Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$54,645,914

Total expenses

$55,331,416

Contributions and grants received

$10,251,903

Grants paid

$209,142

Program service revenue

$35,140,767

Investment income

$2,372,904

Other revenue

$6,880,340

Total assets, end of year

$126,594,457

Total liabilities, end of year

$30,591,646

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$96,002,811

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$42,838,399

Management and general expenses

$8,463,757

Fundraising expenses

$4,029,260

Program service expenses (Part III)

$42,838,399

Program services were 77.4% 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.

Mission and programs · 2024

• EXHIBITION: THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IS A MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER 180 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING A PUBLIC AQUARIUM IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE MISSION OF THE AQUARIUM IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMITMENT TO MARINE ANIMAL CONSERVATION, LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY FOR A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN. IN ADDITION TO ITS EXHIBITS, THE AQUARIUM OPERATES THE SIMONS THEATRE, GIFT SHOP, ON-SITE DINING OUTLETS, CATERED EVENTS, AND PROGRAMMING IN MARINE RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND EDUCATION. THE AQUARIUM RELIES ON REVENUE FROM ADMISSIONS, RETAIL SALES, AND EVENTS; PRIVATE GIFTS AND GRANTS; AND FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR MOST OF ITS OPERATIONS. THESE REVENUES AND SUPPORT ARE PRIMARILY DERIVED FROM VISITORS AND DONORS FROM THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, THE NEW ENGLAND REGION, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS TO THE CITY.WELCOMING NEW ANIMALS, UNVEILING ENGAGING NEW EXHIBITS THAT INSPIRE VISITORS, CONDUCTING IMPACTFUL RESEARCH, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE OCEAN FROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL LEVELS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WAYS THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM CONTINUED TO PROTECT THE BLUE PLANET IN 2024.2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF EXHIBITS AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE:THE AQUARIUM OPENED "HEALTHY CORALS, HEALTHY REEFS," A 15-FOOT, NEARLY 5,000-GALLON EXHIBIT THAT IS HOME TO A VARIETY OF LIVE CORALS NATIVE TO THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION AND FEATURES SPECIES NEW TO THE AQUARIUM, SUCH AS WRASSES, SURGEONFISH, BUTTERFLYFISH, AND REEF-DWELLING INVERTEBRATES. THE AQUARIUM ALSO EXPANDED ACCESS TO ITS EXHIBITS THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON. IT JOINED FIVE OTHER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE CITY OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BPS) STUDENTS AND UP TO THREE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON THE FIRST TWO SUNDAYS OF EVERY MONTH THROUGHOUT 2024. IN TOTAL, 14,718 VISITORS CAME TO THE AQUARIUM THROUGH THIS BPS SUNDAYS PROGRAM.DURING MASSACHUSETTS' FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION WEEK, THE AQUARIUM CREATED A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR AQUARIUM VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN SUPPORT OF THE SEA TURTLE RESCUE ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION ACT (STRAA) AND COLLECTED 1,740 SIGNATURES TO SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. STRAA WOULD ESTABLISH A FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FACILITIES THAT RESCUE AND REHABILITATE SEA TURTLES ACROSS THE U.S., INCLUDING THE AQUARIUM'S SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL IN QUINCY, MA.ADDITIONALLY, THE AQUARIUM CELEBRATED WORLD OCEAN DAY IN JUNE WITH FREE, ALL-AGES ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING AROUND THE THEME OF "CONNECTING COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERING ACTIONS FOR OUR OCEAN." THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THE COALITION FOR A RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE WATERFRONT (CRIW), OF WHICH THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM IS A FOUNDING MEMBER, OFFERED A ROSTER OF WELLNESS ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THE AQUARIUM ALSO PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY WELLNESS INITIATIVES DURING THE YEAR. THE AQUARIUM'S LOWELL LECTURE SERIES HOSTED NINE SPEAKERS IN 2024, WHOSE TALKS COVERED A RANGE OF TOPICS ALIGNED WITH THE AQUARIUM'S MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES. THE LECTURES ARE PRESENTED FREE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE LOWELL INSTITUTE.

