National Aquarium Inc
77% goes to programs $21 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
National Aquarium Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, registered in 1979, with $74,375,786 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 77% of spending to programs.
501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD, 21202 EIN 52-1121163 Since 1979
Revenue (FY2024)
$74.4M
▲ 33.7% vs prior year
Animals median: $151K
Expenses (FY2024)
$76.2M
Net assets
$62.7M
Employees
426
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B+
BProgram efficiency40% of the rating77% to programs · $21 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 National Aquarium Inc: 77% to programs · $21 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating10 mo reserves · -3% 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 National Aquarium Inc: 10 mo reserves · -3% margin earns a B+ 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 National 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 National Aquarium Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
To connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet
What they do
Conservation & education: the national aquarium is a nonprofit organization focused on changing the way humanity cares for the ocean. what began over 40 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.
Contact & location
- Address
- 501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD, 21202
- City
- Baltimore
- State
- Maryland
- Category
- Animal-Related
- Subcategory
- Zoos & Aquariums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $44.2M (FY2013) to $74.4M (FY2024) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $38.8MNet assets $62.7M
Operating margin
-2.5%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$101.5M
Total liabilities
$38.8M
Net assets
$62.7M
Salaries & benefits
$23.9M
31% of expenses
Board members
19
18 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $74,375,786▲33.7% | $76,249,119▲41.0% | $62,743,397▼2.6% | $101,493,868▼6.8% | 990 |
| 2023 | $55,641,673▲1.5% | $54,083,927▲5.2% | $64,431,700▲2.0% | $108,867,004▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $54,816,849▼9.5% | $51,432,748▲7.7% | $63,164,743▲10.0% | $108,550,637▲11.5% | 990 |
| 2021 | $60,590,294▲137% | $47,737,626▲6.8% | $57,438,961▲32.1% | $97,374,969▲6.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $25,536,884▼49.2% | $44,699,556▼11.1% | $43,479,127▼32.1% | $91,756,436▼12.4% | 990 |
| 2019 | $50,248,514▲5.4% | $50,305,927▼2.2% | $64,053,622▼1.8% | $104,725,819▼2.8% | 990 |
| 2018 | $47,658,956▼6.9% | $51,456,166▼10.7% | $65,221,006▼5.1% | $107,715,727▼5.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | $51,206,582▲7.6% | $57,645,060▲20.3% | $68,757,848▼8.6% | $114,299,130▲3.5% | 990 |
| 2016 | $47,582,860▲11.0% | $47,928,724▲2.3% | $75,260,822▼0.5% | $110,441,224▼1.7% | 990 |
| 2015 | $42,857,098▼3.0% | $46,858,553▲13.6% | $75,602,753▲2.2% | $112,395,928▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2013 | $44,162,715 | $41,248,443▲1.1% | $73,976,377▲4.1% | $104,235,960▼0.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $40,791,881▲6.4% | $71,062,105▲3.9% | $105,193,612▲1.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $38,325,883▼3.4% | $68,389,742▲4.0% | $103,332,181▲2.1% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $39,670,497 | $65,731,124 | $101,236,531 | 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: John C Racanelli — $462,783 (0.61% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John C Racanelli | President & Chief Executive Officer | 34 | $462,783 |
| Virginia Y Newton | Svp/cfo/coo | 40 | $355,990 |
| Margot Amelia | Svp/chief Strategy Officer | 39 | $284,017 |
| Jennifer Driban | Svp/chief Mission Officer | 40 | $268,413 |
| Scott Melton | Svp/chief Philanthropy Officer | 40 | $259,815 |
| Stephanie Allard | Svp/chief Animal Welfare Officer | 40 | $223,334 |
| Samuel Tawiah | Vp of Information Technology | 40 | $172,570 |
| Jacqueline Bershad | Vp of Planning and Design | 40 | $162,381 |
| Alison Dinger | Vp of Hr and Administration | 40 | $159,069 |
| Kristen Rosenberger | Vp of Financial Planning & Analysis | 40 | $155,154 |
| Sean Beattie | Vp of Philanthropy | 40 | $151,339 |
| Adam Borden | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Celine Cousteau | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Chris Griffith | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Chuck Tildon | Board Member (thru 3/24) | 2 | — |
| Colleen Dilenschneider | Chair | 5 | — |
| David Dardis | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Enric Sala | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jack Dwyer | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jayson Williams | Board Member | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Whiting Turner Contracting Co | Construction & Design | $5,607,705 |
| Impacts Experience LLC | Advertising | $2,300,000 |
| Aramark Services | Facility & Maintenance | $1,308,582 |
| Whhls LLC | Media & Advertising Campaign | $1,233,029 |
| Johnson Controls | Facility & Maintenance | $1,081,980 |
Grants received · $3.0M total
69 grants to National Aquarium Inc totaling $3.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $20.1M in FY2024
1 grant totaling $20.1M in FY2024. All grants made by National Aquarium Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acrc Lessor Inc | Loan forgiveness | $20,144,092 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is National Aquarium Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. National Aquarium Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 52-1121163, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is National Aquarium Inc's EIN?
- National Aquarium Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 52-1121163.
- How much revenue does National Aquarium Inc report?
- National Aquarium Inc reported $74,375,786 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of National Aquarium Inc's spending goes to programs?
- National Aquarium Inc spends about 77% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does National Aquarium Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades National Aquarium Inc B+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does National Aquarium Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on National Aquarium Inc's latest Form 990 is $462,783, paid to John C Racanelli (President & Chief Executive Officer).
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Data for National Aquarium Inc (EIN 52-1121163) 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.