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Nonprofit · EIN 52-1121163

NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

Tax-exempt · BALTIMORE, MD 21202

Financials

$55.6M$54.1M2023$74.4M$76.2M2024$54.4M$60.5M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$54,351,794$60,539,359-$6,187,565$92,109,787$36,113,864$55,995,923
December 31, 2024990$74,375,786$76,249,119-$1,873,333$101,493,868$38,750,471$62,743,397
December 31, 2023990$55,641,673$54,083,927$1,557,746$108,867,004$44,435,304$64,431,700
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$16,060,531
of which government grants
$5,083,677
Membership dues
$5,778,473
Program service revenue
$34,452,003
Investment income
$350,237
Net gain from sales of assets
-$78,410
Other revenue
$3,489,023

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$50,604
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$2,547,508
Other salaries and wages
$19,791,899
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$26,275,377
Professional fundraising fees
$624,821
Legal fees
$283,652
Accounting fees
$117,584
Occupancy
$4,198,573
Travel
$601,580
Depreciation
$9,294,880
Program services (functional)
$42,069,955
Management and general (functional)
$11,664,247
Fundraising (functional)
$6,805,157

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$101,493,868
Total assets, end of year
$92,109,787
Total liabilities, end of year
$36,113,864
Net assets, end of year
$55,995,923
Land, buildings and equipment
$72,068,465
Net assets without donor restrictions
$53,119,843
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,876,080
Gross unrelated business income
$470,426
Gross receipts
$54,430,204
Employees
412
Volunteers
3,058
Year formed
1976
State of legal domicile
MD