  Expenses $29,558,495 · Revenue $29,565,670

• SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ADVISING:IN 2024, THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM ('THE AQUARIUM") CONTINUED CONDUCTING APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCE RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ADVISING/MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS TO HELP DELIVER ON ITS MISSION TOWARD A VISION FOR A VITAL AND VIBRANT OCEAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MUCH OF THIS WAS EXECUTED BY THE AQUARIUM'S DEDICATED OCEAN SCIENCE RESEARCH DIVISION, THE ANDERSON CABOT CENTER FOR OCEAN LIFE (ANDERSON CABOT CENTER").SELECT 2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF ANDERSON CABOT CENTER:THE BLUESWELL PROGRAM, AN OCEAN INNOVATION START-UP INCUBATOR COMPLETED ITS FOURTH COHORT OF OCEAN TECH START-UPS, AND INITIATED ITS FIFTH COHORT, DURING 2024. AS CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER IN THIS PROGRAM, THE AQUARIUM (VIA TECHNICAL CONSULT FROM ANDERSON CABOT CENTER EXPERTS) GUIDES THESE TECH START-UPS IN ADOPTING OCEAN-FRIENDLY PRACTICES AND METRICS, AIDS IN THE DILIGENCE PROCESS, AND SERVES AS THE FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PROGRAM. UPSWELL, ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT THE AQUARIUM CO-FOUNDED, FOCUSED ON EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF ANGEL INVESTMENT IN BLUE TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE NEW JOBS, HOSTED A DISCUSSION ON COASTAL RESILIENCE FEATURING A PANEL OF EXPERTS AND PUBLISHED ITS THIRD WHITEPAPER, MARINE CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL: INVESTING IN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION TO BUILD A RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY.THE AQUARIUM'S MARINE CONSERVATION ACTION FUND (MCAF) CELEBRATED 25 YEARS OF SUPPORTING LOCALLY-LED OCEAN CONSERVATION ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN 2024, MCAF AWARDED OVER $240,000 TO 27 PROJECTS IN 17 COUNTRIES SPEARHEADED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE PROJECTS INVOLVED COLLECTING CRITICAL DATA ON IMPERILED OCEAN SPECIES, PROMOTING LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS-LED MARINE MANAGEMENT, FOSTERING CAPACITY SHARING WITH COMMUNITIES, AND SPONSORING OCEAN LEADERS' PARTICIPATION AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. IN 2024, ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED BOAT-BASED RESEARCH OVER THREE MONTHS TO SURVEY THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE. THE TEAM SIGHTED 62 OF THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 372 INDIVIDUALS, COLLECTED 23 BLOW SAMPLES, AND THREE FECAL SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS. THEY ALSO REMOVED 19 SETS OF LOST, ABANDONED, OR DISCARDED FISHING GEAR AN ESSENTIAL PART OF PREVENTING FUTURE ENTANGLEMENTS. DURING FIELDWORK IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE AS WELL AS IN CAPE COD BAY, ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS DEPLOYED THE LATEST DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO STUDY RIGHT WHALES. THE DRONE OFFERS A NON-INVASIVE METHOD TO GATHER SAMPLES OF BLOW AND IS USED FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRY MEASUREMENTS THAT ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH STATUS OF INDIVIDUAL WHALES AND THE POPULATION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND INFORMATION TO GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY DECISIONMAKERS. ANDERSON CABOT CENTER RESEARCHERS ALSO CONTINUED CONDUCTING FIELDWORK NEEDED TO INFORM CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT. IN 2024, THEY TAGGED MORE THAN 250 SHARKS, TUNAS, AND FISHES (18 TOTAL SPECIES) OVER 120 DAYS AND 4,860 VESSEL HOURS IN LOCATIONS RANGING FROM CAPE COD BAY TO NORTH CAROLINA TO PUERTO RICO. THEY ALSO FLEW AERIAL SURVEYS TOTALING 600 HOURS IN THE NEW ENGLAND REGION TO DOCUMENT THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE MAMMALS AND TURTLES, IDENTIFYING OVER 140 UNIQUE RIGHT WHALES. EXPERTS ACROSS THE AQUARIUM, MANY OF WHOM ARE IN THE ANDERSON CABOT CENTER, PUBLISHED 28 TOTAL PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS/BOOK CHAPTERS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS/BOOK VOLUMES IN 2024, WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH FELLOWS AND PROJECT LEADERS FROM THE MCAF PROGRAM.

