Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by OREGON COAST AQUARIUM INC.

Totals

Total revenue: $19,096,032
Total expenses: $12,632,564
Contributions and grants received: $8,298,085
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $9,377,762
Investment income: $650,344
Other revenue: $769,841
Total assets, end of year: $58,979,580
Total liabilities, end of year: $9,048,153
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $49,931,427
Program services expenses (Part IX): $9,542,391
Management and general expenses: $2,617,721
Fundraising expenses: $472,452
Program service expenses (Part III): $9,542,391

Program services were 75.5% 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

$765,822
1e · Government grants (contributions)

$3,933,346
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$3,598,917
1g · Noncash contributions included above

$82,116
2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

total $8,525,961 · related or exempt $8,525,961
2b · Program service revenue: GIFT SHOP RENT INCOME

total $825,210 · related or exempt $825,210
2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

total $26,591 · related or exempt $26,591
3 · Investment income

total $664,463 · excluded $664,463
6a · Gross rents

real property $34,544 · personal property $16,916
6b · Less rental expenses

real property $0 · personal property $0
6c · Rental income or loss

real property $34,544 · personal property $16,916
6d · Net rental income or loss

total $51,460 · excluded $51,460
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

other assets $14,119
7c · Gain or loss

other assets -$14,119
7d · Net gain or loss

total -$14,119 · excluded -$14,119
10a · Gross sales of inventory

$959,504
10b · Cost of goods sold

$307,077
10c · Net income from sales of inventory

total $652,427 · excluded $652,427
11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

total $65,954 · excluded $65,954
11e · Other revenue, total

$65,954

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $362,856 · program services $25,882 · management and general $311,092 · fundraising $25,882
6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

total $131,445 · program services $131,445
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $4,749,020 · program services $3,011,657 · management and general $1,510,017 · fundraising $227,346
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $84,945 · program services $51,445 · management and general $30,244 · fundraising $3,256
9 · Other employee benefits

total $798,048 · program services $450,549 · management and general $311,998 · fundraising $35,501
10 · Payroll taxes

total $490,672 · program services $297,744 · management and general $169,409 · fundraising $23,519
11b · Fees: legal

total $9,359 · management and general $9,359
11c · Fees: accounting

total $68,828 · management and general $68,828
11g · Fees: other

total $653,417 · program services $294,498 · management and general $320,274 · fundraising $38,645
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $249,483 · program services $248,814 · management and general $295 · fundraising $374
13 · Office expenses

total $303,867 · program services $69,786 · management and general $171,964 · fundraising $62,117
14 · Information technology

total $28,773 · management and general $28,773
16 · Occupancy

total $872,562 · program services $662,853 · management and general $201,100 · fundraising $8,609
17 · Travel

total $110,803 · program services $93,490 · management and general $15,743 · fundraising $1,570
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

total $33,731 · program services $27,955 · management and general $2,806 · fundraising $2,970
20 · Interest

total $273,215 · program services $210,376 · management and general $60,107 · fundraising $2,732
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $1,521,004 · program services $1,171,173 · management and general $334,621 · fundraising $15,210
23 · Insurance

total $213,622 · program services $164,489 · management and general $46,997 · fundraising $2,136
24a · Other expenses: OTHER SUPPLIES

total $1,069,951 · program services $892,232 · management and general $176,616 · fundraising $1,103
24b · Other expenses: BANK FEES

total $283,379 · program services $280,744 · management and general $2,635
24c · Other expenses: MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

total $221,166 · program services $95,534 · management and general $122,320 · fundraising $3,312
24d · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES

total $102,418 · program services $28,246 · management and general $73,320 · fundraising $852
24e · All other expenses

program services $1,333,479 · management and general -$1,350,797 · fundraising $17,318

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $485,961 · end of year $382,588
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $328,397 · end of year $4,886,593
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $2,357,779 · end of year $1,427,930
4 · Accounts receivable

beginning of year $90,890 · end of year $91,343
8 · Inventories for sale or use

beginning of year $23,920 · end of year $23,316
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $172,109 · end of year $403,794
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$69,960,045
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$34,096,028
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $27,179,368 · end of year $35,864,017
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $18,683,655 · end of year $14,534,667
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $1,392,955 · end of year $1,365,332
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $1,501,943 · end of year $3,539,243
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $13,361 · end of year $281,726
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $5,680,985 · end of year $5,014,613
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $253,488 · end of year $212,571
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $35,527,458 · end of year $43,000,649
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $7,737,799 · end of year $6,930,778

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE AQUARIUM'S MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST QUALITY AQUATIC AND MARINE SCIENCE PROGRAMS FOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDERSTANDS, CHERISHES, AND CONSERVES THE WORLD'S NATURAL MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE SCHEDULE O

