OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC

Cite this

Plain text OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2021–2025. https://furp.org/org/ocean-discovery-league-inc-841827384. Retrieved 2026-10-28.

APA furp.org. (n.d.). OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2021–2025]. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/ocean-discovery-league-inc-841827384

MLA “OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC.” furp.org, tax years 2021–2025, https://furp.org/org/ocean-discovery-league-inc-841827384. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-28; covers tax years 2021–2025. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.

2025 · Form 990 · revenue $815K · expenses $701K · assets $1.2M

EIN
84-1827384
Address
PO BOX 182, SAUNDERSTOWN, RI 02874-0182
Website
www.oceandiscoveryleague.org
NTEE code
U21
Exempt type
501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
Ruling date
February 2021 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
IRS status
Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
Tax-deductible donations
Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
Foundation status
Public charity, 509(a)(2)
Principal officer
Katherine Bell (its 2020 Form 990-N)
Form 990-N e-postcards
1 filed, 2020 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

The Ocean Discovery League's mission is to accelerate deep-ocean exploration by developing accessible systems to broaden the community of those who explore and understand the deep sea.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).

People paid by the organization

2 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Katherine Croff Bell President2021-2025 $146,120$580,043 1
Susan Poulton Secretary2021-2025 $120,000$452,095 1

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

7 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Rafael Anta Member2023-2025 1 $0 reported 1
Terry Garcia Member2024-2025 1 $0 reported 1
Peter Girguis Member2023-2025 1 $0 reported 1
Ellen Blix Chair2021-2025 2 $0 reported 1
Roderick MacLeod Treasurer2024-2025 2 $0 reported 1
Craig McLean Member2025 1 $0 reported 1
Martin Klein (former) Member2023-2024 1 $0 reported 1

People by year

2025 · 8 people listed · 2 paid, $266K · 1 employee
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Katherine Croff Bell President40 $122,620$0$23,500 $146,1201
Susan Poulton Secretary40 $120,000$0$0 $120,0001
Craig McLean Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Rafael Anta Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Terry Garcia Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Peter Girguis Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Ellen Blix Chair2 $0$0$0 $01
Roderick MacLeod Treasurer2 $0$0$0 $01
2024 · 8 people listed · 2 paid, $264K · 1 employee
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Katherine Croff Bell President40 $144,615$0$0 $144,6151
Susan Poulton Secretary40 $119,095$0$0 $119,0951
Martin Klein Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Rafael Anta Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Terry Garcia Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Peter Girguis Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Ellen Blix Chair2 $0$0$0 $01
Roderick MacLeod Treasurer2 $0$0$0 $01
2023 · 6 people listed · 2 paid, $226K · 1 employee
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Katherine Croff Bell President40 $89,308$40,000$0 $129,3081
Susan Poulton Sec-Treasurer40 $97,000$0$0 $97,0001
Martin Klein Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Rafael Anta Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Peter Girguis Member1 $0$0$0 $01
Ellen Blix Chair2 $0$0$0 $01
2022 · 3 people listed · 2 paid, $216K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Katherine Croff Bell President40 $20,000$100,000$0 $120,0001
Susan Poulton Secretary40 $96,000$0$0 $96,0001
Ellen Blix Treasurer2 $0$0$0 $01
2021 · 3 people listed · 2 paid, $60K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Katherine Croff Bell President40 $40,000$0$0 $40,0001
Susan Poulton Secretary40 $20,000$0$0 $20,0001
Ellen Blix Treasurer2 $0$0$0 $01

Highest-paid independent contractors

2025 · 2 contractors · $258K
NameLocationServicePaid
Dr Brian KennedyElon, NCScientific Research$137,619
Susan PoultonPhiladelphia, PAStrategy & Communications$120,000
2024 · 3 contractors · $774K
NameLocationServicePaid
Blue RoboticsTorrance, CAExploration Equipment$340,000
Sofar Ocean TechnologiesSan Francisco, CAExploration Equipment$315,000
Susan PoultonPhiladelphia, PAStrategy & Communications$119,095

Federal grants and contracts

Awards from USAspending.gov to a recipient with this organization's name and zip code. Obligations by federal fiscal year (October to September); each award links to its page on usaspending.gov.

