Nonprofit · EIN 46-5112972
THE HYDROUS
Tax-exempt · SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $46,526 | $119,072 | -$72,546 | $62,412 | $0 | $62,412 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $238,045 | $184,598 | $53,447 | $134,958 | $0 | $134,958 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-PF | $132,973 | $363,242 | -$230,269 | $111,186 | $29,675 | $81,511 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $30,214
- Program service revenue
- $16,304
- Investment income
- $8
Expenses
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $54,000
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $54,000
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $44,079
- Occupancy
- $1,563
- Printing, publications and postage
- $1,241
- Other expenses
- $18,189
- Program services (functional)
- $32,307
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $134,958
- Total assets, end of year
- $62,412
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $62,412
- Cash, savings and investments
- $59,516
- Land and buildings
- $2,896
- Gross receipts
- $46,526
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR ERIKA WOOLSEY PETERSON | CEO | 40 | $54,000 |
| DR KRISTINA WOOLSEY | BOARD CHAIR | 5 | $0 |
| ANDREA CONTRERAS | TREASURER | 10 | $0 |
| WESLEY DELLA VOLLA | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 |
| SYLVESTER SPENCER-LEE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| ERIC RIESEBERG | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR ERIKA WOOLSEY PETERSON | CEO Officer | 40 | $84,000 |
| DR KRISTINA WOOLSEY | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| ANDREA CONTRERAS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| WESLEY DELLA VOLLA | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SYLVESTER SPENCER-LEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ERIC RIESEBERG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 6 | $0 |
990-PF for the year ended December 31, 2023: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Erika Woolsey Peterson 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | CEO | 40 | $110,000 |
| Andrea Celeste Contreras 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | Treasurer | 5 | $2,700 |
| Kristina Woolsey 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | Board Chair | 5 | $0 |
| Wesley Della Volla 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | Secretary | 5 | $0 |
| Sly Lee 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1160 BATTERY ST STE 100 PMB 10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-1233
- In care of
- % ERIKA WOOLSEY
- Signed the 990-EZ
- DR ERIKA WOOLSEY PETERSON, CEO
- Phone
- (415) 521-8272
- Website
- HTTPS://THEHYDRO.US/
- Return prepared by
- INDINERO
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 46-5112972 or by the name THE HYDROUS.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
THE HYDROUS IS AN EDUCATION-CENTERED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO TRANSLATING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY IN OUR OCEAN INTO PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE "OPEN ACCESS OCEANS" SO THAT ALL PEOPLE MAY EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND, AND ENGAGE WITH BEAUTIFUL AND THREATENED MARINE INVIRONMENTS.
Program accomplishments
- CONTENT CREATIONWE DESIGN DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL CURRICULA TO TEACH AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES ABOUT THE OCEAN. FOR INSTANCE, WE CREATED AN AWARD-WINNING OCEAN EDUCATION KIT CALLED "CORAL REEFS: A HYDROUS LEARNING EXPEDITION" THAT INCLUDES HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND DIGITAL EXPERIENCES, DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WITH SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND PRIVATE DONORS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE NEARLY 500 KITS TO STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN 20 DIFFERENT U.S. STATES. WE ALSO HAVE CREATED MULTIPLE "VIRTUAL DIVE" EXPERIENCES USING VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY (VR/AR) TECHNOLOGY THAT HAVE BEEN VIEWED MILLIONS OF TIMES THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS AND IN-PERSON EVENTS. THESE EDUCATIONAL "DIVES" INCLUDE IMMERSE, AR REEF, EXPLORE, AND EXPEDITION PALAU.Expenses $5,989
