OCEAN INSTITUTE

EIN: 330203488 501(c)(3) Religion

DANA POINT, CA

Total Revenue
$4,177,558
Total Expenses
$5,196,801
Total Assets
$14,136,699
Net Assets
$12,909,532
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1986
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
WENDY LEAVELL
Phone
9494962274
Tax Period
2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

OCEAN INSTITUTE, founded in 1986, is a community nonprofit in the Religion sector that reported $4.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Expenses of $5.2M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 24% operating deficit.

Mission

THE OCEAN INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS "USING THE OCEAN AS OUR CLASSROOM, WE INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LEARN". OUR ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING OCEAN AND MARITIME HISTORY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH HIGH-TOUCH REAL-WORLD PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A FIERCE COMMITMENT TO "ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT AND THROUGH OUR ADOPT-A-CLASS AND STUDENT AID PROGRAMS WE REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ENSURE SUCH ACCESS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $3,967,254 Revenue: $1,886,407

SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE: OCEAN INSTITUTE PROVIDES HANDS-ON FIELD-TRIP PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN OUR LABS, ON THE WATER, AND IN THE...

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SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE: OCEAN INSTITUTE PROVIDES HANDS-ON FIELD-TRIP PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN OUR LABS, ON THE WATER, AND IN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE ON CAMPUS IN OUR LEARNING LABS, ON THE WATER ON THE R/V SEA EXPLORER AND TALL SHIP SPIRIT, AND IN OUR LOCAL COASTAL ENVIRONMENT THAT INCLUDES UNIQUE GEOLOGICAL FEATURES, TIDEPOOLS, AND THE OCEAN INSTITUTE NATIVE PLANT GARDEN. OUR "OCEAN IN MOTION" VISITING VAN AND VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS REACH STUDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO VISIT OUR CAMPUS, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS, AND HOMELESS SHELTERS. ADDITIONALLY, OCEAN INSTITUTE BELIEVES IN LIFELONG LEARNING AND OUR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONIS ALSO OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, PRIVATE GROUPS (FROM SCOUTS TO SENIORS), THROUGH OUR GENERAL ADMISSION AND SPECIAL EVENTS. VISITORS CAN SPEND A DAY VISITING OUR EXHIBITS AND TOUCH TANKS, SEARCH FOR MARINE MAMMALS ON THE R/V SEA EXPLORER CRUISE, SAIL ON THE TALL SHIP SPIRIT, OR JOIN OUR KAYAK, TIDEPOOL, AND GEOLOGY TOURS. SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING MARITIME FEST, GIRLS ON OCEAN SCIENCE, THE MARINE & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COLLEGE FAIR, INTERN RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM, COASTAL CLEANUPS, AND DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS PROVIDE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO LEARNING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $2,323,269
Program Service Revenue $1,886,407
Investment Income $37,807
Other Revenue $-69,925
TOTAL REVENUE $4,177,558

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $2,439,339
Fundraising Expenses $387,391
Program Expenses $3,967,254
Other Expenses $2,757,462
TOTAL EXPENSES $5,196,801

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $4,177,558 $4,036,794 +0.0%
Expenses $5,196,801 $4,417,606 +0.2%
Net Income $-1,019,243 $-380,812 +1.7%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
18
Independent Members
18
Employees
107
Volunteers
2629

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$294,010
Total Directors
21
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
VIPE DESAI CHAIRMAN 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
STEVE HARRIS VICE CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JIM PHILLIPS TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JEANNINE SMITH SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNA KOHNKE GAFFNEY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
VIC HAUSMANINGER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DOUG CICIONE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
COLLIE JAMES IV DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MIKE KILLEBREW DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TODD LARSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KEN PETERSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRIAN SKELTON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHARLIE STEINMETZ DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KELLY STEWARD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JILL TRACY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TOM TURNER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KERSTIN WOODS V DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LYNDA ZADRA-SYMES DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MIKE FROST GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATRINA FOLEY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JUAN GONZALEZ ALTERNATIVE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
WENDY LEAVELL PRESIDENT & CEO 40.00
Officer
$271,147 $22,863 $294,010
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 No data No data No data No data
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $4,177,558 $5,196,801 $14,136,699 $-1,019,243
2022 $4,036,794 $4,417,606 $14,909,007 $-380,812
2021 $4,927,903 $3,455,834 $15,364,958 $1,472,069
2020 $4,080,915 $3,931,999 $14,165,458 $148,916
2019 $5,350,910 $6,636,345 $14,437,038 $-1,285,435
2018 $6,339,185 $6,828,673 $15,349,184 $-489,488
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