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Screen a listBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Can you give?
Listed with the IRS, but California flags it.
Check its California registration before you grant.
- IRS nonprofit listing
- No issue
- Revocation
- None
- IRS files
- Agree
- Sanctions
- No match
- IRS bulletin
- No notice
- California
- Not current
- Charity type
- 509(a)(1)
$30Mrevenue
FY2025 · +46% in 3 yrs128staff
8 of 8years filed
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Revenue and spendingRevenueSpendingDeficit
Against similar nonprofits FY2025
Operating margin30.8%
Months of reserve1.6mo
Revenue growth (annualized)+9.4%
Middle half of peersMedianBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Where the money goes FY2025 · $21M spent
Programs$18M88%Management and general$475k2%Fundraising$1.9M9%990 FY2025 · Part IX line 25
Worth checking1
A funder worth 11% of revenue stopped after FY2022
Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund Inc gave about $2.8M a year for three years, 11% of revenue in FY2022.
Funders’ 990-PF grant listsIn its favor4
Strong governance
17 of 17 board members independent. Conflict-of-interest and whistleblower policies, audited financial statements, board reviews the 990.
990 Part VIGrowing faster than peers
Revenue up 9% a year since FY2017, faster than half of similar nonprofits.
990 Part I · peer cohortFunders stay
29 of the 48 funders that gave before FY2021 are still giving.
Funders’ 990-PF grant listsA history of government grants
Government grants on 9 of its 9 returns, 40% of revenue in FY2025. $73M is traced federal awards from National Science Foundation.
990 Part VIII · USAspending108funders
$7.8Ma year, last 3 years
26%from its largest funder
Funder’17’18’19’20’21’22’23Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund IncStopped after FY2022$2.3M$3.8M$2.3M–Harold Alfond FoundationOn and off$695k$4.0MA R and Marylouise Tandy FoundationOn and off$150k$1.9M$4kThe Simons Foundation IncSince FY2021$1.1M$551k$232kFidelity FoundationOn and off$1.0MNational Academy of SciencesOn and off$396k$420k$176kDonor-advised giftsDonors not disclosed$317k$321k$538k$282k$471k$1.6M$1.1M68 other fundersUp to $889k a year each$658k$437k$502k$1.0M$2.0M$1.8M$1.2M
FundedThrough a donor-advised fundStopped