Fiscal yearGrants and other assistanceContractsAwards
2024$1,199,919$01
Largest awards · 1 shown
YearAgencyKindProgramDescriptionObligated
2024National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationGrant or other assistanceINTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM (IOOS) 11.012PURPOSE: THE DEEP OCEAN BELOW 200 M REMAINS LARGELY UNEXPLORED. DUE TO FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS, CURRENT DEEP-SEA TECHNOLOGY IS INACCESSIBLE TO MOST PE$1,199,919

Who gave

Contributor names are not public for this form type.

Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.

Finances

Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2025 · Form 990 period ending 2025-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$815,470$701,371 $1,153,042$708,550 $663,759$128,821 $146,1201-
2024 · Form 990 period ending 2024-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,054,957$1,519,819 $779,526$594,451 $981,603$56,738 $144,6151-
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2023-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,833,953$1,332,441 $1,278,133$1,059,313 $1,679,797$150,009 $89,3081-
2022 · Form 990 period ending 2022-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$142,126$498,043 $592,962$557,801 $21,865$120,251 $106,0000-
2021 · Form 990 period ending 2021-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$989,005$75,287 $913,718$913,718 $989,005$0 $60,0000-

Funders of this organization

7 grantors reported grants to this organization, $2,507,205 in all, tax years 2021 to 2025. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR DAF sponsor Exact 2021, 2023 2$1,615,000 2023$865,000
show
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Public charity Exact 2021, 2023, 2025 3$374,000 2025$100,000
show
THE SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC” 2022-2024 3$345,000 2024$100,000
show
DALIO FAMILY FUND INC Public charity Exact 2023 1$100,000 2023$100,000
show
DALIO FOUNDATION INC Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC” 2024 1$50,000 2024$50,000
show
NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION Public charity Exact 2022 1$23,100 2022$23,100
show
LINCOLN FINANCIAL FOUNDATION INC Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “OCEAN DISCOVERY LEAGUE INC” 2023 1$105 2023$105
show

Similar organizations

Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)

OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
OCEAN RESCUE ALLIANCE INCFLU21 $664,417$494,324 Program Director$48,000 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
OCEANS INITIATIVEWAU21 $864,560$909,191 Chief Scientist$172,023 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
REEFS UNKNOWN INCVIU21 $507,852$20,944 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
WORLD OCEAN COUNCILVAU21 $721,867$658,817 CEO$189,000 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
SAVING THE BLUE INCFLU21 $524,718$545,081 PRESIDENT &$67,792 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
INTER DISTRICT COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT OCEANOLOGYCTU21 $1,496,245$1,681,026 Executive Dir.$135,660 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON OCEANIC RESEARCHDEU21 $1,418,560$1,420,117 EXEC DIRECTOR$179,253 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
RESPONSIBLE OFFSHORE SCIENCE ALLIANCEDCU21 $1,283,365$1,095,939 EXECUTIVE DI$184,316 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
AMERICAN SALTWATER GUIDES ASSOCIATION INCDCU21 $802,482$768,247 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
SHARK RESEARCH FOUNDATION INCU21 $515,316$466,508 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TREASURER$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY INCMAU21 $1,621,119$1,907,200 CEO/PRESIDEN$140,500 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION FOUNDATION INCFLU21 $686,535$869,196 PRESIDENT, CEO, DIRECTOR$103,375 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONCAU21 $622,663$572,339 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$96,841 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
FINS ATTACHED MARINE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATIONCOU21 $495,722$432,634 INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
PACIFIC SHELLFISH INSTITUTEWAU21 $1,291,767$1,163,646 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$109,052 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
PORT TOWNSEND MARINE SCIENCE CENTERWAU21 $909,740$1,012,904 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$81,175 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
SOCIETY FOR MARINE MAMALOGYNJU21 $1,627,711$1,405,883 President$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
OCEANS FOR YOUTH FOUNDATIONGAU21 $907,048$453,391 CO-CHAIRMAN$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 2x
ATLANTIC SHARK INSTITUTERIU21 $164,394$103,174 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x, same state
THE GLOBAL FOUNDATION FOR OCEAN EXPLORATION INCCTU21 $2,422,237$3,242,015 President$295,869 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x
OCEAN CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INCDEU21 $296,637$290,987 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x
FLORIDA OCEANOGRAPHIC SOCIETY INCFLU21 $4,017,704$3,772,689 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CEO$180,280 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x
CLEAN OCEANS PROJECTCAU21 $341,442$240,967 Executive Dir.$48,282 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x
CALIFORNIA OCEAN ALLIANCECAU21 $267,850$298,064 Rotating Member Finance Director$17,280 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x
BLACK IN MARINE SCIENCEWAU21 $3,222,718$2,591,943 EXECUTIVE DIR$178,600 Same NTEE code U21, revenue within 5x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor$278,935,089112 282014–2024 SCHMIDT OCEAN INSTITUTE; PROJECT CETI INC; BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES; MARINE APPLIED RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION and 24 more
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$22,566,571161 392016–2024 PROJECT CETI INC; GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE INCORPORATED; BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES; LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER INC and 35 more
THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION Private foundation$13,483,63712 42009–2022 ALTASEA AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES; CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH; ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION; MARINE APPLIED RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION
HAROLD ALFOND FOUNDATION Private foundation$11,714,2536 12014–2024 BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES
ED RACHAL FOUNDATION Private foundation$9,500,0003 12022–2024 PALACIOS MARINE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INC
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR funds this one DAF sponsor$8,588,82639 132018–2024 PROJECT CETI INC; OCEAN VISIONS INC; BLACK IN MARINE SCIENCE; CLIMATE FOUNDATION and 9 more
SHELBY CULLOM DAVIS CHARITABLE FUND INC Private foundation$8,402,6425 12020–2022 BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$6,438,48229 92011–2024 PROJECT CETI INC; THEISS RESEARCH; OCEAN VISIONS INC; SYLVIA EARLE ALLIANCE MISSION BLUE and 5 more
MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor$5,833,33529 22010–2024 MAINE CENTER FOR COASTAL FISHERIES; BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES
WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION Private foundation$5,141,39634 12020–2024 STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER INC
COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON INC DAF sponsor$4,640,00012 22014–2024 GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE INCORPORATED; BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES
AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$3,049,9088 62016–2024 PROJECT CETI INC; SYLVIA EARLE ALLIANCE MISSION BLUE; CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH; FRIENDS OF TURNEFFE ATOLL INC and 2 more
CORNELIA T BAILEY CHARITABLE TRUST Private foundation$2,600,0009 12019–2022 LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER INC
FORGOOD INC DAF sponsor$2,208,68946 162010–2024 SYLVIA EARLE ALLIANCE MISSION BLUE; GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE INCORPORATED; HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION FOUNDATION INC; DIVING WITH A PURPOSE AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP INC and 12 more
GORDON E AND BETTY I MOORE FOUNDATION Private foundation$2,027,03523 32011–2023 BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES; SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON OCEANIC RESEARCH; RECLAM THE BAY INC

The full list · all similar organizations

Where the money went

Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.

