2026-04-22T08:37:06-04:00 2025-12-31 221866743 GERMAN VREELAND & ASSOCIATES LLP 2 RIDGEDALE AVE STE 300 CEDAR KNOLLS NJ 07927 990 2025-01-01 222897204 CLEAN OCEAN ACTION INC CLEA 7328720111 49 AVENEL BOULEVARD LONG BRANCH NJ 07740 CINDY ZIPF EXEC. DIRECT 7328720111 2026-04-21 true VICTOR MAISANO CPA P00359999 9736052777 2026-04-22 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z CINDY ZIPF 49 AVENEL BOULEVARD LONG BRANCH NJ 07740 1227681 false X WWW.CLEANOCEANACTION.ORG X 1984 NJ CLEAN OCEAN ACTION'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE WATERS OFF THE NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK COAST FROM POLLUTION, PLASTICS, INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND CITIZEN ACTION. 8 8 17 10235 0 1149972 1058031 0 89116 83949 8998 0 1248086 1141980 0 0 862587 646171 0 39083 268047 339356 1130634 985527 117452 156453 3246114 3423472 1891 22796 3244223 3400676 X CLEAN OCEAN ACTION'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE WATERS OFF THE NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK COAST FROM POLLUTION, PLASTICS, INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND CITIZEN ACTION. false false 845045 CLEAN OCEAN ACTION, INC.(COA)IS THE ONLY FULL-TIME COALITION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE MARINE WATERS OF THE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY REGION. FOUNDED IN 1984, COA BRINGS TOGETHER AND EMPOWERS ORGANIZATIONS, HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS TO PROTECT NATURE'S MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE: THE OCEAN. THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF INCLUDES PHD'S, AN ATTORNEY, AND SEVERAL WITH MASTER'S DEGREES. THE DYNAMIC AND EFFECTIVE TEAM APPLIES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CITIZEN ACTION TO REDUCE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE WITH FACT-BASED CAMPAIGNS TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND SOLUTIONS. COA ALSO ENGAGES MEANINGFUL AND AUTHENTIC EFFORTS TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO MARINE WATER QUALITY BY REDUCING SOURCES OF POLLUTION, PLASTICS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING: ENDED OCEAN DUMPING OF EIGHT OCEAN DUMPSITES OFF THE COAST OF NJ BLOCKED FOSSIL FUEL OCEAN INDUSTRIALIZATION, INCLUDING FIVE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITIES AND OIL AND GAS DRILLING SUCCESSFULLY LED NJ CAMPAIGN TO PASS THE NATION'S STRONGEST SINGLE-USE PLASTIC REDUCTION LAW PASSED THE NATION'S STRONGEST STATE LAW PROHIBITING OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES WITH SUPPORT FROM 99% OF NJ LEGISLATURE PASSED THE NATION'S STRONGEST FERTILIZER CONTROL LAW TO PROTECT NJ'S COASTAL WATERWAYS REDUCED SOURCES OF RAW SEWAGE, PROTECTING SWIMMERS FROM SEWAGE ESTABLISHED THE REGION'S LARGEST ENVIROMENTAL LITTER REDUCTION EVENT, BEACH SWEEPS, COLLECTED NEARLY 8 MILLION PIECES OF TRASH FROM NJ BEACHES, AND CREATED A DATABASE FOR REGIONAL LITTER AND PLASTIC REDUCTION EFFORTS REDUCED THE USE OF PLASTICS IN COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES, AND BY INDIVIDUALS CONDUCTED A STATEWIDE SAMPLING OF MICROPLASTICS ALONG THE ENTIRE NJ COAST IMPROVED THE MANAGEMENT OF DREDGE MATERIAL CREATED A MODEL COASTAL WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM, CALLED RALLY FOR THE WATERWAYS THAT HAS EXPANDED INTO TWO NJ COUNTIES CREATED A MUNICIPAL POLLUTION REDUCTION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, CALLED BLUE STAR CHALLENGING RECKLESS OCEAN INDUSTRIALIZATION EXPANDED SEASIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR K-12 GRADE STUDENTS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS COA CREATED THE BEACH SWEEPS - THE REGION'S LONGEST RUNNING, LARGEST BI- ANNUAL VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENCE EVENT FOR ALL AGES THAT PUTS FEET ON THE BEACH AND HANDS IN THE SAND TO REDUCE MARINE DEBRIS AND COLLECT A LEGACY OF INFORMATION THAT IS USED TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF MARINE DEBRIS, MONITOR TRENDS AND PROMOTE SOLUTIONS. COA ALSO DEVELOPED "WATERSHED MINDFULNESS" PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN POLLUTION REDUCTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS COORDINATING