Nonprofit · EIN 06-1480300
SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
Tax-exempt · MYSTIC, CT 06355
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $34,034,517 | $32,374,947 | $1,659,570 | $60,456,324 | $10,972,910 | $49,483,414 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $31,819,627 | $32,042,657 | -$223,030 | $58,464,309 | $11,529,580 | $46,934,729 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $32,556,466 | $29,598,065 | $2,958,401 | $59,553,462 | $12,546,235 | $47,007,227 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $8,058,586
- of which government grants
- $4,812,628
- Program service revenue
- $24,596,598
- Investment income
- $1,431,024
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $755,397
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$94,814
- Other revenue
- -$51,691
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $77,502
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $956,831
- Other salaries and wages
- $13,692,789
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $17,393,221
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $258,251
- Occupancy
- $1,852,133
- Travel
- $198,690
- Depreciation
- $3,388,740
- Program services (functional)
- $25,699,067
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,891,942
- Fundraising (functional)
- $2,783,938
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $58,464,309
- Total assets, end of year
- $60,456,324
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,972,910
- Net assets, end of year
- $49,483,414
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $37,377,730
- Publicly traded securities
- $18,477,785
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $47,653,331
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,830,083
- Gross unrelated business income
- $13,120
- Gross receipts
- $66,312,714
- Employees
- 345
- Volunteers
- 1,180
- Year formed
- 1977
- State of legal domicile
- CT
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSETTE TIBUS | PRESIDENT/ CEO Officer | 40 | $548,466 | $9,565 |
| KORAY GURZ | COO/CFO Officer | 40 | $378,961 | $38,052 |
| ALLISON TUTTLE | SVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $334,449 | $16,002 |
| TINA COUCH | VP DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $339,487 | $3,796 |
| KEITH SORENSEN | SR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $226,518 | $25,776 |
| ERIC ANDERSON | DIR. OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $201,260 | $29,341 |
| JUSTIN SOREL | VP FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $195,492 | $30,165 |
| ALEX MARKU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANTONIO ROBERTO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CECILIE JEDLICKA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID FREEMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR GEORGE M MILNE JR | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DR SARAH KELLY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ED CASSIDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON REESE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
15 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN HOLSTEIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JOLI GROSS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LECH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PATRICK GREEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PAUL ROBERTSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PETER G DRAKOS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PETER KUHN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RICHARD KATZ | BOARD MEMBER (OUTGOING) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERT VALENTI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERT WILLIAMS JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RODNEY BUTLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVE K PERRELLI | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| THOMAS MARRA | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| VERONICA DOWLING | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WILLIAM MIDDLETON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 33 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSETTE TIBUS | PRESIDENT/ CEO Officer | 40 | $549,016 | $5,993 |
| KORAY GURZ | COO/CFO Officer | 40 | $285,274 | $48,549 |
| KATRINA S CUBINA | SR VP MISSION PROGRAM (UNTIL 05/2024) Highest-paid employee | 40 | $235,350 | $34,357 |
| ALLISON TUTTLE | SVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $242,337 | $16,135 |
| TINA COUCH | VP DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $247,501 | $5,766 |
| KEITH SORENSEN | SR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $166,089 | $30,327 |
| ERIC ANDERSON | DIR. OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $162,486 | $33,697 |
| ALEX MARKU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANTONIO ROBERTO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CECILIE JEDLICKA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID FREEMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR GEORGE M MILNE JR | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DR SARAH KELLY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ED CASSIDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON REESE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN HOLSTEIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOLI GROSS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LECH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL RAUH | BOARD MEMBER (UNTIL 07/2024) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK GREEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL ROBERTSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER G DRAKOS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER KUHN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD KATZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT VALENTI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT WILLIAMS JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RODNEY BUTLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE K PERRELLI | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TAN HEE TECK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS MARRA | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM MOSEY | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VERONICA DOWLING | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM MIDDLETON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 32 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN M COAN | FORMER PRESIDENT, CEO Former | 40 | $454,128 | $0 |
| SUSETTE TIBUS | PRESIDENT/ CEO Officer | 40 | $328,685 | $1,947 |
| KORAY GURZ | COO/CFO Officer | 40 | $278,842 | $47,525 |
| ALLISON TUTTLE | SVP, ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $242,351 | $15,823 |
| KATRINA S CUBINA | SENIOR VP, MISSION PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $207,116 | $37,287 |
| TINA COUCH | VP DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $228,119 | $6,584 |
| ERIC ANDERSON | DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $175,966 | $30,656 |
| KEITH SORENSEN | SR VP OF FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $167,723 | $26,520 |
| ALEX MARKU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANTONIO ROBERTO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CECILIE JEDLICKA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR GEORGE M MILNE JR | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| DR SARAH KELLY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ED CASSIDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE KIRBY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON REESE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN HOLSTEIN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LECH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL RAUH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK GREEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL ROBERTSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER B BARR PHD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER G DRAKOS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD KATZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT WILLIAMS JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RODNEY BUTLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE K PERRELLI | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TAN HEE TECK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS MARRA | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIMOTHY J KANE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM MOSEY | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VERONICA DOWLING | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 55 COOGAN BLVD, MYSTIC, CT 06355-1927
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- KORAY GURZ, 55 COOGAN BLVD, MYSTIC, CT 06355
- Signed the 990
- KORAY GURZ, CFO
- Phone
- (860) 572-5955
- Website
- WWW.MYSTICAQUARIUM.ORG
- Return prepared by
- COHNREZNICK ADVISORY LLC
Mission
PROTECT AQUATIC LIFE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO SAVE OUR OCEANS. .
Program accomplishments
- THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES AN AQUARIUM WHICH IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROGRAMS INCLUDE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND REHABILITATION FOR MARINE MAMMALS, PENGUINS, FISHES AND AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES. DURING 2025 THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 742,000 VISITORS THAT CAME TO THE AQUARIUM.Expenses $17,546,494 · revenue $18,801,666
- THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS AT THE AQUARIUM, AND THROUGH TRAVELING TEACHERS' PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS AND THEIR SCHOOLS. DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025 APPROXIMATELY 106,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS.Expenses $5,472,258 · grants $77,502 · revenue $1,722,273
- OTHER VISITOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTING EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND LEARNING ABOUT OUR OCEAN PLANET.Expenses $2,680,315 · revenue $4,102,662
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 06-1480300
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1997
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $60,456,324
- Income (IRS master file)
- $66,312,714
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $34,034,517 | $32,374,947 | $60,456,324 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $31,819,627 | $32,042,657 | $58,464,309 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $32,556,466 | $29,598,065 | $59,553,462 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $32,599,649 | $29,857,481 | $54,777,845 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 06-1480300).
Questions about SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
- What is the EIN of SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC is 06-1480300.
- Is SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.
- Are donations to SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KORAY GURZ.
- Who are the officers and directors of SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 30 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $548,466 (SUSETTE TIBUS, PRESIDENT/ CEO).
- How much revenue does SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $34,034,517, expenses of $32,374,947 and total assets of $60,456,324 at year end.
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