BBB Wise Giving Report for
Oceana

BBB Wise Giving Report issued September 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 2012


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Oceana
Address: 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5th Floor
  Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-833-3900
Web Address: www.oceana.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 2001, District of Columbia
Affiliates: Oceana Advocacy Resources, Fundacion Oceana, Oceana UK, Oceana in Belize, Asociacion Oceana Europa
Stated Purpose: "to protect and restore the world's oceans."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Oceana (Oceana) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Oceana carries out campaigns that combine scientific, legal, policy and advocacy approaches. In North America, Oceana's marine scientists, economists, lawyers and advocates work together to effect specific and concrete policy changes to reduce pollution and prevent damage to fish populations, marine mammals and other sea life. Oceana's international advocacy is focused on protecting marine ecosystems within territorial and international waters. An international network of "e-activists" support Oceana's advocacy efforts and programs. Some ($842,124 or 7%) of Oceana's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, Oceana's program expenses were:

  
International activities 5,130,227
North American oceans 4,595,519
Communications 1,816,093
Law 728,297
Marine science 639,533
Oceana advocacy resources 341
Total Program Expenses: $12,910,010
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Andrew F. Sharpless, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $237,850

Highest Paid Executive: James F. Simon, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Compensation*: $248,762

Chair of the Board: Keith Addis
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Partner, Industry Entertainment

Board Size: 14

Paid Staff Size: 106

*2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $15,227,992, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Oceana incurred joint costs of $2,511,829 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $1,669,705 was allocated to fund raising expenses and $842,124 was allocated to program expenses.
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Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on Oceana's audited financial statements (consolidated with affiliate) for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Grants and contributions 13,109,130
Special events, net 2,099,686
Investment income 133,568
Rental income 68,266
In-kind revenue 19,176
Miscellaneous 4,931
Foreign currency transaction loss -256,849
Total Income $15,177,908


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 10% 

Total income   $15,177,908
  Program expenses $12,910,010
  Fund raising expenses 1,553,897
  Administrative expenses 1,696,287
 
Total expenses   $16,160,194
Expenses in Excess of Income   (982,286)
Beginning net assets   23,086,865
Ending net assets   22,104,579
Total liabilities   1,635,808
Total assets   $23,740,387


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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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