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SEATTLE AQUARIUM SOCIETY-SEAS

EIN 91-1189249 SEATTLE, WA

Revenue 2024
$54,098,416
Expenses 2024
$34,291,394

Program services were 77.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
D115
Classification
1000
Street
1483 ALASKAN WAY PIER 59

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OUR MISSION IS INSPIRING CONSERVATION OF OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

  • THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM IS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION WORKING TO REGENERATE THE HEALTH OF EARTH'S ONE OCEAN. WE ADVANCE ANIMAL WELL-BEING, MARINE AND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE, PUBLIC POLICY, FIELD CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND SPECIES RECOVERY THAT BENEFITS THE OCEAN AND ITS INHABITANTS. WE THOUGHTFULLY BRING THE OCEAN TO LIFE FOR THE PUBLIC WITH EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE AWE, EMPATHY, AND CONSERVATION ACTION. WE MANAGE FIVE FACILITIES AND WELCOMED OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2024, PLUS MANY MORE PEOPLE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING OUTSIDE OF OUR CAMPUS. OUR WORK SUPPORTS A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR MARINE LIFE, PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).THE AQUARIUM OPENED ON MAY 20, 1977. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CITY AND THE REGION, PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. IN 2024, THE AQUARIUM'S HISTORIC OCEAN PAVILION EXPANSION OPENED, PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW ONE OCEAN UNITES US, FROM THE SALISH SEA TO THE CORAL TRIANGLE. SEATTLE AQUARIUM BY THE NUMBERS FOR 2024:- 59,150 TICKETS FOR FREE AQUARIUM ADMISSION DISTRIBUTED- 123,000 HOURS OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY 1,092 VOLUNTEERS- 1,059 DIVER PRESENTATIONS PROVIDED TO GUESTS- 5,160 INTERPRETIVE TALKS AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS- 697 HOURS OF ENGAGING ACTIVITIES OFFERED VIA OUR "WONDER CARTS"- 24 FEDERAL LETTERS WRITTEN AND/OR SIGNED BY OUR POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM- 8 STATE COMMENT LETTERS/STATEMENTS WRITTEN AND/OR SIGNED BY OUR POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM- 20,000+ MAMMALS, FISH, INVERTEBRATES, CORALS AND PLANTS RECEIVING EXPERT CARE ACROSS OUR EXPANDED CAMPUSNOTEWORTHY PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITY FOR 2024:OCEAN PAVILION OPENS: THE AQUARIUM'S OCEAN PAVILION EXPANSION OPENED ON AUGUST 29, 2024, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF THE AQUARIUM'S CAMPUS AND BROADENING THE REACH OF OUR IMPACT. THE OCEAN PAVILION FEATURES THREE IMMERSIVE HABITATS SHOWCASING THE EXTRAORDINARY BIODIVERSITY OF THE CORAL TRIANGLE AND, ALONG WITH OUR LOCAL HABITATS AT PIERS 59 AND 60, EMPHASIZING THAT EARTH HAS ONE CONNECTED OCEAN. CURRENTLY THE OCEAN PAVILION IS HOME TO ALMOST 200 DIFFERENT SPECIES AND OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS. SAFE HOMES FOR A SPECIES FACING EXTINCTION: WE WORKED WITH CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO CARE FOR NINE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BOWMOUTH GUITARFISH PUPS, TRANSFERRING EIGHT TO OTHER U.S. AQUARIUMS AND PROVIDING A HOME IN THE OCEAN PAVILION FOR ONE AS AN AMBASSADOR. THE BOWMOUTH GUITARFISH IN OUR CARE, RHINA, MOVED INTO OUR LARGEST OCEAN PAVILION HABITAT IN SEPTEMBER 2024. PARTNERING TO RECOVER ENDANGERED PINTO ABALONE: THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM'S PINTO ABALONE RECOVERY WORK EVOLVED FURTHER IN 2024. FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE TOOK ON TWO NEW SITES TO OUTPLANT INDEPENDENTLY FROM OUR WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PUGET SOUND RESTORATION FUND PARTNERS TO EFFECTIVELY EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS. MEMBERS OF OUR ANIMAL CARE TEAM RELEASED 1,266 ABALONE THAT WERE RAISED IN OUR ANIMAL CARE CENTER, AND AN ADDITIONAL 2,224 ANIMALS WERE RELEASED AT PREVIOUSLY EXISTING SITES.PARTNERING ON THE GLOBAL STAGE TO RESTORE AN ENDANGERED SHARK SPECIES: THE STEGOSTOMA TIGRINUM AUGMENTATION AND RECOVERY (STAR) PROJECT MADE FURTHER ADVANCES IN 2024, RELEASING 18 INDO-PACIFIC LEOPARD SHARKS TO THE WILD. THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM CARES FOR INDO-PACIFIC LEOPARD SHARKS BOTH AS AMBASSADORS AND AS BREEDING COHORTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RECOVERY OF WILD POPULATIONS. THIRTY-SIX EGGS CAME THROUGH THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM EN ROUTE TO INDONESIA IN 2024 WITH PLANS TO REAR THE PUPS AND RELEASE THEM INTO PROTECTED WATERS. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: IN THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OUR POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM SIGNED IN ON THE RECORD IN 33 HEARINGS WITH OUR SUPPORTIVE POSITION ON 18 DIFFERENT BILLS. WE WORKED WITH OUR YOUTH OCEAN ADVOCATES (HIGH SCHOOL MARINE SCIENCE VOLUNTEERS) TO PASS A BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO DECLARE BULL KELP FORESTS THE OFFICIAL MARINE FOREST OF WASHINGTON, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THEIR IMPORTANCE AND THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION. AN AQUARIUM FOR ALL: WE CONTINUED HOSTING OUR COMMUNITY DAYS SERIES, CELEBRATING DIVERSE CULTURES AND ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF GUESTS. EVENTS INCLUDED ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY DAY, VAMOS AL ACUARIO!, QUEER COMMUNITY DAY, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES COMMUNITY DAY, AND EID CELEBRATIONS.CORAL CONSERVATION CONTEST: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR CORAL CONSERVATION CONTEST. OVER 300 STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED CREATIVE PROJECTS THAT REACHED OVER 8,000 PEOPLE.BEACH NATURALIST AND CEDAR RIVER SALMON JOURNEY PROGRAMS: OUR BEACH NATURALISTS ENGAGED PEOPLE AT 11 LOCAL BEACHES ON 22 LOW-TIDE DAYS FROM JUNE THROUGH EARLY AUGUST AND ON TWO EVENING BEACH EXPLORATIONS DURING WINTER MONTHS IN 2024. OUR CEDAR RIVER SALMON JOURNEY NATURALISTS ENGAGED VISITORS AT BALLARD LOCKS AND AT SALMON VIEWING STATIONS ALONG THE CEDAR RIVER.SUMMER CAMP AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: OUR MARINE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM HAD 316 PARTICIPANTS, AND ON-SITE SCHOOL PROGRAMS HOSTED 28,741 STUDENTS AND CHAPERONES, APPROXIMATELY HALF THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS.CONSERVATION RESEARCH: WE COMPLETED OUR 25TH YEAR OF SEA OTTER CONSERVATION RESEARCH, INCLUDING OUR 15TH YEAR OF SEA OTTER FORAGING RESEARCH. WE ALSO COMPLETED OUR 20TH YEAR OF ROCKY REEF RESEARCH IN THE SALISH SEA, CONDUCTING 16 DIVE SURVEYS ACROSS 12 SITES. OUR URBAN KELP RESEARCH PROJECT WITH THE PORT OF SEATTLE CONTINUED, ALONG WITH ANOTHER PROJECT THAT ALSO USES REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH AND POPULATION STATUS OF KELP, INVERTEBRATES, AND FISHES IN COASTAL WASHINGTON. WE ALSO COMPLETED OUR 16TH YEAR OF HAWAII REEF RESEARCH OFF THE WEST COAST OF THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII, CONDUCTING SURVEYS ACROSS EIGHT SITES.WE HOSTED THE 20TH YEAR OF THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC SHARK SYMPOSIUM (NEPSS) WITH OVER 60 TALKS IN THREE DAYS AND OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS FROM CANADA, THE U.S. AND MEXICO. THIS IS THE LARGEST SHARK RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION MEETING HELD REGULARLY IN THE WEST COAST OF THE AMERICAS. LIGHTNING TALKS EVENTS: FOUR VIRTUAL LIGHTNING TALKS EVENTS ATTRACTED GLOBAL AUDIENCES TO LEARN ABOUT TOPICS LIKE SALMON, RAYS AND THE CORAL TRIANGLE. OCEAN CONSERVATION HONORS AWARDS: WE RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN MARINE CONSERVATION WITH OUR SYLVIA EARLE MEDAL AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH AWARD.

