Nonprofit · EIN 59-2086737
CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC
Tax-exempt · CLEARWATER, FL 33767
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $22,862,676 | $25,250,419 | -$2,387,743 | $102,243,121 | $27,851,978 | $74,391,143 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,187,819 | $6,600,405 | -$1,412,586 | $108,867,452 | $27,339,117 | $81,528,335 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $21,322,978 | $26,306,149 | -$4,983,171 | $108,371,737 | $25,702,909 | $82,668,828 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $8,800,195
- of which government grants
- $6,598,622
- Membership dues
- $370,561
- Program service revenue
- $10,881,779
- Investment income
- $282,152
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$6,728
- Net income from fundraising events
- $269,217
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $866,831
- Other revenue
- $2,898,550
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $2,011,297
- Other salaries and wages
- $6,666,121
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $10,813,234
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $64,871
- Accounting fees
- $93,700
- Occupancy
- $1,081,384
- Travel
- $227,691
- Depreciation
- $3,500,501
- Program services (functional)
- $18,970,657
- Management and general (functional)
- $5,389,542
- Fundraising (functional)
- $890,220
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $108,867,452
- Total assets, end of year
- $102,243,121
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $27,851,978
- Net assets, end of year
- $74,391,143
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $93,299,128
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $70,715,018
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $3,676,125
- Gross receipts
- $24,760,351
- Employees
- 271
- Volunteers
- 320
- Year formed
- 1972
- State of legal domicile
- FL
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Handy | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $536,024 | $49,683 |
| Anthony Rivera | COO Officer | 40 | $222,416 | $14,773 |
| James Powell | CZO Officer | 40 | $201,726 | $27,775 |
| Kelly Jordan | VP, Development Officer | 40 | $153,384 | $0 |
| Shelly Marquardt | VP, Animal & Environmental Health Officer | 40 | $128,223 | $19,425 |
| Kathleen Mendoza | VP, Finance Officer | 40 | $131,279 | $7,590 |
| Kelly McAdams | VP, Conservation Education Officer | 40 | $126,845 | $10,425 |
| Stephanie Jones | VP, People & Culture Officer | 40 | $130,390 | $6,500 |
| Ruth Rosario | VP, Guest Experience & Engagement Officer | 40 | $129,606 | $6,475 |
| Dorothy Gurdak | VP, Sales & Marketing Officer | 40 | $129,917 | $0 |
| Kelly Martin | VP, Zoological Care Officer | 40 | $121,487 | $7,800 |
| John Draheim | Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Eric Busch | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Thomas R Orr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Frank Chivas | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
12 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowland Milam | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| R Nathan Hightower | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Colin Devine | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brian Stamey | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kathleen Perrott | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Bridget Starr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marian Goodman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Matt Novak | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Helen Barrott | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Matt Marquardt | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Michael Gerson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Katie Powell | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Draheim | Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Linda Griffin-Keliher | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Eric Busch | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Thomas R Orr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Frank Chivas | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rowland Milam | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| R Nathan Hightower | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jim Martin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Vic Caserta | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Colin Devine | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jim Reznicek | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brian Stamey | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kathleen Perrott | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| John Perruccio | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sherrel Sampson | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Bridget Starr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marian Goodman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| James Powell | CBO Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Kelly Jordan | CDO Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Joe Handy | CEO Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Lisa J Oliver | COO/General Education Officer | 40 | $0 |
| Anthony Rivera | COO Officer | 40 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Handy | CEO Officer | 40 | $475,655 | $0 |
| James Powell | CBO Officer | 40 | $212,691 | $23,632 |
| Anthony Rivera | COO Officer | 40 | $195,770 | $0 |
| Kelly Jordan | CDO Officer | 40 | $180,443 | $0 |
| Lisa J Oliver | COO/General Education Officer | 40 | $96,957 | $0 |
| John Draheim | Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Linda Griffin-Keliher | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Eric Busch | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Thomas R Orr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Frank Chivas | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rowland Milam | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| R Nathan Hightower | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jim Martin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Vic Caserta | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Colin Devine | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jim Reznicek | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Stamey | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kathleen Perrott | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John Perruccio | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sherrel Sampson | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bridget Starr | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Marian Goodman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 249 WINDWARD PASSAGE, CLEARWATER, FL 33767-2244
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Joe Handy, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 337672244
- Signed the 990
- Joe Handy, CEO
- Phone
- (727) 441-1790
- Website
- www.cmaaquarium.org
- Return prepared by
- PDR CPAS ADVISORS INC
Mission
We believe in preserving our environnment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life, environmental education, research and conservation.
