Form 990 for tax year 2025
Filed by THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $21,509,307
- Total expenses
- $8,166,994
- Contributions and grants received
- $14,474,738
- Grants paid
- $2,348,025
- Program service revenue
- $537,179
- Investment income
- $1,273,461
- Other revenue
- $5,223,929
- Total assets, end of year
- $57,673,309
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,034,786
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $55,638,523
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $5,980,196
- Management and general expenses
- $1,422,995
- Fundraising expenses
- $763,803
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $5,980,196
Program services were 73.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1b · Membership dues
$1,659,438
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$3,243,007
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$9,572,293
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$11,974
-
2a · Program service revenue: Photo service revenue
total $275,498 · related or exempt $275,498
-
2b · Program service revenue: Membership service fees
total $138,823 · related or exempt $138,823
-
2c · Program service revenue: Hurricane simulator
total $45,440 · related or exempt $45,440
-
2d · Program service revenue: Food service revenue
total $44,400 · related or exempt $44,400
-
2e · Program service revenue: Pennymen souvenirs
total $31,993 · related or exempt $31,993
-
2f · All other program service revenue
total $1,025 · related or exempt $1,025
-
3 · Investment income
total $861,822 · excluded $861,822
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $3,553,035
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $3,141,396
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $411,639
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $411,639 · excluded $411,639
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$8,757,124
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$3,599,597
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total $5,157,527 · related or exempt $4,832,593 · unrelated business $324,934
-
11a · Other revenue: Other revenue
total $66,402 · related or exempt $66,402
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$66,402
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $2,348,025 · program services $2,348,025
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $468,277 · program services $298,360 · management and general $114,161 · fundraising $55,756
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $2,052,188 · program services $1,307,539 · management and general $500,300 · fundraising $244,349
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $220,763 · program services $126,837 · management and general $63,203 · fundraising $30,723
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $310,309 · program services $193,319 · management and general $77,844 · fundraising $39,146
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $210,390 · program services $136,297 · management and general $49,345 · fundraising $24,748
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $11,831 · program services $5,979 · management and general $5,852
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $51,595 · management and general $51,595
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $60,000 · program services $60,000
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $102,086 · fundraising $102,086
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $94,293 · management and general $94,293
-
11g · Fees: other
total $135,365 · program services $32,563 · management and general $27,825 · fundraising $74,977
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $79,659 · program services $47,306 · management and general $2,660 · fundraising $29,693
-
13 · Office expenses
total $118,086 · program services $101,883 · management and general $6,105 · fundraising $10,098
-
14 · Information technology
total $366,634 · program services $162,040 · management and general $177,911 · fundraising $26,683
-
16 · Occupancy
total $191,978 · program services $58,332 · management and general $122,475 · fundraising $11,171
-
17 · Travel
total $68,062 · program services $35,706 · management and general $15,470 · fundraising $16,886
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $21,788 · program services $9,516 · management and general $8,896 · fundraising $3,376
-
20 · Interest
total $88,535 · program services $88,535
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $707,176 · program services $704,171 · management and general $3,005
-
23 · Insurance
total $83,479 · program services $19,977 · management and general $63,502
-
24a · Other expenses: Income tax
total $21,662 · program services $21,662
-
24b · Other expenses: Bank & credit card serv
total $169,142 · program services $163,921 · management and general $1,313 · fundraising $3,908
-
24c · Other expenses: Board engagement & even
total $97,584 · program services $11,243 · management and general $30,715 · fundraising $55,626
-
24d · Other expenses: Loss on damaged invento
total $29,294 · program services $29,294
-
24e · All other expenses
total $58,793 · program services $17,691 · management and general $6,525 · fundraising $34,577
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $2,778,878 · end of year $6,079,745
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $7,433,919 · end of year $12,511,414
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $4,529,203 · end of year $9,137,860
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $390,961 · end of year $133,114
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $1,089,398 · end of year $678,120
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $198,373 · end of year $362,164
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$26,883,580
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$13,765,655
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $13,798,799 · end of year $13,117,925
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $14,789,825 · end of year $14,756,986
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $4,118,745 · end of year $0
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $49,666 · end of year $895,981
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $693,013 · end of year $641,215
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $84,970 · end of year $74,189
-
20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities
beginning of year $3,727,236 · end of year $0
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $3,403,171 · end of year $1,319,382
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $32,230,025 · end of year $38,438,745
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $9,039,352 · end of year $17,199,778
Mission and programs · 2025
Mission
The purpose of the Society is to develop, encourage, and promote public awareness of, interest in, and support for the NC Aquariums and to serve as an philanthropic society for the continued maintenance, support, and promotion of the educational, conservation, and research purposes of the NC Aquariums. The Society is supported primarily through gift shop sales, memberships, grants, and contributions.
