Nonprofit · EIN 33-0203488
OCEAN INSTITUTE
Tax-exempt · DANA POINT, CA 92629
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,075,157 | $5,838,829 | -$763,672 | $14,635,202 | $1,450,451 | $13,184,751 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $5,663,468 | $5,302,374 | $361,094 | $14,743,578 | $1,108,541 | $13,635,037 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $4,177,558 | $5,196,801 | -$1,019,243 | $14,136,699 | $1,227,167 | $12,909,532 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,353,195
- Program service revenue
- $2,564,582
- Investment income
- $19,173
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$168,021
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $218,834
- Other revenue
- $138,207
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $330,243
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,146,623
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,783,589
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $279,234
- Depreciation
- $968,182
- Program services (functional)
- $4,542,966
- Management and general (functional)
- $910,888
- Fundraising (functional)
- $384,975
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $14,743,578
- Total assets, end of year
- $14,635,202
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,450,451
- Net assets, end of year
- $13,184,751
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $8,698,100
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,041,059
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $11,232,875
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,951,876
- Gross receipts
- $5,625,763
- Employees
- 117
- Volunteers
- 1,716
- Year formed
- 1986
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY LEAVELL | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $223,574 | $6,698 |
| RILEY RUSSELL | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & COO Officer | 40 | $89,891 | $10,081 |
| JIM DUNKERLEY | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES IV COLLIE | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SKLETON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANNINE SMITH | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYCE CULLINANE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KERSTIN WOODS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE KILLEBREW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLY STEWARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LYNDA ZADRA-SYMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN MEYER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RINA GURR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALFRED PARK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM COBB | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
8 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOUG CICIONE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KEN PETERSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CLAUDIA WHITE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JENNA KOHNKE GAFFNEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE HARRIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE FROST | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KATRINA FOLEY | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY LEAVELL | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $261,260 |
| JAMES COLLIE IV | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN SKELTON | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JIM DUNKERLEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JEANNINE SMITH | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE KILLEBREW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JENNA KOHNKE GAFFNEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE HARRIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KEN PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DOUG CICIONE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VIC HAUSMANINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TODD LARSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRYCE CULLINANE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CLAUDIA WHITE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JILL TRACY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KERSTIN WOODS V | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KELLY STEWARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LYNDA ZADRA-SYMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM COBB | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE FROST | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KATRINA FOLEY | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JUAN GONZALEZ | ALTERNATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY LEAVELL | PRESIDENT & CEO Officer | 40 | $271,147 | $22,863 |
| VIPE DESAI | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE HARRIS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM PHILLIPS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANNINE SMITH | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNA KOHNKE GAFFNEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VIC HAUSMANINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG CICIONE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| COLLIE JAMES IV | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE KILLEBREW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD LARSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KEN PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SKELTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLIE STEINMETZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLY STEWARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JILL TRACY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM TURNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KERSTIN WOODS V | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LYNDA ZADRA-SYMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE FROST | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KATRINA FOLEY | GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JUAN GONZALEZ | ALTERNATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 24200 DANA POINT HARBOR DR, DANA POINT, CA 92629-2723
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- WENDY LEAVELL, 24200 DANA POINT HARBOR DRIVE, DANA POINT, CA 92629
- Signed the 990
- WENDY LEAVELL, CEO/PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (949) 496-2274
- Website
- WWW.OCEANINSTITUTE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- DAVIS FARR LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 33-0203488 or by the name OCEAN INSTITUTE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
THE OCEAN INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS "USING THE OCEAN AS OUR CLASSROOM, WE INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LEARN". OUR ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING OCEAN AND MARITIME HISTORY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH HIGH-TOUCH REAL-WORLD PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A FIERCE COMMITMENT TO "ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT AND THROUGH OUR ADOPT-A-CLASS AND STUDENT AID PROGRAMS WE REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ENSURE SUCH ACCESS.
Program accomplishments
- SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE: OCEAN INSTITUTE OFFERS HANDS ON FIELD TRIP AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT IMMERSE STUDENTS IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES BOTH ON LAND AND AT SEA. PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE ON CAMPUS IN OUR LEARNING LABS, ON THE WATER ONBOARD THE R/V SEA EXPLORER AND SPIRIT OF DANA POINT, AND IN OUR LOCAL COASTAL ENVIRONMENT. OCEAN INSTITUTE VALUES ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO LOCAL AND VISITING SCHOOLS, TITLE 1 SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOL GROUPS, SCOUT GROUPS, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR OCEAN IN MOTION PROGRAMS EXTEND OUR REACH BEYOND OUR CAMPUS, BRINGING THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN TO STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL - THROUGH HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY LIBRARIES, SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSES, AND MORE.Expenses $4,542,966 · revenue $2,564,582
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 33-0203488
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1997
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Religion-related (X99Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $14,635,202
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,625,763
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,075,157 | $5,838,829 | $14,635,202 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $5,663,468 | $5,302,374 | $14,743,578 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $4,177,558 | $5,196,801 | $14,136,699 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $4,036,794 | $4,417,606 | $14,909,007 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 33-0203488).
Questions about OCEAN INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of OCEAN INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of OCEAN INSTITUTE is 33-0203488.
- Is OCEAN INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.
- Are donations to OCEAN INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does OCEAN INSTITUTE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of OCEAN INSTITUTE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did OCEAN INSTITUTE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of OCEAN INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names WENDY LEAVELL.
- Who are the officers and directors of OCEAN INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 23 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $223,574 (WENDY LEAVELL, PRESIDENT & CEO).
- How much revenue does OCEAN INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,075,157, expenses of $5,838,829 and total assets of $14,635,202 at year end.
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