2025 · Form 990 · $701,371 spent · pay $158,675 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)Contract labor services $392,104$392,104-- 55.9%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $146,120$112,663$19,378$14,079 20.8%
Other (as described)Sub-awards and grants $36,155$36,155-- 5.2%
Office expenses $28,124$16,594$11,352$178 4.0%
Insurance $23,650-$23,650- 3.4%
Other (as described)Professional Services $19,570-$19,570- 2.8%
Fees: accounting $15,500-$15,500- 2.2%
Payroll taxes $11,556$8,942$1,503$1,111 1.6%
Other (as described)Printing and Publications $10,910$10,910-- 1.6%
Travel $9,950$6,430$3,520- 1.4%
Depreciation and depletion $5,310$5,080$230- 0.8%
Other employee benefits $999$795$120$84 0.1%
All other expenses $676$676-- 0.1%
Advertising and promotion $422$96$326- 0.1%
Fees: legal $325-$325- 0.0%
Total$701,371100%

View the filing

2024 · Form 990 · $1,519,819 spent · pay $157,352 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)Contract labor services $749,920$749,920-- 49.3%
Other (as described)Sub-awards and grants $315,000$315,000-- 20.7%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $144,615$92,459$33,638$18,518 9.5%
Other (as described)Supplies $124,626$124,626-- 8.2%
Insurance $77,780-$77,780- 5.1%
Other (as described)Professional Services $45,171-$45,171- 3.0%
Office expenses $14,866$3,813$10,909$144 1.0%
Fees: accounting $14,800-$14,800- 1.0%
Payroll taxes $11,496$7,235$2,830$1,431 0.8%
Travel $10,619$9,529$1,083$7 0.7%
Depreciation and depletion $6,462$5,081$1,381- 0.4%
Advertising and promotion $1,658-$1,070$588 0.1%
Fees: legal $1,530-$1,530- 0.1%
Other employee benefits $1,241$829$261$151 0.1%
Fees: professional fundraisers $35--$35 0.0%
Total$1,519,819100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $1,332,441 spent · pay $96,784 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)Sub-awards and grants $621,957$621,957-- 46.7%
Other (as described)Contract labor services $504,957$484,824$14,688$5,445 37.9%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $89,308$71,470$10,752$7,086 6.7%
Other (as described)Professional Services $25,640-$25,640- 1.9%
Other (as described)Supplies $21,646$21,045$455$146 1.6%
Travel $18,585$16,875$1,710- 1.4%
Insurance $17,173$325$16,848- 1.3%
Office expenses $9,949$4,030$4,810$1,109 0.7%
Payroll taxes $6,737$5,509$626$602 0.5%
Depreciation and depletion $6,461$5,080$1,381- 0.5%
All other expenses $6,138$6,138-- 0.5%
Advertising and promotion $1,677-$1,677- 0.1%
Information technology $1,474-$1,474- 0.1%
Other employee benefits $739$606$87$46 0.1%
Total$1,332,441100%

View the filing

2022 · Form 990 · $498,043 spent · pay $106,000 · grants $0 · events $4,939
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)Contract labor services $367,006$304,476$35,705$26,825 73.7%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $106,000$106,000-- 21.3%
Other (as described)Printing and Publications $5,331$5,096$235- 1.1%
Advertising and promotion $5,305$4,803$502- 1.1%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $4,939$4,939-- 1.0%
Office expenses $3,228$2,579$649- 0.6%
Information technology $3,180$160$2,432$588 0.6%
Depreciation and depletion $1,151$1,151-- 0.2%
Other (as described)Bank Fees $771$228$543- 0.2%
Fees: accounting $600-$600- 0.1%
Other (as described)Taxes and licenses $326-$326- 0.1%
All other expenses $206$118$88- 0.0%
Total$498,043100%

View the filing

2021 · Form 990 · $75,287 spent · pay $60,000 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $60,000$48,000$12,000- 79.7%
Fees: other services $9,290$9,290-- 12.3%
Advertising and promotion $3,734-$3,734- 5.0%
Other (as described)Software $1,107-$1,107- 1.5%
Other (as described)Shipping $893-$893- 1.2%
Other (as described)Bank Fees $144-$144- 0.2%
Other (as described)Supplies $74-$74- 0.1%
All other expenses $45-$45- 0.1%
Total$75,287100%

View the filing

Comments

Anonymous: no account or email. Up to 2,000 characters, at most one link. Comments are checked automatically; some wait for review.