- RESEARCH THE HYDROUS CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY FOR MARINE EDUCATION WITH RESEARCH PARTNERS LIKE THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL HUMAN INTERACTION LAB, THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG AND FUNDERS LIKE THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, AND META.ACCOMPLISHMENTS: KEITH ET AL. (2026) ENHANCING MOTIVATION TO LEARN MARINE ECOLOGY AND INCREASE OCEAN LITERACY THROUGH VIRTUAL REALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION. ECOSPHERE 17:3. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1002/ECS2.70565 . FAUVILLE, G., PIMENTEL, D., & WOOLSEY, E. (2025). OCEAN XR: A DEEP DIVE INTO EXTENDED REALITY FOR MARINE EDUCATION AND OCEAN LITERACY. OCEAN AND SOCIETY, 2, ARTICLE 10714. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.17645/OAS.10714. HAMILTON, J.F., KELLEY, B.Z., MONISMITH, S.G., KOSE, J.R. (2025) ON THE USE OF SIMPLIFIED GEOMETRIES TO REPRESENT TURBULENT FLOW OVER CORAL REEFS. JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS: 1004, A11. MCGIVNEY, E., QUEIROZ A.C.M., MILLER, M.R., SUNNY LIU, BEAMS, B., HAN, E., WOOLSEY, E.S., FRAZIER, K., PETERSON, X., HANCOCK, J., BAILENSON, J. (2024) COMPLEXITY OF AGENCY IN VR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: EXPLORING ASSOCIATION WITH INTERACTIVITY, LEARNING OUTCOMES, AND AFFECT. IMMERSIVE LEARNING RESEARCH NETWORK 2024 PROCEEDINGS.Expenses $9,620
- PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTWE LEAD IN-PERSON LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND VIRTUAL DIVES BY SYNCHRONIZING VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS AT FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING INSTITUTIONS LIKE SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS. WE ALSO DELIVER TALKS AND WORKSHOPS AT EVENTS AND CONFERENCES, AS WELL AS PUBLISH OUR RESEARCH FINDINGS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SPEECHES AND EVENTS. THE HYDROUS DELIVERS IN-PERSON LEARNING ACTIVITIES, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, AND VIRTUAL DIVES AT FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING INSTITUTIONS LIKE SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES, CONFERENCES AND MUSEUMS. ORPHEUS ISLAND: FIELDWORK WAS CONDUCTED AT ORPHEUS ISLAND ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IN AUSTRALIA TO COLLECT UNDERWATER FOOTAGE FOR HYDROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS FOR DR. WOOLSEYS TOUR WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE. FGCU: A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS DELIVERED AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITYS THE WATER SCHOOL.Expenses $16,698
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-PF on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 46-5112972
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2025
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $62,412
- Income (IRS master file)
- $46,526
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $46,526 | $119,072 | $62,412 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $238,045 | $184,598 | $134,958 | XML |
| 990-PF | December 2023 | $132,973 | $363,242 | $111,186 | XML |
| 990-PF | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-PF | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-PF | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-PF | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 46-5112972).
Questions about THE HYDROUS
- What is the EIN of THE HYDROUS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE HYDROUS is 46-5112972.
- Is THE HYDROUS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2025.
- Are donations to THE HYDROUS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE HYDROUS file?
- Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.
- When is the next return of THE HYDROUS due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE HYDROUS last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE HYDROUS?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $54,000 (DR ERIKA WOOLSEY PETERSON, CEO).
- How much revenue does THE HYDROUS have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $46,526, expenses of $119,072 and total assets of $62,412 at year end.
Other nonprofits in SAN FRANCISCO
- URBAN ALCHEMY EIN 82-5408579 · last filed 990 for 2025
- INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS FOUNDATION EIN 13-4164140 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BURNING MAN PROJECT EIN 45-2638273 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SAN FRANCISCO TOURISM IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION EIN 26-4814856 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MID-MARKET FOUNDATION EIN 85-0892059 · last filed 990 for 2024
- COMMUNITY VISION CAPITAL & CONSULTING EIN 94-3032394 · last filed 990 for 2025
- HORIZONS FOUNDATION EIN 94-2686530 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ASPIRATION EIN 91-2106274 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in SAN FRANCISCO · California · Community improvement and capacity building