire environmental stewardship.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 9 volunteers and 23 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $252K a year · 7% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.9 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $61K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.3M
83% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 83% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.5M
-48% vs prior year
Spent
$4.0M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.5M
FY2024▼ -48%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$4.2M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$2.5M
Expenses
$4.0M
FY2024▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$4.0M
Net assets
$1.1M
FY2024▼ -67%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$93K
FY2021$5.2M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$1.1M

From the FY2024 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 1985.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $3.3M Management & general 9% · $349K Fundraising 8% · $335K

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

13 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chairperson
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Pacific Whale Foundation executive salaries →

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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

Protects oceans through science and advocacy, inspiring environmental stewardship.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Research

PWF'S research team advanced global marine mammal conservation across four regions: hawai'I, australia, ecuador, and chile. The team focused on five critical threats-bycatch and fishing interactions, vessel collisions, marine plastic pollution unsustainable tourism, and climate change - while producing data that directly informs…

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

Education PWF'S education team delivered immersive, place-based learning experiences that connected thousands of students with the ocean, inspiring future stewards and scientists through direct engagement with marine environments. Continued on schedule o.

$556Kprogram expense
03

Conservation

Conservation programs at PWF transform research into action by focusing on marine debris removal, habitat restoration, and the protection of native species and cultural landscapes. Since launching its first debris removal initiatives in 2015, the conservation team and its supporters have removed more than 350,000 individual items.

$278Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$61K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $1.3M · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$197,147
Lahaina Community Land TrustHI · FY2024$100,000
Treecovery INCHI · FY2024$75,000
Grants Central StationHI · FY2024$50,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$415,684
Unitemized GrantFY2023$415,618

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$780K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$75K
Money outPt IX
$4.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$349K
Fundraisingcol D$335K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$614K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$109K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$25K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$25K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$75K
Investment incomeLn 3$780K
Other incomeLn 4–11$41K
Total revenueLn 12$2.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$614K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$614K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$728K
Other assetsLn 15$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.3M
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 523
VolunteersI 69
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M$614K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$853K$728K
Total assetsLn 16$9.0M$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.4M$5.3M
Net assetsLn 32$3.6M$1.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$300K$300K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$197K$197K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.5M$1.3M$28K$193K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$52K$34K$13K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$153K$98K$38K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$137K$116K$21K
Management feesLn 11a$305K$109K$142K$55K
Accounting feesLn 11c$41K$14K$19K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$384K$330K$40K$14K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$11K$2K$9K
Office expensesLn 13$36K$34K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$73K$45K$28K
OccupancyLn 16$210K$210K
TravelLn 17$92K$79K$2K$10K
InterestLn 20$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$125K$110K$15K
InsuranceLn 23$106K$99K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$188K$178K$10K
All other expensesLn 24e$50K$44K$806$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.0M$3.3M$349K$335K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.5M$4.0M−$1.5M$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.8M$4.2M$560K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.2M$3.2M$81K$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.2M$2.2M$2.0M$5.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.2M$2.1M$98K−$93K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,488,088 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,285,790$1,591,465
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $99,663$75,227
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,307,899$780,177
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $75,511$41,219
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,768,863$2,488,088
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $415,684$497,147
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,070,973$1,838,480
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,755,515$1,625,039
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,242,172$3,960,666
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $526,691−$1,472,578
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $2,488,088 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$353,009
VIII-1c Fundraising events$24,810
VIII-1e Government grants$108,953
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,104,693
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$24,810
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,591,465
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $75,227$75,227
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $780,177$780,177
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $37,931$37,931
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,288$3,288
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $78,515 · Excluded from tax $818,108$2,488,088
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,960,666 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $300,000$300,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $197,147$197,147
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,275,440 · Management $28,194 · Fundraising $193,005$1,496,639
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $33,751 · Management $13,067 · Fundraising $5,569$52,387
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $98,399 · Management $38,098 · Fundraising $16,237$152,734
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $116,164 · Fundraising $20,556$136,720
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $108,655 · Management $142,036 · Fundraising $54,708$305,399
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $14,430 · Management $18,864 · Fundraising $7,266$40,560
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $329,598 · Management $39,705 · Fundraising $14,366$383,669
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,198 · Fundraising $8,718$10,916
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $34,062 · Management $2,186$36,248
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $45,088 · Management $28,285$73,373
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $210,098$210,098
IX-17 TravelPrograms $79,306 · Management $2,203 · Fundraising $10,249$91,758
IX-20 InterestManagement $4,640$4,640
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $110,019 · Management $14,531$124,550
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $99,020 · Management $6,914$105,934
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $178,294 · Management $9,880$188,174
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $44,158 · Management $806 · Fundraising $4,756$49,720
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,275,827 · Management $349,409 · Fundraising $335,430$3,960,666
Part X · Balance sheet $6,368,345 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,489,012$614,437
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,057,458$1,084,366
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $1,722$3,970
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $853,000$728,450
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $4,994,489$3,937,122
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,972,457$6,368,345
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $140,841$103,492
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $155,000$34,671
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $4,861,576$4,955,022
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,387,717$5,306,024
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,832,163$969,843
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $752,577$92,478
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,584,740$1,062,321
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,972,457$6,368,345
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,062,321 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,488,088
XI-2 Total expenses$3,960,666
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,472,578
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,584,740
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$1,049,841
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,062,321

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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