    Expenses $26,639,788 · Grants $174,869 · Revenue $25,136,404

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • MICHAEL GUIDON

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MELISSA MAGER

    IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • KARISSA A MARKER

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • ERIN J LETEY

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MIKE ANDERSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • KEVIN L BLAIR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • ANDREW BLEIMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • JOHN R BRADEN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • FA'IZAH BRADFORD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • DUNCAN BUTCHER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • EDDIE CHANG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • BILL CHAPIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • KELLY CHAPMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • CARY CLARK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • BAIONNE COLEMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • AP DIAZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • PATTI DILL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • BOB C DONEGAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • WILLIAM T EINSTEIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • SUSAN L GATES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • PHILIP M GUESS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • JAMES C GURKE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • DAN M GUY III

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • JANET HABERBUSH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • JOY HOLLINGSWORTH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $54,098,416
    Expenses
    $34,291,394
    Contributions
    $26,278,425
    Grants paid
    $174,869
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $53,341,342
    Expenses
    $30,313,177
    Contributions
    $31,069,618
    Grants paid
    $61,036
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $45,089,878
    Expenses
    $24,318,050
    Contributions
    $25,794,781
    Grants paid
    $149,579

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $40,153,392
    Expenses
    $17,812,498
    Assets (EOY)
    $62,591,830

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $21,125,199
    Expenses
    $14,793,362
    Assets (EOY)
    $37,450,091

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $31,831,567
    Expenses
    $18,932,478
    Assets (EOY)
    $30,764,155

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $24,866,548
    Expenses
    $19,366,328
    Assets (EOY)
    $17,357,178

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $19,338,489
    Expenses
    $16,861,772
    Assets (EOY)
    $12,323,764

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,310,915
    Expenses
    $16,757,036
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,761,646

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $15,227,924
    Expenses
    $14,688,610
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,695,496

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,554,699
    Expenses
    $12,937,607
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,958,437

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,467,857
    Expenses
    $13,003,625
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,453,110

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $12,764,307
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,804,302

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.