Program accomplishments
- Education:In FY 2024, Education Department hosted the Creepy Sea Cavern event as well as the Blizzard Bay event where we opened the Education floor to the public. The Education team taught guests about creepy sea creatures in the depths of the oceans or arctic animals and connected them back with our resident animals at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.For the summer of 2024, the department educated over 1,300 summer campers on marine conservation and stewardship in the R.O. Jacobson Education Center. The summer campers receive a hands-on, educational summer camp experience with lessons covering marine life and conservation. Students are then able to make real-world connections with the environment through offsite field trips, kayaking, and snorkeling adventures.For 2024, nearly 10,000 students and guests participated in educational programming onsite including new programming; such as, Junior Career Quest and Night at the Aquarium. In addition, the Aquarium continued to provide programming to long-standing program partners specializing in travel education.For the 11th year in a row, the "Trash to Toys" contest was conducted to celebrate Earth Day. Local Pinellas and Hillsborough County schools are invited to use trash found in their classroom to create an environmental enrichment device or toy for our resident dolphins. The winning class receives a virtual field trip for their classroom by a Clearwater Marine Aquarium educator.The education continued outside our four walls and into the community. The Education Department attended several events and festivals during 2024. Our educators also participated in the Great American Teach-In where we visited over 24 classrooms and engaged with over 1,300 students. In addition, over 27,000 guests were educated on the Aquarium's Eco-boat tours that discuss the marine environment in Clearwater Bay.Expenses $860,991 · revenue $1,525,547
- Zoological Care:Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Zoological Care team had a landmark year focused on advancing animal welfare, expanding rehabilitation programs, and engaging the community through meaningful education and conservation initiatives.Animal Care specialists provided exceptional care across the collection, including developing a long-term treatment plan for Walle, a 13-year-old river otter facing mobility challenges, and successfully integrating Opie, a rescued otter, into Otter Oasis alongside Boomer and Walle. The team achieved annual revenue goals early through expanded guest programs such as Paint with a Dolphin and pelican encounters, pairing hands-on experiences with conservation messaging. Animal Care also advanced research initiatives in partnership with the National Marine Mammal Foundation to implement computerized cognitive enrichment for rough-toothed dolphins, aiming to improve welfare and contribute to marine mammal science.Rescue operations were a core focus, with CMA coordinating eight manatee rescues, transports, and releases, supporting stranding responses, and participating in a sperm whale necropsy. The Rescue team also advanced professional readiness through collaborations in Belize, Myakka State Park, and with Bishop Museum, while securing critical funding requests under the RESTORE Act and Prescott grants to sustain operations and upgrade rehabilitation infrastructure.The Manatee Rehabilitation Program reached a historic milestone with the opening of CMA's new rehabilitation center. The arrival of juvenile patients Yeti and Zamboni marked CMA's first active role in second-stage care, supported by a dedicated new Manatee Rehabilitation Manager, Tanya Ward. These achievements positioned CMA as a model facility for the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership and strengthened collaboration with USFWS and Zoo Tampa.The Aquatic Biology team enhanced guest engagement with innovative programs such as "Tortoise Treat Time and "Big Mouths, Little Appetites," while planning new conservation-focused exhibits including Project Piaba and an Atlantic octopus display. The year also tested CMA's preparedness through two major hurricanes. Guided by CMA's robust weather policy and dedicated ride-out team, all animals remained safe despite significant infrastructure impacts. Lessons learned are now shaping enhanced storm preparedness strategies.Finally, the team introduced the "Florida - Wild and Exotic" exhibit, featuring native and invasive species with ambassador animal programming, while continuing to advance a NOAA import permit for dolphins and sea lions to strengthen global animal welfare collaboration.Through rescue, rehabilitation, education, research, and conservation, the Zoological Care team reinforced CMA's mission to preserve the environment and inspire the human spirit while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare.Expenses $1,378,694 · revenue $615,833
- Animal Health:For fiscal year 2024, the animal health team released 39 sea turtles along with 392 sea turtle hatchlings, which included our very first leatherback hatchlings. In the fall, the hospital was significantly affected from Hurricane Helene which caused over almost four feet of water affecting the surgical suite, medical laboratory and rehabilitation pools. With the damage, the rehabilitation area closed temporarily for six weeks. Despite the challenges during the recovery, the veterinary team was able to continue to provide care for the 1100+ resident animals at CMA.Expenses $1,090,206 · revenue $140,351
- Expenses $15,640,766
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 | Not 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
- 59-2086737
- 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
- 1973
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D500)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $102,243,121
- Income (IRS master file)
- $24,760,351
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $22,862,676 | $25,250,419 | $102,243,121 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,187,819 | $6,600,405 | $108,867,452 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $21,322,978 | $26,306,149 | $108,371,737 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $24,784,921 | $24,889,164 | $113,956,126 | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 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 59-2086737).
Questions about CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC
- What is the EIN of CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC is 59-2086737.
- Is CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1973.
- Are donations to CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CLEARWATER MARINE 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 CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Joe Handy.
- Who are the officers and directors of CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 27 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $536,024 (Joe Handy, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $22,862,676, expenses of $25,250,419 and total assets of $102,243,121 at year end.
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