ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES INC

EIN: 562125831 501(c)(3) International Affairs

DURHAM, NC

Total Revenue
$9,701,537
Total Expenses
$8,798,295
Total Assets
$18,625,423
Net Assets
$17,510,278
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1963
Legal Domicile
NC
Principal Officer
ELIZABETH BRAKER
Phone
9196845774
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES INC, founded in 1963, is a community nonprofit in the International Affairs sector that reported $9.7M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $8.8M left a modest 9% surplus.

Mission

THE ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES, INC. (OTS) IS CHARTERED AS A NON PROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IS SUPPORTED BY A CONSORTIUM OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN NORTH, CENTRAL, AND SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA. OTS'S PURPOSE IS TO SUSTAIN TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS BY DRIVING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND KNOWLEDGE, BY ENRICHING HUMAN PERCEPTION OF NATURE, AND BY ENHANCING WORLDWIDE POLICY IN THE TROPICS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $3,265,581

FACILITATED RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION: THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES GRANTS AND CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT ITS FIELD STATIONS AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS AT, AND IN THE VICINITY OF, ITS...

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FACILITATED RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION: THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES GRANTS AND CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT ITS FIELD STATIONS AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS AT, AND IN THE VICINITY OF, ITS FIELD STATIONS.

Program 2
Expenses: $2,950,132 Revenue: $1,087,420

FIELD STATIONS: THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THREE BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS IN DIVERSE ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF COSTA RICA (LA SELVA, LAS CRUCES, AND PALO VERDE) AND ONE IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH...

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FIELD STATIONS: THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THREE BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS IN DIVERSE ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF COSTA RICA (LA SELVA, LAS CRUCES, AND PALO VERDE) AND ONE IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA. THESE FIELD STATIONS ARE MAINTAINED TO FACILITATE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Program 3
Expenses: $1,066,966 Revenue: $2,461,827

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GRADUATE COURSES FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT AND UNDERGRADUATE SEMESTER- ABROAD PROGRAMS FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT. THE...

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EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GRADUATE COURSES FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT AND UNDERGRADUATE SEMESTER- ABROAD PROGRAMS FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT. THE ORGANIZATION HAS OFFERED MID-CAREER PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR U.S. AND LATIN AMERICAN OFFICIALS AND POLICY- MAKERS, SHORT EXCURSIONS LED BY SCIENTISTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN COSTA RICA, AND PROGRAMS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

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

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,942,893
Program Service Revenue $3,549,247
Investment Income $209,049
Other Revenue $348
TOTAL REVENUE $9,701,537

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $231,338
Salaries & Benefits $4,241,853
Fundraising Expenses $369,745
Program Expenses $7,282,679
Other Expenses $4,325,104
TOTAL EXPENSES $8,798,295

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $9,701,537 $9,219,213 +0.1%
Expenses $8,798,295 $9,858,737 -0.1%
Net Income $903,242 $-639,524 -2.4%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
16
Independent Members
15
Employees
9
Volunteers
25

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
6
$235,636
Total Directors
18
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
CHELSEA WARD DIRECTOR/ CHAIR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
RAFAEL MUNOZ-CARPENA DIRECTOR/ TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ERIN KUPREWICZ DIRECTOR / SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SUSAN CORDELL DIRECTOR (UNTIL JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JAMES DALLING DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KYLE HARMS DIRECTOR, (FROM JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRYAN HEIDORN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANDRE KESSLER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JAVIER MATEO-VEGA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GEORGE MIDDENDORF III DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
NATHAN MUCHHALA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MURIEL POSTON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
OSCAR ROCHA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN TOBIN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ALVARO UMANA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TERRY VOGT DIRECTOR, (UNTIL JULY 2024) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL WASSERMAN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
WILLIAM WCISLO DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER KELLEY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 40.00
Officer
$89,760 $20,770 $110,530
MIGUEL MENDEZ CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.00
Officer
$86,608 $11,831 $98,439
ELIZABETH BRAKER DIR./PRES./CEO (FROM NOV. 24) 40.00
Officer
$26,667 $0 $26,667
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 $9,701,537 $8,798,295 $18,625,423 $903,242
2024 $9,219,213 $9,858,737 $15,633,974 $-639,524
2023 $8,814,178 $9,350,545 $14,966,697 $-536,367
2022 $4,521,186 $4,875,291 $14,310,445 $-354,105
2021 $2,862,547 $3,272,598 $17,564,008 $-410,051
2020 $4,220,880 $4,597,253 $14,551,927 $-376,373
2019 $4,225,194 $5,789,918 $15,138,124 $-1,564,724
2018 $6,242,782 $7,481,398 $16,795,304 $-1,238,616
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