Migramar

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
822737816
IRS 990 coverage
2018–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2017
Location
Bodega Bay, CA, USA
Phone
7075914564
Rating
67
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$867,501
Expenses
$839,834
Assets
$1,972,279
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ALEX HEARN (PRESIDENT)
  • HECTOR GUZMAN (VICE-PRESIDENT)
  • ERICK ROSS SALAZAR (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • ERICK ROSS SALAZAR (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $60,000 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To conduct the scientific research needed to better understand and safeguard healthy populations of marine migratory species in the eastern pacific ocean.

What it reported doing in 2024

Migramar is the leading scientific authority in migratory species research in the eastern pacific ocean (epo). Over the last fifteen years, we have identified critical areas where migratory species are more vulnerable, including feeding and breeding grounds, and areas where seasonal migrations occur. These results have informed governments and stakeholders on the functioning and connectivity of marine protected areas (mpas) and have supported decisions to improve protection for migratory species across the region.we have delivered the scientific evidence to support creation of new marine reserves and expansion of existing reserves. The total area of mpas has increased fourfold, from 156,000 square kilometers in 2010 to 630,000 square kilometers in 2024, providing larger grounds for migratory species to move without risk of capture. Our swimways initiative has been adopted by national authorities and is currently used as the binding tissue for regional governmental collaborations.migramar's scientific research is focused on providing a technical basis for the management and conservation of our oceans. For more information regarding our work in our institutional projects and members projects sections, please visit our website at www.migramar.org.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 96% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and most voting board members are independent. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and the filing does not identify recipients for some grant dollars.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 68
  • Transparency & Controls: 55
  • Accountability: 79
  • Sustainability: 58
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 75.6%; rating input score 76
  • Program expense ratio: 77.1%; rating input score 77
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Fail
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 3.2%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.35; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 7.1%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 18% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 16.9% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 35.6% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 75.6% of revenue deployed · 77.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 8 board members independent · 4 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $647K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $60K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 23 of 23 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and foreign activity
  • Filing history: 6 filing years from 2018 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Grant itemization coverage scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 4 of 8 not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 45/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 46/100.