DOLPHIN BIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1982

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

RANDALL S WELLS

Phone

9413493259

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

DOLPHIN BIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, founded in 1982, is a small nonprofit in the Science & Technology sector that reported $879K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue grew 8% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $840K left a modest 4% surplus.

Mission

MISSION DOLPHIN BIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (DBRI) SEEKS TO SUSTAIN THE SARASOTA DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROGRAM (SDRP), WHICH CONDUCTS THE WORLD'S LONGEST-RUNNING STUDY OF A WILD DOLPHIN POPULATION, AS WELL AS MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH CONSERVATION, AND EDUCATION EFFORTS AROUND THE WORLD. DBRI FOSTERS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS, CULTIVATES SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS, COMPILES AND DISSEMINATES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, GENERATES PHILANTHROPIC AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES, AND PROVIDES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. VISION THE SDRP WILL CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A PREEMINENT INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH INTO THE BIOLOGY OF WILD BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS AND OTHER MARINE MAMMALS, ENGENDERING COLLABORATIONS WITH TOP SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE SDRP WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLEAGUES, GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND UNDERGRADUATE INTERNS. THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE DOLPHINS OF SARASOTA BAY AS A "GOLD STANDARD" REFERENCE POPULATION TO FACILITATE CETACEAN CONSERVATION INVESTIGATIONS AND DECISIONS. THE SDRP AND ITS COLLABORATORS WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE AND DISSEMINATE IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES ABOUT DOLPHIN BIOLOGY THAT HELP TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF DOLPHINS, OTHER MARINE MAMMALS, AND THEIR MARINE ENVIRONMENTS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $793,409 Revenue: $330,966

CONDUCTING BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH THROUGH FIELD STUDIES OF THE BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS INCLUDING:(1) COLLECTING BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND HEALTH DATA OF IMPORTANCE TO THE CONSERVATION OF SMALL CETACEANS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS,(2) PROVIDING REQUISITE INFORMATION FOR BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN CONSERVATION TO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES,(3) DISSEMINATING THE INFORMATION GENERATED BY OUR PROGRAM TO SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL AUDIENCES IN ORDER TO AID DOLPHIN CONSERVATION EFFORTS,(4) USING OUR MODEL PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND REFINE HYPOTHESES REGARDING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE SPECIES' RANGE AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIES OF SMALL CETACEANS,(5) USING THE ESTABLISHED NATURAL LABORATORY TO DEVELOP AND TEST NEW RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES OF POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS,(6) TRAINING CETACEAN CONSERVATION WORKERS AND STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN THE USE OF THESE TECHNIQUES,(7) APPLYING OUR UNIQUE PROGRAM EXPERTISE TO DOLPHIN RESCUE OPERATIONS AND POST-RELEASE FOLLOW-UP MONITORING, AND (8) APPLYING THE INFORMATION WE GATHER FROM FREE-RANGING DOLPHINS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR DOLPHINS IN ZOOLOGICAL PARK SETTINGS.

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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%)

Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $510,929

Program Service Revenue $330,966

Investment Income $36,859

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $878,754

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $0

Fundraising Expenses $57

Program Expenses $793,409

Other Expenses $840,440

TOTAL EXPENSES $840,440

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$878,754	$812,347	+0.1%
Expenses	$840,440	$629,310	+0.3%
Net Income	$38,314	$183,037	-0.8%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

N/A

Volunteers

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

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
A BLAIR IRVINE	VICE PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RANDALL S WELLS	TREASURER	40.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL D SCOTT	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RALPH PILAND	PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RAMSEY J FRANGIE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

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	$878,754	$840,440	$945,428	$38,314
2024	$812,347	$629,310	$902,215	$183,037
2023	$457,775	$446,532	$722,627	$11,243
2022	$523,977	$422,869	$694,395	$101,108
2021	$410,429	$397,736	$612,030	$12,693
2020	$380,602	$266,375	$599,337	$114,227
2019	$270,596	$245,399	$485,110	$25,197
2018	$255,703	$156,504	$459,913	$99,199