About
The 5 Gyres Institute (EIN 27-1350279) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Santa Monica, California, working to reduce plastic pollution. Its motto is "More ocean. Less plastic." The organization's name refers to the five subtropical gyres — large-scale systems of wind-driven surface currents in the North and South Pacific, North and South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean — where floating plastic accumulates.
Mission
5 Gyres describes its mission as leveraging the power of science, advocacy, and community to drive innovative solutions to plastic pollution. It combines primary scientific research on plastics with policy advocacy and community engagement programs.
What they do
- Scientific research on plastic pollution, including peer-reviewed studies and research expeditions
- TrashBlitz, a community science program for recording plastic waste data — 78,631 items were recorded on TrashBlitz in 2025, per the organization's published figures
- The Microplastic-Free US campaign
- Plastic-Free Parks, a community science initiative
- Policy advocacy — the organization reports supporting 14 bills through its advocacy work in 2025
- An Ambassador Network of trained volunteers, with 107 new ambassadors recruited in 2025
History
5 Gyres was founded by Dr. Marcus Eriksen, a scientist, and Anna Cummins, who launched the organization following an 88-day journey from California to Hawaii aboard the "Junk Raft," a vessel built from 15,000 plastic bottles. Since its founding, the institute has explored 50,000 nautical miles of ocean on 19 research expeditions in search of plastic. Anna Cummins serves as Executive Director, and Marcus Eriksen remains active as co-founder and scientist.
Scale and impact
The organization has conducted 19 research expeditions covering 50,000 nautical miles studying plastic accumulation in the world's oceans. It has held special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2017, and has earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Financials
Per IRS filings compiled by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, The 5 Gyres Institute reported revenue of $1.94 million and expenses of $1.31 million for the fiscal year ending September 2025, with net assets of $1.4 million. Contributions made up 98.4% of FY2025 revenue. The organization has held 501(c)(3) status since 2010.
Governance
Anna Cummins, co-founder, serves as Executive Director. The staff includes Dr. Lisa Erdle, Director of Science & Innovation, and directors of operations, development, and communications.