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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: June 2026 Expires: June 2028

Ocean Conservancy

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(800) 519-1541
1300 19th Street Northwest, 8th Floor
Washington, DC, 20036
https://oceanconservancy.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Ocean Conservancy meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Complaints

Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 1.

Mailing List Removal

The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention: 1.

(This complaint involved an individual seeking to have his or her name and contact information removed from the organization's mailing list).

Stated Purpose:
"to unite science, people, and policy to protect the ocean, today and for generations to come."

Year, State Incorporated:
1972, DC

Ocean Conservancy aims to educate and provide individuals with resources to preserve and advocate for the ocean. The organization states that it works with fishermen, indigenous and local communities, scientists, conservation groups, businesses, policymakers, governments, international organizations, and the public to develop science-based practices that protect the ocean and coastal environments. Ocean Conservancy's three main areas of programming support protecting biodiversity, preventing plastic pollution in the ocean, and mitigating climate change. The organization states that through its International Coastal Cleanup program, its volunteers collect millions of pounds of trash across the globe each year. In 2025, Ocean Conservancy reports that over 175,000 pounds of abandoned fishing nets were removed from Mexico's marine environment. Some ($4,429,106 or 12%) of Ocean Conservancy's program service activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the year ended June 30, 2025, Ocean Conservancy's program expenses were:

Cross-cutting $15,816,931
Biodiversity $10,405,413
Plastics $5,949,838
Climate $4,880,614
Total Program Expenses $37,052,796

Chief Executive
Janis Searles Jones, J.D., Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$750,028

Chair of the Board
John Sargent

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Author and Publisher

Board Size
16

Paid Staff Size
139

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Workplace Giving, Cryptocurrency

Ocean Conservancy incurred joint costs of $7,155,260 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $4,429,106 was allocated to program expenses, $2,704,688 was allocated to fundraising expenses, and $21,466 was allocated to administrative expenses.

Fundraising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $46,360,984, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Ocean Conservancy's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions, grants, and bequests $45,899,742
Investment return, net $7,214,835
Royalties $470,064
In-kind contributions $461,242
Other income $261,586
List rental income $26,557
Total Income $54,334,026

Programs: 74% Fundraising: 14% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $54,334,026
Total expenses: $49,976,191
  Program expenses $37,052,796
  Fundraising expenses $7,180,566
  Administrative expenses $5,467,945
  Other expenses $274,884
Income in Excess of Expenses $4,357,835
Beginning Net Assets $81,985,708
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $86,343,543
Total Liabilities $11,564,712
Total Assets $97,908,255

Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other expenses" refers to other losses.

Note 2: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025, Ocean Conservancy received in-kind contributions totaling $461,242 in the form of search engine optimization services ($401,862), supplies ($52,580), artwork ($4,300), and advertising space ($2,500).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance