NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

EIN: 521121163 501(c)(3) Animal-Related

BALTIMORE, MD

Total Revenue
$55,641,673
Total Expenses
$54,083,927
Total Assets
$108,867,004
Net Assets
$64,431,700
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1976
Legal Domicile
MD
Principal Officer
JOHN C RACANELLI
Phone
4105763800
Tax Period
2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC, founded in 1976, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Animal-Related sector that reported $55.6M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023.

Mission

TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE TO INSPIRE COMPASSION AND CARE FOR OUR OCEAN PLANET

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $31,528,217 Revenue: $34,812,210

AQUARIUM EXPERIENCE: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE INNER HARBOR IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. SITUATED ON TWO CITY PIERS WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ON EITHER SIDE, THE AQUARIUM FEATURES...

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AQUARIUM EXPERIENCE: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE INNER HARBOR IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. SITUATED ON TWO CITY PIERS WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ON EITHER SIDE, THE AQUARIUM FEATURES THREE PAVILIONS AND A LIVING COLLECTION THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 20,000 ANIMALS FROM MORE THAN 800 SPECIES OF FISH, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES AND MAMMALS IN AWARD-WINNING HABITATS. THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS MARYLAND'S LARGEST PAID TOURIST ATTRACTION, WELCOMING MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY. MORE THAN 50 MILLION GUESTS HAVE VISITED THE AQUARIUM SINCE IT OPENED IN 1981, AND AQUARIUM STAFF MEMBERS ARE COMMITTED TO GOING TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO DELIGHT GUESTS AND INSPIRE THEM TO ACT TO CONSERVE THE WORLD'S AQUATIC TREASURES. AS AN ORGANIZATION ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA), THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM MAINTAINS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL CARE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE ANIMAL HEALTH, HUSBANDRY AND WELFARE PRACTICES. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE FOR ALL ANIMALS AT THE AQUARIUM, STAFF CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM INCLUDE AMAZON RIVER FOREST, ATLANTIC CORAL REEF, ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA: WILD EXTREMES, BLACKTIP REEF, DOLPHIN DISCOVERY, JELLIES INVASION, LIVING SEASHORE, MARYLAND EXPERIENCE, SHARK ALLEY, SURVIVING ADAPTATION, TROPICAL RAINFOREST, HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG WATERFRONT PARK, AND THE 4D IMMERSION THEATER.

Program 2
Expenses: $7,303,736

CONSERVATION & EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE WAY HUMANITY CARES FOR THE OCEAN. WHAT BEGAN OVER 35 YEARS AGO AS A VISITOR ATTRACTION HAS EVOLVED...

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CONSERVATION & EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE WAY HUMANITY CARES FOR THE OCEAN. WHAT BEGAN OVER 35 YEARS AGO AS A VISITOR ATTRACTION HAS EVOLVED INTO A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES A WORLD-CLASS AQUARIUM. THROUGH UNPARALLELED EXHIBITS, SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HANDS-ON FIELD INITIATIVES, WE ARE CREATING A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF HOPEFUL CONSERVATIONISTS, UNITED TO RESTORE OUR PLANET, DRIVEN BY OUR MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE TO INSPIRE COMPASSION AND CARE FOR OUR OCEAN PLANET. WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR COASTS AND OCEANS AND TO LEAD DIRECT ACTION TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE BALTIMORE HARBOR, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND OCEANS AROUND THE WORLD. THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS ALSO COMMITTED TO EDUCATING STUDENTS OF ALL AGES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE OCEAN. BY GETTING THEIR BOOTS WET AND THEIR HANDS DIRTY, STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR SKILLS AND INTERESTS, AND MAKE EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR BLUE PLANET. MORE THAN 56,000 MARYLAND STUDENTS VISIT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM FREE OF CHARGE EACH YEAR, WHERE THEY BECOME IMMERSED IN THE WORLD OF WATER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT PROTECTING ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $16,175,128
Program Service Revenue $34,859,573
Investment Income $1,049,783
Other Revenue $3,557,189
TOTAL REVENUE $55,641,673

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $39,080
Salaries & Benefits $22,897,649
Fundraising Expenses $5,948,196
Program Expenses $38,831,953
Other Expenses $30,485,459
TOTAL EXPENSES $54,083,927

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $55,641,673 $54,816,849 +0.0%
Expenses $54,083,927 $51,432,748 +0.1%
Net Income $1,557,746 $3,384,101 -0.5%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
19
Independent Members
18
Employees
442
Volunteers
2156

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
8
$1,009,443
Total Directors
23
$0
Key Employees
4
$1,128,732
Highest Compensated
5
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
VICTOR ABIAMIRI DIRECTOR (BEG 9/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ADAM BORDEN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KEITH CAMPBELL DIRECTOR (THROUGH 3/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TODD CHESTER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID CHURCHILL DIRECTOR (THROUGH 3/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CELINE COUSTEAU DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOE CRUMBLING TREASURER (THROUGH 3/2023) 1.50
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID DARDIS DIRECTOR (BEG 3/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDER CHAIR ELECT 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JACK DWYER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITH TREASURER (BEG 12/2023)/DIRECTOR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MOHANNAD JISHI DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATHRYN MATTHEWS DIRECTOR (BEG 9/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MAGGIE MCINTOSH DIRECTOR (BEG 3/2023) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROY PRATHER III DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER REYNOLDS SECRETARY 1.50
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ENRIC SALA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHARI SANT VICE CHAIR 1.50
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
RON SPARKS TREASURER (4/2023-12/2023)/DIRECTOR 1.50
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CHUCK TILDON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TED WIESE CHAIR 3.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JAYSON WILLIAMS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARC WYATT DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
VIRGINIA Y NEWTON SVP/COFO 39.00
Officer
$355,404 $31,155 $386,559
JOHN C RACANELLI PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 34.00
Officer
$509,633 $113,251 $622,884
JENNIFER DRIBAN SVP/CHIEF MISSION OFFICER 40.00
Key Emp
$266,378 $42,162 $308,540
SCOTT MELTON SVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER 40.00
Key Emp
$270,285 $13,276 $283,561
STEPHANIE ALLARD SVP/CHIEF ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER 40.00
Key Emp
$212,602 $19,357 $231,959
MARGOT AMELIA SVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER 39.00
Key Emp
$284,087 $20,585 $304,672
LAURA BANKEY VP OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS 40.00
Highest
$135,479 $23,509 $158,988
JACQUELINE BERSHAD VP OF PLANNING AND DESIGN 40.00
Highest
$168,576 $37,845 $206,421
SEAN BEATTIE VP OF PHILANTHROPY 40.00
Highest
$146,239 $15,716 $161,955
SAMUEL TAWIAH VP OF OPERATIONS AND IT 40.00
Highest
$192,192 $37,872 $230,064
ALISON DINGER VP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION 40.00
Highest
$157,737 $31,903 $189,640
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $55,641,673 $54,083,927 $108,867,004 $1,557,746
2022 $54,816,849 $51,432,748 $108,550,637 $3,384,101
2021 $60,590,294 $47,737,626 $97,374,969 $12,852,668
2020 $25,536,884 $44,699,556 $91,756,436 $-19,162,672
2019 $50,248,514 $50,305,927 $104,725,819 $-57,413
2018 $47,658,956 $51,456,166 $107,715,727 $-3,797,210
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