THE CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND STEWARDSHIP OF OCEAN RESOURCES IN CALIFORNIA. FOR OVER 25 YEARS CMSF HAS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NGO'S, AND FOUNDATIONS TO ENHANCE OUR COASTAL ENVIRONMENT BY LEVERAGING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND COLLABORATION.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 6 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Animal-Related organizations in California.
- Base
- $160k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $153k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director 75th to 90th percentile | $160k | — | $6k | — | $166k $176k |
Restoration Scientist Key Employee Median to 75th percentilevs Animal-Related peers nationwide | $153k | — | $1k | — | $154k $164k |
Marine Spatial Ecologist Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $134k $143k |
Director of Organizational Advancement Highest Compensated Employee Below 10th percentile | — | — | — | — | $120k $127k |
Director of Finance & Operations 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $114k $121k |
Program Director Director (Operational) Median to 75th percentilevs Animal-Related peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $108k $115k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 7 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION equaled 4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
Based on 3,692 animal-related organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Up 9%
from 2023
From $151k in 2023 to $166k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 9% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 74%.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION
What does the Chief Executive Officer of CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION received $165,517 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Chief Executive Officer roles among Animal-Related organizations in California, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Animal-Related organizations in California, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2024, the highest total compensation at CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION equaled 4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
What are CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, CALIFORNIA MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION reported $4.5M in total revenue and $4.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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