New England Aquarium Corporation
New England Aquarium Corporation reported $54.6 million in revenue and $55.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $77.42 went to program services, $15.30 to management and general costs and $7.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 64.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $671,882 (PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 12% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $55MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $55MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.39 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 18.8% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.6% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 64.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $671,882 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.21% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 54 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 19 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseExhibition: the New England Aquarium is a massachusetts chapter 180 non-profit corporation formed for the purpose of operating a public aquarium in boston, massachusetts. The mission of the aquarium is to be a catalyst for global change through public engagement, commitment to marine animal conservation, leadership in education, innovative scientific research, and advocacy for a vital and vibrant ocean. In addition to its exhibits, the aquarium operates the simons theatre, gift shop, on-site dining outlets, catered events, and programming in marine research, conservation, and education. The…
Scientific research and advising:in 2024, the New England Aquarium ('the aquarium") continued conducting applied ocean science research and technical advising/market-based solutions to help deliver on its mission toward a vision for a vital and vibrant ocean for future generations. Much of this was executed by the aquarium's dedicated ocean science research division, the anderson cabot center for ocean life (anderson cabot center").select 2024 notable highlights of anderson cabot center:the blueswell program, an ocean innovation start-up incubator completed its fourth cohort of ocean tech…
2024 notable highlights of the sea turtle programs:the New England Aquarium has two distinctive programs with sea turtles: we run one of the largest sea turtle rescue operations in the entire united states and we are part of a first-responder network for leatherback sea turtles that get entangled in fishing lines. Both of these programs help maintain sea turtle populations and produce research. The aquarium's sea turtle hospital in quincy, ma treated 518 rescued sea turtles recovered from beaches along cape cod bay during the 2024 cold stun stranding season. In addition to administering to…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $641,692 | $0 | $30,190 | $671,882 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $335,079 | $0 | $18,576 | $353,655 |
| CHIEF CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $339,164 | $0 | $11,194 | $350,358 |
| CHIEF, PEOPLE DIVERSITY OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $292,974 | $0 | $17,560 | $310,534 |
| VP, CENTER OCEAN LIFE & CHIEF SCIENTIST Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,421 | $0 | $61,314 | $307,735 |
| VP, MARKETING & COMM Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $280,422 | $0 | $19,498 | $299,920 |
| VP, FINANCE PLANNING AND ANALYSIS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $266,343 | $0 | $18,991 | $285,334 |
| VP, DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $267,385 | $0 | $17,215 | $284,600 |
54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from New England Aquarium Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.4M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b19 · 18 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5407
- Volunteers Part I, line 6575
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| C & W FACILITY SERVICES INC Cleaning company | $1,264,333 |
| CONNELLY PARTNERS Advertising agency | $1,040,740 |
| GRAIN EXCHANGE Rent | $1,039,213 |
| SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES USA INC Security services | $792,445 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
80 private foundations reported grants to New England Aquarium Corporation totaling $6.8M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from New England Aquarium Corporation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for New England Aquarium Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 New England Aquarium Corporation spent in 2024, $77.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National AquariumBaltimore, MD · revenue $54M · programs 69.5% · 2025
- Indianapolis Zoological SocietyIndianapolis, IN · revenue $58M · programs 88.1% · 2024
- The Seattle Aquarium SocietySeattle, WA · revenue $54M · programs 77.7% · 2024
- The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSan Francisco, CA · revenue $58M · programs 85.4% · FY2025
- The Saint Louis Zoo AssociationSaint Louis, MO · revenue $54M · programs 83.6% · 2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of New England Aquarium Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, New England Aquarium Corporation reported that 77.4% of its $55.3 million in expenses went to program services, 15.3% to management and general and 7.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does New England Aquarium Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation New England Aquarium Corporation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $671,882, for the role of PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does New England Aquarium Corporation get its money?
Of $54.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 18.8% came from contributions and grants (including 1.6% from government grants) and 64.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is New England Aquarium Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2297514 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522959349301972 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442849349300619 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312839349301676 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349305103 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142289349302059 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013119349301106 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2297514: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.