Activities or mission (Part I)
Inspiring appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments
-
Aquariums & Pier Support: The Society provides support for various projects at the 3 NC Aquariums and 1 Pier such as new exhibits, educational programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc. Employees of the Society allocate significant portions of their time to direct and indirect Aquariums and Pier support.
Expenses $3,257,008 · Grants $2,348,025 · Revenue $464,758
-
Gift Shops: The Society owns and operates 4 gift shops that provide visitors with merchandise such as apparel, souvenirs, books, field and identification guides, games, puzzles, and plush animals that reinforce the NC Aquariums mission.
Expenses $2,368,499 · Revenue $4,832,593
-
Membership Development: The Society manages memberships for the NC Aquariums and Pier, with categories for individuals, couples, families, and businesses. Members receive free admission, gift shop and program discounts, and other benefits.
Expenses $354,689 · Revenue $138,823
As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Jordy Whichard
Chair-Elect
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
MS Brick Brown III
Chair
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dana O'Donovan
Treasurer
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Deborah Albert
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Harry Archer
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bill Belk
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bill Berry
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Myra Best
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Joye Blount
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jay Briley
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Judson Pope
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Steve Coggins
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Virginia Cuthrell
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Carolyn Green
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Thomas B Hackney
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Allan Harvin
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Olivia Holding
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Tess Judge
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Art Keeny
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Joyce Sullivan
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Pamela Cashwell NC DNCR
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bob Mattocks
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Suzanne Pecheles
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Adrienne Moore
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Greg Nichols
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Ronnie Sloan
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Caroline Perry
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Wes Seegars
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Charles Pierce
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Edythe Poyner
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Chuck Revelle
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bruce Roberts
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Christy Hancock
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jake McClease
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Eileen Goldgeier
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Johnny Tillett
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Drew Covert
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Latia Banks
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Patrick Boykin
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Hope Williams
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
G Dale McGee
Board Member
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Marvin L Barnes
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Frank L Block
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Alice Bost
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Charles Evans
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Charlton Burns
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Alex MacFadyen Jr
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Besty Oakley
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Connie Parker
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Walter Phillips
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Buck Suiter
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bill Taft
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
George W Taylor
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
David Womack
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jane Smith Patterson
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Rick Willetts
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Mary K Lawrence
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Susan Moffat-Thomas
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Mary C Watzin
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jon Segal
Board Member Emeriti
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Elizabeth Baird
President / Chief Executive Officer
- Total calculated
- $226,247
- From this org
- $198,055
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $28,192
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $198,055
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $25,420
- Nontaxable benefits
- $2,772
- Filer's total
- $226,247
-
Emily Bruce
Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Total calculated
- $118,326
- From this org
- $117,706
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $620
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Shana Barclay
Former Chief Finance Officer
- Total calculated
- $152,706
- From this org
- $152,516
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $190
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $152,516
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $190
- Filer's total
- $152,706
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Written employment contract
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
The Society provides support for various projects at the NC DNCR such as education programs, conservation efforts, personnel supplements, professional fees, workshops, etc.
-
The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc.
-
The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc.
-
The Society provides support for various projects at the Aquarium such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc.
-
$174,248
The Society provides support for various projects at the Pier such as new exhibits, education programs, conservation and sustainability efforts, etc.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2025v4.2
- Source object
- 202602169349301910
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