Nonprofit · EIN 33-0862531
OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
Tax-exempt · SAN DIEGO, CA 92105
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $4,595,377 | $4,372,802 | $222,575 | $20,158,441 | $10,214,240 | $9,944,201 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $3,994,804 | $4,270,153 | -$275,349 | $19,750,389 | $10,227,879 | $9,522,510 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $4,450,999 | $3,743,341 | $707,658 | $20,081,274 | $10,483,389 | $9,597,885 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,157,041
- of which government grants
- $540,066
- Program service revenue
- $295,000
- Investment income
- $169,474
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $30,747
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$26,138
- Other revenue
- -$26,138
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $63,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $185,889
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,496,152
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,116,320
- Professional fundraising fees
- $50,000
- Legal fees
- $36,103
- Accounting fees
- $19,353
- Occupancy
- $75,186
- Travel
- $75,686
- Depreciation
- $453,771
- Program services (functional)
- $3,057,580
- Management and general (functional)
- $663,903
- Fundraising (functional)
- $651,319
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $19,750,389
- Total assets, end of year
- $20,158,441
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,214,240
- Net assets, end of year
- $9,944,201
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $4,399,187
- Publicly traded securities
- $2,437,012
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $7,965,477
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,978,724
- Gross receipts
- $5,306,391
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 140
- Year formed
- 1999
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHARA FISLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $173,087 | $12,803 |
| MACKENZIE SANDY | DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $129,640 | $8,225 |
| LINDSAY MCKAY | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $134,991 | $2,605 |
| SUSAN TILLMAN | DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,404 | $9,125 |
| ELVIA MEZA | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,723 | $9,895 |
| RUDY VARGAS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER BENTLEY | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEVON GIBSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TARA MARATHE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE BOYER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBRA CALANTAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JASMINE DAVENPORT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MATHEW MITCHELL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANAI NOVOA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| VANESSA SARDELLA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICO SOLANO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY THOMAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shara Fisler | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $154,445 | $13,334 |
| Sandy MacKenzie | Director of Philanthropy Key employee | 40 | $123,872 | $8,612 |
| Lindsay McKay Goodwin | Associate Director Key employee | 40 | $128,909 | $2,778 |
| Elvia Meza | Director of Finance Admin Key employee | 40 | $112,270 | $10,088 |
| Scott Grimes | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristen Koch | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Matthew Mitchell | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Bentley | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Rudy Vargas | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tara Marathe | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Jasmine Davenport | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Vanessa Sandoval | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Devon Gibson | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Barbra Calantas | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Anai Novoa | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 25 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shara Fisler | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $151,847 |
| Lindsay McKay | Associate Director Key employee | 40 | $124,735 |
| Sandy MacKenzie | Director of Philanthropy Key employee | 40 | $119,258 |
| Elvia Meza | Director of Finance Admin Key employee | 40 | $110,306 |
| Scott Grimes | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Dan McClellan | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Kristen Koch | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Kurt Gering | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Matthew Mitchell | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Heather Bentley | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Rudy Vargas | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Theodore J Griswold | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| John Johns | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Dr Noelle Norton | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Tara Marathe | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Jessica Mier | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Jasmine Davenport | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Vanessa Sandoval | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Sean Caddell | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Tres Conrique | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Ileana Ovalle | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Scott Pearson | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Devon Gibson | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Barbra Calantas | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Anai Novoa | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 4255 THORN ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92105-4122
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- SHARA FISLER, 4255 THORN STREET, SAN DIEGO, CA 92105
- Signed the 990
- SHARA FISLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (619) 795-8365
- Return prepared by
- HASKELL & WHITE LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 33-0862531 or by the name OCEAN DISCOVERY 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
OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE IS A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED IN 1999 TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENCE LEADERS. OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE CREATES LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM SCIENCE DUE TO RACE, INCOME STATUS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TUITION-FREE AND BENEFIT STUDENTS IN A LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY IN CITY HEIGHTS, CA. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 7,000 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON SCIENCE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. THE INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH SAN DIEGO TEACHERS AND ENGAGES STEM PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORS.
Program accomplishments
- OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE IS A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED IN 1999 TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENCE LEADERS. OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE CREATES LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM SCIENCE DUE TO RACE, INCOME STATUS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TUITION-FREE AND BENEFIT STUDENTS IN A LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY IN CITY HEIGHTS, CA. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 7,000 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON SCIENCE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. THE INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH SAN DIEGO TEACHERS AND ENGAGES STEM PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORS.Expenses $3,057,580 · grants $63,000 · revenue $295,000
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
- 33-0862531
- 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
- 2000
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B12)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $20,158,441
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,306,391
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $4,595,377 | $4,372,802 | $20,158,441 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $3,994,804 | $4,270,153 | $19,750,389 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $4,450,999 | $3,743,341 | $20,081,274 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $3,846,709 | $2,977,182 | $19,639,328 | 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 33-0862531).
Questions about OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE is 33-0862531.
- Is OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2000.
- Are donations to OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does OCEAN DISCOVERY 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 DISCOVERY 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 DISCOVERY 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 DISCOVERY INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names SHARA FISLER.
- Who are the officers and directors of OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $173,087 (SHARA FISLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does OCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,595,377, expenses of $4,372,802 and total assets of $20,158,441 at year end.
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