HEAL THE OCEAN INC

EIN: 770565183 501(c)(3) Environment

SANTA BARBARA, CA

Total Revenue
$1,035,758
Total Expenses
$1,150,429
Total Assets
$1,897,465
Net Assets
$1,884,285
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1998
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
KARINA K LESSLEY
Phone
8059657570
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

HEAL THE OCEAN INC, founded in 1998, is a community nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $1.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue grew 17% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $1.2M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 11% operating deficit.

Mission

HEAL THE OCEAN FOCUSES ON REDUCING OCEAN POLLUTION AND PROVIDING SCIENCE- BASED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COASTS TO BENEFIT PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. WE ARE FOCUSED ON SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, AND OUR METHODS SERVE AS MODELS FOR OTHER COASTAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $258,236 Revenue: $9,326

PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS: HTO CONDUCTS MANY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING TABLING AT FESTIVALS, EARTH DAY, HOSTING BEACH CLEANUPS...

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PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS: HTO CONDUCTS MANY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING TABLING AT FESTIVALS, EARTH DAY, HOSTING BEACH CLEANUPS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND MORE. HTO ALSO MANAGES MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SERVICE BEACH CLEANUPS, RECRUITING NEW VOLUNTEERS, AND RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC. THIS PROGRAM ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH THROUGH ELECTRONIC AND PRINT NEWSLETTERS, A WEBSITE, AND MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.

Program 2
Expenses: $185,669

ONSHORE POLLUTION REMOVAL: HTO WORKS TO REMOVE LARGE SOURCES OF ONSHORE POLLUTION BEFORE THEY CAN CONTAMINATE WATERWAYS AND THE OCEAN. THIS WORK INCLUDES: REMOVAL OF ABANDONED ENCAMPMENTS, INCLUDING...

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ONSHORE POLLUTION REMOVAL: HTO WORKS TO REMOVE LARGE SOURCES OF ONSHORE POLLUTION BEFORE THEY CAN CONTAMINATE WATERWAYS AND THE OCEAN. THIS WORK INCLUDES: REMOVAL OF ABANDONED ENCAMPMENTS, INCLUDING TRASH, WASTE, FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS; REMOVING BEACHED BOAT WRECKS, INCLUDING SEWAGE WASTE AND OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS; LARGE-SCALE WATERSHED AND BEACH CLEANUPS; AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS) RECYCLING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MARBORG INDUSTRIES. IN 2025, OVER 35 TONS OF POLLUTION WAS CLEANED AND KEPT OUT OF THE OCEAN.

Program 3
Expenses: $181,904

SUMMERLAND OIL MITIGATION STUDY: HTO LEADS A GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AND STUDY EVALUATING THE SEAFLOOR, EMISSIONS, AND AIR QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH LEGACY OIL WELLS IN SUMMERLAND, CA, TO INFORM...

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SUMMERLAND OIL MITIGATION STUDY: HTO LEADS A GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AND STUDY EVALUATING THE SEAFLOOR, EMISSIONS, AND AIR QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH LEGACY OIL WELLS IN SUMMERLAND, CA, TO INFORM PRIORITY WELL ABANDONMENT (PERMANENT CAPPING) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION AND BUBBLEOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS SUGGEST PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN GEOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN WELLS.

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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 (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,000,838
Program Service Revenue $9,326
Investment Income $42,890
Other Revenue $-17,296
TOTAL REVENUE $1,035,758

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $523,082
Fundraising Expenses $137,871
Program Expenses $856,136
Other Expenses $627,347
TOTAL EXPENSES $1,150,429

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $1,035,758 $883,154 +0.2%
Expenses $1,150,429 $948,541 +0.2%
Net Income $-114,671 $-65,387 +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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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
7
Independent Members
6
Employees
7
Volunteers
300

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
4
$93,333
Total Directors
7
$225,781
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
HILLARY HAUSER STRATEGIC AD 20.00
Director
$223,000 $2,781 $225,781
KARINA K LESSLEY EXECUTIVE DI 40.00
Officer
$93,333 $0 $93,333
TOM WHITE THROUGH JULY 2025 BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
THOMAS DABNEY TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
HEATHER HUDSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHARLES VINICK PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JONATHAN WYGANT SECRETARY 1.00
Officer 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 $1,035,758 $1,150,429 $1,897,465 $-114,671
2024 $883,154 $948,541 $2,040,800 $-65,387
2023 $1,568,270 $847,289 $2,106,124 $720,981
2022 $941,249 $674,629 $1,413,614 $266,620
2021 $741,797 $618,885 $1,150,835 $122,912
2020 $999,951 $501,502 $1,024,686 $498,449
2019 $529,975 $429,846 $510,542 $100,129
2018 $477,998 $392,426 $394,775 $85,572
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