  Expenses $6,854,144 · Grants $209,142 · Revenue $6,766,029

• 2024 NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEA TURTLE PROGRAMS:THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM HAS TWO DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS WITH SEA TURTLES: WE RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST SEA TURTLE RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AND WE ARE PART OF A FIRST-RESPONDER NETWORK FOR LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES THAT GET ENTANGLED IN FISHING LINES. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS HELP MAINTAIN SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS AND PRODUCE RESEARCH. THE AQUARIUM'S SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL IN QUINCY, MA TREATED 518 RESCUED SEA TURTLES RECOVERED FROM BEACHES ALONG CAPE COD BAY DURING THE 2024 COLD STUN STRANDING SEASON. IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTERING TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLES (TOTAL OF 417), OUR SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL TREATED THREATENED LOGGERHEAD (62) AND GREEN (39) TURTLES SUFFERING FROM LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PNEUMONIA, SEPSIS AND DEHYDRATION. THE HOSPITAL CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER NEW POPULATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AS THESE CONTINUE TO SHOW RESULTS THAT ARE AS GOOD AS, IF NOT BETTER THAN, PRE-PANDEMIC SURVIVAL RATES. THESE ALLOW FOR THE TEAM TO EFFICIENTLY STABILIZE TURTLES BEFORE TRANSPORTING THE MOST STABLE TO SECONDARY FACILITIES WHERE THEY CONTINUE THEIR REHAB PROCESS OR CAN BE RELEASED BACK INTO WARMER WATERS. WE MAINTAINED 82 OF THE MOST CRITICALLY ILL TURTLES FOR FULL REHABILITATION AT OUR HOSPITAL. LAST YEAR, WE REPORTED A PILOT STUDY ON ACOUSTIC IMPLANTS IN SEVERAL OF OUR REHABILITATED COLD-STUNNED LOGGERHEADS. IN 2023, THE PAPER WAS ACCEPTED AND PUBLISHED. HERE IS THE CITATION: INNIS, C.J., KENNEDY, A., KNEEBONE, J. ET AL. A PILOT STUDY ON SURGICAL IMPLANTATION AND EFFICACY OF ACOUSTIC TRANSMITTERS IN FIFTEEN LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA), 2021/2022. ANIM BIOTELEMETRY 11, 37 (2023). HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1186/S40317-023-00349-8. THROUGHOUT 2024, THE TAGS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, AND WE CONTINUED TO GET REGULAR HITS ON SEVERAL ACOUSTIC ARRAYS OF VARIOUS TURTLES. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK ON ENDANGERED LEATHERBACK TURTLES ENTANGLED IN FISHING GEAR. WE TYPICALLY EVALUATE, DISENTANGLE, AND OUTFIT THE TURTLES WITH ELECTRONIC TAGS THAT ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO ASSESS SURVIVORSHIP OVER THE 30 DAYS AFTER DISENTANGLEMENT, AND TRACK MIGRATION PATTERNS.

  Expenses $4,283,840 · Revenue $4,285,621

• WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT BOSTON HARBOR CITY CRUISES ("BHCC") TO OFFER THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM WHALE WATCH, OPERATED BY BHCC. THIS COMBINED EFFORT GENERATED INCREASED WHALE WATCH ATTENDANCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE REACH OF OUR WHALE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OVERALL.TOTAL OTHER COSTS REPRESENT THE REMAINING PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PER PART IX THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION. TOTAL OTHER REVENUE REPRESENTS PROGRAMATIC CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME PER PART VIII THAT WERE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXHIBITION, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION.

  Expenses $2,141,920 · Revenue $1,403,787

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM MARINE LIFE CENTER INC

  501(C)(3) · ESTABLISH & MAINTAIN A CTR FOR THE RESCUE, TREATMENT & REHAB OF MARINE ANIM · MA

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

14 October 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202522959349301972

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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