California Ocean Science Trust

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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

2003

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

ELIZABETH WHITEMAN

Phone

5012818320

Tax Period

2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30

California Ocean Science Trust, founded in 2003, is a community nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $2.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 32% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $627K, a strong 22% operating margin.

Mission

CALIFORNIA OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST (OST) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ACCELERATING PROGRESS TOWARDS A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE OCEAN FUTURE FOR CALIFORNIA. CREATED BY STATE LEGISLATION, OST BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND SOUND OCEAN MANAGEMENT. OST DELIVERS ON THIS MANDATE BY DRAWING RESOURCES TO SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED SCIENCE, SUPPORTING GRADUATE EDUCATION TO FOSTER THE SCIENCE-POLICY WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW, AND DELIVERING PRAGMATIC, SALIENT SCIENCE ADVISE TO CALIFORNIA POLICYMAKERS, REGULATORS, AND MANAGERS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,622,963

Program accomplishments this year included serving as science advisor to California, developing and creating an ocean health status, which will be published in the coming months; convening...

Program accomplishments this year included serving as science advisor to California, developing and creating an ocean health status, which will be published in the coming months; convening stakeholders, including state and federal government staff, on federal fisheries disasters and insurance; advancing state of the science flood risk assessment, modeling, and communications materials in collaboration with Cal Dept of Insurance; convening briefings for lawmakers on wildfires and their impacts on the ocean and coast, Harmful Algal Blooms, and eDNA; launching our SeaChange Scholars Fund pilot, which pairs graduate level students with state research priorities in partnership with CDFW and university partners; and working with the Oregon Ocean Science Trust and counterparts in Washington state to convene a series of stakeholder meetings within coastal communities with the goal of collaboratively developing a West Coast Ocean Science Action Agenda.

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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 (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $2,227,963

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $645,013

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $2,872,976

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $10,000

Salaries & Benefits $1,434,775

Fundraising Expenses $215,529

Program Expenses $1,622,963

Other Expenses $800,703

TOTAL EXPENSES $2,245,478

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$2,872,976	$2,184,673	+0.3%
Expenses	$2,245,478	$1,958,645	+0.1%
Net Income	$627,498	$226,028	+1.8%

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

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

$194,314

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ELIZABETH WHITEMAN	Executive Dir.	40.00	Officer	$180,372	$13,942	$194,314
Lora Zook	Finance Director	40.00		$124,667	$20,678	$145,345
Anthony Rogers	Strategy Director	40.00		$138,181	$6,290	$144,471
David Lawlor	Philanthropy DIR	40.00		$124,692	$15,488	$140,180
Gary Griggs	Chair	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Alexis Jackson	Vice-Chair	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Dr Phillip Taylor	Treasurer	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Rafael Castellanos	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Jenn Eckerle	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Margaret Leinen	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Karen Mogus	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Karina Nielsen	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Michele Perrault	Trustee	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Margaret Spring	Trustee	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	$2,872,976	$2,245,478	$14,244,175	$627,498
2024	$2,184,673	$1,958,645	$13,717,513	$226,028
2023	$11,328,706	$1,485,642	$11,776,170	$9,843,064
2022	$711,164	$1,168,028	$1,828,866	$-456,864
2021	$871,141	$1,364,998	$2,014,729	$-493,857
2020	$1,375,973	$1,537,969	$2,372,360	$-161,996
2019	$696,947	$1,220,751	$2,535,805	$-523,804
2018	$1,292,141	$1,596,883	$3,058,959	$-304,742