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Nonprofit · EIN 91-1007501

WHALE MUSEUM

Tax-exempt · FRIDAY HARBOR, WA 98250

Financials

$1.3M$1.3M2023$1.1M$1.5M2024$1.5M$1.3M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WHALE MUSEUM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$1,487,084$1,326,263$160,821$940,064$250,509$689,555
December 31, 2024990$1,066,571$1,458,735-$392,164$815,890$286,334$529,556
December 31, 2023990$1,310,920$1,308,686$2,234$1,222,229$261,662$960,567
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,117,863
of which government grants
$843,722
Membership dues
$106,432
Program service revenue
$279,289
Investment income
$1,167
Net income from fundraising events
-$1,733
Net income from sales of inventory
$90,498
Other revenue
$88,765

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$57,692
Other salaries and wages
$705,615
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$904,255
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$34,538
Travel
$39,183
Depreciation
$24,644
Program services (functional)
$1,136,950
Management and general (functional)
$58,773
Fundraising (functional)
$130,540

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$815,890
Total assets, end of year
$940,064
Total liabilities, end of year
$250,509
Net assets, end of year
$689,555
Land, buildings and equipment
$585,273
Gross receipts
$1,583,318
Employees
28
Volunteers
52
Year formed
1976
State of legal domicile
WA

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
JAMES K KUPERBERGEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$57,692
JEANNE SLEEPERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
BILLIE J SWALLADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
FRANCES ROBERTSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
DANTE AUBERTPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JILL SHEDDSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JENNIFER SMITHEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$61,308
JEANNE SLEEPERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
FRANK CREGORDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
FRANCES ROBERTSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JILL SHEDDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
RICHARD OSBORNE PHDPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DANTE AUBERTVICE PRESIDE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
NANCY HEACOXTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
SHELLEY ALANSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
RICHARD OSBORNE PHDPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DANTE AUBERTVICE PRESIDE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
NANCY HEACOXTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
SHELLY ALANSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
BRIAN CARLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
BRIAN GETTINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
MIKE AIELLODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0
FRANK CREGORDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
62 1ST ST N, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA 98250-8337
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
DANTE AUBERT, PO BOX 945, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA 98250
Signed the 990
DANTE AUBERT, PRESIDENT
Phone
(360) 378-4710
Return prepared by
LAKE KENNEDY MCCULLOCH CPAS PS

Mission

THE WHALE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE STEWARDSHIP OF WHALES AND THE SALISH SEA ECOSYSTEM THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE SALISH SEA AND ITS WILDLIFE. IN 2025 THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WHO TOURED THE MUSEUM WAS 30,442. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS INCLUDED SOUNDWATCH, SAN JUAN COUNTY MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK, THE WHALE HOTLINE AND SIGHTINGS NETWORK. SOUNDWATCH OPERATED ON THE WATER FROM MAY-SEPTEMBER MONITORING MARINE MAMMALS AND CONTACTING PEOPLE IN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. SAN JUAN COUNTY MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK RESPONDED TO STRANDING CALLS, COMPLETED FIELD INVESTIGATIONS, CONDUCTED NECROPSIES ON DECEASED MARINE MAMMALS, AND GAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND CLASSROOMS ON SALISH SEA MARINE MAMMOLOGY.
    Expenses $1,136,950 · revenue $279,289

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
91-1007501
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
1977
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$940,064
Income (IRS master file)
$1,583,318

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$1,487,084$1,326,263$940,064IRS
990December 2024$1,066,571$1,458,735$815,890XML
990December 2023$1,310,920$1,308,686$1,222,229XML
990December 2022$1,089,925$1,097,494$1,258,228IRS
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 91-1007501).

Questions about WHALE MUSEUM

What is the EIN of WHALE MUSEUM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WHALE MUSEUM is 91-1007501.
Is WHALE MUSEUM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1977.
Are donations to WHALE MUSEUM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WHALE MUSEUM 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 WHALE MUSEUM 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 WHALE MUSEUM 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 WHALE MUSEUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names DANTE AUBERT.
Who are the officers and directors of WHALE MUSEUM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $57,692 (JAMES K KUPERBERG, EXECUTIVE DI).
How much revenue does WHALE MUSEUM have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,487,084, expenses of $1,326,263 and total assets of $940,064 at year end.

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