Georgia Aquarium Inc
79% goes to programs $33 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Georgia Aquarium Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, registered in 2001, with $165,667,302 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B, and it directs about 79% of spending to programs.
225 Baker St Nw, Atlanta, GA, 30313 EIN 58-2574918 Since 2001
Revenue (FY2024)
$165.7M
▲ 7.6% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2024)
$125.5M
Net assets
$466.9M
Employees
917
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →CProgram efficiency40% of the rating79% to programs · $33 to raise $100
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 Georgia Aquarium Inc: 79% to programs · $33 to raise $100 earns a C on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating45 mo reserves · +24% margin
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 Georgia Aquarium Inc: 45 mo reserves · +24% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
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 Georgia Aquarium Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
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 Georgia Aquarium Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Georgia aquarium is a leading non-profit dedicated to aquatic research, exceptional animal care, and education to engage and cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for our world ocean. we do this by helping people see the world differently. we work to engage and educate millions of people through one of the largest varieties of aquatic life in the world, and share our groundbreaking research across the scientific community in efforts that lead to important oceanic discoveries. we believe we can make a difference by showing how humankind, aquatic animals and the waters of the world are connected and inspiring people to action. georgia aquarium is certified by the american humane association (aha), and accredited by the alliance for marine mammal parks and aquariums (ammpa) and the association of zoos and aquariums (aza).
What they do
Operation of marineland dolphin adventure in st. augustine, fl as an entertainment, public educational and conservation facility.
Operation of a dolphin conservation field station which promotes the study, rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of marine mammals, especially small whales and dolphins (cetaceans).
Contact & location
- Address
- 225 Baker St Nw, Atlanta, GA, 30313
- City
- Atlanta
- State
- Georgia
- Category
- Animal-Related
- Subcategory
- Zoos & Aquariums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $78.7M (FY2013) to $165.7M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $166.0MNet assets $466.9M
Operating margin
24.3%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$632.9M
Total liabilities
$166.0M
Net assets
$466.9M
Salaries & benefits
$47.9M
38% of expenses
Board members
19
19 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $165,667,302▲7.6% | $125,452,805▲9.1% | $466,890,080▲9.6% | $632,928,177▲7.9% | 990 |
| 2023 | $154,015,989▲15.7% | $114,983,658▲8.3% | $426,054,917▲10.3% | $586,624,359▲9.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $133,074,275▲15.5% | $106,149,303▲17.2% | $386,285,873▲7.7% | $536,403,881▲6.5% | 990 |
| 2021 | $115,181,059▲133% | $90,584,480▲9.3% | $358,539,114▲7.5% | $503,886,431▲3.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $49,502,065▼51.7% | $82,869,275▼12.1% | $333,445,993▼9.1% | $485,981,115▲7.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $102,513,148▲5.8% | $94,232,467▼0.2% | $366,813,205▲2.5% | $452,054,841▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2018 | $96,936,528▲3.4% | $94,443,496▲7.3% | $357,939,655▲0.7% | $425,416,398▼4.0% | 990 |
| 2017 | $93,793,876▲1.6% | $88,031,370▼5.3% | $355,446,607▲2.1% | $443,279,596▼5.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $92,314,965▲10.9% | $92,982,142▲8.5% | $348,044,471▼0.2% | $469,753,372▼1.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $83,268,975▲5.8% | $85,665,034▲12.1% | $348,711,654▼0.7% | $474,856,953▲0.8% | 990 |
| 2014 | $78,679,470 | $76,385,399▲4.0% | $351,107,711▲0.3% | $471,042,716▼2.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $78,696,691 | $73,457,953▲7.1% | $350,192,108▼1.0% | $481,919,603▼2.7% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $68,570,556▼5.9% | $353,599,180▲2.2% | $495,117,903▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $72,896,326▼10.3% | $345,876,884▲0.9% | $496,902,398▲3.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $81,306,920 | $342,919,928 | $478,750,553 | 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.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Brian L Davis Phd — $936,748 (0.75% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian L Davis Phd | Former President/ceo | 40 | $936,748 |
| Travis Burke | Vp/interim Ceo | 40 | $390,594 |
| Daniel Dipiazzo | Chief Marketing Officer | 40 | $364,748 |
| Jamie L Wilson Jr | Chief People Officer | 40 | $334,394 |
| Michael Boos | Chief Animal Officer | 40 | $330,181 |
| John Walker | Director, Group Sales | 40 | $271,532 |
| William S Ramsey | Vp, Group Sales | 40 | $260,459 |
| Eric Gaglione | Vp, Zoological Operations | 40 | $248,620 |
| Tonya M Clauss | Vp, Animal Health | 40 | $226,699 |
| Christopher S Coco | Vp, Aqu Sustainability | 40 | $209,414 |
| Camille A Hannans | Vp, Human Resources | 40 | $208,083 |
| Brenda C Fairbanks | Sr Director, Executive Adm | 40 | $177,913 |
| Dennis R Christen | Sr. Director Animal Wellbeing | 40 | $177,424 |
| Michael E Lewis | Vp, Exhibits & Projects | 40 | $176,041 |
| Renee H Skinner | Sr. Director, Accounting | 40 | $175,199 |
| Jeffery S Reid | Sr Director, Dive | 40 | $173,409 |
| Jerry Harris | Vp, It & Cybersecurity | 40 | $163,697 |
| Nicole R Lake | Sr Director, Finance | 40 | $163,445 |
| Lisa M Bodechon | Sr Director, Dolphin | 40 | $162,289 |
| Matthew R O'connor | Director, Animal Health | 40 | $161,309 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Nbbj Architecture Pllc | Cip, Consulting & Design | $7,543,154 |
| Doe Anderson Inc | Marketing | $6,599,704 |
| Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets Inc | Cip, Consulting & Design | $1,042,638 |
| Alloy Marketing | Digital Marketing & Website Development | $1,030,941 |
| Abm Janitorial | Janitorial Services | $907,195 |
Grants received · $6.7M total
53 grants to Georgia Aquarium Inc totaling $6.7M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thdf II Inc | To assist local charities | 2024 | $550,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $133,651 |
| Thdf II Inc | To assist local charities | 2023 | $550,000 |
| Northside Hospital Inc | General support | 2023 | $75,000 |
| The Community Foundation For Greater Atlanta Inc | Animal-related | 2023 | $20,850 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $9,520 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2022 | $900,000 |
| Thdf II Inc | To assist local charities | 2022 | $550,000 |
| The Community Foundation For Greater Atlanta Inc | Animal-related | 2022 | $83,350 |
| Northside Hospital Inc | General support | 2022 | $75,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Environmental and animals | 2022 | $13,350 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $9,075 |
| North Valley Community Foundation | Community development | 2022 | $6,930 |
| Thdf II Inc | To assist local charities | 2021 | $550,000 |
| The Community Foundation For Greater Atlanta Inc | Animal-related | 2021 | $102,500 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Georgia Aquarium Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Georgia Aquarium Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 58-2574918, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Georgia Aquarium Inc's EIN?
- Georgia Aquarium Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 58-2574918.
- How much revenue does Georgia Aquarium Inc report?
- Georgia Aquarium Inc reported $165,667,302 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Georgia Aquarium Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Georgia Aquarium Inc spends about 79% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Georgia Aquarium Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Georgia Aquarium Inc B, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Georgia Aquarium Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Georgia Aquarium Inc's latest Form 990 is $936,748, paid to Brian L Davis Phd (Former President/ceo).
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Data for Georgia Aquarium Inc (EIN 58-2574918) 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.