DIVERSE AND ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES (YOUTH - SENIORS), TO REDUCE POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND PLASTICS. COA ALSO PROVIDES MOSTLY-FREE SEASIDE EDUCATION FOR THOUSANDS OF K-12 STUDENTS. RESEARCH PROGRAMS COA CONDUCTS RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY PLASTICS, PATHOGENS, AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION SOURCES BY ENGAGING CITIZEN SCIENCE WITH RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT BY THE PHD WATER QUALITY RESEARCH DIRECTOR. RESEARCH IS COORDINATED WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, AS WELL AS WITH OUTSIDE SCIENTISTS TO ENSURE QUALITY. WATER QUALITY MONITORING IS ALSO CONDUCTED IN COA'S NEW IN-HOUSE LAB. CAMPAIGNS ARE IMPLEMENTED ALONG WITH MUNICIPAL ENGAGEMENT TO REDUCE THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND IMPACTS DISCOVERED THROUGH RESEARCH. COA ALSO RESEARCHES THREATS TO OCEAN RESOURCES FROM INDUSTRIALIZATION, SUCH AS OIL AND GAS DRILLING, POWER PLANTS, AND AQUACULTURE. IN DECEMBER 2024, COA'S RALLY FOR THE TWO RIVERS PROGRAM RECEIVED THE 2024 GOVERNOR'S ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD UNDER THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND WATER RESOURCES CATEGORY. THESE AWARDS ARE PRESENTED IN A CEREMONY HOSTED BY NJDEP AND "AWARDED ANNUALLY TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATION" (NJDEP). COA ESTABLISHED THE RALLY FOR THE NAVESINK COALITION IN 2016 TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PATHOGEN POLLUTION AND THE 2015 DOWNGRADE OF 500+ ACRES OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING AREAS IN THE NAVESINK RIVER BY NJDEP AND HAS SINCE THEN EXPANDED AS THE RALLY FOR TWO RIVERS AND INCLUDES THE SHREWSBURY RIVER WATERSHED. THE ONGOING RALLY FOR TWO RIVERS AMBIENT BACTERIA COMMUNITY SCIENCE MONITORING PROGRAM, WHICH WAS RELAUNCHED IN 2023, PROVIDES VALUABLE DATA ON UPSTREAM WATER QUALITY THAT IS BEING USED TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE UPSTREAM POLLUTION SOURCES SUCCESSFULLY. CITIZEN ACTION DEFENDING THE OCEAN REQUIRES VIGILANCE, FLEXIBILITY, AND TENACITY, AS WELL AS BEING ON CALL FOR SWIFT RESPONSE. COA IS THE OCEAN'S WATCHDOG AND ADVOCATE. AS A WATCHDOG, COA RESPONDS TO AND INVESTIGATES CALLS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT POLLUTING ACTIVITIES. ADVOCACY INCLUDES ACTION CAMPAIGNS, MEETINGS, RALLIES,PETITIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRESS ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS LETTER-WRITING. THESE ARE COORDINATED WITH SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND LEGAL EXPERTISE TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF MARINE WATER QUALITY FROM POLLUTION, INCLUDING FROM PATHOGENS, CHEMICALS, AND MARINE DEBRIS. HIGHLY RATED IN 2025, COA'S CHARITY NAVIGATOR RATING WAS 99%. COA HAS CONSISTENLY HELD CHARITY NAVIGATOR'S HIGHEST RANKING OF FOUR STARS SINCE 2016. COA IS ONE OF THE ONLY MARINE PROTECTION NONPROFITS TO HOLD THESE TOP HONORS FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. ALSO, CANDID (FORMERLY GUIDESTAR) AWARDED COA THEIR HIGHEST RANKING, PLATINUM. 845045 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 14 0 true 17 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 8 8 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false NJ X X CLEAN OCEAN ACTION INC 7328720111 49 AVENEL BOULEVARD LONG BRANCH NJ 07740 TOM FAGAN PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF MARTIN VICE PRESIDE 1.00 X X 0 0 0 VALERIE MONTECALVO TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JOEY GAROFALO SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BILL CLEARY TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 MELANIE DALY TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JIM LOVGREN TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHARI NASTASI TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 CINDY ZIPF EXEC. DIRECT 60.00 X 98800 0 13394 KARI MARTIN MAN. & OPER. 50.00 X 90375 0 0 189175 13394 false false false 231128 43827 783076 25195 1058031 83949 83949 85701 231128 85701 1141980 83949 189176 110250 55068 23858 384604 373396 2900 8308 23804 20065 2404 1335 48587 40954 4907 2726 35500 26625 8875 