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOHN RACANELLIPRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/28/25)
Officer
34$464,429$212,736
VIRGINIA Y NEWTONSVP, COO/CFO
Officer
39$348,076$29,546
JENNIFER DRIBANSVP/CMO/INTERIM CEO
Officer
34$317,008$40,223
MARGOT AMELIASVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Key employee
39$278,628$21,012
SCOTT MELTONSVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER
Key employee
40$252,068$12,905
ALISON DINGERVP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION
Highest-paid employee
40$161,819$34,174
LAUREN NGUYENVP OF FINANCE AND CONTROLLER
Highest-paid employee
40$162,840$19,477
KRISTEN ROSENBERGERVP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Highest-paid employee
40$164,729$7,225
SEAN BEATTIEVP OF PHILANTHROPY
Highest-paid employee
40$150,951$16,224
KIMBERLY LACOMAREVP OF COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$149,765$7,612
STEPHANIE ALLARDFORMER SVP/CHIEF ANIMAL WELFARE OFF
Former
40$107,566$15,342
ADAM BORDENBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
VICTOR ABIAMIRIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TODD CHESTER THRU 3125BOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CELINE COUSTEAUBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
21 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DAVID DARDISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JACK DWYERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NANCY GRASMICKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
CHRIS GRIFFITHTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
KATHRYN MATTHEWSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
ROBERT MATTHEWSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MAGGIE MCINTOSHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MERRIE MOWENBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
ROY PRATHER IIISECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
JENNIFER REYNOLDSVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
ENRIC SALABOARD MEMBER (THRU 3/1/25)
Trustee or director
1$0
JAYSON WILLIAMSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARC WYATTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
CHUCK TILDONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
MARC BUNTINGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
CAROLYN HOWELLBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SAM O'NEILBOARD MEMBER (THRU 5/1/25)
Trustee or director
1$0
SAMEER SIDHBOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/1/25)
Trustee or director
1$0
MARK WASSERMANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KERRY WATSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 33 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOHN C RACANELLIPRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
34$462,783$174,987
VIRGINIA Y NEWTONSVP/CFO/COO
Officer
40$355,990$30,450
JENNIFER DRIBANSVP/CHIEF MISSION OFFICER
Key employee
40$268,413$43,187
MARGOT AMELIASVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Key employee
39$284,017$20,757
SCOTT MELTONSVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER
Key employee
40$259,815$11,850
STEPHANIE ALLARDSVP/CHIEF ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER
Key employee
40$223,334$20,004
SAMUEL TAWIAHVP OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Highest-paid employee
40$172,570$38,137
JACQUELINE BERSHADVP OF PLANNING AND DESIGN
Highest-paid employee
40$162,381$38,488
ALISON DINGERVP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION
Highest-paid employee
40$159,069$33,849
SEAN BEATTIEVP OF PHILANTHROPY
Highest-paid employee
40$151,339$16,151
KRISTEN ROSENBERGERVP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Highest-paid employee
40$155,154$6,962
VICTOR ABIAMIRIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ADAM BORDENBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TODD CHESTERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CELINE COUSTEAUBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID DARDISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDERCHAIR
Trustee or director
5$0$0
JACK DWYERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NANCY GRASMICKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRIS GRIFFITHTREASURER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KATHRYN MATTHEWSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ROBERT MATTHEWSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MAGGIE MCINTOSHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MERRIE MOWENBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ROY PRATHER IIISECRETARY
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JENNIFER REYNOLDSVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ENRIC SALABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TED WIESEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JAYSON WILLIAMSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARC WYATTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MOHANNAD JISHIBOARD MEMBER (THRU 3/24)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHARI SANTBOARD MEMBER (THRU 3/24)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CHUCK TILDONBOARD MEMBER (THRU 3/24)
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 34 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JOHN C RACANELLIPRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
34$509,633$113,251
VIRGINIA Y NEWTONSVP/COFO
Officer
39$355,404$31,155
JENNIFER DRIBANSVP/CHIEF MISSION OFFICER
Key employee
40$266,378$42,162
MARGOT AMELIASVP/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Key employee
39$284,087$20,585
SCOTT MELTONSVP/CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER
Key employee
40$270,285$13,276
STEPHANIE ALLARDSVP/CHIEF ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER
Key employee
40$212,602$19,357
SAMUEL TAWIAHVP OF OPERATIONS AND IT
Highest-paid employee
40$192,192$37,872
JACQUELINE BERSHADVP OF PLANNING AND DESIGN
Highest-paid employee
40$168,576$37,845
ALISON DINGERVP OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION
Highest-paid employee
40$157,737$31,903
SEAN BEATTIEVP OF PHILANTHROPY
Highest-paid employee
40$146,239$15,716
LAURA BANKEYVP OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$135,479$23,509
VICTOR ABIAMIRIDIRECTOR (BEG 9/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ADAM BORDENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KEITH CAMPBELLDIRECTOR (THROUGH 3/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TODD CHESTERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID CHURCHILLDIRECTOR (THROUGH 3/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CELINE COUSTEAUDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOE CRUMBLINGTREASURER (THROUGH 3/2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
DAVID DARDISDIRECTOR (BEG 3/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDERCHAIR ELECT
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JACK DWYERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITHTREASURER (BEG 12/2023)/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MOHANNAD JISHIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHRYN MATTHEWSDIRECTOR (BEG 9/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MAGGIE MCINTOSHDIRECTOR (BEG 3/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROY PRATHER IIIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNIFER REYNOLDSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
ENRIC SALADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SHARI SANTVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
RON SPARKSTREASURER (4/2023-12/2023)/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
CHUCK TILDONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TED WIESECHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
JAYSON WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARC WYATTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
501 E PRATT ST, BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3103
In care of
% SEAN DELANEY
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
JENNIFER DRIBAN, 501 EAST PRATT STREET, BALTIMORE, MD 21202
Signed the 990
VIRGINIA Y NEWTON, SVP, COO/CFO
Phone
(410) 576-3800
Return prepared by
RSM US LLP

