Great Lakes Fishery Commission is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, registered in 1987, with $75,557,900 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 94% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2023)
$75.6M
▼ 7.9% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2023)
$67.6M
Net assets
$88.3M
Employees
33
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Great Lakes Fishery Commission: 94% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Great Lakes Fishery Commission: 16 mo reserves · +11% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Great Lakes Fishery Commission: 4 of 6 checks met earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Great Lakes Fishery Commission: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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The great lakes fishery commission is an international treaty organization established to coordinate fisheries research, control invasive sea lampreys, and facilitate cooperative fishery management among the state, provincial, tribal, and federal agencies.
Sea lamprey management program - great lakes fishery commission contracts annually with the u.s. fish and wildlife service, the u.s. geological survey, and fisheries and oceans canada to conduct a program that eradicates or minimizes sea lamprey populations in the great lakes. this is a current and long-term goal. lampricides are chemicals used as the major means of controlling sea lamprey in the commission's ongoing program of sea lamprey management in the great lakes. these chemicals are purchased annually.
Infrastructure - the great lakes fishery commission relies on physical infrastructure in its programs including 1) sea lamprey barriers, 2) sea lamprey traps, 3)biological stations, 4) workspace, and 5) researcher accommodations. sea lamprey barriers are extremely cost-effective and provide an assumed 50-year life span. barriers are used as a means of controlling sea lamprey by blocking streams/rivers in which they migrate to spawn. these are current and long-term projects.
Professional development, memberships, sponsorships, along with lake champlain and cares act ii expenditures. lake champlain is explained on schedule o. all other functional expenses related to running programs.
Revenue grew from $39.4M (FY2013) to $75.6M (FY2023) across 7 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
10.6%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$89.6M
Total liabilities
$1.3M
Net assets
$88.3M
Salaries & benefits
$5.8M
9% of expenses
Board members
9
9 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $75,557,900▼7.9% | $67,569,451▲11.1% | $88,284,806▲10.0% | $89,618,029▲9.8% | 990 |
| 2022 | $82,051,242▲17.6% | $60,797,750▼10.4% | $80,229,849▲34.3% | $81,629,799▲33.5% | 990 |
| 2021 | $69,757,299▲9.9% | $67,856,628▲21.5% | $59,735,706▲2.7% | $61,148,709▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $63,473,145▲80.7% | $55,868,723▲63.1% | $58,186,306▲123% | $59,405,138▲104% | 990 |
| 2015 | $35,127,928▼3.5% | $34,254,770▲9.1% | $26,147,680▼14.3% | $29,190,514▼12.1% | 990 |
| 2014 | $36,405,976▼7.6% | $31,400,685▼14.6% | $30,526,299▲4.2% | $33,219,574▲13.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $39,398,309 | $36,755,047▼4.0% | $29,308,831▲7.9% | $29,308,831▲7.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $38,271,150 | $27,158,117 | $27,158,117 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Highest-paid: Robert Lambe — $281,215 (0.42% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lambe | Executive Secretary | 40 | $281,215 |
| Stephen Domeracki | Director of Corporate Services | 40 | $233,455 |
| Marc Gaden | Communications Program Director | 40 | $218,270 |
| John Dettmers | Fishery Management Program Director | 40 | $211,354 |
| Andrew Muir | Science Program Director | 40 | $210,736 |
| Michael Siefkes | Sea Lamprey Control Program Director | 40 | $200,881 |
| Dr Robert Hecky | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Dr William Taylor | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Earl Provost | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Ethan Baker | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| James Mckane | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Jean-guy Forgeron | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Karen Diver | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Kendra Wecker | Commissioner | 3 | — |
| Shannon Estenoz | Commissioner | 3 | — |
4 grants to Great Lakes Fishery Commission totaling $180K, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Strategic coordination of | 2018 | $60,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Strategic coordination of | 2017 | $38,411 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Habitat conservation | 2016 | $36,525 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Strategic coordination of | 2015 | $45,064 |
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Data for Great Lakes Fishery Commission (EIN 38-1539304) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.