6000 6000 67178 56631 10547 4883 4394 391 98 43082 38774 3587 721 9886 8897 791 198 7878 7090 630 158 15486 13163 1549 774 18099 16289 1448 362 DIRECT PROGRAM EXPENSE 73478 73478 SUPPLIES 31659 31659 CREDIT CARD FEES 7351 6616 588 147 MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING 5822 5240 466 116 13054 11524 1248 282 985527 845045 101399 39083 398214 111595 1822732 2337409 83427 53697 4621 5348 990285 104116 901655 886169 35465 29254 3246114 3423472 1891 22796 1891 22796 X 3194223 3350676 50000 50000 3244223 3400676 3246114 3423472 156453 X false true X true false X 1196565 1428933 1014146 1149972 1058031 5847647 1196565 1428933 1014146 1149972 1058031 5847647 5847647 259 13101 83895 89116 83949 270320 4480 15794 14765 7998 43037 6161004 0.94910 0.95990 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 367400 367400 619428 100659 518769 3457 3457 886169 X 1141980 1141980 1141980 985527 985527 985527 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS ASC 740 "INCOME TAXES" WHICH CLARIFIES THE ACCOUNTING AND RECOGNITION FOR TAX POSITIONS TAKEN. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE TAX BENEFITS FROM UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, BASED ON THE TECHNICAL MERITS, THAT A TAX POSITION WILL BE SUSTAINED UPON EXAMINATION BY THE TAXING AUTHORITY. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX EXAMINATIONS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FOR YEARS PRIOR TO 2022. GALA 252013 196067 55946 49402 12000 SPRING SHORE SH 57403 32878 24525 19299 1 7413 2183 5230 5000 316829 231128 85701 68701 5000 12000 85701 X 1 25195 false false false FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A CLEAN OCEAN ACTION, INC.(COA)IS THE ONLY FULL-TIME COALITION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE MARINE WATERS OF THE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY REGION. FOUNDED IN 1984, COA BRINGS TOGETHER AND EMPOWERS ORGANIZATIONS, HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS TO PROTECT NATURE'S MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE: THE OCEAN. THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF INCLUDES PHD'S, AN ATTORNEY, AND SEVERAL WITH MASTER'S DEGREES. THE DYNAMIC AND EFFECTIVE TEAM APPLIES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CITIZEN ACTION TO REDUCE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE WITH FACT-BASED CAMPAIGNS TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND SOLUTIONS. COA ALSO ENGAGES MEANINGFUL AND AUTHENTIC EFFORTS TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO MARINE WATER QUALITY BY REDUCING SOURCES OF POLLUTION, PLASTICS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING: ENDED OCEAN DUMPING OF EIGHT OCEAN DUMPSITES OFF THE COAST OF NJ BLOCKED FOSSIL FUEL OCEAN INDUSTRIALIZATION, INCLUDING FIVE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITIES AND OIL AND GAS DRILLING SUCCESSFULLY LED NJ CAMPAIGN TO PASS THE NATION'S STRONGEST SINGLE-USE PLASTIC REDUCTION LAW PASSED THE NATION'S STRONGEST STATE LAW PROHIBITING OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES WITH SUPPORT FROM 99% OF NJ LEGISLATURE PASSED THE NATION'S STRONGEST FERTILIZER CONTROL LAW TO PROTECT NJ'S COASTAL WATERWAYS REDUCED SOURCES OF RAW SEWAGE, PROTECTING SWIMMERS FROM SEWAGE ESTABLISHED THE REGION'S LARGEST ENVIROMENTAL LITTER REDUCTION EVENT, BEACH SWEEPS, COLLECTED NEARLY 8 MILLION PIECES OF TRASH FROM NJ BEACHES, AND CREATED A DATABASE FOR REGIONAL LITTER AND PLASTIC REDUCTION EFFORTS REDUCED THE USE OF PLASTICS IN COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES, AND BY INDIVIDUALS CONDUCTED A STATEWIDE SAMPLING OF MICROPLASTICS ALONG THE ENTIRE NJ COAST IMPROVED THE MANAGEMENT OF DREDGE MATERIAL CREATED A MODEL COASTAL WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM, CALLED RALLY FOR THE WATERWAYS THAT HAS EXPANDED INTO TWO NJ COUNTIES CREATED A MUNICIPAL POLLUTION REDUCTION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, CALLED BLUE STAR CHALLENGING RECKLESS OCEAN INDUSTRIALIZATION EXPANDED SEASIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR K-12 GRADE STUDENTS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS COA CREATED THE BEACH SWEEPS - THE REGION'S LONGEST RUNNING, LARGEST BI- ANNUAL VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENCE EVENT FOR ALL AGES THAT PUTS FEET ON THE BEACH AND HANDS IN THE SAND TO REDUCE MARINE DEBRIS AND COLLECT A LEGACY OF INFORMATION THAT IS USED TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF MARINE DEBRIS, MONITOR TRENDS AND PROMOTE SOLUTIONS. COA ALSO DEVELOPED "WATERSHED MINDFULNESS" PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN POLLUTION REDUCTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS COORDINATING DIVERSE AND ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES (YOUTH - SENIORS), TO REDUCE POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND PLASTICS. COA ALSO PROVIDES MOSTLY-FREE SEASIDE EDUCATION FOR THOUSANDS OF K-12 STUDENTS. RESEARCH PROGRAMS COA CONDUCTS RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY PLASTICS, PATHOGENS, AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION SOURCES BY ENGAGING CITIZEN SCIENCE WITH RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT BY THE PHD WATER QUALITY RESEARCH DIRECTOR. RESEARCH IS COORDINATED WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, AS WELL AS WITH OUTSIDE SCIENTISTS TO ENSURE QUALITY. WATER QUALITY MONITORING IS ALSO CONDUCTED IN COA'S NEW IN-HOUSE LAB. CAMPAIGNS ARE IMPLEMENTED ALONG WITH MUNICIPAL ENGAGEMENT TO REDUCE THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND IMPACTS DISCOVERED THROUGH RESEARCH. COA ALSO RESEARCHES THREATS TO OCEAN RESOURCES FROM INDUSTRIALIZATION, SUCH AS OIL AND GAS DRILLING, POWER PLANTS, AND AQUACULTURE. IN DECEMBER 2024, COA'S RALLY FOR THE TWO RIVERS PROGRAM RECEIVED THE 2024 GOVERNOR'S ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD UNDER THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND WATER RESOURCES CATEGORY. THESE AWARDS ARE PRESENTED IN A CEREMONY HOSTED BY NJDEP AND "AWARDED ANNUALLY TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATION" (NJDEP). COA ESTABLISHED THE RALLY FOR THE NAVESINK COALITION IN 2016 TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PATHOGEN POLLUTION AND THE 2015 DOWNGRADE OF 500+ ACRES OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING AREAS IN THE NAVESINK RIVER BY NJDEP AND HAS SINCE THEN EXPANDED AS THE RALLY FOR TWO RIVERS AND INCLUDES THE SHREWSBURY RIVER WATERSHED. THE ONGOING RALLY FOR TWO RIVERS AMBIENT BACTERIA COMMUNITY SCIENCE MONITORING PROGRAM, WHICH WAS RELAUNCHED IN 2023, PROVIDES VALUABLE DATA ON UPSTREAM WATER QUALITY THAT IS BEING USED TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE UPSTREAM POLLUTION SOURCES SUCCESSFULLY. CITIZEN ACTION DEFENDING THE OCEAN REQUIRES VIGILANCE, FLEXIBILITY, AND TENACITY, AS WELL AS BEING ON CALL FOR SWIFT RESPONSE. COA IS THE OCEAN'S WATCHDOG AND ADVOCATE. AS A WATCHDOG, COA RESPONDS TO AND INVESTIGATES CALLS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT POLLUTING ACTIVITIES. ADVOCACY INCLUDES ACTION CAMPAIGNS, MEETINGS, RALLIES,PETITIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRESS ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS LETTER-WRITING. THESE ARE COORDINATED WITH SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND LEGAL EXPERTISE TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF MARINE WATER QUALITY FROM POLLUTION, INCLUDING FROM PATHOGENS, CHEMICALS, AND MARINE DEBRIS. HIGHLY RATED IN 2025, COA'S CHARITY NAVIGATOR RATING WAS 99%. COA HAS CONSISTENLY HELD CHARITY NAVIGATOR'S HIGHEST RANKING OF FOUR STARS SINCE 2016. COA IS ONE OF THE ONLY MARINE PROTECTION NONPROFITS TO HOLD THESE TOP HONORS FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. ALSO, CANDID (FORMERLY GUIDESTAR) AWARDED COA THEIR HIGHEST RANKING, PLATINUM. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B REVIEWED BY EACH BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS AND MONITORS COMPLIANCE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEWS AND APPROVES COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR USING COMPARABLE DATA AND APPROVAL IS DOCUMENTED CONTEMPORANEOUSLY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEWS AND APPROVES COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS USING COMPARABLE DATA AND APPROVAL IS DOCUMENTED CONTEMPORANEOUSLY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 UPON REQUEST