Nonprofit · EIN 77-0565183
HEAL THE OCEAN
Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93190
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,035,758 | $1,150,429 | -$114,671 | $1,897,465 | $13,180 | $1,884,285 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $883,154 | $948,541 | -$65,387 | $2,040,800 | $39,225 | $2,001,575 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,568,270 | $847,289 | $720,981 | $2,106,124 | $42,196 | $2,063,928 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,000,838
- Program service revenue
- $9,326
- Investment income
- $42,890
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $356
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$18,934
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $1,638
- Other revenue
- -$17,296
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $319,115
- Other salaries and wages
- $160,578
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $523,082
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $31,307
- Accounting fees
- $19,780
- Occupancy
- $52,750
- Travel
- $4,052
- Depreciation
- $5,373
- Program services (functional)
- $856,136
- Management and general (functional)
- $156,422
- Fundraising (functional)
- $137,871
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,040,800
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,897,465
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $13,180
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,884,285
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $14,706
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,725,447
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $158,838
- Gross receipts
- $1,065,116
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 300
- Year formed
- 1998
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HILLARY HAUSER | STRATEGIC AD Trustee or director | 20 | $223,000 | $2,781 |
| KARINA K LESSLEY | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $93,333 | $0 |
| TOM WHITE THROUGH JULY 2025 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS DABNEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER HUDSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES VINICK | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN WYGANT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HILLARY HAUSER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $120,000 | $37,003 |
| JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES VINICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER HUDSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM WHITE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS DABNEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN WYGANT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HILLARY HAUSER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $120,000 | $36,199 |
| JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES VINICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER HUDSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM WHITE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS DABNEY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN WYGANT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 90106, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93190-0106
- In care of
- % HILLARY HAUSER
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- KARINA K LESSLEY, PO BOX 90106, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93190
- Signed the 990
- KARINA K LESSLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (805) 965-7570
- Website
- WWW.HEALTHEOCEAN.ORG
- Return prepared by
- MACFARLANE FALETTI & COMPANY LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 77-0565183 or by the name HEAL THE OCEAN.
- 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
HEAL THE OCEAN FOCUSES ON REDUCING OCEAN POLLUTION AND PROVIDING SCIENCE- BASED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COASTS TO BENEFIT PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. WE ARE FOCUSED ON SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, AND OUR METHODS SERVE AS MODELS FOR OTHER COASTAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
Program accomplishments
- PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS: HTO CONDUCTS MANY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING TABLING AT FESTIVALS, EARTH DAY, HOSTING BEACH CLEANUPS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND MORE. HTO ALSO MANAGES MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SERVICE BEACH CLEANUPS, RECRUITING NEW VOLUNTEERS, AND RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC. THIS PROGRAM ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH THROUGH ELECTRONIC AND PRINT NEWSLETTERS, A WEBSITE, AND MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.Expenses $258,236 · revenue $9,326
- ONSHORE POLLUTION REMOVAL: HTO WORKS TO REMOVE LARGE SOURCES OF ONSHORE POLLUTION BEFORE THEY CAN CONTAMINATE WATERWAYS AND THE OCEAN. THIS WORK INCLUDES: REMOVAL OF ABANDONED ENCAMPMENTS, INCLUDING TRASH, WASTE, FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS; REMOVING BEACHED BOAT WRECKS, INCLUDING SEWAGE WASTE AND OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS; LARGE-SCALE WATERSHED AND BEACH CLEANUPS; AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS) RECYCLING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MARBORG INDUSTRIES. IN 2025, OVER 35 TONS OF POLLUTION WAS CLEANED AND KEPT OUT OF THE OCEAN.Expenses $185,669
- SUMMERLAND OIL MITIGATION STUDY: HTO LEADS A GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AND STUDY EVALUATING THE SEAFLOOR, EMISSIONS, AND AIR QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH LEGACY OIL WELLS IN SUMMERLAND, CA, TO INFORM PRIORITY WELL ABANDONMENT (PERMANENT CAPPING) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION AND BUBBLEOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS SUGGEST PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN GEOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN WELLS.Expenses $181,904
- IN ADDITION TO THE THREE LARGEST PROGRAMS, HTO IMPLEMENTS MANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: COASTAL RESILIENCE ADAPTATION PLANNING, COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS, ADVISING ON LOCAL POLICIES, INFORMING WASTEWATER AND WATER RECYCLING PROGRAMS AND LOCAL DISTRICTS, INFORMING REGIONAL SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT, CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND IMPROVING LOCAL WATER QUALITY.Expenses $230,327
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
- 77-0565183
- 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
- 2001
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C30)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,897,465
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,065,116
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,035,758 | $1,150,429 | $1,897,465 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $883,154 | $948,541 | $2,040,800 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,568,270 | $847,289 | $2,106,124 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $941,249 | $674,629 | $1,413,614 | 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 77-0565183).
Questions about HEAL THE OCEAN
- What is the EIN of HEAL THE OCEAN?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HEAL THE OCEAN is 77-0565183.
- Is HEAL THE OCEAN tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2001.
- Are donations to HEAL THE OCEAN tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HEAL THE OCEAN 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 HEAL THE OCEAN 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 HEAL THE OCEAN 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 HEAL THE OCEAN?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KARINA K LESSLEY.
- Who are the officers and directors of HEAL THE OCEAN?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 8 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $223,000 (HILLARY HAUSER, STRATEGIC AD).
- How much revenue does HEAL THE OCEAN have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,035,758, expenses of $1,150,429 and total assets of $1,897,465 at year end.
Other nonprofits in SANTA BARBARA
- SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN INC EIN 95-1644628 · last filed 990 for 2024
- THE LAND TRUST FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EIN 95-3797404 · last filed 990 for 2025
- OCEANS UNMANNED INC EIN 81-2755786 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LEGACY PHILANTHROPY WORKS EIN 47-2584632 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SWIFT FOUNDATION EIN 77-0559600 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL INC EIN 94-1728064 · last filed 990 for 2024
- WHITE BUFFALO LAND TRUST EIN 82-4562776 · last filed 990 for 2024
- EXPLORE ECOLOGY EIN 20-4944165 · last filed 990 for 2024