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Nonprofiteer
← NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$54,351,794
Total expenses
$60,539,359
Contributions and grants received
$16,060,531
Grants paid
$50,604
Program service revenue
$34,452,003
Investment income
$350,237
Other revenue
$3,489,023
Total assets, end of year
$92,109,787
Total liabilities, end of year
$36,113,864
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$55,995,923
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$42,069,955
Management and general expenses
$11,664,247
Fundraising expenses
$6,805,157
Program service expenses (Part III)
$42,069,955

Program services were 69.5% 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

    $5,778,473

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $1,425,978

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $5,083,677

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,772,403

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $244,744

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

    total $29,488,093 · related or exempt $29,488,093

  • 2b · Program service revenue: CONSIGNMENT

    total $1,078,880 · related or exempt $1,078,880

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SCHOOL GROUPS

    total $1,040,982 · related or exempt $1,040,982

  • 2d · Program service revenue: IMMERSION TOURS

    total $797,716 · related or exempt $797,716

  • 2e · Program service revenue: 4D

    total $661,641 · related or exempt $661,641

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $1,384,691 · related or exempt $914,265 · unrelated business $470,426

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $428,647 · excluded $428,647

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    other assets $78,410

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    other assets -$78,410

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$78,410 · excluded -$78,410

  • 11a · Other revenue: COMMISSION-GIFT SHOP

    total $2,234,704 · excluded $2,234,704

  • 11b · Other revenue: FOOD SERVICE

    total $769,716 · excluded $769,716

  • 11c · Other revenue: PHOTOS

    total $301,062 · related or exempt $301,062

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $183,541 · excluded $183,541

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $3,489,023

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $6,512 · program services $6,512

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $44,092 · program services $44,092

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,547,508 · program services $1,751,647 · management and general $412,602 · fundraising $383,259

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $19,791,899 · program services $14,609,489 · management and general $1,979,819 · fundraising $3,202,591

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $523,954 · program services $125,559 · management and general $343,797 · fundraising $54,598

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,862,518 · program services $1,323,208 · management and general $230,610 · fundraising $308,700

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,549,498 · program services $371,318 · management and general $1,016,716 · fundraising $161,464

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $283,652 · program services $79,218 · management and general $101,929 · fundraising $102,505

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $117,584 · program services $32,839 · management and general $42,253 · fundraising $42,492

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $66,900 · management and general $66,900

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $624,821 · fundraising $624,821

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $7,220,627 · program services $5,992,990 · management and general $966,659 · fundraising $260,978

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $4,274,225 · program services $63,103 · management and general $4,186,328 · fundraising $24,794

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $553,044 · program services $391,287 · management and general $122,277 · fundraising $39,480

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $4,198,573 · program services $3,990,830 · management and general $45,349 · fundraising $162,394

  • 17 · Travel

    total $601,580 · program services $509,997 · management and general $47,265 · fundraising $44,318

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $126,577 · program services $93,377 · management and general $21,796 · fundraising $11,404

  • 20 · Interest

    total $762,683 · program services $4,953 · management and general $757,199 · fundraising $531

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $9,294,880 · program services $7,831,020 · management and general $640,438 · fundraising $823,422

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $919,832 · program services $767,871 · management and general $64,643 · fundraising $87,318

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES

    total $2,185,847 · program services $2,115,965 · management and general $67,550 · fundraising $2,332

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $1,329,074 · program services $895,612 · management and general $239,985 · fundraising $193,477

  • 24c · Other expenses: BANK & CREDIT CARD FEES

    total $945,429 · program services $795,003 · management and general $66,638 · fundraising $83,788

  • 24d · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSE

    total $591,906 · program services $260,109 · management and general $142,510 · fundraising $189,287

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $116,144 · program services $13,956 · management and general $100,984 · fundraising $1,204

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $3,205,666 · end of year $2,138,013

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $10,782,894 · end of year $8,954,541

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,324,167 · end of year $2,096,473

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,094,343 · end of year $915,506

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,214,680 · end of year $836,886

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $260,220,948

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $188,152,483

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $76,868,900 · end of year $72,068,465

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $6,003,218 · end of year $5,099,903

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $3,878,630 · end of year $4,363,048

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $4,108,357 · end of year $3,794,063

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $23,624,836 · end of year $21,374,784

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $7,138,648 · end of year $6,581,969

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $59,671,273 · end of year $53,119,843

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,072,124 · end of year $2,876,080

