Ric OBarrys Dolphin Project

What it reported doing in 2024

SOLOMON ISLANDSDolphin Project is actively developing community programs in conjunction with an agreement to end dolphin exploitation. By offering economic and social benefits that reduce reliance on dolphin-derived income, we aim to stop dolphin hunting and trafficking while improving access to social services. We also monitor and record the annual dolphin drive hunts and maintain a database of the number of dolphins killed each year.UNITED STATESNO MORE DOLPHINS AT DISNEY! After collaborating with local activist Izzy Megilley on our Save the Disney Dolphins campaign and collecting nearly 30,000 signatures urging Disney to retire the dolphins at EPCOT, the park announced in October that all live dolphins will be removed. Disney cited a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of the animals. While we advocated for a proper retirement for the dolphins, we are pleased that Disney is now a dolphin-free attraction.MIAMI SEAQUARIUMFor decades, Dolphin Project has vigorously campaigned against the Miami Seaquariums use of captive dolphins. Since August 2023, when the worlds most famous captive orca, Lolita, died, over 120 dolphins have died at the facility. Between 2021 and 2023, three inspection reports by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited serious problems at the facility, allegedly including drastic food restriction, poor water flow, and placing incompatible animals togetherresulting in injuries and deaths. After obtaining more than 23,000 petition signatures asking Miami-Dade County to terminate the Seaquariums lease, on March 7 the office of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued a Notice of Termination of Lease letter to the parent company, The Dolphin Company. On October 2, however, a county judge denied Miami-Dades motion for eviction and ordered both sides into mediation. The fight is far from over.CARNIVAL CRUISE LINESCarnival Cruise Lines glamorizes swim-with-dolphin programs as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Dolphin Project launched a campaign asking Carnival to terminate its partnerships with captive dolphin facilities and instead promote local, ethical ecotourism activities as part of their on-shore excursions.ABANDONED DOLPHINS RESCUED NASSAU, BAHAMASIn early May, Dolphin Project was alerted to an abandoned captive dolphin facility on Balmoral Island, Nassau. Closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourist attraction never reopened and dolphins were left in limbo. Days later, we were invited to inspect the dolphins and the facility firsthand. Dolphin Project urged the Bahamian government to implement immediate life-saving interventions for the five surviving dolphins.On May 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources confirmed that all five dolphins were removed from the premises and transferred to Atlantis animal care facility for observation and medical treatment.EMPTY THE TANKSOn May 1112, activists in 64 locations worldwide peacefully advocated for dolphins during Dolphin Projects 12th annual Empty the Tanks event. On June 8, coinciding with World Ocean Day, we hosted a global beach cleanup. On September 1, we launched Dolphin Defender Month, with demonstrations against the Taiji dolphin hunts and the captive dolphin trade.DOLPHIN PROJECT: 54 YEARS AND GOING STRONG! April 22 marked Dolphin Projects 54th anniversary. As part of our birthday fundraiser, volunteers and Dolphin Project staff participated in a whale watch on April 2021 with Captain Daves Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari in Dana Point, California. For two days, people from around the world witnessed dolphins and whales swimming wild and free in their natural habitat. A fabulous time was had by all, and crucial operating funds were raised for Dolphin Project.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.5%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 90.2%; rating input score 90
• 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: 80%; rating input score 80; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.4%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.46; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.8%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0% per year; rating input score 100; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.5% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings