Nonprofit · EIN 71-1047817
ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC
Tax-exempt · WILLIAMSBURG, MA 01096
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $129,658 | $137,486 | -$7,828 | $981,756 | $50,000 | $931,756 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $134,016 | $128,187 | $5,829 | $860,039 | $0 | $860,039 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $94,547 | $94,931 | -$384 | $732,535 | $0 | $732,535 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $104,348
- Membership dues
- $32,800
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $20,817
- Net income from fundraising events
- $4,493
- Other revenue
- $4,493
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $75,130
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,000
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,000
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Program services (functional)
- $130,140
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,422
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,924
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $860,039
- Total assets, end of year
- $981,756
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $50,000
- Net assets, end of year
- $931,756
- Publicly traded securities
- $689,258
- Gross receipts
- $132,335
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Year formed
- 1990
- State of legal domicile
- MO
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Oktay | Network Coordinator Trustee or director | 3 | $1,000 |
| Sarah Oktay | Co-Chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Stacy McNulty | Editor Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Sheena Parsons | Member at Large - One Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Megan DiNapoli | Member at Large - Two Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Sofia Rodriguez | Member at Large - Early Career Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Itchung Cheung | Chair - Collaborations Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Brian Kloeppel | Co-chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Shane Waddell | Chair - Governance & Sustainability Committee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Stefanie Whitmire | Co-chair - IDEA+ Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| David Maneli | Chair - International Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Conner Philson | Chair - Outreach and Communications Committee Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Lara Roketenetz | Past President (ex officio) Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Beth Norman | Secretary Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Paul R Wetzel | Treasurer Officer | 6 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhonda Struminger | President Officer | 8 | $0 |
| Jessica Malisch | Vice President/Co-chair IDEA+ Committee Officer | 3 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Oktay | Network Coordinator Trustee or director | 10 | $8,500 |
| Sarah Oktay | Co-Chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Stacy McNulty | Editor Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Sonia Nobrega | Member at Large - One Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Megan DiNapoli | Member at Large - Two Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Sofia Rodriguez | Member at Large - Early Career Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Itchung Cheung | Chair - Collaborations Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Brian Kloeppel | Co-chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Shane Waddell | Chair - Governance & Sustainability Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tori McDermott | Co-chair - IDEA+ Committee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| David Maneli | Chair - International Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Conner Philson | Chair - Outreach and Communications Committee Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lara Roketenetz | Past President (ex officio) Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Skip van Bloem | Vice President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Beth Norman | Secretary Officer | 3 | $0 |
| Paul R Wetzel | Treasurer Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Rhonda Struminger | President Officer | 6 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Oktay | Co-Chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 12 | $5,000 |
| Jason Tallant | Network Coordinator Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Stacy McNulty | Editor Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Sonia Nobrega | Member at Large - One Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Megan DiNapoli | Member at Large - Two Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Sofia Rodriguez | Member at Large - Early Career Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Itchung Cheung | Chair - Collaborations Committee Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Brian Kloeppel | Co-chair - Development Committee Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Shane Waddell | Chair - Governance & Sustainability Committee Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Tori mcDermott | Co-chair - IDEA+ Committee Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Phoebe Jekielek | Co-chair - IDEA+ Committee Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| David Maneli | Chair - International Committee Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| Conner Philson | Chair - Outreach and Communications Committee Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| Lara Roketenetz | Past President (ex officio) Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Skip van Bloem | Vice President Officer | 8 | $0 |
| Beth Norman | Secretary Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Paul R Wetzel | Treasurer Officer | 8 | $0 |
| Rhonda Struminger | President Officer | 10 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 108 PETTICOAT HILL RD, WILLIAMSBURG, MA 01096-9432
- In care of
- % CLAUDIA LUKE
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Conner Steven Philson, 185 Loma Media Rd, Unit A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
- Signed the 990
- Paul Wetzel, Treasurer
- Phone
- (413) 387-7983
- Website
- www.OBFS.org
Mission
To assist members in providing infrastructure for exemplary scientific research, innovative & effective learning & informed natural resource stewardship. To enhance the capacity of field stations through training & information sharing. To educate the public and decision makers about the critical role of field stations in scientific research and education. To enhance public support for funding field stations and the activities supported at field stations.