Listed in Part VII

  • ADAM BORDEN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • VICTOR ABIAMIRI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TODD CHESTER THRU 3125

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CELINE COUSTEAU

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID DARDIS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDER

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JACK DWYER

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • NANCY GRASMICK

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHRIS GRIFFITH

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KATHRYN MATTHEWS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ROBERT MATTHEWS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MAGGIE MCINTOSH

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MERRIE MOWEN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • ROY PRATHER III

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JENNIFER REYNOLDS

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ENRIC SALA

    BOARD MEMBER (THRU 3/1/25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAYSON WILLIAMS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARC WYATT

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CHUCK TILDON

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MARC BUNTING

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CAROLYN HOWELL

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SAM O'NEIL

    BOARD MEMBER (THRU 5/1/25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SAMEER SIDH

    BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/1/25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARK WASSERMAN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KERRY WATSON

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN RACANELLI

    PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/28/25)

    Total calculated
    $677,165
    From this org
    $464,429
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $212,736
    Hours/week
    34 + 6 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $427,722
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $36,707
    Deferred
    $167,250
    Nontaxable benefits
    $45,486
    Filer's total
    $677,165

  • VIRGINIA Y NEWTON

    SVP, COO/CFO

    Total calculated
    $377,622
    From this org
    $348,076
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,546
    Hours/week
    39 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $347,362
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $714
    Deferred
    $9,577
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,969
    Filer's total
    $377,622

  • JENNIFER DRIBAN

    SVP/CMO/INTERIM CEO

    Total calculated
    $357,231
    From this org
    $317,008
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,223
    Hours/week
    34 + 6 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $316,842
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $166
    Deferred
    $8,241
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,982
    Filer's total
    $357,231

  • MARGOT AMELIA

    SVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $299,640
    From this org
    $278,628
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,012
    Hours/week
    39 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $276,518
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,110
    Deferred
    $6,432
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,580
    Filer's total
    $299,640

  • SCOTT MELTON

    SVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $264,973
    From this org
    $252,068
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,905
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,902
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $166
    Deferred
    $8,520
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,385
    Filer's total
    $264,973

  • ALISON DINGER

    VP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION

    Total calculated
    $195,993
    From this org
    $161,819
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,174
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,618
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $201
    Deferred
    $5,985
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,189
    Filer's total
    $195,993

  • KRISTEN ROSENBERGER

    VP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS

    Total calculated
    $171,954
    From this org
    $164,729
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,225
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $164,615
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $114
    Deferred
    $5,636
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,589
    Filer's total
    $171,954

  • LAUREN NGUYEN

    VP OF FINANCE AND CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $182,317
    From this org
    $162,840
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,477
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $162,734
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $106
    Deferred
    $5,642
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,835
    Filer's total
    $182,317

  • SEAN BEATTIE

    VP OF PHILANTHROPY

    Total calculated
    $167,175
    From this org
    $150,951
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,224
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,685
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $266
    Deferred
    $5,404
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,820
    Filer's total
    $167,175

  • KIMBERLY LACOMARE

    VP OF COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $157,377
    From this org
    $149,765
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,612
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,511
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $254
    Deferred
    $5,241
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,371
    Filer's total
    $157,377

  • STEPHANIE ALLARD

    FORMER SVP/CHIEF ANIMAL WELFARE OFF

    Total calculated
    $122,908
    From this org
    $107,566
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,342
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $107,566
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,245
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,097
    Filer's total
    $122,908

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 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 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, LINES 4A-B
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, JOHN RACANELLI PARTICIPATES IN A 457(F) NONQUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN. DURING THE TAX YEAR, $155,000 WAS SET ASIDE AS A CONTRIBUTION TO HIS SECTION 457(F) ACCOUNT. JOHN RACANELLI ALSO RETIRED IN 2025. GIVEN HIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, HE WAS PAID THROUGH THE END OF HIS CONTRACT AFTER TERMINATION. JOHN RACANELLI RECEIVED A SEPARATION PACKAGE FROM THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM, INC. THAT WAS WITHIN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONFIDENTIAL AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE IRS UPON REQUEST. AMOUNTS PAID DURING THE CURRENT PERIOD ARE PROPERLY REFLECTED ON THE EMPLOYEES W-2 AND DISCLOSED IN COLUMN B(III) ON SCHEDULE J, PART II.

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • NANI LLC

    REAL ESTATE HOLDING · MD · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

  • 2328 CEDLEY STREET LLC

    REAL ESTATE HOLDING · MD · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202602609349301125

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