Ocean Conservancy
Science-based advocacy and cleanup to protect the ocean, from plastic pollution to fisheries
Our editorial assessment
Ocean Conservancy pairs on-the-ground action — most visibly its International Coastal Cleanup, which mobilises volunteers worldwide — with science-based policy advocacy on plastic pollution, fisheries, and ocean climate impacts. Charity Navigator awards it a four-star rating with a near-perfect overall score and a perfect accountability and finance score; roughly 77% of spending reaches programmes. It fits donors who want a mix of tangible cleanup and systemic ocean policy work.
The problem they're solving
The ocean absorbs much of the world's carbon and feeds billions of people, yet it faces mounting threats from plastic, overfishing, and warming. Ocean Conservancy combines volunteer action with the policy advocacy needed to address those threats at scale.
About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean through science-based policy advocacy, sustainable fisheries work, and its global International Coastal Cleanup that removes millions of pounds of trash from beaches and waterways.
Where your dollar goes
What your donation could do
Your $100 supports science-based ocean advocacy and coastal cleanups.
Illustrative estimate based on figures this organisation publishes about its own programs — not a statement from the charity itself. Actual impact varies by program and year.
What donors say about Ocean Conservancy
Donors signed in with Google can rate Ocean Conservancy from one to five stars and share a short review of their experience — whether as a donor, volunteer, or beneficiary. Community ratings are displayed as their own criterion alongside our editorial metrics; they never alter the editorial 0–100 score.
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How this score was produced
The Charity Ranking score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. The community rating shown above is a separate signal contributed by signed-in donors; it is displayed alongside our criteria but never feeds into the editorial score. Read the full methodology →