Skip to main content
IRS-authorized e-file provider · not the IRS

Nonprofit · EIN 81-4974774

MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM

Tax-exempt · GULFPORT, MS 39502

Financials

$6.8M$9.4M2022$7M$9.2M2023$8.7M$10.2M2024$7.7M$9M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$7,657,771$8,957,698-$1,299,927$4,444,355$6,030,491-$1,586,136
December 31, 2024990$8,716,118$10,177,938-$1,461,820$5,715,049$5,836,480-$121,431
December 31, 2023990$6,972,922$9,228,578-$2,255,656$6,817,683$5,477,294$1,340,389
December 31, 2022990 (amended)$6,793,421$9,374,375-$2,580,954$7,899,502$4,303,457$3,596,045
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$494,608
Program service revenue
$7,153,013
Investment income
$20,691
Net income from fundraising events
-$10,541
Other revenue
-$10,541

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$680,665
Other salaries and wages
$3,024,087
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$4,252,449
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$79,812
Accounting fees
$19,750
Travel
$18,438
Depreciation
$295,531
Program services (functional)
$7,362,359
Management and general (functional)
$1,390,094
Fundraising (functional)
$205,245

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$5,715,049
Total assets, end of year
$4,444,355
Total liabilities, end of year
$6,030,491
Net assets, end of year
-$1,586,136
Land, buildings and equipment
$2,482,352
Net assets without donor restrictions
-$1,796,561
Net assets with donor restrictions
$210,425
Gross receipts
$7,682,217
Employees
163
Volunteers
0
Year formed
2017
State of legal domicile
MS

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 / weekCompensation
KURT ALLENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$225,000
TRACI HAVELINCFO
Highest-paid employee
40$133,000
JEFF GIBULASR VP OF PROPERTY OPERATIO
Highest-paid employee
40$110,000
DR ALEXA DELAUNEVP OF VETERINARY SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$104,000
WALT PANNELBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0
DUNCAN MCKENZIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
RICH WESTFALLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MATTHEW GRICEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
BEN PACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MICHAEL SUNDERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DR SCOTT WILLARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
KELLY DARNELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
KURT ALLENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$226,350
TRACI HAVELINCFO
Highest-paid employee
40$134,350
JEFF GIBULASR VP OF PROPERTY OPERATIO
Highest-paid employee
40$111,350
DR ALEXA DELAUNEVP OF VETERINARY SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$104,581
WALT PANNELBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0
DUNCAN MCKENZIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
RICH WESTFALLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MATTHEW GRICEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
BEN PACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MICHAEL SUNDERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DR SCOTT WILLARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
KELLY DARNELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
KURT ALLENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$225,000
TRACI HAVELINCFO
Highest-paid employee
40$133,000
JEFF GIBULASR VP OF PROPERTY OPERATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$110,000
DR ALEXA DELAUNEVP OF VETERINARY SERVICES
Highest-paid employee
40$104,000
PATRICK PEARSONVP OF SALES AND MARKETING
Highest-paid employee
40$103,240
WALT PANNELBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0
DUNCAN MCKENZIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
RICH WESTFALLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MATTHEW GRICEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
BEN PACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MICHAEL SUNDERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DR SCOTT WILLARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
KURT ALLENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$198,113
CINDY WEBBDIRECTOR, SECRETARY/TREASU
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0
BEN PACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DAVID ESTORGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
ROBIN ROBINSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DR RODNEY BENNETTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
WALT PANNELBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0
MICHAEL SUNDERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DR SCOTT WILLARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 1100, GULFPORT, MS 39502-1100
In care of
% DAVID J KIMMEL
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
TRACI HAVELIN, PO BOX 1100, GULFPORT, MS 39502
Signed the 990
TRACI HAVELIN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Phone
(228) 205-4031
Return prepared by
PILTZ WILLIAMS LAROSA & CO

Mission

TO DO ANY AND ALL THINGS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AN AQUARIUM AND PROVIDING, MAINTAINING, AND ENCOURAGING THE USE OF QUALITY PUBLIC FACILITIES AND WORKS WHICH WILL OFFER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND MAINTAINING AND CARING FOR A VARIED AND EXTENSIVE INVENTORY OF AQUATIC LIFE IN A HUMANE, HEALTHY, AND SANITARY ENVIRONMENT FOR A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SUCH AQUATIC LIFE.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • ANIMAL CARE - TO DELIVER AN AWE-INSPIRING ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPPORTS ANIMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION, INSPIRES LEARNING AND INSTILLS A PASSION FOR THE AQUATIC WORLD.
    Expenses $1,347,746
  • FACILITY OPERATIONS - TO PROVIDE A WINDOW TO THE WATERS OF MISSISSIPPI, THE GULF COAST AND BEYOND, WHILE FOSTERING A SENSE OF APPRECIATION BY ENCOURAGING GUESTS TO EXPLORE MAJESTIC ENVIRONMENTS AND PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
    Expenses $3,144,037 · revenue $6,127,099
  • EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - TO REACH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL GUESTS BY CONNECTING THEM WITH THE PLANET'S MOST PRECIOUS ECOSYSTEMS IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
    Expenses $579,761 · revenue $286,353
  • MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM WILL TELL THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF ALL OF MISSISSIPPI'S AQUATIC RESOURCES FROM THE DELTA TO THE COASTLINE AND THE REMARKABLE CONNECTION THAT TIES ALL OF THE STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES UNIQUELY TOGETHER.
    Expenses $2,290,815 · revenue $739,561

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
81-4974774
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2018
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D50)
Assets (IRS master file)
$4,444,355
Income (IRS master file)
$7,682,217

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$7,657,771$8,957,698$4,444,355XML
990December 2024$8,716,118$10,177,938$5,715,049XML
990December 2023$6,972,922$9,228,578$6,817,683XML
990December 2022$6,793,421$9,374,375$7,899,502XML
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 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 81-4974774).

Questions about MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM

What is the EIN of MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM is 81-4974774.
Is MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2018.
Are donations to MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM 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 MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM 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 MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM 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 MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names TRACI HAVELIN.
Who are the officers and directors of MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $225,000 (KURT ALLEN, PRESIDENT/CEO).
How much revenue does MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,657,771, expenses of $8,957,698 and total assets of $4,444,355 at year end.

Other nonprofits in GULFPORT

All nonprofits in GULFPORT · Mississippi · Animal-related