Mission

TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE TO INSPIRE COMPASSION AND CARE FOR OUR OCEAN PLANET

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • AQUARIUM EXPERIENCE: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE INNER HARBOR IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. SITUATED ON TWO CITY PIERS WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ON EITHER SIDE, THE AQUARIUM FEATURES THREE PAVILIONS AND A LIVING COLLECTION THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 10,000 ANIMALS FROM MORE THAN 500 SPECIES OF FISH, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES AND MAMMALS IN AWARD-WINNING HABITATS. THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS MARYLAND'S LARGEST PAID TOURIST ATTRACTION, WELCOMING MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY. MORE THAN 60 MILLION GUESTS HAVE VISITED THE AQUARIUM SINCE IT OPENED IN 1981, AND AQUARIUM STAFF MEMBERS ARE COMMITTED TO GOING TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO DELIGHT GUESTS AND INSPIRE THEM TO ACT TO CONSERVE THE WORLD'S AQUATIC TREASURES. AS AN ORGANIZATION ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA), THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM MAINTAINS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL CARE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE ANIMAL HEALTH, HUSBANDRY AND WELFARE PRACTICES. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE FOR ALL ANIMALS AT THE AQUARIUM, STAFF CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM INCLUDE AMAZON RIVER FOREST, ATLANTIC CORAL REEF, ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA: WILD EXTREMES, BLACKTIP REEF, DOLPHIN DISCOVERY, JELLIES INVASION, HARBOR WETLAND, LIVING SEASHORE, MARYLAND EXPERIENCE, SHARK ALLEY, SURVIVING ADAPTATION, TROPICAL RAINFOREST, HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG WATERFRONT PARK, AND THE 4D IMMERSION THEATER.
    Expenses $34,012,161 · revenue $33,755,927
  • CONSERVATION & EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE WAY HUMANITY CARES FOR THE OCEAN. WHAT BEGAN OVER 40 YEARS AGO AS A VISITOR ATTRACTION HAS EVOLVED INTO A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES A WORLD-CLASS AQUARIUM. THROUGH UNPARALLELED EXHIBITS, SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HANDS-ON FIELD INITIATIVES, WE ARE CREATING A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF HOPEFUL CONSERVATIONISTS, UNITED TO RESTORE OUR PLANET, DRIVEN BY OUR MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE TO INSPIRE COMPASSION AND CARE FOR OUR OCEAN PLANET. WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR COASTS AND OCEANS AND TO LEAD DIRECT ACTION TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE BALTIMORE HARBOR, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND OCEANS AROUND THE WORLD. THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM IS ALSO COMMITTED TO EDUCATING STUDENTS OF ALL AGES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE OCEAN. BY GETTING THEIR BOOTS WET AND THEIR HANDS DIRTY, STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR SKILLS AND INTERESTS, AND MAKE EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR BLUE PLANET. MORE THAN 56,000 MARYLAND STUDENTS VISIT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM FREE OF CHARGE EACH YEAR, WHERE THEY BECOME IMMERSED IN THE WORLD OF WATER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT PROTECTING ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS.
    Expenses $8,057,794 · grants $50,604 · revenue $526,712

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-1121163
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
1979
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D500)
Assets (IRS master file)
$92,109,787
Income (IRS master file)
$54,430,204

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$54,351,794$60,539,359$92,109,787XML
990-TDecember 2025–––IRS
990December 2024$74,375,786$76,249,119$101,493,868XML
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$55,641,673$54,083,927$108,867,004XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$54,816,849$51,432,748$108,550,637IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS
990December 2017–––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 52-1121163).

Questions about NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC

What is the EIN of NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC is 52-1121163.
Is NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1979.
Are donations to NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does NATIONAL AQUARIUM 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 NATIONAL AQUARIUM 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 NATIONAL AQUARIUM 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 NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JENNIFER DRIBAN.
Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 36 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $464,429 (JOHN RACANELLI, PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 11/28/25)).
How much revenue does NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $54,351,794, expenses of $60,539,359 and total assets of $92,109,787 at year end.

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