California Ocean Science Trust
California Ocean Science Trust (OST) is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for California. Created by state legislation, OST bridges the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and sound ocean management. OST delivers on this mandate by drawing resources to solutions-oriented science, supporting graduate education to foster the science-policy workforce of tomorrow, and delivering pragmatic, salient science advise to California policymakers, regulators, and managers.
California Ocean Science Trust at a glance
In short: California Ocean Science Trust gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $10,000
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $14,244,175
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who California Ocean Science Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UC Santa Cruz Foundation ($10K).
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UC Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz, CA | Support for their communications | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,244,175 | $2,872,976 | $2,245,478 | $10,000 | 1 | $645,013 |
| 2024 | $13,717,513 | $2,184,673 | $1,958,645 | — | — | $494,245 |
| 2023 | $11,776,170 | $11,328,706 | $1,485,642 | — | — | $193,128 |
| 2022 | $1,828,866 | $711,164 | $1,168,028 | — | — | $2,109 |
| 2021 | $2,014,729 | $871,141 | $1,364,998 | — | — | $2,259 |
| 2020 | $2,372,360 | $1,375,973 | $1,537,969 | — | — | $26,524 |
| 2019 | $2,535,805 | $696,947 | $1,220,751 | — | — | $38,312 |
About California Ocean Science Trust
Based on IRS filings
California Ocean Science Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Sacramento, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $14.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $10K. Net investment income was $645K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
California Ocean Science Trust is led by Elizabeth Whiteman, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 4 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Whiteman
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$113K (2019) → $180K (2025)
Gary Griggs
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lora Zook
Finance Director
Director of Finance & Administrator → Finance Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$89K (2019) → $125K (2025)
Anthony C. Rogers
Strategy Director
Employee → Strategy Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $138K (2025)
David F. Lawlor
Philanthropy Director
Employee → Philanthropy Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$129K (2024) → $125K (2025)
Margaret Leinen
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Spring
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karina Nielsen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenn Eckerle
Trustee
Deputy Secretary → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Perrault
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Mogus
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rafael Castellanos
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Taylor
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexis Jackson
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Nancy Sutley (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan Bishop (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Lida Teneva (2021–2022) — Employee
- Former: Mark Gold (2019–2021) — Deputy Secretary
- Former: Gayle Miller (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jerry Schubel (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Karen Finn (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $180K, to Elizabeth Whiteman (Executive Dir.). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about California Ocean Science Trust
How much does California Ocean Science Trust give each year?
California Ocean Science Trust gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is California Ocean Science Trust?
California Ocean Science Trust reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.
What is California Ocean Science Trust?
California Ocean Science Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Sacramento, CA. It holds $14.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does California Ocean Science Trust operate?
California Ocean Science Trust has awarded grants in California.
What is California Ocean Science Trust's EIN?
California Ocean Science Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-1261006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 25, 2026)
Live grants for the work California Ocean Science Trust funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Ocean Science Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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California Ocean Science Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?