National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Conservation & restoration: our national marine sanctuaries are america's protected areas of the ocean and great lakes that safeguard rich biodiversity and cultural treasures. They are home to iconic species like migratory whales, seabirds, countless fish species, and habitats such as coral reefs and towering kelp forests. All 18 national marine sanctuaries also preserve our maritime heritage, protecting historical assets like shipwrecks, aircraft, and other artifacts that reveal our nation's maritime history. The national marine sanctuary foundation funds efforts in sanctuary communities that center people and communities in the conservation, restoration, and education of our treasured waters. Our approach emphasizes funding practical resource management that supports both thriving marine industries and robust coastal tourism markets. The program works to ensure that sanctuary marine tourism sectors remain competitive and profitable for generations of american workers and business owners. We are committed to building healthier marine ecosystems and a stronger economic foundation that creates jobs and generates revenue while maintaining the natural assets that make sanctuaries a premier destination for all visitors.as hotspots for biodiversity, national marine sanctuaries are critical platforms for developing comprehensive whale protection solutions through strategic partnerships with communities, technology companies, and industry stakeholders. The foundation funds partner-led disentanglement workshops to improve emergency response and preparedness to rescue entangled whales, supports cutting-edge research to identify whale use areas to reduce co-occurrence with fishing activity, vessel traffic, and other threats, and actively tests and supports new commercial fishing gear innovations that reduce the risk of entanglements while supporting maritime economies and livelihoods. In 2024, the national marine sanctuary foundation in close partnership with noaa fisheries, funded and hosted annual training for members of the California large whale entanglement response network in monterey bay and channel islands nms. Such trainings are critical for preparing for the high season of emergency rescues and include on-the-water vessel operations where responders are able to practice valuable skills while simulating real-world rescue scenarios to practice safety and reduce risk. The foundation also achieved significant progress in testing fishing gear innovations in partnership with California fishermen, which could offer solutions to reduce whale entanglement risk while allowing fishing to continue. These trials are vital for assessing the gear's performance and feasibility in real-world conditions and for obtaining feedback on how to improve and refine the gear to meet specific needs. As of year-end 2024, commercial dungeness crab fishermen have carried out over 745 trials with five different systems.marine debris removal represents a growing initiative for the foundation, encompassing both underwater and coastal cleanup efforts. In 2024, the foundation and its partners removed 30,380 pounds of debris under the foundation sponsored i.care trash derby and the foundation's two community-based debris removal programs: goal: clean seas Florida keys and channel islands marine debris removal program in the Florida keys and channel islands (as of dec. 2024). The foundation continued its multi-year large marine debris effort, initiated in 2023, to remove large debris which includes abandoned or derelict vessels and structures, from five national marine sanctuaries. The foundation secured federal, state, and tribal permits and worked alongside ten partners at federal, state, and tribal levels to remove 16 derelict vessels, and an old bridge pontoon from the waters of the olympic coast national marine sanctuary, the quileute usual and accustomed treaty area, and the makah usual and accustomed treaty area totaling 7,896,669 pounds of debris.the nati

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.8%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 84.7%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $21.4 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.6%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.44; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.6; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.2%; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings