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Scottish Association For Marine Science

Argyll, Scotland Reg: SC009206 (Charity Commission) Sign up to see website
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51
Integrity Assessment
Partial transparency
51/100 · methodology

About Scottish Association For Marine Science

For 140+ years, SAMS has been a pioneer in marine science-championing a vision of a healthy ocean that underpins thriving people and a sustainable planet. As a global ocean science and education charity, and world-renowned research institute, our work doesn’t simply observe the ocean, it empowers people, informs policy, and accelerates solutions to some of the biggest and most devastating environmental challenges of our time. Our research spans every corner of marine science and delivers public benefit by: • Solving real-world environmental problems: from climate change and ocean acidification to pollution and biodiversity loss. • Strengthening global governance and sustainable practice: by providing the evidence base for better decision-making at every level. • Inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards: …

Founded
Headquarters
Argyll, Scotland
Foundation type
Charitable Company

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

Good Fundraising Guarantee since 2026

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 6 similar education in United Kingdom
Program spending This charity: 100%
Peer average: 85%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 51
Peer average: 86

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for Charity Commission removal, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every £1 goes

· FY2025 · oscr (FY2025)
£1.00
Program£1.00
Fundraising£0.00
100% to programs beats the peer average (85%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Scottish Association For Marine Science with a substantially complete profile, sourced from OSCR.

  • Established in 1930, it is among the oldest education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks. View this cohort
  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 98% of the 78,357 education charities in the United Kingdom with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • Its integrity score of 51 is below most of the 87,708 education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks. GiveRadar bases this on limited verified information so far, with little on record for its governance. Explore United Kingdom data
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • a website
  • a contact email
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • leadership details (present for 78% of comparable organizations)
  • a donation page
  • third-party accreditation
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Scottish Association For Marine Science is a registered education nonprofit based in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 1930 and has been operating for 96 years. Its registration number is SC009206. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 51/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £11M in annual revenue.

Scottish Association For Marine Science's official registration number is SC009206, as recorded in the national registry of United Kingdom.

Scottish Association For Marine Science has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 51/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 51 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. The charity allocates 100% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for education charities in United Kingdom is 86/100.

Scottish Association For Marine Science is located in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 1930 and has been active for 96 years.

Based on official tax filings, Scottish Association For Marine Science has £11M in annual revenue. It allocates 100% of expenses to programs and services. This is above the average of 85% for education charities in United Kingdom. Fundraising costs represent 0%. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of £994K. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Scottish Association For Marine Science is classified as an Education organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a Charitable Company. It has £11M in annual revenue.

According to GiveRadar's records, Scottish Association For Marine Science is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and overseen by the Charity Commission. It reports that 100% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 85%). GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

For 140+ years, SAMS has been a pioneer in marine science-championing a vision of a healthy ocean that underpins thriving people and a sustainable planet. As a global ocean science and education charity, and world-renowned research institute, our work doesn’t simply observe the ocean, it empowers people, informs policy, and accelerates solutions to some of the biggest and most devastating environmental challenges of our time. Our research spans every corner of marine science and delivers public benefit by: • Solving real-world environmental problems: from climate change and ocean acidification to pollution and biodiversity loss. • Strengthening global governance and sustainable practice: by providing the evidence base for better decision-making at... Scottish Association For Marine Science is classified as an education organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 1930.

Among education charities registered in United Kingdom: It allocates 100% of expenses to programs, above the peer average of 85%. Its annual revenue of £11M is well above the peer average of £994K.

Scottish Association For Marine Science is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is SC009206.

You can verify Scottish Association For Marine Science in several ways. First, search the Charity Commission Register at https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ - every charity registered in England and Wales appears here with its registration number, trustees, governing document, and filed accounts. Because this is a charitable company, you can also check its filings on Companies House (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/). Second, check whether the charity's annual return and accounts are up to date - the Commission flags charities with overdue filings. Third, look for the Fundraising Regulator badge on the charity's website, which signals voluntary compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Contact Scottish Association For Marine Science directly for current donation methods. UK charities typically accept online card payments, direct debit, and bank transfer. Many also use platforms such as JustGiving or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). If you are a UK taxpayer, make sure to tick the Gift Aid box: it lets the charity reclaim 25p from HMRC for every pound you give at no extra cost to you. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim back the difference between basic-rate and their marginal rate through Self Assessment. Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn) lets you donate pre-tax through your employer.