Program accomplishments
- One of the most important functions of the OBFS is providing networking capacity among about 130 field stations and 40 individual members throughout the world. The professional field station network is maintained with a website that contains a variety of information, such as a map with the locations of member field stations, examples of field station policies, and information on special events, funding opportunities, and jobs postings. A complete revision of the website was finished in 2024 and the OBFS hired a website administrator contractor ($10,495) to maintain the website and spent $3,572 on website maintenance. Annual meetings are a second way that OBFS maintains a professional network. In 2024 the OBFS annual meeting was held in November (to miss peak hurricane season) at The Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, Georgetown, South Carolina. Final expenses of the 2024 meeting were paid in early 2025 ($32,035). The 2025 annual meeting was held at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, Colorado ($8,312). Participants attended workshops on timely topics and heard a variety of speakers and met many other field station managers. Several member stations were recognized for their efforts to increase the involvement, engagement and sustainability of underrepresented groups in field science ($1,504). Travel assistance was given to a small number of Board members without institutional support ($2,875). Early and middle career travel awards were also given to two members to attend the annual meeting ($6,927). The OBFS continues to build connections with the communities where annual meetings are held by holding a local fundraising event in an effort to showcase the work of field stations to the general public ($2,677).Expenses $65,418
- As part of its strategic plan, OBFS worked to increase its international presence. OBFS made a concerted effort to increase international membership by establishing an International Matching Program (Resources spent in 2025 = $16,578). This program brings two or more stations together to deepen networking opportunities throughout our international community or jump start multi-year research projects or collaborations across diverse lands and expertise. Findings from visits are presented at "Virtual Cafe" talks four times annually. These talks are simultaneously translated into English or Spanish ($450). A second related program, the Station Exchange program, provides travel awards for field station staff to visit other field stations in the OBFS network for shadowing, cross-training, and mentoring opportunities as a way to connect with peers (Resources spent in 2025 = $7,831). Finally, OBFS established a mini-grants program to support small research or infrastructure projects that support strategic planning goals (Resources spent in 2025 = $11,300). OBFS is an all volunteer organization and spent $3,422 in office administrative expenses.Expenses $36,159
- The education of the public and decision makers about the critical role of field stations for experiential learning, the blending of art and natural history, and the support of scientific research is a major program service accomplishment of OBFS. The OBFS continues to be a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) ($6,250), a confederation of smaller scientific organizations that provides educational, professional, and public policy opportunities on behalf of the group. This year OBFS contributed to Congressional Visits Day, a program sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. This program allows members to meet with their Congressional state delegation to inform them of the role of field stations in scientific research, conservation, and the education of a new generation of scientists. OBFS also paid the registration fees for 3 members to attend these programs ($5,921). The OBFS continued to support the Virtual Field, an effort to create and distribute virtual learning resources that focused on teaching observational skills through virtual experiences from field stations and marine laboratories to support faculty, students, and others ($1,393).Expenses $13,563
- The OBFS received a generous grant from the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, San Francisco, CA ($15,0000). In 2024 this grant supported the research of three graduate students at field stations. The success of this program led the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation to grant an additional $50,000 to support graduate student field research and early career earth sciences research at member field stations in 2026. The OBFS will solicit grant applications from member stations in February 2026 to award grant money for the 2026 field season.Expenses $15,000
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
- 71-1047817
- 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
- 2008
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A56)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $981,756
- Income (IRS master file)
- $132,335
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $129,658 | $137,486 | $981,756 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $134,016 | $128,187 | $860,039 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $94,547 | $94,931 | $732,535 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $61,298 | $62,485 | $642,735 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 71-1047817).
Questions about ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC
- What is the EIN of ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC is 71-1047817.
- Is ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2008.
- Are donations to ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC 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 ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC 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 ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC 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 ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Conner Steven Philson.
- Who are the officers and directors of ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,000 (Sarah Oktay, Network Coordinator).
- How much revenue does ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATIONS INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $129,658, expenses of $137,486 and total assets of $981,756 at year end.
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