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Nonprofit · EIN 82-5477621

FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON

Tax-exempt · WEST PALM BCH, FL 33407

Financials

$512K$384K2023$558K$422K2024$540K$327K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$540,143$326,601$213,542$673,363$0$673,363
December 31, 2024990$558,306$421,647$136,659$484,821$25,000$459,821
December 31, 2023990$512,423$384,478$127,945$328,162$5,000$323,162
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$523,884
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$16,259
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$116,664
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$116,664
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$8,890
Accounting fees
$4,163
Occupancy
$10,475
Program services (functional)
$44,490
Management and general (functional)
$172,320
Fundraising (functional)
$109,791

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$484,821
Total assets, end of year
$673,363
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets, end of year
$673,363
Publicly traded securities
$597,321
Net assets without donor restrictions
$488,869
Net assets with donor restrictions
$184,494
Gross receipts
$540,143
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Year formed
2018
State of legal domicile
FL

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Anne MesserChairman
Trustee or director
40$91,664
Sarah MarmionExecutive Dir.
Trustee or director
40$25,000
Pamela RauchDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Michele JacobsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
E Jack LightonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
TOM QUEALYDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Carrie HannaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Noel MartinezDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
John ButlerTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Nika CiarfellaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Gary LesserDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Kate CotnerSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Anne MesserExecutive Director40$94,996
Pamela RauchPresident
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
Michele JacobsDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
E Jack LightonDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
TOM QUEALYDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Carrie HannaDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
Noel MartinezDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
John ButlerTreasurer
Trustee or director
2$0
Nika CiarfellaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Kate CotnerSecretary2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Anne MesserExecutive Director
Key employee
40$54,165
Pamela RauchPresident
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
Michele JacobsDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
E Jack LightonDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
Kate CotnerSecretary
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee, Key employee
2$0
Carrie HannaDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
Noel MartinezDirector
Trustee or director, Institutional trustee
2$0
John ButlerTreasurer
Trustee or director
2$0
Nika CiarfellaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
6000 N FLAGLER DR, WEST PALM BCH, FL 33407-2527
Signed the 990
John Butler, Treasurer
Phone
(561) 626-2833
Return prepared by
FUOCO GROUP LLP

Mission

Dedicated to expanding environmental education opportunities for all ages in Palm Beach County and beyond through future enhanced exhibits and experimental learning opportunities.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Marine Conservation Efforts : FOML's marine conservation initiatives build community, advance environmental literacy, and directly support our mission to protect manatees, marine mammals, and their habitats. In 2025, we hosted and participated in a range of conservation education and engagement events, mobilizing the public around meaningful environmental action.Donor Stewardship & Conservation Awareness - FOML opened 2025 with a dual-purpose gathering: honoring major donors from the fall 2024 Soire for Seagrass and deepening community awareness of FOML's conservation work. Hosted at the home of Victoria and Scott Exnicios, the event drew 90 guests and featured an educational demonstration by FOML board member Jack Lighton.Citizen Science - Drift Card Program FOML partnered with the Angari Foundation on its biannual drift card program, which tracks how currents carry debris through local waterways. FOML engaged the community in decorating and releasing drift cards into Lake Worth Lagoon at two organized events in 2025 turning a scientific exercise into a hands-on public experience.Teacher Conservation Camp - FOML provided meals for a week-long summer camp led by the Angari Foundation and designed to immerse local educators in the ecosystems of Lake Worth Lagoon. Twenty-nine teachers from 20 schools participated in active, field-based conservation work. These educators return to their school communities as informed ambassadors for marine ecosystem protection.Women in Conservation Breakfast - FOML sponsored the Everglades Foundation's third annual Women in Conservation breakfast, covering meals and event promotion. The gathering drew more than 80 community members and reinforced FOML's commitment to supporting regional conservation leadership.Sunday Lecture: Mangroves & Coastal Ecosystems - FOML invited representatives from the MANG Foundation to present as part of Manatee Lagoon's Sunday Lecture series. Approximately 50 attendees gained a deeper understanding of the critical role mangroves play in sustaining healthy coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
    Expenses $22,960 · revenue $88,929
  • Exhibits & Educational Programming : One of FOML's newest investments is a traveling pop-up science station a branded, rolling cabinet equipped with a sink, display space, and storage. The station gives Manatee Lagoon staff a versatile educational tool for high-traffic days and quieter periods alike, ensuring visitors always have a meaningful learning experience even when manatees aren't present. FOML also purchased supplemental hands-on materials for the station, including a collection of mammal skulls that allow docents to illustrate how different species adapt to their environments. Fully portable and FOML-branded, the station can be deployed at off-site locations and special events as needed.FOML also made critical infrastructure investments in the seagrass nursery, funding a new pump and piping system designed to draw water directly from Lake Worth Lagoon into the three-tank system and return it closely replicating real lagoon conditions to support healthy seagrass growth. To oversee the setup and ensure a successful launch, FOML hired Heather Seaman as on-site seagrass tank coordinator, covering her hourly wages as the system came fully online.
    Expenses $16,200
  • Volunteer Program : Volunteers are central to FOML's ability to deliver on its mission. As our programming grows, so does our need for a reliable, passionate corps of supporters who bring their time, talent, and commitment to our work.FOML actively cultivates its volunteer base through a targeted email campaign reaching 100+ individuals who have expressed interest through our website or direct outreach. Our volunteer coordinator herself a volunteer manages onboarding, program orientation, scheduling, and recognition.During peak visitor seasons, FOML volunteers staff a dedicated desk at Manatee Lagoon, fielding questions about the organization, manatee biology, and the importance of seagrass as a critical food source. Volunteers also represent FOML at ManateeFest (10,000+ visitors), the Soire for Seagrass, Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Turtlefest, and numerous community tabling events throughout the year.
    Expenses $5,330

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
82-5477621
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
2019
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D30)
Assets (IRS master file)
$673,363
Income (IRS master file)
$540,143

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$540,143$326,601$673,363IRS
990December 2024$558,306$421,647$484,821XML
990December 2023$512,423$384,478$328,162XML
990December 2022$382,394$242,463$195,760IRS
990-EZDecember 2021–––IRS
990-EZDecember 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 82-5477621).

Questions about FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON

What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON?
The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON is 82-5477621.
Is FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.
Are donations to FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON 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 FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON 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 FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $91,664 (Anne Messer, Chairman).
How much revenue does FRIENDS OF MANATEE LAGOON have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $540,143, expenses of $326,601 and total assets of $673,363 at year end.

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