MARINE LIFE EXHIBITIONS AND CARE - THE AQUARIUM MAINTAINS AND CARES FOR OVER 500 SPECIES OF ANIMALS IN STUNNING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS AT ITS 30-ACRE MARINE FACILITY. CURRENT EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE PASSAGES OF THE DEEP, SEALS & SEA LIONS, SEA OTTERS SEABIRD AVIARY, TURKEY VULTURES AND INDOOR GALLERIES. THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE AQUARIUM COMPLETED REMODELING ITS INDOOR GALLERIES: SANDY COAST, ROCKY COAST, AND CONNECTED COASTS. A NEW GALLERY, PACIFIC JELLIES, WAS ADDED. THE REMODEL INCLUDES ALL NEW INTERPRETATION INCLUDING STATIC SIGNS AND VIDEOS, AND SEVERAL NEW TANKS AND LIFE SUPPORT.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS WAS MOVED INTO ROCKY COAST TO PROVIDE HABITAT THAT BETTER ALIGNS WITH CURRENT HUSBANDRY BEST PRACTICES, AND BETTER VIEWING FOR GUESTS. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE CARE AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MARINE ANIMALS. THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, LIFE SUPPORT, REHABILITATION, ANIMAL COLLECTION, TRANSPORT, AND ALL DIVE PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AQUARIUM.

Expenses $6,077,484
VISITOR SERVICES AND MARKETING - THE AQUARIUM PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RELATED SERVICES TO VISITORS, STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, SCHOLARS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE AQUARIUM'S EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, THE AQUARIUM CONDUCTS BROADER EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT MARINE LIFE AND OREGON'S COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, AND PROMOTE THE AQUARIUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

Expenses $2,115,883 · Revenue $9,377,762
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - THE AQUARIUM OFFERS ONSITE, ONLINE AND OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND CAREER EXPLORATIONS. THE AQUARIUM PARTNERS WITH LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT (LCSD) ON AN OCEAN LITERACY INITIATIVE - POSTING TEACHER RESOURCES WITH GRADE-SPECIFIC LESSONS LINKED TO NATIONAL OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLES AND OREGON STATE STANDARDS. THE AQUARIUM HAS A YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT TRAINS SUMMER INTERPRETERS AND OFFERS WINTER PROJECTS. THE AQUARIUM, IN COLLABORATION WITH LCSD, CREATED A BILINGUAL PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT SERVES OUR GROWING LATINO COMMUNITY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.ON-SITE, THE AQUARIUM FACILITATES BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF ADDED-VALUE PROGRAMS SUCH AS NARRATED PELICAN PRESENTATIONS. FUNDED BY IMLS, THE AQUARIUM'S EDUCATORS USE ANIMAL "AMBASSADORS" TO TEACH VISITORS ABOUT COASTAL WILDLIFE, AND INSTILL EMPATHY TOWARD MISUNDERSTOOD SPECIES.

Expenses $1,349,024

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

DUSTIN CAPRI

BOARD CHAIR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
BRAND SCHLESINGER

BOARD FIRST VICE CHAIR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
SIGNE GRIMSTAD CPA

TREASURER (THRU 10/2023)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
GARETH OLDS

TREASURER (BEG. 1/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
JAY B FINEMAN

SECRETARY (THRU 4/2024)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
LAURA ANDERSON

BOARD MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
DR DANIEL E LEWER

BOARD MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
W BRENT DENHAM PE PMP

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
DR ROBERT COWEN

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
DANIELLE HART

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
NICHOLAS D LAUREN

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
BARRY MILLER

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
DR BIRGITTE RYSLINGE

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
GUY THOMPSON

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

2
CARRIE LEWIS

PRESIDENT & CEO

Total calculated

$256,150

From this org

$238,221

From related orgs

$0

Other

$17,929

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$238,221

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$9,529

Nontaxable benefits

$8,400

Filer's total

$256,150
GREG HOARD

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Total calculated

$79,499

From this org

$75,101

From related orgs

$0

Other

$4,398

Hours/week

40

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 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3: FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR SELECTS MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CEO FOR THE LAST YEAR AS WELL AS THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE. THEY RESEARCH COMPARABLE SALARIES LOCALLY AND WITH OTHER AZA AQUARIUMS. THE AQUARIUM CONDUCTED A COMPENSATION REVIEW OF ITS MANAGEMENT AND OTHER STAFF IN SEPTEMBER 2024 USING THREE MAIN SOURCES: THE 2023 AZA MEMBER COMPENSATION REPORT (AZA REPORT), THE 2024 NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION OF OREGON'S COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT REPORT, AND 2024 COMPARABLES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF NEWPORT. GATHERED FROM HR IS THE CURRENT PACKAGE IN PLACE ALONG WITH THE HISTORY. ALSO PROVIDED FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR IS THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR COMPENSATION. AFTER A REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE AQUARIUM AND DISCUSSION OF THE WORK LOAD THE CEO IS UNDER, CONSENSUS IS MADE ON A NEW PACKAGE WITH GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. THE CHAIR REVIEWS IN PERSON WITH THE CEO ON THESE GOALS AND COMPENSATION.

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.

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2023
Filed: 22 May 2025
IRS schema version: 2023v6.0
Source object: 202501429349300035

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