South Carolina Aquarium (EIN 570961897) - Form 990 Financial Analysis & Trantor Score

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1992

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

Kevin Mills

Phone

8435773474

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

South Carolina Aquarium, founded in 1992, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Animal-Related sector that reported $20.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $17.3M left a modest 15% surplus.

Mission

Our mission is to inspire conservation of the natural world by exhibiting and caring for animals, by excelling in education and research, and by providing an exceptional visitor experience.

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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%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,186,538

Program Service Revenue $13,276,079

Investment Income $840,383

Other Revenue $982,821

TOTAL REVENUE $20,285,821

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $13,100

Salaries & Benefits $10,970,956

Fundraising Expenses $1,632,837

Program Expenses $13,053,179

Other Expenses $6,355,739

TOTAL EXPENSES $17,339,795

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$20,285,821	$20,993,805	0.0%
Expenses	$17,339,795	$16,394,210	+0.1%
Net Income	$2,946,026	$4,599,595	-0.4%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

293

Volunteers

323

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

$814,642

Total Directors

Key Employees

$605,814

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
Jonathan M Zucker	Chairman	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Jessica Brewer	Vice Chairman	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
John A Hill	Vice Chairman	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
J Donald Higgins	Treasurer/Dir. Emer.	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Tom Wright	Vice Treasurer	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Mason Holland	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Dan Battista	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Rongrong Chen PHD	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Robert C Crawford III	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Suzanne Dickerson	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Steve Durkee	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
W Andrew Gowder Jr Term Ended	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Lee Hurzeler Term Ended	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Sandy Khan	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Danny Kassis	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Palmer E Krantz III	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Harry Lesesne	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Stacie Marksbury	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Judge Daniel E Martin Jr	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Gary McLaurin	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Guy Maurice Meares III	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Dominique Milton	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
William M Patterson PhD	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Cara J Richard	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Jan Roosenburg	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Scott Snider	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
George P Watt Jr	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Pam Wilson	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
David Wood	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Marcus Jones	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Melvin Brown	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
John Danahy	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Larry Colshan	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Anne W Cleveland	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Pedro De Armos	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Steve Gray	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Lars Munson	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Michael Naioti	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Joel Neale	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Susan Rohr	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Debra White	Director	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Valerie Howell	Secretary	4.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Kevin Mills	President and CEO	40.00	Officer	$368,410	$21,339	$389,749
John L Higgins	Executive Vice Pres & COO	40.00	Officer	$217,089	$9,508	$226,597
Jason Oddo	Chief Financial Officer	40.00	Officer	$195,832	$2,464	$198,296
Kevin Kampwerth	VP Creative & Exhibits	40.00	Key Emp	$161,022	$20,060	$181,082
Courtenay B Lewandowski	Chief Advancement Officer	40.00	Key Emp	$229,282	$17,937	$247,219
Brian Brasher	Chief Infrastructure Officer	40.00	Key Emp	$153,349	$24,164	$177,513
Paul Nunez	Chief People Officer	40.00	Highest	$136,815	$15,314	$152,129
Amie Yam-Babinchak	Chief Marketing Officer	40.00	Highest	$117,207	$26,259	$143,466
Sara McDonald PHD	VP Conservation	40.00	Highest	$143,889	$10,675	$154,564
Brian Thill	Chief Experience Officer	40.00	Highest	$105,499	$26,218	$131,717
Jamie Torres DVM	Veterinary Care	40.00	Highest	$112,214	$10,622	$122,836

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	$20,285,821	$17,339,795	$50,879,862	$2,946,026
2023	$20,993,805	$16,394,210	$48,426,081	$4,599,595
2022	$28,179,213	$14,100,205	$43,713,929	$14,079,008
2021	$21,254,119	$11,064,753	$29,900,020	$10,189,366
2020	$12,345,710	$11,140,767	$19,874,916	$1,204,943
2019	$14,607,430	$12,339,641	$20,066,677	$2,267,789
2018	$12,645,945	$12,019,044	$18,254,256	$626,901

South Carolina Aquarium