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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Oceanic Society Expeditions

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1
(800) 326-7491
Post Office Box 844
Ross, CA, 94957
https://oceanicsociety.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

Oceanic Society Expeditions does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

OSE does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Have a voting member of the board who is assigned the responsibility of serving as the treasurer. 

Oceanic Society Expeditions meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to conserve marine wildlife and habitats by deepening the connections between people and nature."

Year, State Incorporated:
1972, CA

Oceanic Society Expeditions (OSE) works to inspire and empower people worldwide to take part in building a healthy future for the world’s oceans. The organization supports efforts worldwide that engage coastal communities in protecting threatened marine species and their habitats. OSE also leads expeditions that give people experiences in nature, support ocean research and conservation, and aim to shape the travel industry. The organization's Behavior Change program is a science-based effort to motivate simple, daily choices that lead to healthier oceans. OSE's whale watch program delivers ocean experiences, free of charge, to underserved student groups and communities in San Francisco Bay Area, and allows the organization to collect and share photographic identification data on marine mammals.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, Oceanic Society Expeditions's program expenses were:

Expeditions $2,247,061
Research and program services $689,953
Whale watching $440,439
Total Program Expenses $3,377,453

Chief Executive
Roderic B. Mast, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President

Compensation*
$197,689

Chair of the Board
Zachary D. Rabinor

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Founder and President, Journey Mexico

Board Size
7

Paid Staff Size
11

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Radio

Fundraising costs were 27% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,278,878, 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 Oceanic Society Expeditions's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Expeditions $2,722,835
Grants $597,689
Contributions $473,323
In-kind contributions $207,866
Other revenue $51,129
Product sales $385
Total Income $4,053,227

Programs: 90% Fundraising: 9% Administrative: 1%

Total Income $4,053,227
Total expenses: $3,750,427
  Program expenses $3,377,453
  Fundraising expenses $347,298
  Administrative expenses $25,676
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $302,800
Beginning Net Assets $1,239,020
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,541,820
Total Liabilities $1,162,453
Total Assets $2,704,273

Note: According to OSE's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, the organization received in-kind contributions totalling $207,865 in the form of ad grants.

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