Donations to Scottish Association For Marine Science are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK income-tax or capital-gains-tax payer. Gift Aid adds 25% to your donation at no cost to you (the charity reclaims basic-rate tax from HMRC). Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can also claim back the difference through Self Assessment or by adjusting their PAYE tax code. Gifts of shares, property, or land to charity are free of Capital Gains Tax and can be deducted from your income for Income Tax purposes. Legacy gifts (in your will) reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax and can lower the IHT rate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% to charity.

Scottish Association For Marine Science is based in Argyll in Scotland. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.

Scottish Association For Marine Science was first registered in 1930, making it approximately 96 years old. UK charities must file an annual return with the Charity Commission to remain on the register. A long registration history generally indicates sustained operations and continuous regulatory compliance.

Annual revenue
£10M-£100M
100% to programs
Source: oscr (FY2025) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from oscr (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021.
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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
186
Still gathering leadership data

We check government filings and charity disclosures quarterly. If you represent this charity, claim this page to add officers directly.

Latest news

From global news sources

No recent news coverage found

News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Form filed
£11.4M revenue
FY2025
OSCR
Form filed
£10.1M revenue
FY2024
OSCR
Form filed
£10.3M revenue
FY2023
OSCR
Form filed
£9.4M revenue
FY2022
OSCR
Form filed
£10.3M revenue
FY2021
OSCR

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Cause areas in United Kingdom

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Education this charity 87,646
Health 28,382
Religion 22,146
Arts & Culture 21,802
Community Development 10,738
Environment 5,683
Social Services 4,899
Youth Development 4,637
See all cause areas in United Kingdom

Most common causes in United Kingdom

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Education 54,780
Arts & Culture 17,729
Disability 17,106
Religion 16,671
Health 15,045
Poverty 14,062
Community Development 11,486
Cultural Heritage 8,526

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities
Financial filings
Charity Commission annual returns - Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 17, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 17, 2026
Profile completeness
75%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 7
  • Financial data · FY2025 on record
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1930
Not available · 4
  • Named leadership
    Board and officer list not yet indexed
  • Executive pay
    Top-officer pay not disclosed
  • Mission statement
    No self-published statement of purpose
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Scottish Association For Marine Science

What is Scottish Association For Marine Science?
Scottish Association For Marine Science is a education charitable company based in Argyll, United Kingdom. For 140+ years, SAMS has been a pioneer in marine science-championing a vision of a healthy ocean that underpins thriving people and a sustainable planet. As a global ocean science and education charity, and world-renowned research institute, our work doesn’t simply observe the ocean, it empowers people, informs policy, and accelerates solutions to some of the biggest and most devastating environmental challenges of our time. Our research spans every corner of marine science and delivers public benefit by: • Solving real-world environmental problems: from climate change and ocean acidification to pollution and biodiversity loss. • Strengthening global governance and sustainable practice: by providing the evidence base for better decision-making at every level. • Inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards: through education, outreach, and public engagement we turn awareness into action. We believe the ocean holds the key to unlocking solutions for the future of our planet. 'the advancement of education','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science','the advancement of environmental protection or improvement' The objects for which the Association is established are:- (a) To take over the whole of the assets and liabilities of the unincorporated association, founded in 1894, constituted on 26th November, 1897, and consecutively carried on since the latter date, first, under the name of THE MILLPORT MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION, second, under the name of THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND, this style or title having been adopted at a meeting of the Association held on 15th January, 1901 and third, under the name Scottish Marine Biological Association, this style or title having been adopted at a meeting of the Association held on 18 December 1914. and toenter into such agreements and to make, do and execute all such acts, deeds or things as maybe necessary for the purpose of taking over all such assets and liabilities or any part thereof.
When was Scottish Association For Marine Science founded?
Scottish Association For Marine Science was founded in 1930.
Where is Scottish Association For Marine Science located?
Headquartered in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom.
What is Scottish Association For Marine Science's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately £10M-£100M. 100% of expenses go to program services.
Is Scottish Association For Marine Science trustworthy?
Scottish Association For Marine Science has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 51 out of 100 (Partial transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Scottish Association For Marine Science's registration number?
Registration: SC009206 (United Kingdom).
What is Scottish Association For Marine Science's website?
https://www.sams.ac.uk
Are donations to Scottish Association For Marine Science tax-deductible?
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.