PLATINUM2025

Ocean Conservancy

aka OCEAN CONSERVANCY, INC.   |   Washington, DC   |  http://www.oceanconservancy.org

Mission

Ocean Conservancy unites science, people and policy to protect our ocean, today and for generations to come.

Ruling year info

1972

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Janis Searles Jones

Main address

1300 19th St NW Fl 8

Washington, DC 20036-1609 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

23-7245152

NTEE code info

Natural Resource Conservation and Protection (C30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2024, 2023 and 2022.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Ocean Conservancy unites science, people and policy to inspire global action to protect our ocean. We build coalitions, mobilize people and advocate for evidence-based solutions to secure a healthy ocean and a thriving planet for generations to come.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Ocean Conservancy Program

Ocean Conservancy is advancing the most effective, scalable solutions to protect the ocean we all depend on. We are working to eliminate plastic pollution at its source and engage millions of people worldwide in cleanups and citizen science. We are defending critical ecosystems and the species that rely on them. And we are mobilizing ocean-based climate strategies that reduce emissions and build resilience. With decades of proven leadership, Ocean Conservancy serves as a trusted partner to policymakers, businesses, scientists and communities, ensuring that ocean action is grounded in the best available science and delivers lasting impact. By working together, we can protect the ocean’s extraordinary biodiversity, sustain the billions of people who depend on its resources and preserve the planet’s life-support system for generations to come.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

  • Global

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy is reporting on the total impact of the global International Coastal Cleanup(R).

Total pounds of debris collected

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy is reporting on the total impact of the global International Coastal Cleanup(R).

Number of policies formally established

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy tracks this metric by fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).

Number of meetings held with decision makers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy tracks this metric by the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Current tracking is related to Congressional meetings specifically.

Number of comment letters to government agencies

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy tracks this metric by fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).

Number of federal legislation endorsements

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Ocean Conservancy tracks this metric by Congressional year.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We identify the most urgent threats to our ocean, then champion the most effective solutions through cutting-edge science, policy change, and partnerships. Our comprehensive approach addresses a broad range of ocean problems at all levels. We advance policies to eliminate single-use plastic at its source and organize beach cleanups to remove trash that has already reached our waterways. We promote global measures to protect pristine ocean ecosystems and the magnificent animals that call them home. We mobilize ocean solutions for clean, renewable energy to reduce the effects of climate change.

With more than 50 years of proven leadership, we inspire a global network of advocates, policymakers, scientists, corporations and communities to act boldly for a flourishing ocean. Ocean Conservancy has scientists, policy analysts, attorneys and communicators as part of a diverse staff. Our program teams work closely with staff in our development, finance and administration teams who help secure funding through generous donations from individuals and corporations as well as through foundation and institutional grants. We are on the ground and invested in states from Alaska to Florida, Washington state to Washington, DC. Our team is adept at working across academia, industry, governments, other NGOs and communities. We are bipartisan and fiercely loyal to our mission. Together, we are working to secure a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We act on the feedback we receive, We form deep partnerships with organizations in the communities we serve to develop policy positions, We form deep partnerships with communities we serve to develop policy positions

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection

Financials

Ocean Conservancy
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Ocean Conservancy

Board of directors
as of 6/4/2025
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Denise Shiffman

Stephen Palumbi

Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station

Ian McAbeer

Brown Advisory

Jeff Rosenthal DIRECTOR

Summit

John Sargent Vice Chair

Sanjay Pingle VICE CHAIR

Everly Health

Troy Templeton DIRECTOR

Trivest

W. Bowman Cutter TREASURER

The Roosevelt Institute

Bonnie Crabtree DIRECTOR

Korn Ferry

Claire Bernard DIRECTOR

Mariposa Foundation

Denise Godreau SECRETARY

KSL Capital

Erin Browne Director

PIMCO

Janis Searles Jones Chief Executive Officer

Ocean Conservancy

Laura Francis DIRECTOR

Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund

Ty Stiklorius DIRECTOR

Friends at Work

Paul Shang DIRECTOR

Standard Bank

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability